Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Mama Crafts shows how she turned her dining room table into a fabulous playhouse for her daughter. She created a cover sized to fit the table exactly, and then added windows and doors and appliques to make it feel like a house. When she needs to use the dining table for its intended purpose, all she has to do is remove the table cover. The whole project cost her only $5. Wow!! Go to the tutorial to see how she did it.
[photo from Mama Crafts]
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]
What an amazing idea! I remember Sunday afternoons under my Mum’s table with blankets, but this is so much better – really inspirational – thank you!
Have you ever seen this Etsy shop where mamacrafts got her idea”
http://www.etsy.com/shop/missprettypretty
Julie, I have seen those playhouses and they’re fabulous! Mama Crafts mentions them as well in her post, but explains that they don’t have a card table – which is what Miss Pretty Pretty’s playhouses are sized to fit. She made her own so that it would fit her dining table. –Anne