Sewing

December 5, 2025

Dog-Friendly Sewing Tips for Every Pet Parent

Few things are as delightful as sewing for our pets. They happily overlook crooked seams and quirky fabric choices—because to them, handmade means love. As someone who has three big dogs, I can tell you that there are myriad opportunities to create things. Our Newfoundland, Yohnuh, will love anything and everything. Abby, our border collie, is more selective about her things, and Lizzie, the “Heinz 57” mix, will simply start to rip apart anything and everything she gets.

Make it Right

It goes almost without saying that anything made for a pet should be made from a sturdy fabric, especially for younger pets who seem intensely curious about everything. Denim, canvas, duck cloth and nylon ripstop are top-of-mind choices.

Fabrics should also be soft if you’re making bedding or clothing, and have a snuggle factor. Fleece is a common choice, but there’s also sherpa, wool, and Minkie-like options.

It’s also obvious that any fabrics (and stuffings) should be totally washable and dryable. Drool (we’re talking you Newfie!) and just general use by pets lead to the need for frequent cleanings. If the fabric is waterproof or water resistant (think ripstop, oilcloth, or laminates), a simple wipe-down can take the place of full-on laundering.

Who doesn’t love looking at pet themed fabrics, whether in-store or online? There’s a multitude to choose from.

If you’re making a costume, perhaps you want to think more broadly about fabric options. Satin, tulle, velvet, etc. may be needed to pull off the look. But, these items aren’t for general use, so care isn’t necessarily as important as those getting everyday use.

Think safety when you’re selecting pet findings—no beads that can be swallowed, no fasteners that can be chewed off, etc. Any trims should be sewn on sturdily by machine.

If you’re making a coat, leash or collar, consider adding reflective trim if the item will be worn out at night. These trims glow in the light of headlines for added visibility.

When making a stuffed item, be sure to double stitch the opening closed to avoid pet intrusion.

Pet Projects

There are myriad types of pet projects, and you can find many free patterns online simply by searching “free pet projects to sew”. Many of these are ideal for beginners to make, as pets don’t care if seams are perfectly straight. The major pattern companies also have pet offerings.

If you’re thinking of a pet bed, be sure to measure your pet when they’re lying down to see how big the bed needs to be for comfort. No dog wants a bed he can only sit in. Note the pattern measurements and where the measurements were taken—nose to tail, girth, weight, etc. for a good fit. Beds are actually a great way to use up some scraps for stuffing. Just be sure all the pieces are washable.

If you’re looking for a simple beginner project, consider a pet bandanna. These scarves are ideal for using seasonal fabrics and only narrow hemming is needed, or even just a trim with some specialty scissors. Or, even simpler, snip a fringed edge. For double wear, make it reversible and no hemming needed.

Placemats are another easy option. They catch spills and crumbs and keep the area around dishes cleaner.

Interactive toys are always a winner for any pets. Whether you make a Snuffle mat and hide treats in it, or you create a squeaker tug toy, a feather string toy or a catnip filled fish, there’s fun to be had.

It’s fun to customize a pet project as well—get out your embroidery machine and add a name or saying (Woof!) to the project as you’re making it. Another way to personalize a project is to add an appliqué—just be sure the stitching is secure and no loose edges.

No matter what you make, your pet is sure to be appreciative of your efforts! Don’t have a pet of your own? Donate items to shelters for the pets housed there or to give to adoptees.

Sewn Pet Project Ideas

Bandanna
Bed
Boots
Car seat cover
Coat
Collar
Cooling mat

Costume
Couch cover
Dog poop bag holder
Hammock
Harness
Leash
Placemat

Pillow
Quilt
Snuffle mat
Tent
Treat holder bag
Tug toy
Tunnel

~Linda Griepentrog is the owner of G Wiz Creative Services and she does writing, editing and designing for companies in the sewing, crafting and quilting industries. In addition, she escorts fabric shopping tours to Hong Kong. She lives at the Oregon Coast with her husband Keith, and three dogs, Yohnuh, Abby, and Lizzie. Contact her at gwizdesigns@aol.com.

November 21, 2025

From Sweater to Fall Foliage on Display

Who doesn’t love a bit of fall color?

If you’ve followed my blog posts for any length of time, you know that I love repurposing things in unexpected ways, and this sweater wreath is the perfect project for that mantra.

Get started by gathering some fall-color-no-longer-worn sweaters from your closet, from friends, or visit thrift stores. Look for color gradations or stripes within the sweater so you have more tonal options from a single pick.

If the sweaters are wool, throw them in the washer and dryer to felt them, creating a denser fabric to work with.

Supplies

One 10-12” wicker wreath form
Assorted fall color sweaters
Assorted fall color felt
Assorted fall color threads
Assorted fall color felt balls, 1- 1½” diameter
Fusible web
Hot glue/glue gun
Large bow (optional)

Putting it together

Download some free leaf shapes from the Internet. One site is https://worldofprintables.com/leaf-template/. Oak and maple shapes are ideal, but any basic leaf shapes will work.
Trace the leaves onto the paper side of the fusible web and rough-cut the shapes.
Following the manufacturer’s instructions, fuse the shapes to the wrong side of the sweaters, positioning them according to your color selection and varying placement for interest.
Cut out the sweater leaves on the drawn lines.
Peel off the protective paper and fuse the leaf shapes to a contrasting felt color. Cut out the shapes ¼” from the sweater edges, leaving a narrow felt border around each leaf.
Using a straight stretch stitch or a narrow zigzag stitch, detail the leaf veining to mimic the natural leaf configuration. A narrow zigzag shows up better on bulkier fabrics.
Position the leaves as desired on the wreath form and glue in place.
Group together multiple felt balls and glue in place among the leaves.
Let the glue dry thoroughly before moving the wreath.
Add a bow if desired.

Options: Instead of all leaf shapes, cut some pumpkins, witch hats or turkey shapes to add to the mix.

Don’t throw away the sweater scraps—they’re ideal for another project—perhaps some winter mittens! The sweater ribbing is perfect to use as-is for the cuffs on mittens.

November 14, 2025

Gabbing about Gussets

Sandhill Sling bag from Noodlehead Designs

If you’ve made bags, totes or packs, you may have had to deal with a gusset or two.

So, what’s a gusset?

The word gusset doesn’t roll easily off the tongue and may not be something of common knowledge. But the purpose of this design detail is to add depth and more room to a project. Rather than creating a perfectly flat tote, bag or purse with just a back and front, it’s handy to have space for more items inside.

A gusset is basically a strip of fabric that goes fully or partially around a bag for this purpose. Most gussets also feature a zipper opening for access to the interior of the bag. A gusset also allows a bag to stand on its own.

Gussets on Garments: Gussets in garments are pieces of fabric inserted to add width, strength, or comfort. They’re commonly found in areas that need extra ease of movement, such as the underarms of sleeves or the crotch of pants. Sewing gussets into clothing is a different process than adding them to bags or totes.

Gussets can be the same width throughout or can be wider at the bottom tapering to narrow or non-existent by the time they get to the upper bag edge.

Adding a continuous band around a base shape can be tricky—not only are there corners or curves involved, but the gusset has to fit the piece exactly so there are no puckers or gaps, and if the bag has square corners, you don’t want any pleats at the corners.

Piece by Piece

If your bag has a zipper closing, you’ll likely have two upper gusset pieces to cut—one for each side of the zipper. If the bag is lined, there will be four upper gusset pieces—two outer fabric and two lining fabric.

While some gussets are constructed slightly differently, the pattern guidesheet should detail the process, but shown here is the general process for most bag gussets.

To construct a zippered upper gusset, place the zipper tape face down on one gusset with the long edges matching and baste in place close to the edge (1).

If the gusset is lined, place the lining piece right sides together with the gusset and stitch in place along the seam line. Press both gusset layers away from the zipper and topstitch (2).

If the zipper is longer than the gusset, unzip it halfway and sew across the end several times, then trim off to match the gusset length. Repeat for the other end if needed (3).

With right sides together, sew the bottom gusset to the top gusset across the gusset width. This creates a circle which should fit your bag back and front exactly. Press the seam in one direction and topstitch through all layers (4).

Note that if your bag is lined, the lining lower gusset will be part of the seam (5)—check instructions for your specific bag.

Now comes the fun part—attaching the completed gusset to the bag front and back. Pin-mark the top and bottom gusset centers, then fold those marks to match, and mark. This divides the gusset into equal quarters. Create those same sectional markings on the bag back and front (6).

With right sides together, match the quarter markings on the bag with the same on the gusset starting at the top center and clip the layers together (7). If the bag back has rounded corners, slash into the gusset seam allowance only and spread apart to round the corners.

Clip all layers together (8). If the bag has square corners, slash the gusset once and spread at the corner seam. Start along one side and sew the gusset to the bag section around the perimeter, allowing the gusset notches to spread around the corners. No puckers!

With the zipper partially open to allow for turning, repeat the process to attach the remaining gusset side to the remaining section of the bag. Yes, it’s a bit like standing on your head for this step as you’re wrestling the other side and gusset but stay the course and keep an even seam allowance. Turn the project right side out and check for any puckers or pleats. Trim the seam allowance if the pattern directs. Voila—gusset installed!

Complete the project per the pattern instructions.

November 7, 2025

A Kantha Jacket

Some years ago, I wandered onto a website selling the beautiful clothing of designer Mieko Mintz. I was fascinated by her reversible patchwork jackets and vests. These colorful garments were crafted from fabric known as kantha. I wanted a kantha jacket—I was shocked by the prices, though. $1200 for a simple cotton jacket? As usual, I thought, “I can make one myself!”

Mieko’s website describes kantha as layers of old sari fabric hand-stitched together. This craft originated in Bengal, India.

Kantha were traditionally believed to protect users from harm and could help achieve happiness and prosperity. Some of the kantha designs appeared to be randomly patched scraps of fabric, and others seemed to be made of solid saris. They often have beautiful border designs that become focal points in Mieko Mintz’s garments. Mieko uses some vintage fabrics but also creates new fabrics for her clothing designs. [1]

Author Ekta Kaul describes kantha as a form of women’s art in India. Layers of old cloth, once used by family members, provide memories of loved ones. Women made kanthas in various sizes to celebrate rites of passage or to add beauty to their homes, much like our quiltmaker friends do. Today, kantha production has evolved into an industry in India, offering financial independence to many women. [2]

During a stroll through a Houston Heights antique mall a couple of years ago, I found a stack of kantha throws. “Get one,” my husband said. Don often aids and abets my sewing addiction. We selected a throw made of colorful silk fabrics. I took it home and draped it over a bench in my living room. It looked lovely there. Occasionally, I spread it out and tried to decide how I could cut the fabrics to create a pleasing arrangement for a jacket.

A few months later, the Marcy Tilton website offered several vintage kantha throws. I fell in love with one that had a border on all four edges and a beautiful color scheme. I ordered another kantha throw.

I searched for the perfect pattern. I wanted a reversible jacket with just a few seams. One night, while scrolling through Pinterest, I stumbled upon an out-of-print pattern for a reversible jacket. Vogue 2709 is a design by Koos Van Den Akker. Ignoring the appliques and chenille overlay, the pattern was perfect for my kantha jacket! I ordered the pattern from an Etsy dealer and it arrived a few days later.

Still, I hesitated to cut into the kantha throw. Upon receiving the notice about the ASG Houston 2025 fall luncheon and learning about the speaker, Bianca Springer, who creates garments from quilts, I was inspired to start working on my jacket!

I chose the throw I had purchased from Marcy Tilton because I thought the borders would complement the front and bottom edges of my jacket nicely. I spread the kantha throw on my dining table and experimented with different pattern placements. I was pleased to discover that there would be little fabric waste, but that meant that I had to lay out my pattern carefully. I was delighted to find a remnant of dupioni silk in my stash that was the perfect color to make the bindings. The jacket came together quickly, and I finished it in time to wear to the ASG luncheon. Now I am looking for ideas to sew up my other kantha throw. Maybe a long vest?

If you are interested in sewing with kantha fabric, there are some things to consider. If you purchase a “vintage” throw, your kantha may have worn spots. The throws are made from old fabric and may have endured daily use in a home. A vintage throw may require some mending or patching.

A vintage kantha throw might be dirty. Mine had a strong smell. It also had some worn spots, and I wondered whether to wash it myself or take it to the dry cleaner. My throw was made of cotton, and I guessed it had likely been washed many times. I decided to sew the jacket first. I hand-washed a scrap and saw that the water seemed very dirty. I decided to wash it on the delicate cycle with a gentle detergent in my washing machine. Then I air-dried it. A few spots showed slight fraying. I did some hand stitches to reinforce those areas, and I think my stitches blend in well with the original stitching.

If you would prefer to work with new kantha fabric, look for a kantha bedspread. Check the bed linen departments at major retail stores or look on Amazon or Etsy. I have also seen kantha by the yard on bolts at quilting shops. The fabric, stitching quality, and number of fabric layers will vary.

Some websites that sell Mieko Mintz’s clothing are listed below. These are great websites to gain design inspiration for other sewing projects as well.

By the way, I submitted photos of my kantha jacket to the Marcy Tilton blog (Marcy Tilton’s Blog for Everyday Creatives – Marcy Tilton Fabrics). Pictures of my jacket were included in her Sew &Tell – Summer Favorites, and I received a $50 gift card for March Tilton fabric!

Ekta Kaul’s book, Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making, describes the history and styles of kantha and illustrates many types of kantha stitches and embroidery used in the craft. She also introduces several textile artists who incorporate kantha in their work. There are pages and pages of beautiful photography.

[1] Mieko Mintz LLC (n.d.). Our Story. Mieko Mintz. Retrieved September 22, 2025, fromhttps://miekomintz.com/

[2] Kaul, E. (2024). Kantha: Sustainable Textiles and Mindful Making. Herbert Press, p.12-17.

by Deborah Turkleson, ASG Member, Houston chapter

October 31, 2025

On a Roll—DIY Continuous Bias

If you need bias for binding a quilt, trimming a jacket, or encasing edges on a placemat or other craft project, this tutorial is for you. Sometimes ready-made bias tape just isn’t right for your project, or maybe you want a custom color or pattern, so the simple answer is to make your own.

One way to make bias is to simply cut 45° strips of fabric and tediously sew the ends of the strips together with diagonal seams. That works, but it’s a bit time consuming. It’s much easier to create continuous bias.

In the Beginning

Continuous bias begins with a square of fabric. The size of that square is determined by two factors—the width of the bias strip you need, and the length you need. There are free online calculators to determine the square dimension, but this chart offers some common options:

Choosing Fabric Square Size

Length Needed	1 1/2″ Strips	2″ Strips	2 1/2″ Strips	3″ Strips
110″	14″ square	16” square	18” square	20” square
220″	19″ square	23” square	26” square	28” square
340″	23″ square	28” square	32” square	35” square
480″	28″ square	33” square	37” square	40” square

Chart courtesy of quiltingdaily.com

Cutting Up

Mark the appropriate size square diagonally from corner to corner and mark the center of the left and right sides. Cut the square in half diagonally (1).

With right sides together, match the center dots on the short triangle sides and sew the triangles together using a ¼” seam allowance. Press the seam open (2). The result is a parallelogram.

Using a permanent marker, pen or pencil, mark lines parallel to the long edges of the parallelogram for the chosen binding width (3). The lines should be on the fabric wrong side. Note: Don’t use a heat-removable pen, as you will be pressing during the bias-making process and the lines will disappear.

Fold the short sides of the parallelogram right side together forming a tube and off-set the lines by one strip width. Note: It’s important to offset the drawn lines or you won’t create continuous bias, only strips. Match the drawn lines at the ¼” seam line (not the edges) and stitch the seam (4).

(continued) Note that the folded piece will not lie flat because of the off-set. The piece will have an off-set row at both the top and the bottom (4a). Press the seam open.

Cut along the drawn line, through one layer only, beginning at the off-set edge, and you will have a spiral of bias in your chosen width (5). You’ll need to use scissors for this process as you’re cutting in a spiral—a rotary cutter won’t work.

Strip to Tape

Roll the bias and continue with your project directions. If you want double bias, press the strip in half lengthwise, matching the raw edges. If you want single bias with a folded edge, press under ¼” along the length of one edge.

If you want double-fold bias tape, press ¼” under on both long edges, then press the strip in half.

Make It Easy

For easier bias tape folding, use a bias tape maker in a size to coordinate with the size of your cut strip and desired finished width. Simply slide the strip into the tape maker and press as it exits the folding channel.