Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Monica from Adirondack Inspired recently showed off a pair of rain pants she made for her kids. Now she’s back with a tutorial giving us a step-by-step so we can make some, too. They’re made from a water resistant material and have elastic at the ankles to keep water from splashing in. Go to her tute.
[photo from Adirondack Inspired]
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]
After looking all over for a pair of rain pants for my 12 month grandson and not being successful, I decided I would try and make some. Your tutorial helped me get through it in less than an hour! Too bad I hadn’t checked it out before shopping because I didn’t have fold over elastic and so folded over the material and ran the elastic I had through the casing. Now just waiting for him to come over to try them on. I hope you don’t give up on writing tutorials because I found it extremely clear, the pictures so helpful and the project a success. I think the pants are so perfect for working in the garden on those muddy spring day I am going to make myself some! Thanks!