Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Germana from Hobby di Stoffa shows how to make this lovely dishtowel 
with a topper that buttons around a handle. She includes a free pattern for making the topper. She made the towel from honeycomb towel fabric
, cutting it to size and finishing the edges nicely. You could also use a purchased towel. Her blog is written in Italian, but you can tell from her photos how to make this project. Go to Hobby di Stoffa for the tutorial.
[photo from Hobby di Stoffa]
I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.
Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.
Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.
Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.
And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.
[photo credit: Melly Sews]
OMG!!!!!! Thank youuuuuuuu!!!!!!! =^_____^=
I can’t believe!!!!!!!
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!
I seen your tea towels on Facenbook and loved them.
I really like the hanging towel, really nice. I plan to do more sewing in this new year 2014.
Great idea – but the website is not English..help?
I love hand towels like this but I don’t like to out them on my oven door because they drag on the floor. Do you have any suggestions for the type that hangs on cupboard knobs? I use the ones that tie but they’re hard to come by.
At the end of the tutorial, it states “sew all the way around” Can someone explain? Wouldn’t you just sew straight across once you put the towel up into the piece? Any help appreciated.
If you look closely at the photo for the last step, she’s got the needle turned at the corner. I’m thinking she will sew up the sides and possibly across that first line of stitching, and then back down the other side. –Anne