If you are a crafter who loves to sew or are just starting out this book, The Sewing Bible: A Modern Manual of Practical and Decorative Sewing Techniques by Ruth Singer must be in your crafting library! This hard cover book is like a modern sewing encyclopedia with detailed step-by-step instructions and accompanying photos on techniques for hand and machine sewing. The techniques covered in the book are really extensive such as pin tucks, smocking, hems, adding snaps, princess seams, frills and ruffles, quilting, and embroidery. The close-up photos are great and guide you even better on all the steps. Masterclass techniques, such as mitered corners, help refine your sewing skills. The machine-sewing ones are particularly helpful for me personally as I always need to know if I'm using the right presser foot or not. This book is a sewing companion at it's finest!

The Sewing Bible also comes with 20 beautiful sewing projects. I love the Circular Skirt (p.270), Book Bag (p. 111), and Gathered Scarf (p.220) that can be worn in a variety of ways.

Book Giveaway Time!
Three lucky CRAFT readers will each receive a copy of The Sewing Bible. Please make sure you include your email address in the comment form field (won't be published). All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Monday, November 23rd. The lucky winners will be announced later on the site. Good luck!

As a special treat, we've got this Stripy Apron project for you! It's a cute apron you can sew up by recycling two men's shirts.

Download the Stripy Apron PDF
(right click and download to your computer)

These cute little coin purses, offered in both a flat and "puffy" version, would be great gifts for friends this holiday season. Get the free PDF pattern from Cotton and Cloud.

The folks at Bolt Fabrics in Portland have posted a tutorial to create a large, super soft baby blanket with Anna Maria Horner's new yummy line of flannel fabrics. They've also included instructions for creating custom bias tape to bind the blanket. When my kids were newborn, I loved having a stash of light, but warm large blankets for swaddling. These would be a perfect baby gift!

More entries are coming in for our Me, My Scarf, and I Contest where the Grand Prize Winner will receive a Singer ProFinish Serger! Ooooh! I am loving this Faux-y Lady Scarf by Marigold of the blog Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky! (Flickr user mr. huckleberry & the milosaur.)

Marigold writes writes:

How can something so elegant and sophisticated be so silly at the same time? In my Faux-y Lady scarf, I tried to capture that strange juxtaposition inherent in the vintage fur pelts that have always fascinated me. If this scarf is a reflection of my personality, I hope it comes off a little bit quirky and unconventional, but with a great sense of humor, and somehow still a teensy bit debonair.

There's still time to enter the Me, My Scarf, and I Contest. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PDT November 23, 2009. Each entry will be judged based on the following criteria: creativity of design, description of how the scarf represents the creator, and the use of a sewing machine in the creation process. Please see Official Rules for more information on the Winner selection.

If you're joining in on the contest, here's the code for the badge to display on your site or blog.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1229922@N20/"><img src="http://cdn.makezine.com/make/craft/badge_singer_scarfcontest.gif" width="150" height="144" border="0" alt="CRAFT: Singer Contest - Me, My Scarf, and I" /></a>

See more entries in the Me, My Scarf and I Flickr Group.

Leigh Ann of The Object Project shares how she created this special family book for holding thanksgiving memories and keepsakes from year to year.

While it has certainly been a lot of work (the central portion is all hand-quilted), it's the most satisfying project I've ever worked on. The thread color isn't consistent, the applique is crooked, and I have a lot to learn about mitered corners, but I'm ready to start another, this time for my own baby. Hopefully it will be done by the time he goes to college.



Here's a closer look at the stitching on the back side.



And here it is in all its glory.



If you want to make your own (and I highly recommend it--quilting is very meditative and also a great way to pass the time when you're on the phone or chatting it up with someone), check out our Hawaiian Quilt Project from the pages of CRAFT, Volume 02.

From the site:

This Cape, made out of maroon herringbone wool (lined with red herringbone) has this great English country living feel, that makes you think of a walk in the woods, followed by sitting by a crackling fire with your friends. A creative transition piece from a light jacket to your big wintercoat, this Cape can be made out of any weight of wool.

These pincushions made from tiny patchwork from Molly at The Purl Bee are beautiful!

Each one is like a tiny version of a larger quilt, but they are a lot quicker to make. Plus despite their delicate appearance they are really useful. They are stuffed with cotton and steel wool which will keep your pins and needles nice and sharp!

If you have a question for Ask CRAFT, shoot me an email at becky@craftzine.com, or drop us a note on Twitter! We'd love to answer your crafty questions on any topic: technique, projects, crafty culture, or anything else! Each week the answers are here; include your name, where you're from, and your website or blog if you have one!

br />

Farrah writes in:

My boyfriend was trying to buy me a dressmaker's doll for my birthday. He finally had to confess total confusion after surreptitiously taking my measurements. It seems none of the sizes he found fit me exactly. Is it better to have a doll that's slightly smaller than myself in one area, but fine in the others? Are there dolls that I could order to fit my measurements? I know I could make one from duct tape and an old t-shirt, but I hear homemade ones tend to collapse.

Since it's cheap and fun, I'd try to make your own dress form first. True, they may not be as sturdy as the store-bought ones, but they're certainly not as expensive! If it collapses, it's because it's not densely packed enough with support material. You could try stuffing it with a whole pile of plastic grocery bags to provide adequate filling. Instead of duct tape (or on top of the duct tape), you might try using papier-mâché or paper tape to stiffen the form and make it more durable.

The next level up is to get an a plain form that approximates your measurements. Yes, as you suspected, it's better to get one that is smaller than your body in some places, but fits you in others. You can always add padding to the form, but you can't make it smaller. I'm no brand expert, but if you order online, you can expect to pay between $150 and $300 on a one-size form. You can customize your form to make it more like your own body.

The third thing to consider is getting an adjustable form. This is the kind I have, and I'm thoroughly satisfied with it. It has dials at the bust, waist, and hips, and even has an adjustable torso length and neck measurement. It's not as easy to pin to as a standard form, but I've had it since I was a teenager, and it has changed size with me over the years. They come in different "body types," so check the ranges on the measurements before getting one.

Do you have dressmaker form advice for Farrah? Share it in the comments!

Heidi writes:

I am somewhat nostalgic and I like being comfortable. So, I decided to combine the two for this contest to create a scarf with a cushion look to resemble an old-timey arm chair.

I'm also very thrifty and like re-using things that I have lying around, like the over-sized men's shirt that I made this scarf and flapper hat out of.

This scarf is incredibly warm and comfortable. When wearing it, it brings back memories of cuddling on the sofa in front of my grandmother's fireplace with a teacup full of colorful mini-marshmallows .

See more entries in the Me, My Scarf and I Flickr Group.

There's still time to enter the Me, My Scarf, and I Contest. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PDT November 23, 2009. Each entry will be judged based on the following criteria: creativity of design, description of how the scarf represents the creator, and the use of a sewing machine in the creation process. Please see Official Rules for more information on the Winner selection.

If you're joining in on the contest, here's the code for the badge to display on your site or blog.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1229922@N20/"><img src="http://cdn.makezine.com/make/craft/badge_singer_scarfcontest.gif" width="150" height="144" border="0" alt="CRAFT: Singer Contest - Me, My Scarf, and I" /></a>

When your Dance Dance Revolution pad controller breaks, don't throw it away, make yourself a DDR purse! Instructables user quantazelle shows you how.

From the excerpt:

Using remnants from some printed linen, cut out large flowers, back them with hemp fabric, and stitch both fabrics together using your sewing machine's zigzag stitch. Homespun or heavier linen works well for the coasters backs, as both will absorb liquid and dry quite fast. Pair this project with a nice bottle of wine as a gift for your favorite hostess.

Most of the baby clothes my son wears are hand-me-downs or flea market finds, but my very favorites are usually the vintage ones. They don't look like all the other baby outfits you see running (crawling?) around and they're usually better made, too.

The drawback is that they don't always have snaps in the legs. I loved this pair of 80s overalls, but there's no way I am putting on or taking off overalls more than once a day. It was an easy fix, though! I ripped out the old seam, made a new one along the edges of the legs, and sewed on six snaps. Now diaper changing will be a (dare I say it?) snap.



I turned the seam under for the length of the legs, but left the cuffs folded over so they weren't too bulky. If the pants you're modding are thinner, go ahead and turn the seam under all the way.



When sewing the snaps on, make sure to use strong thread and stitch a little more than you think you need to. You don't want those things popping off and ending up in your little one's mouth!



Here are all six snaps sewn on. Learn from my mistake and make sure you have the two sides of the snap in the right order (I accidentally sewed on two backs)!

NOTE: a kind reader suggested snap tape, which would definitely make this an even easier project!

Calli writes:

A cozy bed warmer is one of my favorite things. Put them in the microwave for a few minutes and they work wonders for cold feet, aches and pains, or plain old stress relief. Bed warmers make a such a wonderful gift. They are easy to make, inexpensive, and both pampering and useful.

If you have a question for Ask CRAFT, shoot me an email at becky@craftzine.com, or drop us a note on Twitter! We'd love to answer your crafty questions on any topic: technique, projects, crafty culture, or anything else! Each week the answers are here; include your name, where you're from, and your website or blog if you have one!

Eyela A. from Oregon writes in:

I love to sew, but am not quite at the level where I can design or modify patterns. However, I'm getting there out of necessity. My biggest problem is that the chest darts in dress and blouse patterns aren't sufficiently long to accommodate a larger cup size. It's also not useful to buy larger patterns since the rest of the proportions stop working. I've searched high and low for a good tutorial or guide for how to appropriately re-size a dart, but there's not much out there. I wonder if you know a good resource?

I can point you to two books and one website that will help you get the shape you want out of your pattern. You should read up on bodice pattern construction and learn all about the the bust point and where you'll need to move it on your pattern.

Here are my two favorite books about pattern construction/manipulation:

How to Make Sewing Patterns by Donald H. McCunn features a whole section on changing dart locations.

Patternmaking for Fashion Design by Helen Joseph-Armstrong is a substantial book containing almost everything you'd want to know about making sewing patterns, and has a large section on darts. If you want the book but don't like the high price tag, look for previous editions that contain basically the same information. This is a textbook that is continually revised, and is priced as such.

Lastly, have you heard of BurdaStyle? They have a bunch of free tutorials for sewing techniques (including pattern manipulation) created by staff and users of the site. Check out this fullbust adjustment for princess seams turorial, a trick for natural-looking bust darts, and the staff tutorials on turning darts into princess seams and constructing the basic bodice block.

Looking to add a personal and crafty touch to your holiday table? Be sure to check out this tutorial from the folks at ReproDepot. I love the effect of the trim around the edges. See how they create it here.

I'm exposing myself a bit here as I admit that I've never sewn a French seam in my life. They always seemed a little ... complicated and fancy. This tutorial on easy French seams from Sew to Speak, though, makes me want to finally give them a try!

Cathe of Just Something I Made shares how she transformed two cloth napkins (each under $1) into this handy arm rest organizer for her sofa. She's even provided the vintage clip art in case you want to decorate it like hers.

This ultra super cute sock monkey kit is on sale now at the Maker Shed. Blue, or peach? How could anyone decide?

If you're on the shorter side of average, like me, you'll notice that pants are always too long. Learn one method to hem them in this week's CRAFT Video! This tutorial is for the beginner; don't be afraid to make this simple alteration at home. Once you have the confidence to hem your own pants, a new world of style options becomes available to you when shopping for pants. Many brands don't make a dedicated "short" length, so you're left with rolled up cuffs, a trip to the tailor's, or 20 minutes of time in your sewing room! I know which one I'd prefer. This method works for casual pants and dark wash or solid-color jeans, not dress pants. If you have a different hemming method, share with us in the comments!

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

Materials and tools:

• straight pins
• tailor's chalk (I actually cheated and used a white conte crayon)
• scissors
• ironing board and iron
• thread to match your pants
• sewing machine (I used my Singer Confidence 7470)

If you have a question for Ask CRAFT, shoot me an email at becky@craftzine.com, or drop us a note on Twitter! We'd love to answer your crafty questions on any topic: technique, projects, crafty culture, or anything else! Each week the answers are here; include your name, where you're from, and your website or blog if you have one!

Lauren Venell writes in:

I have a wool peacoat that has held up perfectly on the outside, but the lining is literally in shreds. How can I replace the lining in time for winter without having to sew the whole thing in by hand? I cannot for the life of me figure out how the lining was sewn in by machine without stitches showing on the outside of the coat.

Coat linings are sewn in with the coat entirely inside-out. Just like a plush toy, a small opening is left somewhere so that it can be turned right side out, then the hole is hand sewn shut. This hole is usually somewhere along the bottom edge of the lining. Open it up with a seam ripper and reverse the entire thing. You'll then see that the lining is sewn by machine to the outer layers of the coat. Use your seam ripper again to free the old lining, and even use it to construct a pattern for the new lining. Best of luck to you! As you can see from these pictures, I'm facing the exact same problem with my vintage peacoat.

Amber of Berlin's Whimsy shares how she created this reusable, reversible Swiffer mop cover from old towels.

This is my favorite scarf. That I bought last year.

I have several other favorite scarves. Probably about 10 or so that are favorites, and another dozen or so that I really, really like.

Favorites include the one I got at a thrift store in Germany this summer; the one I bought in San Francisco with my best friend Jenny on a Mom's Night Away; and the one Marie Kare (love ya!) knit for me a few years ago. So many fabulous scarves!

But back to my favorite scarf (that I bought last year).

I got it at Bazaar Bizarre in San Francisco from Lauren Brady, the woman next to the Craftzine booth where I was working. It's designed with quilted pieces on one side and a rust-colored, very soft corduroy on the other.

Besides the pattern and fabric choices, both of which I love, it includes two clever features. The first is the little embroidered bird on one end. So cute! The other is a button sewn onto the corduroy side about a third of the way down the length, and a corresponding hole sewn into the scarf near the other end. You can button your scarf in place! This keeps you super toasty and super fashionable, all at the same time. Such an awesome feature for a favorite scarf!

And I can't wait to find my next favorite scarf among the entries in the Me, My Scarf, and I contest. You're all clever, crafty, and motivated, so maybe I'll end up with 2 or 3 favorites this year!

Heather Bailey has created a free pattern for this cute bat doll that's made from a sock, wool felt and scraps of fabric.

Last month, Melissa of tiny happy shared an adorable needlecase she made after being inspired by a project she saw in a 1970s craft book. She's just posted instructions on how to make your own needlecase using wide vintage embroidered ribbon.

I've been loving the Scrap Busters month over at Sew, Mama, Sew! They have been featuring loads of great projects that can be made from handfuls of scraps, and this zippy wallet tutorial really caught my eye. Contributed by Anna from Noodlehead, it's got a great shape and the cutest little snap flap. I love it!

How-To: Rainskirt
Take an old raincoat and make it into the perfect garment to slip on over pants or skirts.
By Diane Baker

When I moved to Seattle I spent a considerable amount of time looking for rain wear for my lifestyle. The only gear that covered my legs were rain pants, which were not only hard to get on and off, but ugly, and incompatible with skirts. The solution turned out to be cutting up an old raincoat and making what I call, the Rainskirt.

How-To: Dinosaur Play Mat
By Holly Ramer

My 4-year-old son likes to play a game he calls "Dinosaur Party Truck." It's as adorable as it is involved (apparently Ankylosaurus, and only Anklyosaurus, has the necessary license to drive a backhoe loader).

He also likes to leave the dinosaurs scattered across the floor when he's done, which is not so adorable. And as someone who has stumbled over Stegosaurus and tripped over Triceratops more than once, I can assure you that even tiny herbivores are capable of attack. So in hopes of saving my insteps from further injury, I created this portable Dinosaur Play Mat.

Folded up, it's a lava-spewing volcano. Spread flat, it's a miniature landscape, perfect for a Tyrannosaurus rex tooling around in his tractor or a dump truck-driving Diplodocus.