My Best Sewing Tips – Part 2
My 20 best sewing tips Find out how to make a belt with Strapping in Greenie Galleries Read tips 1 to 10 by clicking through to this post. 11. Never cut threads close to the end of seams. The seam will split open the minute you put the garment on. Rather sew...
My Best Sewing Tips – Part 1
Look in Greenie Galleries for this No Sew Scarf My 10 best sewing tips 1. Zig-zagging or over-casting edges is not always necessary. You can tell if you need to finish your edges, gently pull at your fabric, if threads come loose easily, then zig-zag. Or fold over...
Black Top
Black top + FREE sewing pattern Black top I wasn't sure about this top. What I had in mind when I started -and what turned out to be - were two completely different tops. I always say that fabric choice is the biggest factor in the success of a garment. You would...
Rolled Wire Ring
Rolled wire ring at top of stack Wire ring tutorial Last week's post was a bit of a recycle. Same with this week's post. I made rolled wire bracelets a few weeks ago. While I was at it, I made smaller versions. Rings. Find the tutorial for the silver wire ring- by...
Easy Maxi Skirt + FREE Sewing Pattern
Maxi skirt tutorial Maxi Skirt This week I'm recycling a previous post. Sort of. When I posted this - I styled it as a dress. I did say it would work as a skirt. And as you can see - it does. My favourite skirt I ever made is the gathered midi skirt. See it -...
Concertina Ribbon Necklace DIY
Tape necklace How to make a tape necklace I got the inspiration for this necklace at a COS store near SOHO while I was in London recently. How similar is it to a necklace I made out of food packaging last year? See that necklace - here. And how about this ribbon...
Easy Scatter Cushion Covers
FREE sewing pattern for scatter cushion covers Scatter cushion covers Scatter cushions make such a difference to home decor. We have loads of them in our seating areas and on our beds. I bought a couple from IKEA for our boat. Read about our boat - here -...
DIY Beaded Bib Necklace
Beaded bib necklace Tutorial for a beaded bib necklace I've made a bib necklace before - see here. They're pretty easy to make. You need to be on the lookout for a piece of embellishment to make one. I found this one in a bargain bin. Not sure what is was...
Sew a Zipper Toiletry Bag
How to make a cloth toiletry bag Cotton zipper toiletry bag So this week, I'm showing how I made a toiletry bag with a zipper closure. Here - is a link for similar bag with a drawstring. And another link - for a rainproof poncho and bag. Wow, don't you...
Shell Flower Ring – DIY
How to make a flower ring Are you loving the floral theme going on in fashion right now? Me too. Floral shapes are EVERYWHERE this summer. From blossom prints to floral laser cutouts all the way to vibrant colours. This shell flower ring (left) and the glass button...
No Sew Boob Tube Top
Make a strapless top without a sewing machine No sew boob tube top These tops go back to when I was helluva young. They say you should never wear something if it comes around a second time. Nonsense I say. But finding the same fabric isn't always easy. I wish...
Make a Rolled Wire Bracelet
Rolled wire bracelets Wire bracelet tutorial I made something similar with brightly coloured electric cable ages ago - see here. And the finished bangles can be seen - here. Unfortunately my earlier blog posts didn't have many, if any, step by step photos. Lesson...
How to make a Cowl Neck Top + FREE Sewing Pattern
FREE sewing pattern for a cowl neck top Cowl neck top We were with some friends a few months back and one of them saw this top in a shop. Lucky she bought it so I could have good look at how it's make. It's so easy to make, it's just not true. The trick is the right...
DIY Chain and Bead Necklace
Bead and chain necklace How to make a bead and chain necklace I made this necklace ages ago. So unfortunately, I can't show all the steps in putting it together. Basically it's made by alternating a bead on a piece of wire with a piece of chain. You can buy wire with...
How to make a Tube Dress + FREE Sewing Pattern
Tube dress come maxi skirt tutorial Tube dress I know I always say many of my tutorials are easy. But seriously, this is beyond easy. It requires TWO seams. That's it! The trick with this dress come maxi skirt is in the choice of fabric. I was given a huge bag of...
DIY Ribbon Bracelets
Ribbon bracelet How to make a ribbon bracelet I first saw these bracelets on ASOS. They popped up in retailers shortly after. And then the DIY blogger - The Quiet Lion - Art Blog - by Allison Cooling - made her version. Check it out. I thought I would give this...
How to make and A Line Sundress + FREE Sewing Pattern
DIY summer sundress with free sewing pattern Summer sundress I've made a similar dress to this before. See - this link - and - this link. And using the same pattern idea, but shorter, I made a camisole top. Find that - here. Both Burda and Martha Stewart have similar...
DIY Hose Pipe Rings
Hosepipe ring How to make a ring from hosepipes I have been meaning to make this ring for sooooo long now. The inspiration was a pack of rings I bought from ASOS. See pic at bottom. It just never happened. Finally got around to it this week. Why didn't I do it sooner?...
How to make a Travel Purse
DIY Travel purse Travel purse Another slight departure this week. Most Greenie posts are for clothing and accessories. Two friends are off to Thailand next week and asked if I would make them a travel purse. They had a good idea of Sew a hem across top and bottom ends...
Make a Beaded Wire Bangle
Beaded wire bracelet DIY beaded wire bracelets My daughter made serviette rings for me quite some time ago. I use them a lot and wanted to recreate them for a blog post. And as happens with a good few of my DIYs I ended up making something different. Instead,...
Slim Fit Trousers
How to sew pockets closed Trousers before This blog post is a slight departure. I thought I would share how I create a slim fit with all my trousers. And skirts. It might not be for everyone. Especially people who use their pockets a lot. I put all my Pin pockets flat...
Faux Nose Ring
No piercing nose ring Nose rings are fast becoming cool. A person half expects edgy celebs like Joss Stone, Pink, Emeli Sande Tiny nose ring and Christina Aguilera to wear them. But when Scarlet Johannson, Kelly Clarkson and even Jessica Biel are wearing them. Well...
Easy Tapestry Panel Top + FREE Pattern Instructions
How to make a panel top plus free pattern Tapestry panel top This week, yet another easy on trend top. Love wearing loose slouchy tops. They are perfect for using up scraps of fabric. The mix and match fabric thing is bang up to date. Oh and in case you...
Pleather Earrings
How to make these easy earrings The inspiration for these earrings was the pleather necklace I made a few weeks ago. See - how to make a pleather necklace. Pleather earrings I often say I'm a closet Goth girl. I like black. And silver chain. And hardware. But I stop...
Gathered Skirt + FREE Pattern
How to make a gathered midi skirt Simple gathered skirt So my list of things to make is a bit like the music charts. Juggling old favourites with new ideas. This skirt was NOT on the list. I am pear shaped. And not particularly tall. I shouldn't even consider anything...
Organic Nail and Cuticle Oil
How to make nail and cuticle oil I don't often come up with ideas for cosmetics. The main focus of this blog is fashion, whether clothes DIY organic nail oil or accessories. But I couldn't help wanting to share this one. The last few weeks I have been...
Bold Pleather Necklace
Easy pleather necklace tutorial I lay awake last night thinking of all the things I want to make. Every now and again I trawl other Make your own bold pleather necklace DIY fashion and crafting sites and get so inspired I get manic with ideas. My favourite...
Easy Shift Dress + FREE Pattern Instructions
How to make a loose shift dress Sew a shift dress in just over an hour It's been hot in Cape Town. And . . . I can't stop eating. I have wanted a shift dress just like this one for a while. You know how life gets in the way. Finally I got around to making one. And you...
DIY Black Spiky Necklace
How to recycle food packaging into jewelry As with most of my DIY's, this one has been lurking in the back of my mind for some time. Am never sure quite Necklace from black food packaging what materials to use - or how things will work out. This necklace came out...
T Shape Top from Old Curtains
How to make a kimono top T shape top from an old curtain I have mentioned that I am not above recycling old table cloths and curtains into anything from serviettes to clothing. This week's top is made from old curtains. I used this pattern - T shape top pattern. Also...