A collection of DIY sewing projects using a sewing machine. I love reusing items a round the house, so you’ll find lots of upcycling, refashioning, and repurposing projects. Also, I’m always looking for new scrap fabric projects!
One of my favorite things to do with my ridiculous scrap stash is creating crazy quilting blocks. I especially enjoy using up charm pack scraps to create a slightly more coordinated block. While creating these blocks is easy enough with my sewing machine, crazy quilt block embroidery designs are also easy to digitize and stitch…
A few months ago, I ran across a booth selling keychains with sublimated QR codes at our local farmer’s market. I had NEVER seen anything like this before, and I was intrigued. Since QR codes can link to a website, email address, social media account, image, or even text selection, this idea has many applications. …
Since I’ve run out of things to monogram and personalize, my current crafty focus is using my embroidery machine to stitch in-the-hoop projects and quilt like a fiend. When it comes to quilting, I love creating appliqued quilt blocks, adding continuous quilting designs to finished tops, and, my favorite, piecing quilt blocks in the hoop…
Years ago, I stumbled upon the rip-away applique process popularized by Stahls’. I imagined their vinyl had a specific characteristic that made it rip more easily when appliqued, and since I couldn’t purchase it locally, I didn’t think much more about the technique. However, I recently discovered that most heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) types could be…
When Fall and Winter roll around, our family gets out the flannel clothing for pumpkin patch pictures, holiday gatherings, and Christmas pajamas. I also start frantically trying to check gifts off my Christmas list and make as many things as possible before the holiday. As I’ve been crafting, I put together these tips for successful…
Need a gift idea for a pet or want to add a new product to your home embroidery business? Or, do you just want to spiff up your pet’s collar or leash with some embroidery? If so, this tutorial on how to embroider a dog collar will help you create the perfect embroidered collar! I’ll…
While redwork embroidery by hand came first, redwork embroidery created by machines can now mimic the hand-embroidered technique while also stitching designs in a fraction of the time. Redwork designs are relatively quick to digitize if you know what you’re doing. They’re even easier to machine embroider. Want to learn more? Check out what redwork…
The first time I truly started salivating over an embroidery machine with a bigger hoop was when I saw the Anita Goodesign Dollhouse Quilt Pattern. As a mom of two young daughters, I wanted to create this quilt so much! (Before they outgrew dolls.) After yearning over unrealized dreams for almost a year, I finally…
My grandmother turned 90 this year, and this amazing jigsaw puzzle quilt was my gift to her! Not only does she love puzzles, but she and my mom are my two companions when I go to quilt shows. So, a puzzle quilt was the perfect gift idea. I created the design in Electric Quilt 8…
Of my new favorite things to embroider with my machine is jewelry! There’s nothing more exciting than spending a few minutes making a custom jewelry piece to spark conversation about my embroidery hobby. And, many modern machine embroidery necklace and earring designs are actually now super stylish and not tacky. I mean, J.Crew even sells…
Making custom patches with an embroidery machine takes time and thread but is a surprisingly simple project once you understand the process. However, the process can be a bit perplexing for embroidery beginners. For instance, how do make the patch an iron-on patch? Can you use just stabilizer, or do you need to embroider on…
Embroidery on a jacket is a fun way to showcase your personal style! And while denim jackets wax and wane in popularity, right now, I love the matching embroidered denim jackets I made my daughter and me. Want to learn more about adding machine embroidery to a jacket? Follow along in this tutorial! Denim Jacket…
My daughter made it 4 months of kindergarten before her backpack got a hole. She needed a new backpack, and the winter holidays weren’t the time to find cute backpacks. So, I dug into my stash of unused bags and found a quilted backpack I’d received as a DSW freebie. It was perfect to personalize…
The debate around whether it’s stylish or not to monogram a shirt cuff is an entertaining read. For instance, GQ called monograms on shirt cuffs tacky, and Real Men Real Style thinks adding a monogram in a conspicuous place is “putting on a show of fake classiness.” However, the classiest dress shirt companies offer cuff…
I only have a 5″x7″ embroidery machine without a free arm, so anything I embroider has to be laid flat under the machine head. Thus, finding unique blanks that unzip, unroll, or can be unfastened in some manner makes me so happy! When I found that specialized slipper blanks exist for single-needle embroidery machines, I…
Whether you use fusible tape, fabric glue, a hot glue gun, or find a pattern that requires just cutting, making no-sew doll clothes is a surprisingly easy craft project. While I prefer making doll clothes with my sewing machine, sometimes a quick outfit with less hassle is a perfect option. And, my 6-year-old daughter prefers…
Running out of ideas for embroidery projects? Welcome to my master list of fun things to embroider to sell or to make for yourself! While most items listed here are things to embroider with a computerized machine, there’s a lot of overlap for blanks that can also be hand embroidered. I’m always looking for new…
I’d always shied away from making custom embroidered gloves because hooping was so tricky on my single-needle embroidery machine. However, once I started embroidering socks and learned about a sock hooping aid, I could suddenly embroider gloves easily! Now, I’m not talking thick or fleecy gloves where you take apart seams (I recommend this tutorial…
Using my embroidery machine to make and personalize gifts for friends and family is one of the joys of holidays. I prefer making personalized gifts in addition to or instead of money or gift cards. This fulfills my crafty desires and is also meaningful to the recipient. Want to start embroidering your own gifts? Here’s…
I’m all about trying new things. As such, I’m constantly searching for unique embroidery blanks and unique embroidery ideas to feed my creative inclinations. Why embroider towels repeatedly when there are fun things like paper, metal, and even wood to stitch on? And why only use one-dimensional, fill-stitch designs when you could try stitching something…
This is my first year with a child in big-kid school rather than preschool, so embroidering for back-to-school is on the top of my summer embroidery project list. That and using my Cricut Maker to personalize the blanks that aren’t able to be embroidered with my single-needle embroidery machine. Such as reusable water bottles. If…
My older daughter starts kindergarten this year, and I’m going crazy with my embroidery machine. The project of the moment? Embroidered custom shoelaces! My daughter is my number one embroidery fan and wants everything embroidered, so why not make special shoelaces to bring a smile to her face? Especially since she finally owns shoes with…
If you don’t have a sewing machine, don’t know how to use yours, or just don’t want to get it out, this no-sew doll skirt pattern and tutorial are perfect for you. I’ll show you how to make an easy no-sew baby doll skirt using just fabric, hem tape, elastic, and a few accessories. Easy…
Looking for a unique housewarming idea? An off-the-wall neighbor gift? Consider embroidering a roll of paper towels! I know, I know. Why would anyone want to embroider on paper towels? Well, I don’t really know. But, I thrive on novelty and uniqueness, especially when it comes to embroidery blanks. Plus, I really enjoy embroidering on…
It’s not anywhere near Christmas yet, but I like to work on gifts in advance as the ideas come to me. When I saw a cute kitchen-themed design from one of my favorite design websites, I knew it was perfect for my aunt, who adores our local Nothing Bundt Cakes store. And what better to…
I love using my Cricut Maker to cut perfect pattern pieces to sew into beautiful projects! While I don’t often use my Cricut for simple or large fabric pieces, I love having it cut small quilt squares and intricate pieces for my sewing projects. Not only does this save time, but it also makes me…
To my children, there is very little more exciting than the holidays. As such, I find every way I can to get them ramped up for the occasion! So, I’m excited about the holiday pillowcases I FINALLY finished for my daughters! It all started with a Christmas pillowcase for my older daughter years ago, and…
Embroidered yoga mat bags are fairly common, but have you ever tried to embroider a yoga mat? Turns out, it’s not hard as long as you select the right supplies! (Trust me, I tried the wrong ones first and made a huge mess out of the back of one of my old mats.) However, after…
I have two young children, so we sing a lot of silly songs. We also have an Echo Dot that they treat like their personal DJ. One day, my older daughter asked Alexa to sing sewing songs while I was working in my sewing room. And by golly, did you know there are actually songs…
I’m guilty of scrolling Amazon and making splurge craft purchases when I find something really cool. A sock hoop was one of those things I was flabbergasted actually existed! Can you really embroider socks so easily? I’d always avoided embroidering socks in the past with my single-needle embroidery machine. Socks are stretchy, thin, and have…