National Sewing Month 2015 has officially come to a close. We had a blast this year sharing all of these great free sewing tutorials, tips and tricks, and video lessons. We hope you had just as much fun, as well! Of course, we enjoyed sending out all the great prizes everyday.
We thought before we ended the party officially that we would share with you the most popular free sewing projects featured this month.
Best of National Sewing Month 2015
Scrappy Quilted Placemats
Pattern by Anorina Morris of www.sameliasmum.com. These delightful quilted placemats are a snap to sew up. Not only are they perfect for beginners, they are also great for the skilled sewist who wants to practice their quilt-as-you-go techniques.
Video Sewing Lesson: Helpful Sewing Tools
Angel Peterson from FleeceFun.com is giving everyone “sewing 101” lessons from our studio. Learn what the basic tools every sewist needs in his/her sewing kit and why they are important.
Refashion a Men’s Shirt into a Skirt
This super-simple pattern by Joy from XOXOGrandma is just a wonderful way to refashion a men’s shirt into something for the ladies to wear. We can see why this was among the most popular posts this year.
Snowman Table Runner Sewing Tutorial
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! This sweet snowman is courtesy of Jen Eskridge from ReannaLily Designs. You won’t believe how easy this table runner sewing tutorial really is.
Video Lesson: Choosing a Sewing
Angel Peterson from FleeceFun.com stopped by the studio to give everyone a “sewing 101” lesson. This video gives everyone the basics of choosing a good sewing machine, what to look for and what to avoid. All essentials for the beginning sewist.
We have one more great giveaway for you before we end the celebration. Are you ready for it?
For our last National Sewing Month giveaway for the month, we’d like to give one lucky winner this fabulous bundle of Spirit Fabrics. Aren’t they beautiful?
Finally, don’t forget that you have ONE LAST CHANCE to enter the drawing for the beautiful BERNINA sewing machine below. We will be picking the winner October 7th, 2015, so be sure to get your name into the draw before it’s too late.
Enter daily for your chance to win the National Sewing Month 2015 Grand Prize Giveaway.
To enter the daily giveaway, leave a comment below telling us:
What is your favorite sewing tip that you learned this year?
Official Rules for Daily Contest
- There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
- You have until tonight, September 30th, 2015 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
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I didn’t learn it from here, but I did learn that I could keep my sewing machine from eating my flimsy material by using tissue paper to back my material and it tears away easily.
I have been struggling with my attempts at free motion quilting. On a quilting blog, I asked the blogger about the process and how to “fix” my problems. We exchanged a few emails and she even called me to walk me through the steps and give me encouragement! The best sewing tip I’ve gotten this year came from this wonderful woman. She said to slow down and listen to my machine until my hands and the machine are in sync and make “music’. It really works!
A friend of mine gave a gripper that can be put on a pencil when students are learning to write. The gripper will pick up threads off of fabric when you have had to tear out a seam. Thanks for the great giveaway.
Pinking instead of notching curved seams.
I learned how to insert an exposed zipper pocket in an item of clothing through several you tube videos. You tube videos are a great way to learn new sewing techniques.
My favorite tip isn’t exciting but it helped me sooooooo much.
I use a rectangular block of beeswax to wax hand sewing threads. To pick up a hand sewing needle from your table simply press the beeswax onto the needle and it sticks on the wax. It saves me a LOT of time and frustration struggling to pick the needle up with no nails.
Congratulations to all the daily prize winners, and thanks to everyone at All Free Sewing, Seams and Scissors, the special blogger guests, and all the sponsors for donating prizes we all hoped to win!
Good luck to everyone on the BERNINA grand prize! Gives us all a chance to dream about what we could put on the skin if we won it October 7th!
I just learned about using chalk to mark fabric for sewing projects! How could I not have known about that technique?
I learned to iron on stretch interfacing to stabilize some fabrics.
I just started sewing again after a 40 year break. I’m looking forward to using digital patterns, saving all that money and getting a new pattern immediately, at home.
I’m new to sewing, but ironing well has done wonders for me. Have a great day!
My favorite tip: constructing a collar to take roll-of-cloth into account. Cut the undercollar slightly smaller (about 1/16 of an inch) along the outer edges. When you sew the undercollar to the collar, align the raw edges as you normally would. When you turn the collar right-side out, the seam will turn in slightly toward the undercollar. This prevents the undercollar from showing through to the other side and gives the collar a much more finished, professional look.
My favorite tip has to do with how to use patterns.
A year is a long time, can I remember all of it? What tips have I learned in the past year? I learned about using iron-on interfacing or batting in a bag to give it more body and look more professional. The bag I made doesn’t have it. I need to get some to use on the next bag. These fabrics will look wonderful with some of my design ideas. Thanks for the chance to win them.
I actually learned how to paper piece quilt blocks this year. Thanks!
That bias tape can be used in a plethora of ways and the different ways you can turn edges with it.
I learned that I could stretch clear elastic to gather a skirt before attaching to the bodice. Such a time saver!
I have learned tips for using different rulers for rotary cutting special shapes and patterns. I LOVE the fabrics you are offering as a prize today! What is the name of that line?
How to use leaders and enders. Thanks for all the tutorials and giveaways.
Starching fabric makes it easier to cut and sew.
The best tip I learned this year was how to put in a fly front zipper, from a video tutorial. I’ve been looking for all sorts of reasons to sew shorts and skirts with front zippers now. Makes my sewing look so professional.
I have two tips that have helped me this year.
The first one is to fold your fabric over cardboard then slide into a book case or bin and it takes five bins of fabric to two or three.
The second too use a walking foot on stretch knits ,it works like a dream.
I learned how to make my own bias tape with a Clover bias tape maker: better quality than packaged bias tape, more color and pattern choices, plus it’s fun!
I learned new quilt piecing technique for matching seams! Wonderful tip! Sew much prettier.
Washing and ironing fabric before cutting helps a lot.
I learned that this website is available! 😀
I learned the proper way to use a seam ripper from a quilting video. I’ve been doing it wrong all my life.
After many, many years of not being organized, I learned that it is not a deterrent to my creativity.
I have learned to use my walking foot! Not great at it .. but am happy with results now! lol
I have been sewing and crafting for about 50 years- yes I know that I am anchient, LOL I have learned many things along the way, thru a lot of trial and error. I have always washed and ironed my fabric, and started quilting a couple years ago, sew, now have learned how to use my 1/4 foot and matching my seams better. Of course, any more the internet has helped and lots of very nice and talented people on line and in class have been a big help. The next thing is to get my self more organized – I know how- just not my favorite thing to do – I would rather sew. But, this fabric is pretty – What is the name and of course would love to win this and the pretty red sewing machine.
Thank you for all the give-a-ways Please call me Thanks
I think that I have learned there are always a lot of different ways to do the same thing. I love the idea that there is no perfect just jump in and go for it. Practice, practice, practice!
I learned that WATER SOLUBLE THREAD is an AMAZING tool for applique! Be sure you get a good brand – not what is usually sold at Hancocks, JoAnn, etc. I get mine from a Bernina dealer.