The magnetic snap is indispensable to the construction of purses, totes, and bags. We've used them on dozens of Sew4Home projects and decided it was high time the technique had its very own tutorial. As with many notions and tools that add a unique professional finish, the steps for their use are themselves not necessarily difficult. The secrets are taking the time and patience to go through the instructions in the correct order, and using extra precision in your marking and measuring.
Classic Full Flap Messenger Bag in Wool with Divided, Multi-Pocket Lining
Our bold, full size messenger bag is a true show-stopper. We used a classic Pendleton® wool fabric, carefully fussy cutting the Native American motif for optimum dramatic effect. The dense softness of the wool creates a stable bag without any additional interfacing. The lining is tough canvas divided into two sections with multiple pockets so you can keep all your papers, devices, and accessories expertly organized – there's even a handy swivel hook to capture your keys. The bag closes with a full, foldover flap that securely snaps at the bottom with a sturdy pair of side release buckles.
Crazy Patch Witch Capelet: Sew4Home Halloween Fave
No self-respecting Halloween witch would be caught out under the moon without three important items: a flying broom, a pointy hat, and a kookie cape. Turns out flying brooms are rather hard to come by, but we have you covered on the other fronts. Check one: the cape. Ours is a stylishly short Capelet made of witchy wedges cut from Fat Quarters, lined with Green Slime satin, and tied 'round the neck with Spider Black velvet ribbons. The matching hat is linked below. A ghoulish yet glamorous get-up.
The Dead Roses Witch Hat: Sew4Home Halloween Fave
One of my favorite characters in the Warner Bros.® series of cartoons was Witch Hazel, who debuted in the 1954 short, "Bewitched Bunny." Disney® had previously created a Witch Hazel, and she was kind of cool too, but not nearly as sarcastic or quite as much the fashion victim as the Hazel created by Warner Bros. animator, Chuck Jones. A major part of his Hazel's signature style included a wonderfully crumpled black hat. We think she would approve of our Dead Roses Halloween Witch Hat with its scrunched top, wilting flowers, and stowaway spider. Hauntingly hideous haute couture and one of our most popular Halloween projects ever – a true Sew4Home Classic!
Ribbons in a Row Horizontal Zipper Pouch
Purple combines the calm stability of blue and the fierce energy of red, and is often associated with royalty, luxury, and power. We picked it as the featured color for our long and narrow zipper pouch, using it as a rich background for complimentary accent colors, like tangerine and kiwi, as well as familiar blenders, like pink and navy. One of the best ways to add a splash of multiple colors to a project is with ribbon. This cute pouch has a row of ribbons plus a ribbon wrist loop. Need more convincing on the power of purple? Here are a couple interesting facts to impress your friends: 1) Purple was the color of the first man-made dye. It was formulated in 1856 out of coal tar and called “Mauveine.” 2) Purple is the color of the highest denomination poker chip, worth $5,000.
Dritz Lookbooks: Clever Ideas that Inspire You to Take Action
Here at Sew4Home, we’re all about inspiration. And because we all respond to different visions, styles, colors, and embellishments.… the more ideas the better! We recently visited with our friends from Dritz Sewing at their headquarters in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There was inspiration around every corner, but we were especially excited to learn more about their Dritz® Lookbook series that debuted earlier this year and has already built to four fun issues. Each online magazine is chockfull of inspiring project concepts as well as great tips and innovative ways to use Dritz hardware. Read on to get a sneak peek inside our favorites, then use the handy links to click through to all the Books. They’re free!
Compact Barrel Tote with Ribbon Accents
Our designer barrel tote, with its detachable strap, uses beautiful Jacquard ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons to their best advantage: as focal point embellishments against a solid base fabric. They add just the right dash of drama. But don’t go overboard - too many ribbons is like too much whipped cream... sounds like a good idea at the time, then it smothers the taste of everything. Use them to accent not overwhelm.
Pretty Teapot Cozy: ScrapBusters
It's time for a spot of tea. Did you know to properly brew a pot o' tea, you should first warm the teapot by swooshing a bit of boiling water inside it. Then, pour the water into your teacups to warm them. Add teabags for your preferred strength (from two to four for a standard four-cup pot). Fill the pot with boiling water, stir, and let the tea steep for about 4-5 minutes. It's during this steeping time when you can run into trouble with the tea cooling too fast. So, pop on a cozy to keep things toasty while the tea is steeping. It will also help keep your tea warm between cups. We offer free pattern downloads for the cozy itself as well as the cute teapot appliqué.
How to Quickly and Easily Cut Large Fabric Panels
There are a lot of home décor projects that require cutting large panels of fabrics, such as curtains, throws, and tablecloths. When you're short on space, this can be a bit of a challenge. So here's a little folding-and-cutting trick to make it easier, faster, more compact ... and actually, more precise. Remember making paper snowflakes as a kid? You fold, fold, fold, and then cut, cut, cut. Same basic concept, but without the swiss cheese effect. Grab your rotary cutter and mat and let's slice!
Sew Soft Cuddle® Strip Blankets: Shannon Fabrics
Strip piecing is a fast and easy mainstay in the quilting cotton world, and it has become just as popular for other substates. We’ve used the technique for these bundle-y Cuddle® blankets. But rather than using only one-directional strips, we added our own S4H spin by mixing horizontal insets within the main vertical strips. Then, because Shannon Fabrics Cuddle comes in so many colors, textures, and naps, we kicked up the concept another notch by combining smooth and embossed Cuddle® fabrics so the blankets have a unique mixture of textures that make them extra cozy.
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