Calling all you “Project Runway” wannabes who don’t even know how to sew. Finally, master your sewing machine and learn all sewing basics.

For all who dream about sewing up quick home DIY projects and chic clothing (and eventually making it to “Project Runway”), but don’t really know which end of the sewing machine is up, your dream can become a reality. Thanks to a new book, “The Little Guide to Mastering Your Sewing Machine: All the Sewing Basics, Plus 15 Step-by-Step Projects,” which is a step-by-step sewing basics guide illustrated with nearly 200 photos and drawings, you’ll discover all the basic techniques.

After learning the sewing basics through the illustrated guide, you can then quickly test out your news skills with the 15 special projects that are specially designed to be beginner-friendly. Make up easy projects like the perfect little pouch, a cover for your sewing machine, a cami top, cushions, table runners, a big tote bag, and more practical and simple beginner projects.

One of the best features of this handy guide is that it even has a fold-out stand and is set up as a spiral flip book for increased functionality. Set it up next to your machine and flip the pages as you work through the guide to learn the basic functions and accessories of the sewing machines. The guide also walks readers through the additional equipment you’ll use, choosing and cutting of fabric, the different kinds of stitches, how to sew pieces together, and more.

Come away from the experience knowing how to sew straight, take up a hem, and how to add bias binding, piping, and zippers. While the techniques offered in the book are simple, this book can help you get to the next level of learning more advanced techniques and skills. Everyone has to start somewhere, and this book offers easy to follow instructions that won’t overwhelm beginner sewers. Even “Project Runway” contestants had to learn how to use their sewing machines at some point!

The author of this indispensable sewing basics guide is Sylvie Blondeau, a French artist specializing in craft and illustration. She teaches sewing classes to adults and teens, and is the author of several sewing and craft books, including “Appliqué for Little Ones”.

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Top Image: Sewing Room via Shutterstock

Book Images: The Little Guide to Mastering Your Sewing Machine images courtesy of Schiffer Publishing, Ltd

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Easy sewing projects for your home to hone your sewing skills!

Sewing is among the crafty skills that seem to be making a comeback in recent years, and it is a handy skill to have. If you know how to sew, not only can you hem your pants, take in a skirt, and make other clothing alterations, but you can use your skill to make pillows, curtains, and other easy sewing projects for your home.

Sewing for your home can save you money, allow you to decorate with a personal touch, and can be a fabulous way to repurpose fabrics, like reusing a stained tablecloth to make cloth napkins. And while some projects may be a little too advanced for beginners or the average sewer, the key is to tackle easy sewing projects that you know you can complete.

There are millions of easy sewing projects out there for your home, but we have compiled some of our favorites for their cleverness or their easy breeziness. So, pull that sewing machine out of the closet and put your sewing skill to good use!

7 Easy Sewing Projects for Your Home

1. Galloping Horse Draft Dodger – With winter headed our way, door draft dodgers are one sewing project that just makes sense. This project is also super easy for beginners or if your skills are rusty. You could use this tutorial to repurpose patterned fabrics or use the galloping horse template provided.
2. Quilted Coasters – This Martha Stewart project for making quilted coasters is a perfect way to repurpose fabric from tablecloths, clothing, curtains, and more. Do make sure not to use a difficult fabric to work with like stretch fabrics or thicker fabrics. This project is so simple that you could sew up some coasters in about an hour or so!
3. Yo-yo Wall Art – Easy sewing projects don’t have to be just practical. Use your sewing skills to make wall art from easy to sew fabric yo-yos. Simply sew up yo-yos from leftover fabrics and hot glue gun them to a painted canvas creating a pattern or design as you go.
4. Linen Napkins – This super easy project for linen napkins is perfect for you to customize with your design aesthetic. Follow the tutorial and choose gorgeous autumnal colors for the coordinating fabric, colors more appropriate for another season, or even choose a print. The beauty of this project is it is so easy that you can make it your own.
5. Geometric Pillows – Pillows are among the most ubiquitous easy sewing projects around. This project has a slight twist, though. Instead of the traditional square or rectangular shape, it’s for making octagon-shaped pillows instead. One clever idea for customizing this project is to use one color on one side and another on the other side.
6. Patchwork Throw – While it seems cliche, we still love a patchwork quilt. But, making a whole patchwork quilt is a lot of commitment for a beginner. The easier alternative is to make a throw instead. It’s an opportunity to repurpose fabrics and practice your skills. This project is from Amy Butler, the queen of quilting fabric designs and is a step-by-step tutorial to guide you easily through making a quilt for the first time.
7. Color Block Shower Curtain – Many may not think of sewing their own shower curtain, and to that we say, “Why not?” And if you’re going to do it, why not make a color-blocked shower curtain to add some color to your bathroom. It’s awesomely easy to do–check it out!

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Image: Woman Using Sewing Machine via Shutterstock

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Brooklyn based brand, Bergwerk, is setting the tone for a more eco-friendly fashion industry with its environmentally positive approach of scouring the city to find recyclable materials that can be magically transformed into a completely unique garment.

Established in 2013, through the ingenious mind of Gertrude Berg, Bergwerk is the culmination of an ecological metamorphosis. In a simpler phrase, take the old and make it new. Berg grew up in Austria and crossed the pond to study at the School of Fine Arts in Boston where she obtained an arts degree. She took an interest in sculpture, which inspired her original take on shape and the idea of reusing components that are already in existence. New York City is littered, for lack of a better word, with recyclable materials that most people bypass regularly. It’s encouraging to see brands such as Bergwerk take a second glance and envision someone else’s “waste” as something better, something refreshed.

Upon hunting down discarded fabrics from the fashion industry, the formerly hopeless textiles are salvaged and repurposed into a brand new garment. The soul of Bergwerk’s transformation process is behind Berg’s influence of the city and the art of sculpture resulting in avant-garde layering and precise stitch-work. There are no other alterations made to each individual piece besides the stitching, which means there is no extra cutting of the fabric. Just like in centuries past, the practice of utilizing all of something still rings true today in Bergwerk’s designs. Nothing is left to waste.

An awesome aspect of Bergwerk is that every piece is one of a kind. No two are the same, which really allows the wearer to fully express their individuality. Not discriminatory to age, no matter how young or old you are, its garments are appropriate for all. Anyone can take part in helping our planet in a stylish and conscious way by purchasing an original Bergwerk design.

The style focus behind its design process is women’s overall beauty and confidence at the forefront. Nothing is more beautiful than feeling amazing in something that has potential to change habits and generate a new, sustainable direction for the future. Another super cool fact about Bergwerk is all of their garments are hand-wash only! So not only does it rescue scrapped textiles from a trash-hell, it also promotes energy efficiency! Buh-bye, washer and dryer!

Bergwerk is sort of like Cinderella’s fairy godmother to recyclable materials if you really think about it. It takes sad scraps and transforms them from rags to ecofriendly riches. Bergwerk is continuing to pioneer the way for our world to stop dreaming of a better place and in fact start making it a reality, one refurbished piece of fabric at a time. It’s true someone’s trash really is someone else’s treasure.

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Image via Bergwerk

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1. Reface Rather Than Replace Cabinets

Innovative companies can work with your existing wood and reface those cabinet doors with sustainable woods rather than trashing and starting anew. Read this post for more tips for the kitchen cabinet facelift.

2. Swap Decor with Family and Friends

You don’t need a piano and I don’t need that daybed in the TV nook, so let’s trade and recycle our stuff and get what we really need. It’s a match made in eco heaven when it doesn’t cost you a dime to swap decor, especially with people who have a good eye like you do, and are low on storage space. It’s how they did it in the olden days before widespread consumer waste and climate change. Here’s more.

3. Baby Steps Can Equal Full Grown Changes in a Room

Rearrange the furniture, buy a few new pillow covers, paint a wall. These easy fixes will refresh your pad without sinking lots of cash. As you’ll discover in this handy how-to post, it can all be done for under $30.

4. Repurpose Excess Upholstery Materials

Those fabric rolls are not doing anyone any good just sitting in the closet. Cut them up and redirect them to your interiors for pillow covers, framed art, bedding, even wall coverage like the picture shown above, if you have enough for adequate padding. See these great ideas for repurposing your excess.

5. Clean Before You Replace

Perhaps that rug can come clean with eco spot remover techniques. Why rip it out if it’s still useful? Another option is to cover a damaged section of the carpet by layering with a small, affordable area rug, one made of eco fibers that won’t cost the same as new carpeting or a large are rug. Go shagging for answers here.

6. Seasonal Accents Make Great Distractions

A collection of seasonal organic blooms and greens from your garden, lanterns, greeting cards, photos and tablecloths – they all can act as happy distractions in a room that is begging for a redux. Don’t have a garden? Head to the farmers’ market, the flea shop, the vintage shop in your hood, and spend little to stage your spaces with renewed charm. Head over here for inspiration.

7. Paint can Perk it Up

Even a dingy clawfoot tub can look ultra modern and cool by finding the right low VOC paints and giving the bath a new coat. You will find sprucing up furniture with paint can be a great cheap fix that refreshes your spaces.

8. Be a Thrift Shopper

It’s no wonder second hand shops in cities nationwide do well during hard times. These are outlets that actually offer discounts while more upscale sights like 1st Dibs are peddling vintage treasures that cater to those with lots of spare cash. Do some research and check out the shops in various neighborhoods to find out where nifty castaways are being parked.

9. A Room of Her Own

Sometimes just carving out one room of your own in your dwelling can suffice until you have a bigger budget to fix up the place. Are you craving that Project Runway sewing room? How about a closeted dressing room out of a spare bedroom? Having a blast doing just one space for yourself can be very rewarding, even if it is a multi-use corner for working, painting and reading. Own it with visuals on the walls and a fun rug that speaks to you. Experts say you will accomplish the most in a space you gravitate towards.

10. Spa Makeover

So you can’t afford to tear out the old tile and tired tub to make way for stone and steam. Use zen decor touches and nurturing elements to turn your blah bath into spa bath: Ideas include indulgent, organic towels; sensuous beeswax candles in an array of holders; yummy creams and oils displayed in a vintage tray; and my favorite Nob Hill Day Spa element – a large pitcher of spring water filled with sliced cucumbers or lemons and a pretty glass.

Image: Elle Decor

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