I’m so excited to share this tutorial with you! Jo-Ann so generously sent me some fabrics from their new line of HGTV Home Fabrics to try out and review and I used them to make a big yarn storage basket! I really love this Urban Blossom fabric that they sent me because it’s honestly really me! It actually reminds me of the fabric that I have in the header on my blog. The HGTV Home Fabrics line also has some chevron prints that I really like as well as some other floral prints! Jo-Ann also sent me a coupon for you so if you’d like to try these fabrics, scroll down for a coupon! :)

Now, I’m going to show you how I made my yarn basket! It’s a pretty simple project, but definitely requires some sewing experience! This basket is big (12″ high x 17″ wide) so it would be great for so many things, like a laundry basket even!

Supplies:

♥ 1 yard each of two coordinating fabrics – I’m using HGTV Urban Blossom Berry & HGTV Checkered Past Berry
♥ 54 inches of matching trim – I’m using HGTV 1” Pleat Twill Mulberry
♥ 2 yards of extra stiff interfacing
♥ Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies/tools

Step 1: Cutting out all the pieces:

♥ From both fabrics & interfacing – cut 1 circle that is 17 inches in diameter (53 inch circumference) + 1 piece (for the sides) that is 54 inches long x 13 inches tall.

♥ From the outer fabric – cut two pieces that are 12 inches long x 3 inches tall (for the handles)

Step 2: Handle pieces: With right sides together, sew along the long edge (green line) using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step 3: Turn the handles right side out and use your iron to press them flat. Top stitch along the green lines.

Step 4: On both of your fabrics & interfacing: With right sides together, sew along the short edge (green line) using 1/2″ seam allowances.

Step 5: On both of your fabrics & interfacing: Pin the bottom circle to the side piece (right sides together) and sew around the circle (green line) using 1/2″ seam allowances.

Step 6: Pin the handles in place on your outer fabric.

Step 7: Putting all the pieces together!

Put the outer fabric inside the interfacing and then with right sides together, put the lining fabric inside the outer fabric. Pin all the way around then sew together using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Be sure to leave about 6 inches unsewn so that you can turn the whole thing right side out.

Step 8: Turn right side out and pin the hole shut that you left for turning.

Step 9: Pin your trim in place all the way around the top edge. Sew around (this will also sew up the hole that you left for turning).

All done! Now stuff it full of yarn and enjoy! :)

I was able to fit about 45 skeins of yarn in there! If you wanted to make a smaller basket, it would be really easy by simply making a smaller diameter circle. Here is a circumference calculator that I always find helpful for this sort of thing!

Here is a 10% off coupon for you to use! From April 14 – May 4, the HGTV HOME line is 50% off at Jo-Ann and the coupon can be used during that time for extra savings!

1. Fabric coil bowls
2. Glue watermark tee - I love this technique using glue and RIT dye!

3. Owl cell phone cozies – free crochet pattern! I made some like these once but never got around to sharing the pattern.
4. Safety pin beaded bracelet. This is an easy alternative to the loom beaded bracelets I posted recently.

5. Light up crochet rug
6. Circle top - I love this style of top! I have two of them and think they’re so pretty!

7. Fringe sleeve t-shirt reconstruction
8. Grass rug – free crochet pattern

I’ve been wanting to make more of my own clothes so I’ve been trying to think of things that will be fairly simple to make but still cute and fashionable! Gotta love things that are easy, right?! Complicated stuff just isn’t as fun (for me anyway). Here’s a tutorial for the skirt that I was wearing in this post. It’s really simple and can be made in under and hour easily!

Supplies:
♥ Stretch knit fabric for the waistband
♥ Non-stretch fabric for the skirt
♥ 1/4 inch elastic – I’m using the clear kind because it’s what I have. Any type will work.
♥ Sewing machine that does a zig zag stitch
♥ Basic sewing tools/supplies

Pattern:
The pattern is just simple rectangles. You’re going to need to know two measurements – around your hips and right below your bust (where the waistband will go). Refer to the picture below and cut out your pieces.

After you’ve cut out your pieces, here’s how to sew them together:

Step 1: Sew your two skirt pieces together, with right sides together, using 1/2 inch seam allowances. Just along the sides, not top or bottom.

Step 2: Use your sewing machine’s zig zag stitch to attach elastic around the top edge of the skirt to gather it (sew the elastic to the wrong side of the fabric). If you’ve never done this before, it’s pretty easy. All that you do is keep some tension on the elastic by slightly pulling it towards you while zig zag stitching over the top of it. This causes the fabric to bunch up/gather, as you can see in the photo below.

Step 3: Fold your waistband in half, with right sides together, so that the short sides meet up. Sew together using 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Step 4: Now fold the waistband in half the other way, so the long sides meet up (right side out) and pin.

Step 5: Pin the waistband to the top of the skirt with right sides together. Zig zag stitch along the edges.

Step 6: Hem the bottom (there is an inch for seam allowance here).

I hope this tutorial was easy enough to follow! This is the first time I’ve attempted a clothing tutorial. I’d love to hear any feedback so I can improve future tutorials! :)

I have a confession to make. I absolutely despise quilt making. Most time consuming, least fun thing I’ve ever made. Seriously. My head hurts thinking about sewing all of those little pieces together. I have so much respect for hardcore quilters – I don’t know how they do it! It’s art and I don’t have the talent for it. BUT! I’ve been seriously wanting a quilt lately. Because they’re pretty. Seeing coordinating fabrics together makes me happy. So I went on a quest to find some quilt tutorials that won’t make my head hurt. And I’m really excited to try one some time soon!

Stripe quilt | Chevron quilt

Sunburst quilt | Ric rac blanket

Simple solid quilt | Simple 4 square quilt

Easy rag quilt | Circle applique quilt

I think I’m most likely to try the stripe quilt first. And the ric rac blanket inspires me to make a quilt with pom pom trim around the edges. I kinda love that stuff!

Have you ever tried to make a quilt? Love it? Hate it?

I feel like I’m always toting around a plastic shopping bag full of yarn whenever I want to take my crochet project somewhere with me. So I thought it would be nice to make something a little less ghetto to carry my projects around in! :P

This is a really quick and easy bag to sew! It can hold 2-3 balls of yarn + hooks, scissors, pattern, etc. It has a square bottom so it can sit flat and has a simple drawstring closure. Nothing fancy or difficult! Just a nifty little bag that you can make in less than an hour!

SUPPLIES

- 2 Cotton fabrics, an outer & lining (about a 1/2 yard of each will do)
- Cord, ribbon, or yarn for the ties
- Sewing machine & basic sewing supplies

PATTERN

This pattern is a really simple shape so it would be much easier for you to draw it out with a ruler than to cut out and tape together a bunch of pieces like I normally give my patterns. Refer to the picture below for the measurements to make your pattern.

1/2″ seam allowances are included

Step 1: Cut 2 pieces from each of your fabrics.

Step 2: With right sides together, sew along the sides and bottom (pink lines). Repeat this step on your lining fabric also.

Step 3: Flatten the bottom of the bag so that the side and bottom seams that you just sewed are lined up. Sew across on both sides. Repeat this step on your lining fabric also.

Step 4: At the top of both side seams, measure down 1 1/2 inches and undo the stitching up to that point. Next, sew closely around the edge, as shown in the picture on the right, to hold the seam down. (Do this step on outer fabric only, not the lining fabric).

Step 5: With right sides together, sew your outer fabric and lining together around the top. Make sure to leave a little space where you can turn it right side out.

Step 6: Turn right side out and use your iron to press the top flat. Next, top stitch around about a 1/8″ from the top (this will sew the hole you left for turning shut). Then top stitch around again, right below the hole you left for the drawstrings (should be about 1 inch from the top).

Step 7: Cut 2 drawstrings from cord or ribbon or make a crochet chain like I did. Each should be about 32 inches long.

Step 8: Put 1 drawstring into one of the holes on the side and weave it all the way through, bring it out the same side you started on and knot the ends together. Repeat the same with the other drawstring except start and finish in the hole on the opposite side of the bag.

Happy Crocheting!

If you use this pattern, please consider supporting me by purchasing a crochet pattern from my shop.  Your support will help ensure that I’m able to continue making new patterns to share (both free & paid). Thanks for considering! :)