Sew, Mama, Sew blogger Mary tells us all about making a muslin, and why whipping up a "practice" version of your sewing patterns is important.

KB from A Patchwork World recently posted about these fun appliquéd teeshirts she made featuring a spool motif, complete with hanging threads. Here's hoping she'll add a few of these to her online shop, Kokoleo.

Bluelines teaches us how to make quick and easy hair ties for summertime using your favorite buttons, hair elastics, and jump rings.

Erica Magrey makes earrings with a clear vinyl backing to create the illusion of floating shapes. She writes:

I've recently been making 60s, 70s, and 80s-inspired earrings out of leather, plastic, and yarn. I made earrings as a kid - one memorable pair was made of paint-spattered paper and another a painted toy car tire cut in half - so this is a fun return to my roots.

I used a bunch of different adhesives but none seemed to work too well. I tried Duco cement, a leather/fabric glue, and Wellbond. Eventually I ended up using Petronio's, a very toxic contact cement that I use for shoemaking. So it's really not ideal. I'm sure there is something better out there for this purpose - I just couldn't figure out what that was. Also it's important to score the plastic and the leather with a few short strokes of a blade in the areas where the adhesive will be used so it'll bond better (esp. the plastic). I got that plastic at a tag sale (yard sale) but it's available at most fabric stores. It's like a flexible clear vinyl.

Read about the earrings at Erica's blog, and see them all in her Flickr set.

Jen points us towards the new tutorial on Wikstenmade, which explains how to adapt a sewing pattern to have a cute gathered cap sleeve. I'm definitely bookmarking this for my summer sewing projects.

Jodie from RicRac has been collecting her selvedge scraps for a long time and the results are well worth it--she's made a bag out of them in the past (which we featured here), and now she's back with this beautiful scarf! I love the idea of not letting a single scrap of fabric go to waste, especially when the end result is so unique.

Sew, Mama, Sew shows you how to take detailed measurements of your body so you can buy (and customize) the right sewing patterns for you.

Related
Refashion Ikea curtains and pillowcases into skirts

Now, for being a vegetarian, I have an odd obsession with fiber meat imitations, and this is no exception. Via Geekologie.

Related:

• Bacon Scarf (a different one)

• Pencil scarf and MASSIVE super duper scarf round up on MAKE

Domestic Haven has posted a series of helpful videos explaining how to drape a bodice on a dress form--here's the first of several. The site is also full of great pattern reviews, be sure to check it out!

Craftster user Bleachrainbow created this crazy-cool bubble skirt featuring a waistband covered in a jellyfish and coral embroidery motif inspired by Art Deco wallpaper. Love those tendrils!

Craftster user Seegmonster explains how to make a swirly wrap skirt without a pattern. I love the fabric and color combos on this one!

Related:
• Kimono House Wrap Skirt
• CRAFT Podcast Pattern - Fitzpatterns Dana Wrap Skirt
• Reversible Wrap Skirt

Instuctables user diana.cristea made a great tutorial on recycling an old t-shirt into a sexy tube top with cute pockets. Via the Instructables Weekend Builder.

Stefanie from Craftside shows how she embellished a sparkly jacket with a fun motto, which she wore to the Safe Sparkle rally yesterday. The rockin' lettering comes from the book Say it with Stitches.

Seems like $425 is a lot to pay for a boom box laptop bag; I'm sure this would be more fun to make yourself, anyway! Looks great, though. Via BoingBoing.

Related:

• Server Coat

• Boombox messenger bag on MAKE

MP4 Video | QT Video | HD | Subscribe in iTunes

I always like looking behind the scenes to find out how a designer, crafter, or artist works. With this CRAFT Video Podcast, we go behind the scenes with Project Runway Season 2 Winner and fashion designer, Chloe Dao. Chloe's boutique and brand Lot 8 in Houston is quite the shopping destination. She designs most of the clothing in her boutique and works hands on throughout the production process from cutting all the fabric and more. We got a chance to be the first to see Chloe's new design studio where she shows us the designs and clothing for her new upcoming wholesale line. Can you believe she used to work in her mom's kitchen and dining room? She was gracious enough to be filmed in her sweats and no makeup, since she and her employees had just completed the Houston AIDS walk that morning. Look for a feature on fashion designer Chloe Dao in a future issue of CRAFT magazine!

With me on the video shoot is Diana Eng fashion designer and Project Runway Season 2 contestant, who you may hear giggle in the background. You can see more photos of our visit in my Flickr set.

Chloe's tip on pressing is an important one. Here's a Threads video that shows you the best pressing techniques to make your garments look more finished and professional.

This was dress featured in Chloe's runway show for Project Runway (Fall 2006) and is prominently placed in her boutique. Another version of the dress is also displayed in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.