Craft Hoarding: 8 Tips to Stop the Stuff From Taking Over

October 3, 2017 · 1 Comment

Craft Hoarding: 8 Tips to Stop the Stuff From Taking Over

Whether you have a whole room devoted to sewing, or whether your stuff is stashed behind the bedroom door, lots of us often find ourselves with same problem.

We find ourselves craft hoarding and It takes over.

The fabric pile becomes a mountain. The mountain expands and spawns more mountains. Drawers become full of stuff and boxes overflow. Chairs and tables become buried under half finished projects. Cupboards become so full we dare not open the door in case we release a vicious monster made from Amy Butler fabric squares, stray bits of elastic and selvedges we kept because somebody told us we shouldn’t throw them out.

Some people need tidiness to be creative, but some of us find that our creativity flourishes in a mess. However this is no good if you can’t get near your sewing machine because your craft hoarding tendencies mean your overflowing yarn basket is blocking the way!

So what can we can do to control the craft hoarding and stop the mess from taking over?

8 Tips For Keeping Your Craft Stuff Under Control

I have included some affiliate links.

1. Invest in some storage. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive! My fabric hoard lives in these boxes. They’re not pretty and it does make my bedroom feel a little bit like a storage facility, but it’s better than having a pile and at least it’s contained.

I also have some small plastic boxes that I use to store ribbon and other bits and pieces.

If you don’t have much of a budget for this kind of thing, there are plenty of things you can use for free. I use a large cardboard box covered in wrapping paper. Jam jars and shoe boxes are also good for storing things.

2. If it’s really bad, you might have to take some time to have a major sort out. If you’ve been craft hoarding for a while, a mess has probably been building up over time.

It can be intimidating to tackle a messy room, but even a messy corner can be off putting, especially if organising stuff is really not your thing.

So here’s a tip from the FlyLady: Take 15 minutes every day to have a go at it until it’s done. Keeping things tidyish is much easier than getting the stuff under control in the first place, so once things are sorted it will be easier to keep it that way.

3. Get rid of stuff you’re not going to use. This might be difficult, especially if you tend to be a bit of a hoarder generally. Be strict with yourself and answer honestly. Am I going to use this? If the answer is no, then get rid of it.

This doesn’t necessarily mean throwing it away! Maybe you have a friend or family member who would like it. Old people’s homes and community centres can often use craft supplies too.

4. Try not to buy more stuff until you’ve used up at least some of what you have. If you have a sort out, you might find that you have things that you’ve forgotten about. I found some magnetic snaps the other day after I’d bought some more because I thought I’d run out! If you’re able to keep things organised, you’ll know what you have.

If you have lots of fabric, plan some scrap projects and decide what you are going to make with any larger pieces you might have.

I know sometimes it’s difficult to cut into something that’s especially beautiful, but if you make something with it, at least it will be used and you’ll probably see it more. You’re not going to see it if it’s buried in a box or in a fabric mountain behind the bedroom door.

5. Avoid your favourite fabric shops. If you have issues with walking out of a fabric shop empty handed, maybe it’s best to avoid them for a bit until you get things under control.

6. Don’t buy anything on a whim. Have a project in mind for it first! This isn’t foolproof. You actually have to make the thing. But at least you won’t be adding to a pile of fabric that you like but don’t know what to do with.

7. Make some gifts for people. Now is a good time of year to be doing this with Christmas coming up. Alternatively, you could make some stuff as birthday presents or as gifts for your child’s teachers.

Also there are various charities that you can make things for. Dress a Girl Around the World is a charity that distributes dresses to girls and shorts to little boys in the developing world.

8. Open a shop on Etsy or get a stall at a craft fair. This way you’ll be able to recoup the cost of some of the stuff that you’ve bought! Just a word of warning: selling on Etsy takes some research if you want it to be a success. You’ll also find that some craft fairs are better than others, and you will need to pay a fee to sell at them.

Do you have any more suggestions for keeping the craft mess at bay? Add them in the comments!

And if you want to make a start on getting organised, I have a couple of free printables. One is for keeping track of your fabric, the other is for making a list of haberdashery bits and pieces you have. You can have them for free in exchange for an email address, just fill in the form below.

How to Sew In an Invisible Zip

September 25, 2017 · 10 Comments

How to Sew In an Invisible Zip

When it comes to sewing, zips are tricky, and knowing how to sew in an invisible zip is especially so.

If you’re sewing something using a pattern, the proper way of attaching the zip is often fiddly and awkward and the results are possible less than perfect.

Or if you’re sewing something that doesn’t need a pattern, like a cushion cover, you might need to sew in an invisible zip, but suddenly realise you have no idea at all how to sew the zip in. Bewilderment and possibly panic ensues, and the project is abandoned.

I know of people who are so put off even by the idea of sewing in an invisible zip that they’ll go to any length to avoid zips altogether!

Thankfully there is an easy way to sew in an invisible zip into a seam. I actually use it to sew in the non invisible kind as well!

How to Sew in a Zip the Easy Way

As is often the case with this kind of thing, the proper way of going about things often not the easiest way. Yet if you do things the easy way, most of the time there’s no obvious difference than if you did it the proper way.

In fact, it may well end up being neater if you did it the easy way because there’s less chance of things going wrong.

This is the method I use when sewing a zip into a dress or a skirt, and it would probably work for sewing a zip into a cushion cover as well.

1. Pin the seams and check the fit. When I’m making a dress like this one (or this one!), I’ll put the zip in the side seam.

2. Sew up the seam where you’d like the zip to go. Press it open.

3. On the wrong side, pin the zip to the seam face down. Check that the teeth of the zip are aligned with the seam.

4. Tack the zip in place. It’s very important that the teeth are lined up with the seam, so keep checking!

5. Sew the zip in place. It’s easiest to do this with a zip foot. They’re not expensive (this is an affiliate link for a universal zip foot on Amazon) and they allow you to get nice and close to the teeth and keep the stitches straight.

It can be tricky to sew past the zip pull, so start a little way down past it. Sew both sides of the zip.

When you check the right side, there should be a neat row of stitches on either side of the seam.

6. Now grab your unpicker! Unpick the part of the seam that is covering the zip to expose the teeth.

7. To sew the top end of the zip, move the zip pull down. Sew the top ends of the zip.

You should have a perfectly sewn in invisible zip!

There will be little threads where you unpicked the seam, but they are easy enough to pull out.

If you find that on the first attempt it goes wonky, don’t worry. Just unpick it and try again. The important thing here is to make sure that the teeth of the zip are lined up with the seam. The other thing is to not unpick the seam until you’ve checked that the stitches are in the right place.

How to Make Clothes Without a Pattern

August 8, 2017 · 12 Comments

How to Make Clothes Without a Pattern

Can I Make Clothes Without a Pattern?

A couple of years ago I started asking myself whether it was possible to make clothes without a pattern.

Was it possible for somebody with no formal training to make something completely from scratch?

Would it be enough to arm myself with my measurements and some bits of greaseproof paper?

Or would it prove to be impossible, with only sewing disasters to show for my hard work?

The short answer is yes, you can make clothes without a pattern!

Why Make Clothes Without a Pattern?

There are sometimes issues with using patterns. One of the problems is getting things to fit. The sizing on the back is totally different to high street dress sizes and although patterns can be adapted, it can be tricky and there’s no guarantee that you’ll end up with something that is a good fit.

Often the instructions are confusing. There have been a number of times where I’ve got into a total muddle with the instructions, or not been able to figure out at all what I am supposed to do! I’ve ended up putting the instructions to one side (cough, throwing them across the room, cough) and finishing the thing off myself in the way I think best.

Also, patterns rarely show the easiest way of doing things, even if there would be no obvious difference between doing something the easy way and doing it the proper way!

On top of all of this, it all takes so long! Wading through the instructions, identifying the pattern pieces you need, ironing the pieces, laying them out, cutting out, reading the instructions again, getting into a muddle, it takes ages. And ages is not what most of us have.

Making bags and cushions and things without a pattern is possible. So I decided to try making clothes without a pattern to see whether that was possible.

And I am pleased to say that it is totally possible!

You can end up with something that fits right, in a style you like, in less time and with less faffing about.

Where Do I Start?

The key thing here is to keep things simple.

I should probably say at this point that if I was going to make something difficult or complicated, or something I hadn’t tried before, then I would probably use a pattern. It would give me a sense of how to go about making a similar thing without a pattern in the future.

A good, simple project is a circle skirt. There’s a tutorial for one here.

Loose fitting pyjama style trousers are also a good place to start, or you might like to try some of these.

Do I Need Particular Skills or Knowledge?

Making something without pattern requires using the skills and knowledge you have, plus your creativity.

It will help you a lot if you have made clothes for yourself before. This will give you an idea of:
How clothes are put together
The shape of pattern pieces
Potentially tricky areas
Sleeves
Zips
Darts
Getting something to fit.

Keeping it simple here means being aware of and keeping within your own limitations when it comes to making clothes without a pattern.

This doesn’t mean you have to stick to making things that are so easy they are completely shapeless! It just means being aware of what you can do and how you can use that knowledge to make something for yourself. Simple is best. It doesn’t have to mean shapeless.

Do I Need Any Particular Equipment?

You’ll need your usual sewing supplies, including pins, tape measure and decent scissors.

Large bits of old fabric are very useful. Try old curtains or old duvet covers. You’ll also need pattern paper, although greaseproof paper or newspaper will do.

Swedish pattern paper is supposed to be very good as you can use it in the same way as ordinary pattern paper, but you can also sew it. I haven’t tried it myself though!

A dress form is nice to have as it does make things easier, but it’s not essential.
(These are affiliate links.)

If you don’t have a dress form, a friend or a cooperative husband is useful.

Where Else Can I Find Inspiration?

The best place to look is your own wardrobe. Identify clothes that you like to wear and why.

Do you like the colour?
Is it comfy?
Is it a good fit?
Do you like the style of it?

Then have a good look at it and try to figure out how it is put together. Look for the size and shape of the pieces, how the necklines been finished, and generally how the thing is constructed. If you can bear to, take it apart! Then try to make something similar.

Other Tips and Advice

Keep it simple. I keep saying it because it’s important! Stick to simple shapes and simple construction and it will probably turn out fine.

Don’t be afraid of darts. Darts give things shape where they need it. If the thing you have made is a bit shapeless, darts are probably the answer.

Don’t be afraid of zips. Doing them the proper way is a fiddly nightmare, but there is a much easier way!

Things go wrong sometimes. Our mistakes are an opportunity to learn. Most mistakes are fixable with a little bit of creativity.

If you would like to know more about making clothes without using a pattern, I have a free ebook for you! Just fill in the form here with your email address and it will be sent to you.

(Please be aware though you will be added to the newsletter list. I send this out every Saturday. There’s links, updates, tips, free stuff and no spam. You can unsubscribe if you don’t want to get it.)

You might also like my ebook, Sewing Clothes Without a Pattern: 6 Easy Projects to Kickstart Your Handmade Wardrobe.It contains 6 projects that you can make yourself without using a pattern, using a circle skirt as a starting point. There’s also a free printable for recording your measurements.

If you want to make clothes without a pattern, you might also find these posts helpful.

Linking up here

How to Draft a Trouser Pattern

June 30, 2017 · 19 Comments

How to Draft a Trouser Pattern

One of the things I love about sewing for little ones is that they don’t care about what other people think!

My youngest boy, Cosmo, is 4. He doesn’t think in terms of some things being for boys and other things being for girls, he just thinks about whether he likes them. His favourite colour is pink.

With Cosmo starting school in September, I know that these days of him being free to be just who he is in the way that only small children are are coming to an end, and try as I might to keep him this way, he will be dictated to a bit by other kids at school.

So when I had to go into King’s Lynn to rescue a pair of shoes that got left on the bus, I jumped at the chance to take my little lamb to the fabric shop and let him chose something that I could make into a pair of trousers.

Cosmo chose some fabric with the bees on, which I think will make a lovely pair of trousers for the rest of the summer!

I didn’t have a pattern and last time I made trousers, I drew round a pair of trackie bottoms. This worked out ok, but they were a bit baggy around the top.

So this time, I decided to draft a trouser pattern properly so my little boy will have a pair of gorgeous bumble bee trousers that fit his sweet little self perfectly!

How to Draft a Pair of Trousers

It’s easier than you might think to draft a trouser pattern! Although this was a pair for a little boy, the same principles apply whatever the size of the person.

You Will Need

Pattern paper or greaseproof paper, a pencil, a ruler and a tape measure. A French curve is useful but you could use a plate instead if you don’t have one. These are affiliate links.

Taking Measurements

The key to sewing clothes that fit properly is taking accurate measurements.

To draft a trouser pattern, you will need to measure:

Waist to ankle (the easiest way to do this is to dangle the tape measure upside down)
Waist to knee
Waist to hips (at the widest point)
Rise (sit on a chair, then measure from your waist to where your butt meets the chair)

Around your waist
Around the front of your hips at the widest point
Around the back of your hips
Around your knee

You’ll also need to decide how wide you want the trousers to be at the bottom.

Drafting the Pattern

The pattern will be drafted in 2 sections. There’ll be one section for the back, and one for the front. These sections will then be cut on doubled fabric, so you’ll have 2 back pieces and 2 front pieces.

Trouser Front

1. Take your pattern paper and down one edge, draw a vertical line the same length as the distance from your waist to your ankle. If you are making trousers for yourself, you might need to stick pieces of paper together.

2. On that vertical line, mark on your waist (that’s at the top), distance from waist to hips, your rise, and waist to knee.

3. Now you’re going to draw on the horizontal lines. These will go where you marked on the vertical line.

Take your waist measurement and divide it by 4. Add 1 cm for ease and draw that line at the top of the vertical line.

4. Take your front hip measurement and divide it by 2. Add 1 cm, then draw that horizontal line where you marked your hips.

5. Underneath that, where you marked your rise, draw another horizontal line the same length as your front hip measurement. This line will need to be longer, so we have to calculate the crotch extension (I wish they’d call it something else!). How long was the line you just drew? Multiply that by 0.25, then extend the rise line by that amount.

6. Now find where you marked your waist to knee measurement on the vertical line. Divide your knee measurement in half, and 1 cm for ease and draw it on.

7. At the bottom of the line, draw a last horizontal line. This will be the width you want the trousers to be at the bottom.

8. Now join the lines up! The waist to hip line will be straight.The next part, the hip to rise, will need to be curved. For this you can use a French curve, or a plate will do if you don’t have one. The rise to ankle will also be a straight line.

Don’t worry about joining it to the knee line. Just make sure that you don’t go through that line, or you’ll have issues getting your trousers on!

Drafting the Trouser Back

Drafting the back section is done in exactly the same way as the front, with 2 exceptions.

The first is that where you draw you hip line, you will need to use the measurement you took around the back of your hips, divided by 2, plus 1 cm for ease of wearing.

The other exception is that to work out the crotch extension, you will need to multiply the hip line by 0.3.

Adding the Seam Allowance

You will need to add a seam allowance to your pattern pieces. You can either draw around your pattern piece to add a seam allowance, or you could just add it in when you’re cutting out.

It’s a good idea to write on your pattern pieces whether you’ve added in the seam allowance or not to avoid causing yourself confusion if you decide to make yourself another pair at a later date.

Next week I’ll be showing you how to sew the pieces together to make the trousers!

Linking up here.

How to Sew a Hem With Bias Binding

June 27, 2017 · 2 Comments

How to Sew a Hem With Bias Binding

Whenever I make something with a curved hem, my favourite way to finish it is to sew the hem with bias binding.

As bias binding stretches with the curved edge, it’s perfect for finishing a hem on a circle or half circle skirt. I also often use it for finishing armholes and necklines as well.

Usually I sew the bias binding on so that it is visible. But while I was watching the Great British Sewing Bee last year, I discovered that there’s actually another way to sew a hem with bias binding, so that the binding is not visible on the outside.

I love the idea of this because it’s like having a bag with a pretty lining. Other people might not see it but I know it’s there!

I’ve been wanting to try it out for a while, and the opportunity presented itself a couple of weeks ago when I was turning this top into a dress.

I was happy with the results, although I could have used a narrower bias binding. If I had, the results would probably have been neater, as the stitching is quite high up and I think it would look nicer if it was closer to the bottom of the hem.

Here’s how to sew a hem with bias binding if you want to have a go yourself!

Sewing a Hem With Bias Binding

You Will Need

Enough bias binding to go around the hem of your skirt (the 16 mm stuff will be fine, you don’t need it to be very wide), plus a bit extra, an iron and ironing board, usual sewing supplies.

Binding the Hem

1. Take one end of your bias binding and open it out a bit. Unless you’re sewing something small, leaving it on the roll or folded up will be easiest.

2. Starting somewhere that won’t show too much (the side’s a good place), pin one end of the bias binding to the edge that you are binding. The right sides need to be together, so pin it face down to the right side of your skirt.

Don’t worry about pinning it right the way round. Just a few cm to get you started will do fine.

3. Ensure that the edges are aligned, then sew the rest of the bias binding to the right side of the skirt. Keep the stitches as close as you can to the fold nearest to the edge, without actually sewing over the fold.

When you get back to where you started, sew a little bit more so that the ends overlap.

4. With the iron, press the seam you have just sewn away from the bias binding and towards the skirt. Turn it over and press it again to make sure that the seam is nice and neat.

5. Now fold the bias binding over so that it is underneath, and press again.

6. Keeping close to the other folded edge this time, sew the bias binding in place.

There you have it! One bound hem where the bias binding is not visible.

I love the idea of having pretty bias binding on the inside that nobody knows is there! Here are some links to bias binding on Minerva Crafts. These are affiliate links.

Linking up here.

Craft Hoarding: 8 Tips to Stop the Stuff From Taking Over

8 Tips For Keeping Your Craft Stuff Under Control

Share this:

How to Sew In an Invisible Zip

How to Sew in a Zip the Easy Way

Share this:

How to Make Clothes Without a Pattern

Can I Make Clothes Without a Pattern?

Why Make Clothes Without a Pattern?

Where Do I Start?

Do I Need Particular Skills or Knowledge?

Do I Need Any Particular Equipment?

Where Else Can I Find Inspiration?

Other Tips and Advice

Share this:

How to Draft a Trouser Pattern

How to Draft a Pair of Trousers

You Will Need

Taking Measurements

Drafting the Pattern

Trouser Front

Drafting the Trouser Back

Adding the Seam Allowance

Share this:

How to Sew a Hem With Bias Binding

Sewing a Hem With Bias Binding

You Will Need

Binding the Hem

Share this:

Join the List

Privacy Policy

Instagram