When selecting a lightweight fabric for your sewing project, consider the drape, texture, and intended use of the finished item. Fabrics like crepe and chiffon are ideal for flowing dresses and scarves, while lightweight cottons can be used for various projects. Terry cloth is a durable, highly-versatile fabric that works well in various sewing projects. Poplin is a lightweight, lustrous, and breathable fabric suitable for summer clothing and home décor items.
There are many beginner sewing projects available to help you get crafty. Canvas sewing projects are great for home sewing and handmade gifts, and can be used to make roman blinds, roll cushions, or cover old storage boxes. Fabric bins can also be made using sturdy canvas or heavy-duty interfacing.
Renovate your bedding by sewing new pillowcases or duvet covers, and create a fabric-covered headboard for a touch of luxury. Shop exclusive sewing patterns, fabrics by the yard, precut fabric, fabric panels, and home decor projects from favorite designers. Sew a lightweight mesh tote bag for carrying groceries or beach essentials, or make a chic backpack with mesh pockets for storing water bottles. Mesh can also be used to make a beach toy bag.
Lightweight cottons in pierced and embroidered versions, stripes, and madras plaids are perfect for blouses and sundresses. Fabric tablecloths, dinner napkins, and table runners are easy to sew and can elevate place settings for a special occasion.
📹 7 EASY items that I sew and sell at the local Farmer’s Market! (as a side hustle in 2021)
A small farmers market won’t make you a millionaire, but it is a great way to connect to people, use up your beautiful fabric scraps …
What can be made in 1 meter cloth?
Making tops from offcuts is a versatile and cost-effective way to create unique garments. Many t-shirt patterns can be made with around a metre of fabric, making it an ideal choice for those with good jersey or knit fabric offcuts. To squeeze the most out of a metre of fabric, use pattern tetris, adjusting the pattern size based on the fabric’s width, number of pattern pieces, and grain line.
For more creative projects, consider using a 1m piece of knit fabric by turning them on their side and using the horizontal grain instead of the vertical grain. For example, the Iris t-shirt by Forget Me Not Patterns offers both short and 3/4 length sleeves, as well as the option to make a standard t-shirt or one with pleated details on the sleeve.
If you don’t have any knit or jersey offcuts, consider the Seychelles top by Itch To Stitch, which offers short or longer sleeve options and pleating details around the cap of the sleeve. By experimenting with different techniques and fabrics, you can create a unique and versatile top that can be tailored to your specific needs and preferences.
What is the softest lightweight fabric?
The softest and most comfortable blankets are made from various fabrics, including cashmere, fleece, bamboo blended with cotton or silk, down, and synthetic fabrics like microfiber. Cashmere is a soft and lightweight fabric made of fine wool fibers, while fleece is soft and lightweight but not as warm. Bamboo blended with cotton or silk is softer and more sustainable than pure cotton or silk. Down is soft and lightweight but not as warm as cashmere or wool.
Synthetic fabrics like microfiber are also soft and lightweight but not as breathable as natural fibers. The best type of blanket for a good night’s sleep or lounging around is one that combines softness, warmth, durability, and sustainability. The softest material may not be practical for all seasons, so consider your needs when making a purchase. Cashmere is a great choice for winter warmth, while bamboo blended with silk or cotton is lightweight and comfortable for summer. Choosing the right fabric for your needs is crucial for a comfortable and cozy night’s sleep.
What is a lightweight fabric that doesn’t fray?
Fabrics that do not fray include interlok, cotton with lycra, tricot/lycra, and modal. Fleece or Polar Fleece is a versatile wool blend that can be used for fall/winter garments, making it lightweight, soft, and affordable. Velvet is a soft, elegant fabric used in home décor, bedding, and evening gowns. Synthetic leather is a popular choice for clothing, accessories, shoes, and furniture due to its ease of molding and softness.
Although animal skins and natural leathers do not fray easily, the transition to vegan fabrics is increasing the popularity of synthetic leathers. However, they are unsustainable choices, so it is recommended to use existing synthetic fabrics and avoid overproduction.
What is home decor fabric used for?
Fabrics are versatile and can be used in various home décor projects, adding texture, color, pattern, and comfort. When choosing home décor fabrics, consider factors such as aesthetics, functionality, durability, maintenance requirements, compatibility with other elements, and personal preferences. Fabric decoration is the creative process of enhancing the appearance of textiles by adding designs, patterns, or embellishments through techniques like dyeing, printing, painting, embroidery, and appliqué. This process is commonly used in the fashion industry, interior design, and crafting to create unique and aesthetically pleasing textiles for clothing, home decor, and other purposes.
Is 1 meter of fabric enough to make a dress?
The Eucalypt dress and top by Megan Nielsen is a casual dress or tank top that can be made with a 60″ wide fabric. It has a center-back seam, a scoop neckline, a curved hem, and French seams for a neat finish. The dress can be made with one metre of fabric up to a size 20 and 1. 1m of fabric up to a size 20. The fabric is summery and perfect for a simple dress or tank that can be worn to the shops or the beach.
Can you wash home decor fabric?
Most decorative fabrics are not designed for washing, as each product reacts differently to washing and drying. If you need to clean an item, it’s best to consult professionals or take it to a dry cleaner. Some fabrics that perform well with mild soap-and-water cleansing include Sensuede® faux suede fabrics, Sunbrella® indoor/outdoor fabrics, Bella-Dura® fabrics, and other 100 acrylic or 100 spun polyester prints for indoor/outdoor use.
Some polyester sheers with rod-pocket headings can be hand-washed in a bathtub with a mild detergent. Calico offers easy-care high-performance fabrics perfect for families with sticky kids or pets with dirty paws, and most of their regular fabrics have been pre-treated with stain repellent finishes.
What is the easiest lightweight fabric to sew?
Those new to dressmaking would be well advised to select fabrics such as cotton and linen, or a combination of both, as they are stable, do not stretch or shift, and can be pressed with an iron, thereby facilitating techniques such as hemming. Polyester or a blend of polyester with other fibers may present greater challenges when sewing, as they do not retain the crease. For a comprehensive enumeration of fabric types, one may refer to the glossary of fabric types.
What is home decor used for?
Home décor refers to the decorative items that make your home look nice, such as furniture, art, plants, and accessories. It can be easily changed or updated to impact the existing space, such as pillows, bedding, lamps, and furniture. Debowsky Design Group offers interior design services with all of their projects, working with experienced designers and architects to capture your style and aesthetic while ensuring you receive the best-in-class design. Many interior designers can help with home décor, and it is essential to contact them to get started on your design project.
Do I need to wash outdoor fabric before sewing?
It is recommended that all individuals wash waterproof fabric prior to sewing, even in the absence of a mandatory requirement to do so. It provides guidelines on the use of gentle detergents and a gentle washing cycle, as recommended by the manufacturers. This is due to the considerable advantages that waterproof fabric provides.
Is outdoor fabric safe to use indoors?
Outdoor fabric is ideal for high-traffic areas like living rooms, kitchens, and playrooms, as it is stain and water repellent, mold resistant, and lightfast. It is particularly suitable for pets and children, as it can withstand abrasion and is stronger than indoor fabrics. Outdoor fabric is also stain-resistant, with a special stain release finish that prevents blemishes from permeating the surface. This makes it easier to clean and maintain, making mealtimes stress-free.
Outdoor fabrics are particularly suitable for kitchen seating, living room sofas, and armchairs, as they are less absorbent to dust, dirt, or accidental spills. Overall, outdoor fabric is a versatile and durable choice for any home.
📹 Use these 6 Materials to Create Hundreds of Sewing Projects!
This video was sponsored by Skillshare. After sewing for years, I find myself reaching for the same few materials over and over …
As a mom of 3 girls, I buy tons of large bows! But none of them are patterned! It’s best if they’re solid in color in order to better match to existing outfits and can continue to be used as they grow with changing wardrobe. The only patterns I buy are holiday themed ones. Also, make bows that can be used for formal events, velvet, tule, with rhinestones/pearls etc. Hope this helps.
I sold at Farmer’s Markets for over 10 years, I just retired I was a studio production potter and also had a gourmet jam business. I did VERY well at farmer’s markets and always had so much fun. I know quite a few people who did well with their sewing businesses at market as well. When my hubby and I were in college about 30 years ago (man time flies!) we made money to live by selling my sewn dolls and his wood doll furniture at art/craft shows. The best thing about markets is that our kids (who we homeschooled) grew up selling with us and learned business skills they couldn’t have anywhere else.
Just wanted to hop on her and thank you! I lost my job during covid and I’m a single mom with 2 kids. I bought a sewing machine before losing my income and now the child tax credit ended. So I’m stressed out so badly I’ve been losing sleep. I saw the title to this article and a light bulb went off. 💡 A-Ha! I should get my new sewing machine out and start sewing small items to sell in my community. Ive lived her long enough that they will know me and support what I’m trying to do…. Survive! Thank you for helping me look outside the vox and stop feeling powerless. I can do this! 💪 thank you!
Great article! I did craft shows years ago. Your idea if small is smart! One thing you might want to do is consider custom work. I did more with that. People would like item and quality but wanted different size or color. I offered shipping and picked up more business because of people wanting to buy but not having room to carry on motorcycle. Grand parents usually with disposable income. Added bonus they wanted something for all grand kids. So I added boy themed items to my mix.
Here is an idea that I haven’t seen in craft fairs (and I’ve been to many over the years). How about glam button covers? It would be a great use of sparkly, satiny fabrics to make up a “slip cover” to go over an existing button. For me I had a wooden button (about 1″) on a nice black jacket and thought the jacket would also be great for evening wear. The only problem was the button. So instead of buying a new jacket, why not just have a fancy cover to put over the button. It would only need some narrow elastic in a casing around the outer edge of a fabric circle to draw it in to fit snugly over the button. Hope you may give this a try…. Thanks for all your great articles too.
You are soo clever. Everything is set up beautifully. 👌🏼 I live in a small town too and we all look forward to what will be for sale at the farmers market on the weekend. It feels good to know you’re supporting a local family and taking home, often, a one of a kind handmade item. The surprise bags are really fun. My daughter does surprise bags in her business and she sells a lot of them as well. People love the surprise. Another thing she does it bundling. If you buy a tote bag you get a free bow. Kind of like that.
I love your ending comment about the treat it like a business and not a hobby. They said that at my Mary Kay zoom meeting when I first started. I use it for my craft fairs also. I do only crochet and like you said we have good days and others where it’s not as popular but I keep going. Thanks for all your tips.
This is really inspiring! I do a lot of crafts, and I’m quite good at some of them, but I never get around to sell anything. I’ve done some commissions for friends but I find it to be too stressfull. I give away a lot as gifts, which I truly enjoy doing, but it would be nice to earn some extra bucks. People always tell me I should sell my work but I always get tired just thinking about it. However, this way doesn’t feel as daunting; I can make stuff at my own pace when I feel like it, and then sell at markets. I live in Sweden so there are probably a ton of regulations, but as markets are a thing, it should be doable. Thank you for yet another great article Alisa!
Wow .. this is the reason you have been busy .. Thank you sharing .. this seems so exciting.. on the big bows if you want to sell them . I suggest not to display them flat instead put it in a Dolls’ Head or a Plush toys’s head .. This will be a catch getter for your customers and specialty on the girly kiddos …also for the cotton make pad remover.. a nice sign would help customer understand the ideas … I am so excited for you .. It will be nice to share some footage of your day at the market 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🤝🤝🤝🥳🥳🥳🥳❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
All good points. I want to suggest always including a plain neutral color. I often pass up items because there is not a plain neutral color. Shoe straps, the fabric that goes around a pump to hold it on or change from work to casual look. Using less expensive material and reversible, double-sided it will be stronger * flat bottomed.
I see most of the things you make are geared towards women and young girls. Do you have any ideas for young boys that a parent or grandparent can get for them? (I’m thinking of the sibling jealousy thing) I’ve been perusal your articles for a while now. I discovered today that YT unsubbed me at some point. I re-subbed! Thanks for your time and effort ❤❤
I just was so impressed with ur presentation. I too use to sell every weekend and work too. Now retired and getting ready to move to a large graphic area. I do quilt, cross stitch, paint and whatever. So you have really gotten my creative juices going!!!! You wouldn’t believe what I’ve already gotten rid of. Broke my heart but I had too.. You have given me the motivation I needed!!!!!!! How long have you been selling??????? From the bottom of my heart, God bless you❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
This is a GREAT article!!!! Thank You for going into all of the areas of why customers buy and how they buy. The purchasing ability is also connected to how much they are willing to spend for items in my area… Many of my type of high quality (fabric, sewing, constronstruction, etc) are not what the lazy Walmart disposable shopper wants. I hope it is better at this fall’s Farmer’s/Crafting markets which I intend to sell at. I sew and Crochet and craft many different items. This is an Excellent tool for us. Thank You.
Good to see you expanding your horizons and finding new ways to share your sewing with the rest of the world! I’m definitely feeling inspired 🙂 Re: the tote bags – you could probably lower the cost by using thrifted fabric (like curtains) and it could be a selling point too – sustainable, recycled, Earth-friendly etc. All the best!
I would definitely put the bananas on a mold/model/wig holder. You could display one set of the makeup removers like they do fabric swatches. You could offer the makeup removers in a bigger size and I would definitely market them as sustainable! Your advice is great and your products are beautiful 💕
I love your enthusiasm. I make lots of fun stuff like tissue pack covers (at least 300 over the last five years), all kinds of hair accessories, small tote bags for toddlers, coasters, small coin purses, cosmetic bags and many more small items. I give everything away. My family keeps telling me to sell and sometimes I’d like to just to have money to buy more fabric (without feeling guilty). I work full-time so I sew just for fun. I wouldn’t have time to market stuff as well. My question is – is there really any profit once you break down all the expenses and time? In my opinion, per hour, it probably would come to something like $5 per hour. In which case I’d rather continue just giving stuff away. I now have so much stuff (mostly hair bows) that I need to look for a place to donate them as I’ve run out of people to give them to. Also, for some reason, I don’t have the confidence to sell my stuff. How do u deal with people who make faces when u try to sell as though u r overpricing? They just have no idea of the effort and love that went into it. Can u share, for example, what u would charge for a scrunchie? Or if u have a deal, such as buy four get one free? I hope u reply. This is the longest comment I’ve ever written. Also, would love it u share how to make those bandannas. I’d like to make for myself and my girls. I’ve watched a few articles but like your simple approach in tutorials. Thank you!!! ❤️
One idea I’ve seen and love is vegetable/produce bags made out of recycled saris. It’s usually an upcycled poly chiffon, but it’s actually strong and so beautiful and almost weightless. They sold them at my co-op for a while as a fundraiser and then sold out. I get compliments on them every single time I use them. They bring joy and are very eco conscious because produce bags are not really recycleable and are difficult to wash and reuse. I think they would be a big seller at a farmer’s market. Also a good source for fabric to upcycle are regional goodwill outlets that sell clothing by the pound. If you need a lot of lightweight fabric scraps they would be practically free there…
With the large bows (I love them), have you thought about selling them as decorative items for the home rather than items for your hair? Some examples might be decorations for lampshades in a child’s room, your own room, decorations for journals or other crafts or even as embellishments on clothing, etc. I can think of all sorts of things and I would definitely use a lot of them.
I just got a small surprise from the. “Sunbrella” type outdoor fabric- Ive previously been able to spot clean similar materials, but my project needed machine washing, and i chanced drying it on low in the dryer. I never would have guessed, but the fabric pilled noticeably! Now I know. The next iteration of my project will be a sturdy “cotton canvas”.
Great article! I have a question about your scrunchies – in a previous article your scrunchies were flatter with a seam on the outside edge – this article shows lovely full scrunchies! How did you come to change the make of them (other than the elastic)? Also, I wonder if the bandanas could be good for women going through chemotherapy, and dealing with hair loss? I sm considering making some for local chemo infusion units. Thank you for your articles!
Thank you so much, I have really enjoyed your article! I love bows and I am planning to make some to sell, what did you do with them,?.. Would you consider to give them away?? ?I think they are beautiful. You should consider making the bows in the team colors, people will buy almost anything in their team colors!!! try it. I also love to sew, I make bow ties for men and matching hats and hankies, and I make shopping bags, but I use used denim so much cheaper. I am also going to make hats for women and children. Great hanging out with you! I am in Tennessee to.
In my area of the U.S.A., Grab Bag fund raising (for a public library) has never gone well. Someone will always sneak the bags off somewhere else, rip them open, scatter out the objects that were inside the bags, and take what they want (without paying for anything). Using clear plastic bags does not stop it from happening either. I caught a woman in another room of the library trashing a clear plastic grab bag project. When I ask her what she was doing she informed me, “I only want these little blue books.” All the little blue books were the same; and, there was one in each clear plastic grab bag. We never had a grab bag fund raiser project last for a full day before the bags were trash. We never made any money from the projects; and, the Grab Bags project always clost us money.
Absolutely wonderful! So glad I found you! You cover items to make, selling and marketing points. I love your cheery attitude and great scrunchies. I’ve sold over 500 face masks since Covid started and I make a 5″ flat scrunchie with buttons on each end. They can wear the masks & put elastic from masks onto buttons on flat scrunchie. Ears don’t get.irritated by elastic.
Thank you for this inspiring and amazing article! I’ve just taken up sewing myself and I’m already thinking about scaling to sell.. it’s so fun.. and quick to make something beautiful… textile art! As a business major, I especially appreciated the honesty about to think with the customer and varying price points in mind. I will certainly be perusal more of your articles in the future. Thank you for being so genuine and candid!
Add strip across to hold to fingers whe using pad …this way you can have separate pads and separate exfoliating ones…making nice set of 1exfol and 4 pads …you can make set the lux with sleeping mask with gel access pouch or moisturising socks …all can be done from scraps. Don’t overpack them sell separately abd if client want set just pack in fancy box with window . Flexibility is a must .
I have been tussling with ideas around what to make and to sell at farmers markets and street fairs – cause its so fun. Handy useful fabric and knitted items, beaded jewelry items would come to my mind. Came back from a street fair and I landed on your YouTube website where you spoke about your friend and your fatmers market. perusal your excitement felt like my interest to have a booth at a farmers market got validated. Love the hair profucts you have. I can’t wait to do these. I need to get a serger. Love the fabrics and the prints… thank you so much for all this inspiration ❤!!
My first time here. Your enthusiasm is captivating. You have some really great ideas and I like how you let us know what hasn’t worked. I am now retired and have gotten my trusty sewing machine out. I’ve been looking for some ideas for something to do. It’s supposed to snow just west and north of us and my favorite thing to do during snowfalls or rainy days is sew. Keep up the good work.
An idea for your tote bags, give a discount on the tote bag if they buy two other items or if they spend a certain amount of money. Or you could see if the vegitable sellers would like to do a discount if they use your bag to buy their stuff and you just do a trade with them like you give them sqrunchiies for their trade
Yes, scrunchies are always a winner because they are so practicle, simple to make, and high in demand. They can be used as wrist jewelry because women like to have them just in case they need to tie up their hair and they can be pretty on the wrist until they are needed. A quick seller, you can make them cheap and sell at a low price to still make a nice profit of 50% or more.
I had my 11 yr old granddaughter watch your scrunchie article to sell with me this summer. (I sell honey and teas). Thank you! She loves raiding my fabric stash! I’ll have to invest in the 1/2″ elastic. All I had was 1/4″. What did you sell your scrunchies for? Just to get an idea. She won’t be going high just because of her experience, but I’d like to know.
Hey Alisa! Thank you for the article!. I have being selling in my lical6farmers market for the past 6 years and I love it! I do crochet items that I sell pretty well in winter time ( my market goes year round but I can only sell in the holiday market November and December) but am so looking forward selling more in craft shows the rest of the year and add more of my sewing items and crochet toys and maybe some spring/fall crochet items that usually sell year round. This gives me a better idea if what to sell for my sewing items. Really appreciate it! ❤
Great products and tips! I sew as a hobby but make digital designs to sell. Your point about knowing what people want is a good one. I want my designs to be unique, but may have tweak them according to what’s trending if I actually want to make sales. Your products look like great sewing projects too, so I’d love to try some out!
When I learned to sew, it was play. I was combining thread and fabric however it pleased me. It kept me out of Grandma’s way and gave me a pleasant experience. Grandma always told me how wonderful my work was and then made suggestions for changes. I tried doll cloths after I got tired of just combining fabric and thread. I started making my own cloths in high school when I took home ech. Now I do whatever I wish.
Thank you for this! I just started sewing a few days ago and decided to go to Fabricland today to find some fabric for some beginner projects but it was so overwhelming and the staff wasn’t helpful at all – they practically scoffed at me and walked away when I said I was learning to sew and looking for material. I went over to the quilting store and felt much more welcome and found a bit of what I needed. I look forward to seeing more articles!
Quilting cotton is also perfect for making face masks. But a non-woven interfacing that is synthetic and fusible, is needed specifically for face masks. Before I started making them I didn’t know the difference between woven and non-woven interfacing. Essentially, woven cotton interfacing is similar to fabric in that it has threads and spaces between them, whereas non-woven synthetic interfacing is a continuous very thin sheet that doesn’t have pores. Just wanted to add that.
Thank you so much for this article, it was very helpful for me, who is coming back to sewing. My goodness the fabric stash building is going strong right now!! I am getting fabrics ready to start English Paper Piecing, as well as sewing garments and eventually bags for my cross stitch and knitting projects.