There are some really great patterns out there to create your child the perfect bathrobe or hooded towel to use at home or at the beach. This is an ideal project to introduce you to embroidering on towelling fabric. You can decorate the garment with some cute sea life embroidery designs or something that your child enjoys, such as the Disney embroidery designs which you will find on the Brother Disney Embroidery machines.
Pencil cases are one of the best beginner projects because they’re fast, fun and can be easily customised. This tutorial shows you ideas on fabric types, embroidery designs, quilting styles and how to apply your own ScanNCut design.
Recommended fabrics such as cotton, linen, denim, canvas or drill.
Create a simple pencil case with fun, bright fabric.
This project will teach you how to decorate an apron using lace, fabric, your machine decorative stitches and applique techniques.
To create this project you can use any style sewing machine. I have used a Brother NV110 sewing machine.
You can sew your own basic apron using the pattern from our May Charity Sewalong. I have purchased this apron from a Daiso Japanese store for only $2.80. You may also be able to find aprons like this from $2 stores across Australia.
First you need to get together all of your fabric, lace and applique pieces. Start cutting out your applique shapes from the fat quarters. You can choose any colours for these applique shapes but I would suggest you choose a white fabric for the circle and then style your cupcake shapes differently.
by Erin W
These days with so many online tutorials, YouTube videos, blogs, patterns and programs, it’s very easy to get distracted and not know where to start on your sewing journey. Instead of being overwhelmed or spending large amounts of money on online tutorials, videos or subscriptions, why not start with something a little more basic… a book!
When you have so much information at your fingertips it’s easy to forget about the idea of hiring or buying a simple book that will guide you through the very basics of sewing, fabric types, techniques, tips, tricks and much more! Plus, if you search your local library you will often find a number of different topics whether you’re interested in the very basics, learning how to sew for children, learning how to make quilts, applique, embroidery, dressmaking and the list goes on. Best of all, this information is ready available to you for a simply library subscription.
The Supanova Pop Culture Expo is dedicated to science-fiction, comic books, animation, gaming, fantasy and a world of imagination for fans young and old. You’ll also find amateur and professional costume designers creating the biggest, boldest outfits to compete in the Madmen National Cosplay Championships.
Countless hours are spent on each costume, which can comprise sewing, embroidery, 3D-printing, crafting, foam cutting and more. The results are impressive proof that given an idea, and powered with the right tools, the opportunities are endless.
by Erin W
Create this cute iPad case with front ruffle and snap button. Plus, you can also embroider this free 130 mm x 150 mm (5″ x 7″) Koi Fish design thanks to John Deer and his Ultimate Stash Collection.
Print out the free downloadable iPad Case pattern (pdf, 538kb) Make sure to press “print to scale” when printing.
by Erin W
If you’re new to sewing and are looking at buying a machine, it can often get a bit overwhelming with the variety of brands, makes and models to choose from. Unfortunately, we see time and time again people opting for a low cost machine from larger retail chains. The problem with this is that some of these machines come with little to no functions, which can make your first sewing experience a frustrating and unpleasant one. Also, what happens when you run into trouble? Will they offer ongoing support or advice? Can you pop into the store or phone someone and actually get some help from a knowledgeable person? Can you participate in classes and events where you have the best chance at learning everything you need to succeed?
When someone comes into our store looking to purchase the cheapest, smallest sewing machine as a ‘starting out’ machine, we will always try our best to explain that cheap and cheerful rarely equals a good sewing experience and we’ll encourage them to think long term by getting a machine we know and trust. We want to give them the best experience money can buy, allowing them to invest in a machine that will invest in them for years to come.
There’s nothing worse than starting a new hobby, especially one that can seem a little daunting at first, and not having the right tools or equipment to get you started. More often than not, having a cheap, low cost machines lacking in mordern user friendly features will force you to throw your hands in the air saying, “I give up! It’s all too hard.” It would be like buying a new car and not having air-conditioning, power steering, disk breaks or even a radio. It might get you from A to B but it’s just not enjoyable.
by Erin W
When you’re learning to sew choosing a pattern can be one of the most important steps. If you’re a beginner, then there are a few things you need to take into account before you make your pattern purchase. This post will identify what things to look out for when choosing a pattern, available resources to help you check the success of a pattern and also which brands are the most beneficial for you newbies.
It’s always fantastic to pick up a pattern on sale or online thinking you’ve got a great bargain. However, if you don’t do a little bit of research before you buy it, you could be wasting your money or setting yourself up for failure.
If you’re just starting out, one of the first things you need to do is go and have a look at your own wardrobe. Then pick out a few key pieces of clothing that you absolutely love wearing. You might want to start out with something simple, such as a skirt or a shirt. Look at how it’s made and identify why you like it. The main aim of this process is to understand what type of clothes fit your body shape and which patterns you should be starting out with, so that you don’t end up disappointed when you’ve finished your garment.
For instance, if you have a number of slim fitting pencil skirts in your wardrobe you can be fairly certain that a full pleated or gathered skirt is not going to work well with your body shape. Otherwise, wouldn’t you already own a number of these? If you’re still unsure there are plenty of online resources available that can help provide some insight as to how you should be dressing for your body shape. For example: Trinny and Susannah – Body Shapes.
Echidna Sewing 