Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Sharon from Sharon Sews shows how to make her romantic ruffled maxi dress. A long ruffle hangs across the bodice, with another long ruffle around the hem. It’s lovely as a strapless dress, but it would be easy enough to add some shoulder straps or a halter tie if you wanted. Get the tutorial.
[photo from Sharon Sews]
Looking for more maxi dress styles and sewing patterns? Check these Maxi dress patterns out on Etsy.
It doesn’t matter whether you sew by hand or by machine, you need a pincushion. You need a spot to parks pins and needles and keep them within easy reach for when you need them again. There are a lot of styles of pincushion to choose from. Some magnetic, some fabric. Some cute, some purely functional. This “little bit extra” pincushion has a spot to store all the different types of pins and needles you might need while sewing. Polka Dot Chair has a free sewing pattern you can use to make one for yourself.
This handy little pincushion has a circular shape and is divided into sections to store different types of pins. The bottom section is for your regular straight pins. Just poke them in and they’re ready for when you need them. The top has one section with a felt flap perfect for holding your sewing needles. I don’t know about you but I don’t like mixing my hand sewing needles in with my pins on a pincushion. It makes it hard to find the needle when I want it. So having a separate section for the needles is a great idea.
This “little bit extra” pincushion also has a spot to hold a few fabric clips. Fabric clips have become popular alternatives to a traditional straight pin. They hold fabric pieces together without piercing the fabric, which is important when sewing leather, vinyl, or other materials that will show permanent holes from pins.
You can sew the “little bit extra” pincushion from large fabric scraps or small fabric cuts (fat eighth). You probably already have all the supplies you need to sew one in your sewing supplies already.
Get the free pattern for this “little bit extra” pincushion over at Polka Dot Chair.
[photo credit: Polka Dot Chair]
Thought you might like to see a similar dress that I made for my daughter not long ago – before I saw this tutorial :)The major difference in mine & this one is that my upper ruffle is based on 1/2 circles so it’s more flared. I love that mine was also based on Sharon’s One Yard Wonders Strapless Tunic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/54482836@N03/6066536060/