Craftzine.com blog: Sewing Archives

Sewing Archive: Sewing

November 30, 2008

HOW TO - Glue-Set Zippers

Green Kitchen shares her tips on overcoming your fear of the zipper foot and shows us how she sews zippers into her various skirt projects using the glue-in method.

The most difficult part of zipper installation is making it look good. With the glue-set method you eliminate most of the challenges. The process becomes quite easy. The idea behind the glue-set zipper installation is to use adhesive to hold the zipper in place, while sewing, instead of pins. This allows you to top stitch the zipper without having to wrangle with the pins. And, since you are top stitching it into place, you have more control on how it looks on the outside, thus, more chances at zipper success.

November 29, 2008

HOW TO - Handmade Shower Cap

Sew, Mama, Sew! tips us off to Hoppo Bumpo's shower cap tutorial, perfect for those occasions when you need to keep your hairdo dry when bathing.

HOW TO - Bamboo Handle Bag

Little Birdie Secrets shows us how to turn bamboo handles and some upholstery fabric into a quick and easy tote.

Related:
• HOW TO - Simple Back-to-School Bags
• HOW TO - Bring Kids' Drawings to Life

November 28, 2008

HOW TO - Cooking Comfort Recipe Card Holder

Anna Maria Horner has put together a tutorial for making this simple recipe card holder. She's include a template for the embroidery (optional) as well as a template to download and print for the recipe cards.

November 26, 2008

HOW TO - Bantha Plush

Bonnie Burton says:

Every Tusken Raider needs a trusty bantha to ride around Tatooine. These elephant-sized creatures with long ram-like horns first showed up in A New Hope. It's easy to make your own cuddly bantha with some felt, stuffing, thread and a lot of love.

She shared detailed instructions for how to make your own Bantha plush.

November 25, 2008

Twitchie Scorpion

Download the MP4 Video or HD Version | Subscribe to CRAFT in iTunes | mov | 3g2

I made this scorpion toy with a Twitchie Robot Kit. I'm really afraid of scorpions where I live in Arizona, so I thought a friendly toy would help me get used to them. I made his plush body from some fabric I had around, aiming to make him look like an Arizona bark scorpion, which are tan/yellowish/translucent. Watch the video for build details, and here's a list of materials I used:

Twitchie Robot Kit
3 pieces of scrap wood
1 drywall screw for non-driven front leg
hot glue
fabric for plush body
plush stuffing
thread & embroidery floss

Twitchie is Arduino powered and comes pre-programmed, so it's an excellent kit for beginners in robotics, because no programming is required! You can download and modify the code if you want, and it's pretty light on the soldering, too. I'd recommend Twitchie for young makers (boys & girls, too!) interested in robotics or moving plush toys. If you have an idea for what I should name my new friend, let me know in the comments! All I've come up with so far is "Scott."

Music in the video is "At the Crack of Noon" by Shuutobi.

Mktet2-3
Twitchie Robot Kit

More build photos:

November 24, 2008

Tips for Sewing on the Bias

If you are planning on making the Kangaroo Pocket Dress from BurdaStyle, you might want to check out this roundup of tips for sewing on the bias on the BurdaStyle blog.

Related
New Burda Style Pattern

November 21, 2008

Mini Monsters at Maker Faire Austin - CRAFT Video Podcast

Download the MP4 Video or HD Version | Subscribe to CRAFT in iTunes | mov | 3g2

I caught up with craftzine blogger and Austin local Rachel Hobson at Maker Faire Austin 2008, where she gave a demo on making the Mini Monsters from CRAFT:06. These fun little creatures, invented by Moxie, are unique and full of the personality you give them. This is a very kid-friendly project, and you can buy the Mini Monster Kit in the Maker Shed. Don't forget that all craft kits are 10% off until the end of November using promo code CRAFTER.

New Burda Style Pattern

BurdaStyle took a vote and decided to make the most popular user submitted creation into an official BurdaStyle pattern. This gorgeous bias cut Kangaroo Pocket Dress by MadisonAF23 is now going to be a BurdaStyle pattern. I can't imagine my sewing skills are ready for this, so I better start practicing.

November 20, 2008

Stitch Magazine

Interweave has just launched Stitch Magazine dedicated to sewing enthusiasts. I got to check out the debut issue and I was pleasantly surprised. The best thing for me was that the magazine includes full size patterns for unique skirts, some of which I would actually make. For a sewing magazine, the projects are oriented to a younger and more hip audience. Three more issues are planned for Spring, Summer and Fall 2009.

November 19, 2008

Sewing Machines Fly Off Shelves as Shoppers Craft a Make-Do-and-Mend Christmas

Make Pt1267

Sewing machines are gaining popularity in the UK this year as folks make their own gifts! Check out this article in the Telegraph:

Tesco has also reported a surge in the number of sewing machines and in shoe cleaning equipment as consumers look to cherish their clothes and shoes, rather than let them fall apart. Julia Dudrenec, at the Welwyn Garden City outlet of John Lewis, said: "There are many first-timers coming into the haberdashery and dress fabrics departments asking for advice on how to create their own gifts. "Some shoppers are being very creative, stitching fashion bags and skirts from old jeans, buying simple cotton bags and embellishing them with buttons, feathers and sequins with the new trend for "craft couture" really gathering momentum." Last month peers on the Science and Technology Committee called for a return to post-war thriftiness with an attack on 'fast fashion'. They criticised the rising popularity of High Street clothes which are so inexpensive that there is no incentive to repair them. At the Paris fashion shows this month Dame Vivienne Westwood championed clothes created from off-cuts. "There is status in wearing your favourites over and over again until they grow old or fall apart," she wrote. "Make necklaces out of safety pins, shawls from blankets, tablecloths, curtains or towels", the notes suggested. 'Make Do And Mend' first came to prominence during the Second World War, when it was the title of a pamphlet published in 1943 by the Ministry of Information. The guide gave household tips on how to save food and mend clothes on the cheap.

HOW TO - Margaret Sling Bag

Elizabeth from Oh Fransson has a tutorial and pattern for how to make this Margaret sling bag. She posted it early enough that you can make the bag for a holiday present.

November 18, 2008

HOW TO - Triple Scoop Fabric Cone

Unfurled shares a free template pattern and sewing instructions for stitching up your own triple-scoop fabric ice cream cone.

November 17, 2008

HOW TO - Mini Moneybags

Keyka shares her pattern for making these adorable embroidered gift bags, inspired by those huge sacks carried by bank robbers in cartoons.

HOW TO - Handprint Turkey Softie

Even a crabby curmudgeon like me enjoys making a hand print turkey now and again for Thanksgiving. Bella Dia has a tutorial for how to turn your hand print turkey into a hand print turkey softie.

November 14, 2008

Sewing Machine to Visualize Sound

Jonah @ MAKE writes:

The "Visible Sound" project attempts to create a physical version of the sound around it by sewing sound waves in realtime. Although this was just a concept, we like ways of making invisible objects like sound waves into tangible forms.

This concept model looks like a stereo faceplate on a modified sewing machine, but I can't imagine it would be too difficult to rig up some sound sensing equipment to adjust the width of the zigzag stitch on a sewing machine.

HOW TO - Sew a Long Silk Scarf

Colette Sewing Patterns has a tutorial for making a long silk scarf. The tutorial includes instructions for how to create a french seam and how to make a hand rolled hem.

November 13, 2008

Band-Aid Bear

Laurie spotted jbl thistle's Band-Aid Bear on Flickr. This little guy is made with band-aids, thread, wool stuffing and sewn by machine and hand.

November 11, 2008

HOW TO - Covering Conductive Thread

Marc @ MAKE writes:

Lynne Bruning has a nice instructable about using machine embroidery to cover conductive thread. I kind of like the look of the silvery thread, but you might feel differently and want to cover it up.

More:

New Soft Circuit Kits in the Maker Shed and Massive Soft Electronics Roundup

In the Maker Shed:

Fashioning Technology

November 5, 2008

New Soft Circuit Kits in the Maker Shed and Massive Soft Electronics Roundup

These two new kits from Sparkfun debuted at Maker Faire Austin this year, and I can say from playing with them that they're really cool. If you're interested in getting started with soft electronics or the LilyPad Arduino, the worlds first sewable microcontroller, give these a whirl:

Lilypad E-Sewing Kit

The LilyPad e-sewing kit contains the bits to sew LEDs into any piece of clothing. Add turn signals to a jacket, accentuate a t-shirt, or light-up your favorite pair of jeans with this simple to use kit. This kit contains the very basics to the LilyPad system. It's a great entry-level kit for people who want to experiment with wearable electronics. Consider adding the LilyPad Pro Kit to extend control and use of the LilyPad system.

Features:

5 LilyPad Bright White LEDs
3 LilyPad Button Boards
2 Coin Cell Batteries 20mm
1 Coin Cell Holder
1 Spool 4Ply Conductive Thread

LilyPad Pro Kit

Think of this kit as an 'add-on' to the LilyPad E-Sewing Kit. The LilyPad Pro Kit gives you the full flexibility and power of the LilyPad system. Program the LilyPad main board to respond to physical changes in light, sound, or motion. Create displays of light, sound, and get physical feedback using the various LilyPad periphery boards.

Features:

LilyPad Mainboard
LilyPad Power Supply
LilyPad USB Link
Mini USB Cable

Here are some project we've featured on the CRAFT/MAKE blogs to get you inspired:

Electronic Embroidery - CRAFT Video Podcast

HOW TO - Make a Turn Signal Bike Jacket

Dress with Electronic Flapping Butterflies

TV-B-Gone Hoodie and Zipper Switch

WAY more projects after the jump including how to make soft sensors!...

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Fashioning Technology by Suyzi Pakhchyan

Take your craft projects to the next level with "smart" materials where you can create accessories, housewares, and toys that light up, make sounds, or do even more! Available now in the Maker Shed.

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