If you love your pet and you love your home, chances are you’ve been frustrated by the challenge of finding pet accessories that work with your decor. Luckily for us, this is nothing that a little DIY power can’t fix! It’s super easy to sew your own pet bed, which you can customize with a…
In keeping with January’s theme of fresh starts and healthy resolutions, what better way to get motivated to exercise than with some new exercise accessories? I find that I have a better chance of sticking with new habits if I make them as convenient as possible, so having a handy way to tote my yoga…
With farmers’ market season upon us, it’s always a good idea to have lots of reusable produce bags on hand. But the problem with regular cloth bags is that they’re not see-through, making it easy to lose track of what’s in the fridge and resulting in tragic forgotten-vegetable casualties. To help keep track of what…
It seems no matter what I do, I can never get a handle on all the tiny odds and ends that accumulate around my house. From craft materials to hair ties, the bits and bobs are constantly trying to take over, so in the never-ending quest to corral them, these little fabric bins were born….
Reverse applique may sound fancy, but it’s actually a crazy-easy sewing technique that allows you to add tons of color, texture and pattern to your projects with very little effort. In this technique, two or more fabrics are layered and stitched together, then sections of the fabric are strategically cut away to reveal the color(s)…
There are so many great things happening in the embroidery world these days. Gone are the old-fashioned needlepoint projects of yesteryear, replaced with a new crop of fantastic modern stitchery that ranges from quick, trendy patterns available for purchase on sites like Etsy to some amazing fine art pieces by a new generation of textile…
I’ve been totally into the geometric triangle trend we’re seeing now in the graphic design world, especially because this motif reminds me of a patchwork quilt. So I couldn’t resist jumping on the triangle trend and stitching up some triangle patchwork wall art for my (very bare) living room walls, and I thought I’d share…
Curtains are one of my favorite things to sew for the home. They require only the most basic sewing skills, and stitching them yourself allows you to create distinctive, custom draperies that could cost a fortune to have professionally made. Luckily, if you have a sewing machine and a spare weekend, you can sew curtains…
Thanks to a few recent online purchases, I had an enormous pile of long brown packing paper strips in my studio. I couldn’t bear to just recycle it; it seemed to have so much crafty potential. So tasked with the challenge of creating a project to help get organized for the new year, I decided…
Christmas is just a few days away, but there’s still time to whip up your own handmade gifts or decorations with these quick and easy stockings! Stitched in a thick, Pendleton-style wool fabric, only a few simple seams are needed to finish each of these; once you get the hang of the construction, you can…
I have no idea how it can be Thanksgiving already, but apparently it almost is, so it’s time to think about pretty tables (and big, delicious dinners!). Here’s a quick and easy runner project that’s perfect for adding a little handmade flair to your table (or to bring along as a hostess gift). It’s easy…
Add a little autumnal flair to your fall wardrobe with this rustic tree branch tote! This sturdy piece is great for carting daily necessities on your commute or for more outdoorsy tasks like packing a picnic or carrying camping supplies. The bag itself features a basic construction that can be adapted and used with any…
It’s really starting to feel like fall, and whether or not that means back to school for you, fall always seems to mean new supplies. Don’t forget your electronics this season, so you can whip up a cozy little wool sleeve for your laptop or tablet! In this project, you’ll learn how to install a…
It’s summertime, and the sewing is easy! Chances are, you’re not in the mood to lock yourself inside this month to work on a complicated sewing project, but if you’re looking for some instant crafty gratification to whip up on your way out the door to vacation, this luggage tag is just the thing. You…
Sewing in a Straight Line by Brett Bara — How to Sew a Round Bowl with Straight Lines Only from Rarebit Productions on Vimeo. We’re very excited to announce that our resident sewing expert and all-around awesome crafter, Brett Bara, has a new book out titled Sewing in a Straight Line. To celebrate, Brett is…
There’s no rule that says we have to make a mess of ourselves when digging in the dirt, right? Well, maybe there kind of is, but even so, it helps to have all your tools handy while you’re getting dirty. This simple work apron will do the trick, keeping your gloves, seed packets and shears…
I’m totally smitten with the terrarium trend — a tiny, private world occupied by lush greens and adorable figurines? Who could resist? So in thinking about what would be fun to sew this spring, and with greenery sprouting up all around me, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could somehow sew a terrarium. It…
Some people may get spring fever, but around this time of year, I get egg fever. Egg decorating is, without a doubt, my all-time favorite holiday-crafting activity. When I came across an image recently of eggs made by Ukrainian folk artist Forostyuk Inna that were embroidered (yes, really embroidered!), my mind was officially blown. A…
If you’ve got spring cleaning on the brain, you may be looking for some new organizational solutions (aren’t we all?). Here’s a quick and easy sewing project to help the cause — fabric bins! These little containers are perfect for holding odds and ends, from bathroom clutter to craft-room supplies. I’ll show you how to…
The fact that Valentine’s Day has just passed actually provides a great opportunity: why not put a little bit of the love and sentiment we enjoyed on the holiday into everyday life? There’s no reason to limit the gifts of love to just once a year. Show someone you “heart” them all the time with…
