The Mermaid's Den

I post sewing and crafting tutorials here at the Mermaid’s Den. I love making things and sharing them with you, so you can make them, too.

All tagged budget

Nov 2

Nov 2 Make Your Own Petticoat from a Prom Dress

Beth

Easy beginner project, Frugal Crafts, Free Tutorial

In this post, I’ll show you how to refashion a thrifted prom dress to make your own petticoat or crinoline. If you have a circle skirt or a full skirt with lots of fabric, a petticoat is helpful to give it some shape. This is a quick and easy project, and most thrift stores have a selection of old prom dresses, so it’s easy to find the materials. I bought a dress that was several sizes too small for me, but the tulle part of the skirt, which started further down from the waist, was just right for my petticoat. You could also buy a dress that was too big and just gather the tulle fabric more or cut out some of the excess fabric.

Apr 3

Apr 3 How to Start Sewing for Free

Beth

Sewing Hacks, Sewing Tips, Shopping guide

In this post, I'll break out all my best tips for finding sewing supplies for free (or really cheap). I wanted to get into sewing for a long time, but I kept putting it off because the hobby seemed expensive. Getting a sewing machine looked like it was going to be at least $100 or more, and then you still need thread, needles, fabric, patterns, an iron, and so on just to get started.

And then what if it turns out you don't really like sewing? You've spent all that money just to be disappointed. So I kept hemming and hawing over it.

Well, I'm going to tell you how to get started without spending (much) money. If you're patient and attentive, you can get almost all of your supplies for free. I do recommend buying thread and needles, but I'll tell you how to get the best deals on those.