The Renegade Seamstress

Learn to Sew: A New Series

Posted on December 26, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

So, you’ve watched Project Runway for years now.

You marvel at the haute couture creations of the young seamstress in the series, The Time in Between by María Dueñas.

You run your hands over beautiful textiles as you wander through fabric shops imagining what you could make if you only knew how to sew.

Maybe you even opened a beautiful new sewing machine on Christmas morning.

Now what? Where do you start? What else will you need to buy? How will you get that sewing machine up and running?

Well, grab my hand and come with me to my new sewing series, Learn to Sew where together we’ll get your machine up and running, get you the tools you need, master the basic stitches, crack the pattern code, create a few simple projects to get you started and before you know it, you’ll be making your own fabric treasures. 🙂

Once you get a taste of how much fun sewing can be, I promise, you’ll never look back.

If you’d like to learn to sew or know someone who would, click here for the first free episode: Essential Sewing Tools.

I hope you enjoy this new series and as an added bonus, if you make a comment over at eHow and pin the Essential Sewing Tools article to one of your Pinterest boards, your name will be entered to win a copy of The Refashion Handbook.

The winner will be announced next week.

Happy Sewing!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, DIY, giveaway, Learn to Sew, Sewing, The Refashion Handbook, tutorial | 24 Comments

“The Next Black” and Give an Old Coat a New Look: An Easy Wool Coat Refashion

Posted on December 13, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

I love a good documentary.

And when it explores the future of fashion and gives me some new vocabulary words to throw around in certain circles, EVEN BETTER!

The Next Black is a compelling film that explores the way innovative designers and companies are creating the next big steps in clothing history.

We’ve all heard the words sustainability, slow fashion and recycling which are highlighted in this film, too, but what really rolled my socks up and down were the new phrases such as “Digital Couture Experiences”, “Wearable Tech” and “Bio Couture”.

So fascinating!!!

When I watch a film like this, I’m totally inspired, recharged and ready to forge forward doing what I do. Creating new clothing from old isn’t as new and innovative as some of the techniques in The Next Black, but it’s still an important part of changing the way the world views clothing and fashion. It’s an honor and so much fun to be a part of this movement.

And even though this next refashion project wasn’t created on a 3-d printer, doesn’t measure your heart rate and wasn’t created in a petri dish, I still think it’s pretty cool. 🙂

We all have one — an old faithful winter coat that has kept us warm for years, but has gotten slightly blah. Instead of getting rid of it, give it a modern, edgy twist by adding leather.

To get the step by step directions and to help change the way the world views fashion and clothing, click here.

Thanks, as always, for checking out my articles over at eHow. Even just clicking on the link helps me to be able to keep bringing you more refashion inspiration. If you’d like to help spread the refashion movement even more, share it on your social media sites or pin it on one of your Pinterest boards. That helps more than you’ll ever know.

Happy Sewing!

Beth

For more sewing and refashion inspiration:

RefashionTutorials

And just in case you’re looking that perfect gift for a seamstress in you life,

The Refashion Handbook is now 25% off when you buy it directly from me.

Happy Holidays!

🙂

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alterations, clothing, DIY, fashion, reconstructed clothing, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, The New Black, The Refashion Handbook | 19 Comments

DIY: Removable Faux Fur Cuffs

Posted on December 7, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

Ooh La La! Shopping never looked so good!

My beautiful friend Linda is looking mighty fine in these, easy to make, removable faux fur cuffs. No need to make separate cuffs for all of your coats and jackets. Just make one pair and switch ’em out.

All you need is 1/4 yard of faux fur and lining material, a hair elastic and some buttons to make your own removable faux fur cuffs.

Click here to get the step by step directions to make some faux fur cuffs for yourself or someone you love.

And just a thought…..

These cuffs would make a great handmade gift this time of year. 🙂

Have fun with the cuffs and remember, if you’re looking for a gift idea or maybe even a treat for yourself, you can get my book, The Refashion Handbook: Refit, Redesign, Remake for Everybody for 25% off right now.

Click here to order.

For more sewing and refashion inspiration click here.

Enjoy your week!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alterations, clothing, DIY, fashion, faux fur cuffs, Sewing, The Refashion Handbook, tutorial | 7 Comments

Holiday Sale: 25% Off The Refashion Handbook: Refit, Redesign, Remake For Every Body

Posted on November 27, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

Thanks for stopping by all these years! Your visits, comments and encouragement make it all worth it.

For your holiday shopping pleasure, The Refashion Handbook is now 25% off.

Click here to order some for the seamstresses in your life.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alterations, clothing, DIY, fashion, reconstructed clothing, Refashion, Sewing, The Refashion Handbook, Thrifting, upcycling | 2 Comments

Fun Thanksgiving DIYs To Do With Kids

Posted on November 25, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

Tomorrow is the big day.

You can get the kids involved in holiday decorating by adding a thoughtful touch to your Thanksgiving table with whimsical turkey place cards. Made with love and kid fingerprints, these vibrant and colorful turkeys will welcome all your family and friends to the table this year.

Click here or on a picture to find out how to make these cute place cards.

And if you’re feeling especially ambitious, kids and adults alike can get in on the fun this Turkey Day by creating these fun and colorful pinecone turkeys. Use them for centerpieces, napkin holders, or even place cards for a festive, family-made Thanksgiving tablescape.

Click here or on a picture to find out how to make a pinecone turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DIY PInecone turkey, DIY Turkey Placecards, Kid Crafts, Thanksgiving | 2 Comments

DIY: You CAN Rock That Too-Small Leather Skirt After All!

Posted on November 22, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

I’ve always thought that there is something so extravagant, so luxurious, and so gorgeous about a leather skirt. Leather skirts seemed a bit self-indulgent to me, but you know what?Why not be a bit self-indulgent during the holiday season? We’re so totally worth it! New Year’s Eve party, here we come, showing off a bit of leg and rockin’ our leather skirts!!!!

But of course, this skirt didn’t start out this way.

No. It. Didn’t.

It started as a super small thrift store skirt that I bought, at the time, just for the leather. You know… to make a bag or something. I NEVER intended to wear it as a skirt.

But, by adding some width and softening up the look a bit by with a beautiful panel of a discontinued upholstery fabric sample, this skirt became perfectly wearable just in time for the holidays.

Click here to find out how to create your own cool leather skirt to rock this holiday season.

And for more sewing and refashion inspiration, click here.

Happy Sewing!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alterations, clothing, DIY, fashion, leather skirt, reconstructed clothing, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial | 12 Comments

An Easy DIY Fringe Cardigan

Posted on November 14, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

Getting dressed in the morning will be so much more fun when you have a couple of these ridiculously easy-to-make fringe cardigans hanging around in your closet.

All you need is 1 1/2 yards of knit sweater fabric and about 30 minutes to make one for yourself.

And I’m not gonna lie: For some reason, I LOVE making fringe!!!!

To learn how to make this cute fringe cardigan, click here and as usual, I’d love to know your thoughts. 🙂 A big thanks to all of you who share and “like” my tutorials over at eHow, it is because of your kind actions that I get to keep bringing you these tutorials. HUGS!

For example:

Thanks to you, my article: Sewing 101: 14 Basic Clothing Alterations You Can Do Yourself has been in eHow’s top 100 articles for over a month now.

And the other day I heard from the editors at AllFreeSewing.com. They let me know that, thanks to you, my Renegade Tote Bag Pattern is one of their top 50 projects, too.

Thank you for being the most encouraging and supportive subscribers a blogger could ever hope for!!!

For more refashion and sewing inspiration click here.

Happy Sewing!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alterations, clothing, DIY, DIY tote bag, fashion, fringe cardigan, Refashion, Sewing, tutorial | 7 Comments

How to Hem Knits Without a Serger

Posted on November 7, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

I’m here to tell you that you can sew most anything on a basic sewing machine.

Nothing too fancy here for The Renegade Seamstress.

However, one of these days, I just know someone important in the sewing world is going to notice that I don’t have a serger and they are going feel compelled to give one to me.

Until then, I’ll just have to make due with my beautiful Genie from the 70’s, who, BTW, really rolls my socks up and down and if you missed how we met, you can read all about it here.

One of my favorite fabrics to sew with is knits. So forgiving, so stretchy and no special finishing needed on the seams.

Even though knits don’t fray and hemming isn’t always necessary, it’s a good idea to hem them anyway to give your special projects that professional, well-made look.

My favorite tool of the trade when sewing with knits…..

drumroll please…….

the double needle!

A double needle, sometimes called a twin needle is super easy to use and creates a beautiful, professional looking hem every time.

But even if you don’t have access to a double needle, there are several other ways to create a beautiful hem on your knit garment using a single needle and a regular sewing machine.

Check out my latest eHow article to learn three ways to hem knits using a regular sewing machine with and without a double needle.

The winner of The Refashion Handbook from last week’s article, How to Add Sleeves to a Sleeveless Dress, is Lynness Hawkes. Thank you for leaving such a nice comment over at eHow. Send your address to me at bhunting@eoni.com and I’ll send it out to you ASAP.

For more sewing and refashion inspiration, click here.

Happy Sewing!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alterations, clothing, DIY, double needle, fashion, giveaway, hems, Refashion, Sewing, sewing with knit fabric, Singer Genie, The Refashion Handbook, Thrifting | 14 Comments

A Truly Inspiring Refashion Story: Angel Gowns

Posted on November 3, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

I have two new heroes….

John and Diane Wright.

They are my refashion heroes!!!

To see what refashioning looks like in it’s finest form, check out what this couple is doing with yard sale wedding dresses.

I’d love to be involved in something like this.

Be sure to bring a tissue with you!

AHHHHHmazing!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged angel gowns, clothing, DIY, reconstructed clothing, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycling | 25 Comments

FUN! Another Television Appearance Yesterday

Posted on November 2, 2015 by The Renegade Seamstress

The fun and creative Happi House crew invited me to come to Minneapolis again and film a few more episodes for their lifestyle show.

My “No Sew” episode aired yesterday on the CW channel in the Midwest.

If you missed yesterday’s episode, and you’d like a couple of ideas for easy to make gifts (the holidays will be here before we know it), you can watch it here:

Happy Sewing (or maybe I should say, Happy No Sewing 🙂 )

Beth

PS: Remember to check out yesterday’s How to Add Sleeves to a Sleeveless Dress article over at eHow. All you have to do is leave a comment, pin and share for your chance to win a copy of my book, The Refashion Handbook. Thanks for playing! 🙂