About.com Sewing

Why didn't I think of that?

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:48:34 +0000

Sometimes an idea is so simple that you have to ask yourself, "Why didn't I think of that?". Looking at How to Weave Without Special Equipment was just such an idea. What a fantastic, inexpensive, recycle-reuse kind of project to teach and learn about how fabric is made.

I like to add experiments to projects. For example, when I had a 4H club and the members were getting restless while they were waiting for batches of cookies to get done baking, I decided to give them some experiments to see what would happen. Simple things like, if you used parchment paper vs if you didn't, if you used air-bake cookie sheets vs. regular flat baking sheets and things like that. The experiment made such an impression that when the members were baking for the fair, they called me to borrow the air-bake cookie sheets and parchment paper that made soft chewy cookies.

I'm thinking preshrinking would be a great experiment in weaving fabric. I'm also think that giving them different types of fabric to take apart, such as a scrap of upholstery fabric and a piece of quilting weight cotton so they can see the different fibers that can make up fabric, will make them aware of the variations. Even handing them a piece of felt and a piece of knit fabric that they could unravel, so they can see that not everything is woven. Then clean out the craft supplies, threads and yarns so they have a large variety of fibers to be creative making their own fabric... with a simple sewing project in mind for their finished fabric.

Why didn't I think of that? originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 05:48:34.

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Keeping My Feet Warm

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:26:37 +0000

When I wander around my house, I am usually bare foot. I have plenty of slippers, I just don't usually remember where I left them... or I wore them out the door and have them dirty. When I'm working around the house, it's rare for my feet to be cold. They only get cold when I am sitting around... usually when I am at my computer desk. My computer is in my sewing room and for a while I had a big scrap of fabric that I kept my feet on under the desk. Then we got a real cold spell and I came up with a better idea... check out the new free pillow instructions to sew a floor pillow with foot pockets... it works so well, I have to either make my husband one of his own or make myself another one since he seems to have taken my foot warming pillow as his own...

Keeping My Feet Warm originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 05:26:37.

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Slip Slide Needs

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:30:55 +0000

Slipping and sliding is part of the winter weather... the really dangerous part is the ice underfoot that causes people to fall and get hurt. Falling happens though... and many of those falls lead to needing a walker. I used a walker when I had back surgery and I would have lost my mind if it hadn't been for the walker caddy. The walker takes both of your hands and leaves you with no way to carry anything. The walker caddy is like getting a piece of your independence back. There are a lot of charity sewing projects you can make but I strongly recommend making walker caddies for local hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.

Slip Slide Needs originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 04:30:55.

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Traveling Vittles

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:39:55 +0000

Super Bowl Sunday is around the corner and there an awful lot of people who don't watch the game but sure enjoy the vittles that go along with watching the game. If everyone chips in, the food isn't a break-the-bank deal for anyone. The trick is keeping the food safe while it travels from one home to another without a heat source or a refrigeration source. Sew up your own insulators to keep the food safe!

Free Kitchen Sewing Projects

Traveling Vittles originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 12:39:55.

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Free Birthday Embroidery Design

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:51:14 +0000

I don't know if everyone had followed my advice to subscribe to newsletters as one of the ways to save money sewing... so in case you don't subscribe to Embroidery Library's Newsletter... which I suggest you should... they have just sent out a newsletter with a great Happy Birthday design for free. It's a design that immediately brought the mailbox wrapper to my mind so I decided I should share the free design information.

Free Birthday Embroidery Design originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 08:51:14.

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The Groundhog has Spoken

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:38:53 +0000

Do you believe the groundhog? I won't say I believe him but the report I heard says we are in for 6 more weeks of winter... now that I believe. Winter means fighting to stay warm in my area. I don't know the history of Valentine's Day but I think it was put in the middle of February just to warm up the soul. It may help everyone have a warm and fuzzy feeling but it's still cold out there!

The Groundhog has Spoken originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 11:38:53.

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Mail Box Wrapper

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:00:06 +0000

I saw a mailbox that was all decorated for Valentine's Day on the same weekend that I was searching for the house that was hosting a Birthday party, my daughter was supposed to attend. All I could think was that it would be SO nice if the party house had their mailbox decorated so I could find it. I made sure our house is going to be findable for my daughter's next party.... I created a Birthday Mail Box Wrapper and the possibilities are endless! I can't wait to see the designs every one makes and shares once they are added to the Reader Submissions.

Mail Box Wrapper originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 03:00:06.

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Winter Blah!

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:35:10 +0000

It happens every year... right about now, where the house has been closed up for the winter. This year it may even be hitting me a little early. My girlfriend is moving into a new house... all newly painted walls, even getting new living room furniture and it's making me feel my normal winter blahs about my home. Soooo... I have to get in gear to make my house feel up to par... New pillows. new curtains, new paint... I'll manage to make it so I smile walking into the living room... the first room everyone walks into at my house.

Winter Blah! originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 05:35:10.

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How to...

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:34:36 +0000

I hear from so many people who want to sew but have a problem getting started. Knowing where to start on any project is the best way to get started... but it sure helps to have a clean area to get started in, so you can find the correct sewing tools without turning the room upside down. For me...by the time I am done with any project, the room is upside down just because I am a slob... notice I admit being a slob. I get so involved in the fun of sewing, I don't pay any attention to the mess I am making. The trick is to clean up the mess as soon as I am done with a project, so the mess doesn't stop me from starting another project.

I also think microwave ovens and other conveniences have taught us to expect instant gratification so when we start with a project that is going to take days we get discouraged. I find that if I create a small simple project to get my feet wet, so to speak, I tend to have more patience with a project that is time consuming.

How to... originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 07:34:36.

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Getting Ready for the Next Round

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:11:40 +0000

In my neck of the woods, we finally had a couple of days with thawing temperatures. Every aspect, except the mud tracked across the floors, has been wonderful but it's only January so I know we are bound to have another round of subzero temperatures. The last cold snap lasted for SO long that I can't even guess how many small pieces of winter attire were left behind. Even if we don't have that long of a cold snap, we will get snow and the kids will stay out sleigh riding or building out of snow. My daughter usually has a friend over and the friend doesn't have any snow-play clothes with her. This weekend I'm making a bag full of winter attire so I'm ready for the next cold snap or snow storm. I may even take advantage of the winter clearance sales to get more fleece... but I should behave and use up some of my stash.

Free Sewing Projects to Keep You and Your Home Warm

Getting Ready for the Next Round originally appeared on About.com Sewing on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 01:11:40.

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