Sewing your way to Plastic Free!

Here are a four simple things you can sew to replace the plastic versions you may currently be using...

Reusable Fabric Bowl Covers - instead of plastic wrap.

Reusable Snack Packs - instead of plastic zip lock bags

Eco-Friendly Produce Bags - instead of small single use plastic bags for fruit and vegetables.

Reusable Shopping Bags from Bedding - instead of single use plastic bags.

Why not make one or all of these things and reduce your plastic usage now!

For plenty more ideas for things you can sew - why not take a look at My Free Sewing Tutorials Page. 

I shall be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons and direct links can be found on my linky party page.

Can your kids sew?

This is an e-book course I developed to teach kids to sew. 

 It uses a pair of jeans as the main fabric for the nine projects included in the book.

I chose a pair of jeans because I personally love sewing with denim, it's strong, hard wearing, looks great and only improves with age.  Sewing with old clothes is also a very eco- and budget friendly fabric source option, which is something I feel strongly about.  It teaches kids to use what they've got for sewing resources - the tutorials making use of all parts of the jeans from the zip to the pockets and even the waistband!  

Most people have an old pair of jeans at home that they can use for this, or there are always plenty of second-hand jeans for sale in charity and op shops for just a few dollars.

The nine tutorials in the book build up skills and techniques gradually, but each project is achievable for kids to make either by themselves or with a little help from an adult.

Through the course of the book, kids will learn skills like appliqué and putting in zips; and also how to read tutorials and patterns that use both written instructions and photos to make each step clear and straightforward.

My own two daughters, aged 10 and 12 when the book was created, were been my pattern testers for this book. It was great to see their sewing confidence grow as they progressed through the tutorials. They started out with the super simple and very fast project - tissue pouches.

and then went on to make things like bags, soft toys and zipped pouches!

By the end of the book, once all the tutorials have been completed, the sewer should have the confidence to be able to browse through the endless sewing tutorials available online - both here on my blog and on many other fabulous blogs and sites - and try making lots of new things!

To purchase your own copy of this book to teach someone (or perhaps even yourself) to sew, for just

AUD $9.99

click add to cart and follow the prompts. 

Alternatively you can go to my e-book page to buy this and my other e-book (Eco-Friendly Shopping Bags)

Thank you for your support of my blog and my sewing tutorials. I would love to hear from you if you use this book to help kids (or adults too)  to learn to sew!
Happy Sewing!

Eco-friendly shopping bags

Friday for me is grocery shopping day. I always use the handbag above for my shopping day as it has all my shopping tote bags inside so I've always got them with me at the checkout! They are strong, sturdy and pretty. Here they are all full of shopping in the boot of my car.

The handbag above is the final bag I made when developing the pattern for the e-book I published a couple of years ago.

This e-book is a selection of tutorials showing how to make a whole range of eco-friendly shopping bags from upcycled materials, which then fit into the snazzy handbag..

Each book costs just the price of a cup of coffee, and $1 from each sale is donated to the WWF.

Through these sales, my blog has now been able to adopt a turtle.. 

Meet Mitch the Turtle my blog mascot!

More details of my e-book can be found here.

I appreciate your support - of both my blog and tutorials, and of course of the WWF!

Happy upcycling and sewing!

6 Sewing tutorials to help you Exercise!

When I'm not sewing or teaching, I do love to exercise, and so does the rest of our family. Over time I've made a few things to help us in our sporting and exercise endeavours. I hope you can find something here to help you too!

Personalised Swimming Bags

Yoga Mat Bag

Water bottle carrier

Dance Bags

iPod Armband

Add a zip pocket to your exercise shorts

For even more sewing tutorials for making all kinds of things and all levels of sewing ability, visit 

My Free Sewing Tutorials Page

Where you'll find over 150 tutorials!

I'll be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons and direct links can be found on my linky party page.

22 Things to Sew in 5 Steps and 15 Minutes

I firmly believe that anyone can sew if they want to.
So I've tried with these particular sewing tutorials to keep things as simple and clear as possible and create a set of things that can be made in just 5 steps and 15 minutes.
Of course this is a guide - some things may take you a little longer, some may even be quicker, depending on what you have on hand and your confidence.
The main point is that they are simple and straightforward and great for beginner sewers just starting out!

I hope you find something you can try. Just click on the pictures below to go to the individual tutorials, and on each post you will find a link for a free downloadable PDF version of the tutorial.

Happy sewing!

Add a Zip Pocket to Shorts