The Renegade Seamstress

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Sewing

Posted on April 13, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

If you’ve been mesmerized by a beautiful garment or quilt being created on a design show or by one of your friends, sewing just might be the hobby for you.

The benefits of learning to sew can be healthy and long lasting. When it comes to sewing, you can become so absorbed in the act of choosing fabrics, designs and the actual act of sewing itself, there might not be any more room to think about your problems.

Sewing can also boost your self esteem and help to manage your moods when you experience the thrill of accomplishing a project. In addition to being good for your health, sewing can also save you money by knowing how to repair your own clothes, create inexpensive home decor items and design handmade gifts.

Most people who know how to sew will tell you the same thing, sewing is just fun!

Now that you’ve decided to learn to sew, where do you start? We’ll guide you through c hoosing the right sewing machine that works for you. Then we’ll help you learn how to use your new machine and what supplies you’ll need to purchase. Finally, we’ll set you up with a few beginner projects and before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to sewing excellence.

Click here for The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Sewing

Happy Sewing!

Beth

For more sewing and refashioning inspiration and tutorials, click here.

Posted in Sewing | Tagged Learn to Sew | 1 Comment

DIY Felt Citrus Fruit-Slice Coasters: New One Minute Video

Posted on April 12, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

Nothing says summer like a nice slice of zesty citrus fruit. There’s just something about the tang on your tongue when you bite into a juicy, ripe orange or squeeze a mouthwatering lemon into a cold glass of iced tea. Bring the taste of summer into your home all year and create a feast for your eyes with these delightful, simple-to-make felt fruit-slice coasters.

Click here for the complete step-by-step directions.

All the zest!

For more sewing, crafting or refashioning inspiration and tutorials, click here.

Happy Crafting!

Beth

Posted in Sewing | Tagged crafts, DIY, Felt citrus coaster, video | 2 Comments

How to Turn Snack Bags into Reusable Tote Bags

Posted on March 10, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

Oh, what to do when you just can’t resist a crunchy snack, but you’re trying to live a more zero-waste lifestyle at the same time? Don’t worry – we have you covered. This resourceful project will not only make you feel a little better about buying those tasty munchies but it will keep some trash out of the landfill as well. Instead of throwing out the bags when you’re finished snacking, sew them together to create this fun, colorful and reusable tote.

Check out the one minute video here:

Click here for the complete step-by-step directions.

Happy Sewing!

Beth

For more sewing, upcycling and refashioning tutorials, click here.

Posted in Sewing | Tagged cheetos, Sewing, snack bag, tote bag, upcycling, zero-waste | 2 Comments

How to Fix a Hole or Tear in a Sweater: New One Minute Video

Posted on March 7, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

Oh no! You’ve snagged your favorite sweater, and now there’s a rip! What do you do? Do you have to give it away or – even worse – throw it away? Nope. We’re here to show you that fixing a hole or a rip in a sweater doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds. You can save that sweater and wear it for years to come with this simple trick. All you need is a needle, some coordinating thread and a couple of minutes to make that sweater good as new again.

For the complete step-by-step directions, click here.

Happy Mending!

Beth

Posted in Sewing | Tagged mending, sweater, tutorial, video | Leave a comment

How to Make a No-Sew Produce Bag

Posted on March 6, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

Jump on the zero-waste bandwagon with this clever produce bag created from an old T-shirt. Not only will you keep a worn-out garment from being thrown in a landfill but when you make one of these, you will keep hundreds of plastic produce bags from the trash heap as well. You don’t even have to know how to sew to satisfy your inner earth steward and be cute at the same time.

how to make a no-sew produce bag from a t-shirt

Click here for the step-by-step directions.

materials needed for a no-sew produce bag

For more sewing, refashioning and zero-waste projects, click here.

Happy Shopping!

Beth

Posted in Sewing | Tagged no-sew produce bag, produce bag, upcycled t-shirt, Zero Waste | 2 Comments

How to Make a Reusable Swiffer Duster Cloth

Posted on March 5, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

Sure, single-use products are convenient, but items that are used for only a few minutes can have an impact on our environment that lasts many years. There are countless disposable products in our lives these days, but we can make a huge environmental difference by slowly and surely eliminating these things from our daily routine.

At first glance, throwaway duster cloths seem to be harmless. However, when thousands of users are throwing them away daily, they can quickly become another unnecessary waste product. It doesn’t take much time to create a reusable duster cloth that will last years and years, and even a beginner can master this project. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to use flannel scraps so they won’t end up in the landfill. That’s a win-win situation in our book!

how to make a reusable Swiffer duster cloth

Click here for the complete step-by-step directions.

For more sewing, refashioning and zero-waste projects, click here.

Happy Dusting Day!

Beth

Posted in Sewing | Tagged reusable duster cloth, Sewing, Swiffer, tutorial, video, zero-waste | 5 Comments

Simple Tips For Sewing With Leather

Posted on February 13, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

Sewing with leather on your home sewing machine is totally possible. There is absolutely no reason to fear leather. As long as you remember to make a few adjustments to your regular sewing, you’ll be sewing leather projects like chic bucket bags, crossbody bags and even journals with leather covers in no time. All it takes to get started are some new needles, a little planning and a few things you probably already have around the house.

Click here for the Simple Tips For Sewing With Leather article.

C lick here for more sewing and refashioning tutorials.

Happy Sewing!

Beth

Posted in Sewing | Tagged leather, sewing with leather, tips, tutorial, video | Leave a comment

Sending You Some Love With These Valentine’s Day Projects

Posted on February 11, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

How to Make a Rose Heart Pillow and a Love Story

Feelin’ the Love in my Valentine’s Day Refashion

Ruffled Heart Shirt Just in Time For Valentine’s Day

(Love, love, love this sweet girl!!!)

Upcycle a Thrift Store Sweater Just in Time For Valentine’s Day

Upcycle a thrift store sweater with this easy to follow photo tutorial by the Renegade Seamstress

DIY Felt Flowers Bouquet

For more sewing and refashioning tutorials click here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Beth

Posted in Sewing | Tagged diy flowers, Sweater refashions, valentine's day | 4 Comments

DIY Felt Flowers Bouquet: New Video and Tutorial Just in Time For Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 4, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

‘Tis the season to give flowers. It’s no wonder that in February, during the depths of winter in some places, we’ve made a holiday that includes flowers. Flowers just have a way of brightening up an otherwise dark and dreary day. Our faces light up with joy when we’re handed a bouquet of beautiful flowers, and our mood and spirits are immediately lifted. Even being on the giving end of a bouquet can fill us with positive vibes and help us express feelings of love and admiration for those we care about most.

These delightful felt flowers will not only be a heartfelt and charming expression of love or friendship but they’ll last forever. It just takes a few minutes and a little bit of craft felt to recreate some of nature’s prettiest blossoms and make someone’s day a little bit brighter.

Check out the video here:

Click here for the complete step-by-step photo tutorial.

For more sewing, crafts and refashioning tutorials, click here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Beth

Posted in Sewing | Tagged DIY, felt flowers, tutorial, valentine's day, video | 3 Comments

The DIY Sweater Mitten Making Mansion and Tutorial: A Blast From the Past: 2012

Posted on January 24, 2021 by The Renegade Seamstress

All of the attention and fun that has been coming out of Bernie Sanders Sweater Mittens has inspired me to look back at a fun sweater mitten making class I taught in 2012 and some pictures of the finished mittens these talented ladies made.

Before we start, I want to share my favorite story from the mitten class. Marie was using a sweater that belonged to her grandmother. She was making mittens for all 5 of her sisters from the sweater, so they could all have a memory keepsake of their grandmother.

Sniff, goosebumps, smile. Love it!

Welcome to the Mitten Mansion!

Thank you so much, Mari, for graciously opening your beautiful home to all of us on Tuesday. And a big thanks to everyone who came to make mittens and those who shared their expertise. I do believe there are a few more people in the world who, now along with me, are “Smitten with Mittens”.

Here’s a glimpse into our evening: