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.
In this post, I'll show you how to make felt flowers and attach them to hair ties with a sew-on rhinestone in the middle. This is a quick and easy project. Make them in a rainbow of colors, so you can wear them with everything!
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.
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make felt flowers and attach them to shoe clips, so you have different options to go with a felt hat. Mix and match to go with your outfit, or just to change up the look of your hat. You could also attach these to a headband, scarf, or your shoes.
In this post, I'll show you how to make a reusable shopping bag. This tutorial includes a pattern and step by step instructions for making this eco-friendly market tote bag. This bag rolls up and buttons closed for easy storage when you're not using it. Make a couple of them to have plenty of room for your purchases!
In this post, I'll show you how to grow bulbs indoors by tricking them into thinking that winter has passed. Sometimes I get super lazy about taking care of my plants. I like the idea of having something pretty and flowery around, but then the weight of responsibility sets in, and I wonder if I really want to be tied to this thing for the rest of its lifespan. The great thing about bulbs is that you get all of the shiny newness and flowery goodness with none of the long term responsibility. Once the bulbs are spent, you can either plant them in your garden outside or toss them.
My earlier series of posts on making jewelry from aluminum cans has proven quite popular, so I'm expanding it. See my earlier posts on how to break apart your cans and how to make embossed earrings. In this post, I'll show you how to cut out some cute flowers from aluminum cans or lightweight craft metal, and then turn them into earrings. This is a great DIY project to recycle or upcycle some cans!
In my last post, I went over the basics of how to use the Janome Coverpro 1000CPX. The main reason I bought this coverstitch machine was for hemming, and while you can hem things without buying the hem guide attachment, it's so much easier with the attachment. If you buy only one attachment for this machine, I think the hem guide should be it.
In this post, I'll show you how to use a coverstitch machine, specifically the Janome 1000CPX. I'll also go over the differences between the 1000CPX, 900CPX, and 2000CPX. You'll be up and running with your coverstitch machine in no time!
In this post, I'll show you how to make a beautiful rainbow throw with the quilt-as-you-go method. This method helps you to sew all of the layers of your quilt at the same time, which means it comes together pretty quickly! Then we'll add a cozy fleece border around the edge to round it all out. This project is a slightly more complex version of the quilt as you go lap blanket I made.
In this post, I'll go over my best tips and tricks for sewing in a straight line. When you first start sewing, you might notice that it's difficult to make sure your fabric feeds evenly, so that you can get a nice straight line of stitches. Even if you've been sewing for awhile, you might have trouble with this! Honestly, when I stop paying attention or sew too quickly, I still get wobbly seams sometimes. But if you follow these tips, and you pay careful attention, you should be able to sew in a nice straight line.
Do you have a sewing machine with questionable electrical cords? In this post, I'll show you how to replace an external motor on a vintage sewing machine with a new motor and foot pedal, so you can get it running again and use it without worrying about electrical fires.
In this post, I'll review the Singer Tiny Serger, a little gem of a machine that I only discovered recently. I have a full size serger, the Singer ProFinish, which I reviewed here. I went without a serger for awhile just because they're pricey, but if I'd known about the Tiny Serger, I'd have bought one immediately. I love this little guy.
