Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with sewing and crafts

Cross my heart

mippy — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:26:47 -0800

I've been doing some cross-stitch after a break, and have been enjoying it. Where can I find some cool, non-chintzy designs? Especially if something other than cards or big projects. Recommendations for pattern software good too! I did the blackwork Mucha lady from this book a few years back and really liked it, but I'd like some small projects too. I know there's one site that does swear cross-stitch, but it seems a bit naff - I'm looking for the cross-stitch equivalent of Sublime Stitching (I can't embroider freehand yet, but really love the designs on there).

Helful tools for sewers and crafters with chronic pain?

palmcorder_yajna — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:26:52 -0800

My mother-in-law loves to sew and knit, but fibromyalgia is slowing her down. Can you recommend any tools or gadgets that might help her? My mother-in-law has been suffering from fibromyalgia for quite some time. When she has a good day, the first thing she does is bust out her sewing machine. She also loves to knit. The trouble is, the repetitive motion involved in sewing and knitting is really hard on her body, and it exacerbates her symptoms. The day after a bout of crafting, she aches like she's run a marathon.

Can any of you crafting, stitching, and knitting gods and goddesses recommend some tools that might make her hobbies a little easier for her? For instance, are there especially gentle and well-designed scissors out there? Ergonomic knitting needles? Etc.?

I'm not much of a DIY-er myself: I have a bare beginner's understanding of sewing and no knowledge whatsoever about knitting, so I don't even really know how to look for this kind of thing.

Thanks so much for your help!

Cheater Quilt Fabric? What?

Medieval Maven — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:01:15 -0800

I am making a toddler-blanket for Christmas, but I've managed to buy fabric that I don't know how to work with. I know, smart, right? so I have a waffle knit fabric (white with skulls!) and a black, pre-quilted backing (cheater quilt fabric?), as well as red satin binding for the edges. I have never worked with this fabric backing before, and I'm not sure what to do with it. Do I fuse it to the waffle stuff? I don't want to quilt the waffle knit.

I've been googling, but I don't think I'm googling the right thing because I'm getting lots of PRODUCT but not a lot of information on how to work with this stuff.

I may be over-thinking a plate of beans here.

Social networking for fabric geeks?

nax — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:36:12 -0800

I'm looking for a project management/social networking site for fabric craftspeople, artisans and hobbyists (can include sewing, weaving, whatever) on the MyFolia model. In other words someplace on line where I can organize my projects and connect with other craftspeople. The forums just aren't working for me-- too much chat, not enough organizing.

Lady seeks stylish portable sewing box

exceptinsects — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:52:53 -0800

Help me find an excellent sewing box. I'm looking for something portable (bonus points for a handle), fairly large, that doesn't look like it belongs to somebody's grandma (e.g. flowery, cushiony, wicker-y, or with little bears on it).

Modern is preferable to old fashionedy, but either way there should be lots of little drawers and things. Ideally there might be some way of also storing fabric scraps and whatnot.

Something like a tackle box might be okay, but it would be nice if it looked more like something you could have in your living room.

I've tried searching ebay and crafty sites, but keep running into the grandma problem.

Where can I find this awesome fabric?

Medieval Maven — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:40:51 -0800

I need to know if there is a particular word for this kind of brocade. I think it's a brocade. Here is a terrible picture from my cellphone of a kimono made out of this fabric. It's blurry I know, but maybe you can get the idea - it's a black background and the pattern is picked out in gold thread. It looks like the pattern is done after how oranges look when they are cut in half, but very stylized.

Does any one know if this is a particular kind of brocade? Where I could find some? I've looked on eBay and I've googled but I think I am missing some sort of key word here - I'm just getting run of the mill brocade, not this awesome stuff. Thanks!

Sewing 101

mistsandrain — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:28:32 -0800

Beginner's sewing: Please guide me to the most simple, step by step instructions on how to sew simple garments from simple patterns with a sewing machine.

El Gigante

e^2 — Sun, 27 May 2007 18:48:11 -0800

Help me make a luchador mask. I know a man with a very large head who loves lucha libre. This man had a regular old-fashioned hat made for him last year, because he hasn't fit pre-manufactured hats since he was twelve. It was the largest hat size the hatmaker had made by a half an inch in the band and had to be made in brown material instead of the black he originally asked for because the black material wasn't structurally strong enough to stand at that size. So you can see how ordering a mask online would probably not work for him, even with the stretchiness. He's considered a pro mask maker, but first I'd like to find out how difficult a basic stretchy mask would be to make. Preferably, if I could find a basic pattern that I could size up.

Copyright laws for selling homemade clothes?

foxinthesnow — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:47:09 -0800

If I make a piece of clothing from a store-bought sewing pattern and then sell the clothing, aren't I breaking some sort of copyright law? Likewise, if I buy a patterned fabric for my clothing and sell the clothing, are any laws broken because the fabric pattern was designed by someone else?

Help me make a belt

amtho — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 09:56:54 -0800

Wanted: tips or detailed instructions for making a belt (clothing) out of fabric, iron-on "waist maker" tape, needle, thread, "belting" strap material, and (probably) some hooks. I'm not 100% sure how to fold/sew the fabric around the tape, especially the ends. No luck with Google, and the package instructions are sparse. I've got this kind of nice 50s-style dress I'm working on accessorizing with white shoes, hat, gloves, and a string of fake pearls; it needs the perfect belt. I've decided I need to make the perfect belt: simple, fabric, about 1" wide, buckle optional (can't find the right one anyway). I went to the fabric store and found the materials described above and now own them.

The iron-on tape will let me use heat to stick the fabric to it, but what about the back, where the fabric would probably be two layers? And what about the ends? I'm thinking the ends should be rounded or pointed, but what's the best way to fold the fabric over?

I've got a thinner fabric and a thicker fabric; I think I'm going to try to make belts out of both of them. Oh, and I have to have it done by Friday.

(I already made my own crinoline - _without_ instructions or any experience, so I'm feeling pretty able)

Surely there are some instructions out there somewhere...

Which sewing machine to get?

jennyjenny — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 07:47:38 -0800

I am utterly convinced that I need a sewing machine. But I have absolutely no idea where to begin. I have recently begun knitting and have discovered a new passion for working with yarn and fabric and stuff. I have decided that I would like to get a sewing machine. Can you recommend a good sewing machine for a beginner, preferably one that I can grow with? I can see myself using it a lot, and learning to sew ever-more-complicated things on it pretty quickly, so I don't want one that I will outgrow in a year or so. Thank you!