How To Make A Fabric Face Mask

During this unprecedented time of social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus, facial masks are essential for those leaving home to visit grocery stores, gas stations, work, and anywhere else they will encounter other people. Though not mandatory for the general public, wearing a mask protects both the wearer and those in the surrounding area from respiratory droplets. The CDC has advised the use of nonmedical cloth so that N-95 masks may be used by health professionals and those at serious risk. If you don’t already have a face mask but have cloth available, you can easily make…

Expert Tips for Choosing the Perfect Bedding for Every Lifestyle

Since the average person spends one-third of their life in bed we should be paying more attention to the materials we are sleeping with every night. The same bedding doesn’t work for everyone, each person may have specific preferences in bedding that can help them sleep better. Bedding types can differ based on where a person is located, whether that be in Florida or Oregon, or whether a person is a warm or cold sleeper. That’s why we asked experts to share their best tips for choosing the perfect bedding for any lifestyle. Thread count doesn’t equal softness Thread count does not equal…

A little pillow talk…sham on you!

Once upon a pillow, I decided it was time to dress up the bed. I decided on shams and it gave me pause to think. What exactly is a “sham”.  Further, I realized that there are shams, and there are more shames. Like Bubba Gump shrimp, you’ve got European shams, king shams, cushion shams, basic pillow shams…sham, sham, sham shammity sham! In my mind they’re all just pillows, and I had simply merged them into my brain as one lump sum. Well, they’re not, apparently.

Tips and Tricks Upholstery 101

So ya wanna do your own upholstery… Awesome! Go for it! You’ve got chutzpah! Upholstery isn’t rocket science. But a hasty approach could spell doom. With a few basic tips, you could avoid a reckless ride down Epic Failure Boulevard and a costly stay at Wasted Days Motel! (Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!) In this post, we’re not going to learn HOW to upholster, rather, we’ll look at some things to avoid, a few flair tips for points, and maybe just a hack or two for good measure! It’s Upholstery 101, and I promise there won’t be a quiz.

Part 2 Restoring a Victorian Fainting Couch – Tear Down Time

So you REALLY want to restore a fainting couch. Well welcome back! If you didn’t catch Part 1, read on. In Part 2, we’ll explore the rationale for my fabric choice, briefly explore the tear down process, and how I chose the fabric. Demo is the love-hate part for me, and you’ll soon discover why. Might be the same for you. Tell me some of your beastly tear downs in the comments. Love with no judgement here. On to the project, Her Majesty the fainting couch awaits!

DIY Divider Screen Makeover

DIY Fabric Screen Divider Ever get an idea that just won’t let go? Every time I’m in the hobby store, I see these rice paper room dividers. I love them, but even on sale, they’re expensive, and frankly, boring. I’m like, I can do this better, but I’m not paying out the nose. As luck would have it, I found one on my local Facebook Marketplace for $20. To that, I said YES! My DIY fabric screen divider was officially a GO!

DIY Glucose Test Kit Bag

Glucose Test Kit Bag Difficulty: Beginner – moderate skill level (basic sewing experience required) Let’s admit it. That glucose test kit bag that came free with your meter is pretty lame. It’s downright ugly. It may be practical, but if you have to carry it with you, it should have some swag, some style, right? In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to make a custom glucose test kit bag in under two hours (Give or take depending on your skill level!). If you’re a beginning sewist, this is a great project for you. You’ll have the opportunity to practice and…

What Would Edward Scissorhands Do? Why Good Scissors Matter

Episode 1 The War Ensues Good scissors for sewing are a thing to not be trifled with. A long time ago…1995 to be exact… in a marriage far, far away… a husband recklessly chose his wife’s good scissors reserved for sewing to strip conduit. 12 stitches later… True story. Married a smarter man who respects the good sewing scissors. Good man. A simple tool And they are; but look closer and you’ll marvel at their design. Let’s take a look at this “cutting edge” technology and learn why if you sew, good scissors matter.

Restoring a Victorian Fainting Couch – Part 1

Every once in a while, you come across something special; something so utterly splendid that you would be remiss, with a lifetime of regret for passing it up. Meet Rose! How could I not want to take her home! The opportunity to restore a Victorian fainting couch was too tempting to pass. The price closed the deal! Follow her journey from start to finish. Throughout this project, I ask and encourage you to comment here or on Facebook/Instagramn/Twitter. This is a very personal project for me, one I want to share with you. I hope it inspires you to believe…

How to Choose Upholstery Fabric (Hint…it’s not rocket science!)

Congratulations! You’ve just purchased (found, or were gifted, had dumped on, had left behind, etc.) a be…a…u…tearful couch/love seat/chair/vintage settee, again…etc. And you absolutely…HATE IT. So, the million dollar question where to start when you choose upholstery fabric. The answer is, I don’t know, because I don’t know what’s right for YOU. But, I do have what you need to know to make some informed decisions. Don’t forget to check out my recent (still ongoing) series You Made That Outta What? to help you sift through different fabric types to get a handle on their strength, versatility, and appropriate usage. Whether you’re having…