reader's closet - tips & tricks

The Construction of Bras

maddie964, member | February 8th, 2012

Nobody talks about bras. At least in the patternmaking and sewing world. Tons upon tons of pattern making and sewing books exist for dresses, blouses, jackets, etc, but nothing on bras. And why not...

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Making hand made thread loops

nanacosta, member | February 3rd, 20123 comments

Some times, we need a very special finishing when closing a garment. In this case, I use the thread hand made loops, because the outer layer of this dress is make in a fine french lace, and to make...

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All in the details

maddie964, member | January 27th, 2012

I love plackets. They're just the darnest thing, aren't they (in my midwestern accent)? I bought a henley t-shirt from J.Crew two years ago that Sunday after Sunday since I bought it, I find myself...

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Hand Embroidery Tutorial

CreativeMind, member | January 19th, 20121 comment

I am sharing this specific technique of hand embroidery,its called Zardosi/Zardozi work, The tool is like crochet hook which is called Aar. I made a purse after completing this Embroidery on a thin...

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Easy No-Tie Bow Ties

bbenson833, member | December 25th, 20111 comment

A friend of mine started wearing bow ties to work, but (a) didn't know how to tie one, and (b) didn't own any. So I made him some, using scrap material that I had from other projects, and used...

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Thistle Cottage Studio Hosts Jasmin Zorlu's Hatblocking Workshop

orsinimedici1951, member | December 6th, 20111 comment

Thistle Cottage Studio Hosts Jasmin Zorlu's Hatblocking Workshop A to-do checklist a mile long, and the adrenalin was pumping with excitement and anticipation, for the weekend of Jasmin...

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Captain Hook and Peter Pan

Mari_B, member | November 8th, 2011

FOR CAPTAIN HOOK: Materials needed: Red gabardine fabric Yellow ribbon Gold fabric Purple pants White cravat Black wig White lace Plastic hook Plastic sword Red hat with white featherWhite...

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fun and flashy funky pary dress

cindyevans, member | November 4th, 2011

Love the sequin.. make my own patterns and designs based off what my 6 yr. old says is pretty. I Am a stay at home mom from nursing with a sewing addiction with no schooling and never use a...

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Saifon

saifonanaya, member | November 4th, 2011

this one design for my 9 years old girl a little rock feeling to it she say she like get.

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BooBerry Cereal Ghost Costume

crystalMHL, member | October 30th, 2011

Boo Berry is super easy to make! Just paper mache a helmet, cut the eyes, nose and mouth out. Glue while fleece cut to drape to the knees (I airbrushed it very lightly with blue) and glue circle...

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Zombie Fairy Queen + minions

gamergirl4, member | October 30th, 2011

The zombie fairy queen! She will turn everyone with her fairy dust and is protected by her zombie fairy minions. There are 7 total minions 6 of them float around her each of them were her pals in...

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Les Miserables

prairietn1, member | October 17th, 2011

This is a show I costumed for a high school.

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saifon's it's sample dress

saifonanaya, member | October 1st, 20112 comments

I call that it's sample me, in the frot and on the side I make a floats .

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How to make a sweet vest or waistcoat for kids.

Kappuke_ki, member | August 25th, 2011

Hello! I make children's clothes, and if you would like to see my full article on how to make this pretty waistcoat, please follow this link to my squidoo page!. if you'd like to see all of my...

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Octopus Halloween Costume

robin_isu, member | August 17th, 20111 comment

It's almost halloween! I'm hoping someone craftier than me can give me advice on how to make this octopus costume. I'm great at visualizing... not so great at executing :D. I can handle the dress...

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costumes and corsets

djackman, member | July 18th, 2011

I love to make corsets, mostly renaissance. We had tickets for Halloween night to a play of Dracula. I thought it would be fun to go in costume. So I made my idea of a victorian corset, skirt and off...

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silk sleepwear

narasilk, member | July 17th, 20112 comments

silk is the best material for sleepwear. Silk, queen of Porous protein fibers, has 18 amino acids, and good air permeability, hygroscopicity and antistatic property. Its elegance, verve, rich...

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Couching for the Couch (Oh No! A Pun!)

copperwoman, member | July 6th, 20111 comment

Last week at a second-hand store I found these three wonderful pieces of couched, embroidered silk. They were scattered around the store, used as “doilies” under much more ordinary...

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Sea Turtle Shirt

PinkerPaws, member | July 5th, 2011

Simplicity #3852, boy's size large. Sea turtle fabric printed in Hawaii. Fabric print matched at center front, pocket and back yoke. Top stitched. Turtle applique with lettering. Quilting cottons...

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Shibori with Kayla

lindamanla, member | April 16th, 20113 comments

I was so excited when my March copy of Threads arrived. I have had dyes in the stuido for a year, and the article by Kayla Kennington was just what I needed to pull them out. I did not want to play...

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Hill Tribe Skirt

copperwoman, member | April 12th, 20115 comments

Recently I went to a sale of free trade Hill Tribe (Laos and Cambodia) textiles, art, and silver. I bought a recycled wrap skirt made of two pieces of cloth sewn together, more or less in the...

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JUST THE BEGINNING

JMeGray, member | March 28th, 20112 comments

This began as the top of a dress, but I cut the pattern too short and had to improvise. It was so simple, I don't think it needs a explanation.

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Hand Made Card

alb4ever, member | February 22nd, 20111 comment

i made it using card paper, decorative paper, glue, glitter, a stamp, pink marker, plastic gem, decorative hole puncher, and imagination. :) What do u think of it?

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A Lace Jacket

Brensan, member | February 22nd, 20111 comment

I was in one of the warehouse style fabric stores a few months ago with some of my other sewing friends and I found a wonderful off-white cotton lace fabric. I decided that one of...

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Organizing Your Stash

karenjane52, member | February 21st, 20113 comments

Keeping my sewing space from becoming disorganized and chaotic, especially during the holidays, is a job in itself. When my workspace is chaotic I lose motivation. A flash of brilliance...

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Cocktail hat

rakijaa, member | February 15th, 2011

I made this cocktail hat for a friend's daughter, using the hat base pattern from John Koch's article. I had difficulty making the darts in the buckram, using his method. After 5 failed...

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Spring Coat in full bloom

Custombrismo, member | February 11th, 20117 comments

Using Vogue Pattern # V8346 view B, I used upholstery fabric (a tip from a previous Threads issue). The design of the fabric is reminiscent of traditional Ojibwe floral beadwork designs and when I...

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Day of the Dead Costume

copperwoman, member | February 9th, 2011

Here I am at a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at an art gallery in 2009. My costume started with an old long black dress and a commercially made witch hat. The hat has a...

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Orange Suspenders

cowilcox, member | February 5th, 20111 comment

My son requested orange suspenders and after a quick search I realized I could make them without any problems. I bought a pair of suspenders at the thrift store and used the hardware from them. Then...

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Homemade Slinky Dog Costume

thomp5km, member | November 14th, 20104 comments

I have been an artist for years and I love to create and push myself beyond my limits! I have made original costumes in the past, but this year I really wanted to go all out! I am a senior art major...

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Britney Spears costume in Las Vegas for Halloween

Threads and Needles, member | November 10th, 2010

I made this for someone who was entering a costume contest in Las Vegas. She said that people stopped her in the street for a picture with her! I designed this starting with a "union...

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She-ra Princess of Power

Natsumineko, member | November 2nd, 20101 comment

I drafted the patterns for everything including the craftfoam pieces, but the design of the actual costume is not mine since it's She-ra form Princess of Power. The main dress was a strapless...

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Snow White

Laura_Mae, member | October 29th, 2010

Pattern Description: Misses Snow White and Cinderella Disney Princess Costumes. The pattern includes a dress, cape, and collar pieces, along with instruction to cover a purchased headbandBodice...

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Fairy Princess Costume

Calicoco468, member | October 29th, 2010

My two year-old daughter, Beth wanted a Fairy Princess dress. To save time, I started with a long-sleeved, cotton knit shirt that just happened to match the lavender tulle I'd purchased...

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Coffe and tea dye for a second chance.....

nanacosta, member | September 26th, 20105 comments

I designed and made this silk chiffon dress a couple of years ago. It has been embellish with guipiur lace at the top, and it was all pure white. Now days, it was going to be used again...

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Bags - Clutch bag

christophernejman, member | September 20th, 20102 comments

Learn how to make high end designer bags under you home sewing machine. Includes 12 multi format embroidery designs digitized for metallic thread.

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Pillows - Sand Of Sahara

christophernejman, member | September 20th, 2010

Pillows: Designer Techniques Using Your Sewing Machine book by Christopher Nejman Use fibers, fabrics, and thread in new and original ways Learn how to use a needle punching machine like...

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