BAG MAKING TECHNIQUES

BAGS

PATTERN HACKS

QUILT BLOCKS

QUILTS AND HOME DECOR

SEWING 101

57 thoughts on “Tutorials

  1. Judy says:

    Same comment — where have the tutorials done?

  2. Janet P says:

    I have made three of your Arabesque bags. They turned out great. Now I’m starting the Underwater Stripes (Zig Zag) Bag for Pellon. I’ve come across a situation…I don’t see the instructions for the lining when it comes to the darts in the bottom of the bag. Do I make the darts like the exterior which kind of interfere with the interior pocket or do I make a pleat or what? I would really appreciate a quick reply as I am making this for a gift.

  3. I am trying to find your tutorial on essential oils case. I can’t find it.

    1. Carole Dupuis says:

      Where are the videos?

  4. sofia says:

    Do you have flower quilt bag tutorial or video?

  5. Brenda Wyllie says:

    I recently purchased some vinyl from you now I’m a little nervous to sew it, I want to make the Park West bag using the vinyl what do you think. And can I use foam interfacing.

  6. Sylvia Brown says:

    Omg everything is soooo Beautiful have have some things to start now I’m missing metal tags

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      lol thank you so much Sylvia!

  7. Kathleen Gillespie says:

    Has anyone used a Pfaff machine to sew cork or heavier materials for their bags? I have twice tried to sew deerskin on my Pfaff 1475 and have wound up taking it in for repairs. It is about twenty years old, but was then the top of the line and not cheap. I have since gotten a Teflon presser foot and have better luck with pleather, but as of now, I am not terribly pleased with the results on vinyl. I was using heavier threads (the usual cotton wrapped polyester) and the same thread in both bobbin and top. Any suggestions? The bags are all gorgeous and might be presents if I can get what I think are respectable results.
    Thank you.

    1. Brenda says:

      You might try loosening your tension and lengthening your stitches and or reducing your preesser foot pressure. Top left ot the machine normally.

      1. Kathleen Gillespie says:

        Thank you for your help. My Pfaff does not have anyway to reduce presser foot tension and I hopefully solved the problem by getting a basic (IE cheap!) heavy duty machine that so far gives me a nice straight stitch on vinyl. I would like to eventually do some monogramming BUT think that is best left to an actual embroidery machine.

    2. My 30 year old Bernina 1130 has never met anything it can’t handle. Leather, many layers of heavy canvas, slippery things…..it just goes. I was wise enough to buy all the extra feet, and that makes a huge difference.

  8. Jackie Mackiewicz says:

    Hi… I am making the annex bag…fine up to step 6… very confused…
    It says…sew from one end to the other…on one side or both??
    Is there a tutorial on the double zips??
    Pattern is not very clear.. help!!

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Jackie, I am happy to help! You’ll do one at a time. Feel free to email me for further assistance if you need it sara(at)sewsweetness(dot)com. I do have a video for this pattern now, click on the ‘Video’ tab at the top of my site.

  9. gloriastylz says:

    Where is the toturial for making The Sublime bag??? The video you have is only for how to see with cork fabric, there is no tutorial as promised. PLEASE ADVISE

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hello Gloria! The video for the Sublime Bag is available for purchase here: https://sewsweetness.com/products/sublime-bag Some of my videos are free but the Sublime Bag video is among the paid videos. It is 2 hours 23 minutes long. Thank you!

  10. Leslie Wittenberg says:

    I would love to make a satchel/brief case out of one of your beautiful cork fabrics. Do you have a pattern to recommend that would look elegant yet sturdy with a pocket inside?

  11. Leslie Wittenberg says:

    Ooh thank you. What type of material would you recommend for straps if I’m using cork

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      I have made cork straps before – I would suggest only making them either 2 layers or 3 (not 4 like in double-fold bias tape, that would be quite thick)

  12. Jeannette Thompson says:

    What pattern do you recommend for the glitter vynIl please before I purchased some. I live in the UK

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Jeannette! Glitter vinyl is great for accents or straps and can be incorporated into many bags (for example, on the Aeroplane Bag, you can make the bottom panel in glitter vinyl as well as the straps, and quilting cotton for the rest). Hope this helps!

  13. Lorraine says:

    I Sara I’m trying to find the videos that came with my purchase ? Not sure how to find them on the website ? Please let me know thank you .

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hello Lorraine! I emailed you, please let me know if you did not get that. Thank you!

  14. jlk1028 says:

    I bought the 4 big bundle and printed out the patterns but I cannot find the link to view the video. How do I get to the entire video ? I have watched the trailer but no link I can find on the page I printed pattern from

  15. Louise Mc Nish says:

    Hi Sara, what a clever dedicated lady you are! I would love to purchase some books/patterns, but lots of the notations, linings, foam etc are either not available or due to the Currency exchange priced right out of affordability.
    I can also recommend that Singer heavy duty machine since I owned one for a short while bevore investing in my Industrial flat bed Gemsi. (Which I absolutely adore)
    My little home business is making bags, but totally not anyways structured like yours are. My bags are made from one single continuous zip. I sell them at our local Craft Markets here in Cape Town, South Africa. Oh, I most certainly am a Bag Lady.

  16. C says:

    And the tuto in French?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hello there! The patterns and videos are in English. Thank you!

  17. Veronica Begay says:

    I am new and I started making bags. What kind of thread and needle size is great for bag making?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      HI Veronica! I use Aurifil 40wt thread. I use either an Organ 90/14 needle or a Schmetz microtex needle. Thank you!

  18. Patti says:

    Sara do u have a video on ur pattern
    “supply cases”
    I am kind of a newbie and it is a little confusing… Any help would be greatly appreciated !!!

  19. Margie Hart says:

    Hi,I have just recently found you and Danny on YouTube and love you both so refreshingly delightful, I was wondering do you have a pattern for a sewing needle organizer wallet.

    Cheers Margie

    1. baxter95404 says:

      We’re do I find the paper pattern for tapered corners

  20. vickidep says:

    I love the fabrics you use. Where do you purchase and who are the designers?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Vicki! Some of my favorite online shops are Hawthorne Supply Co, Stash Fabrics, and Fat Quarter Shop. Some of my favorite fabric designers are Tula Pink, Alison Glass, Katarina Roccella, and Melody Miller. Hope this helps!

    2. Barbara Leach says:

      Hi Sara! I am so happy to have found you and you awesome patterns and instructions! Your fabric selections are awesome, where do you find them?

      1. sewsweetness says:

        Hi Barbara, my favorite online shops are Hawthorne Supply Co, Stash Fabrics, Brew Stitched, and Fat Quarter Shop.

    3. Lisa Zeltner says:

      Hi Sara, I was wondering if you could tell me who the artist of the fabric you showed on of your lives. It was a while back and I can’t find the video. You mentioned it was actually the artists mom on the fabric. Can you tell me who that is or send me a link to the video?

  21. Tena Hough says:

    Hi Sara! My daughter’s conceal carry cross body bag is wearing out and I hope to make one for her. Do you have a false bottom hack? Thank you so very much

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hello Tena! I did a demonstration on how to make a false bottom here, although I think it may be different than what you’re looking for (in this demonstration, it’s a fabric-covered stiffness for the bottom of a bag): check around 23 minutes in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N19-JIAuYk

  22. Mjoao Rodrigues says:

    Hi Sara just purchase the pattern for de Dot dot bag but cant find the video , where can I search .Thank you

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hello Mjoao, thank you for your message! You can find instructions on how to access your purchased pattern and video here: https://sewsweetness.com/video-access-instructions Thank you!

  23. Phyllis Rosenberger says:

    Is there a video for the amethyst project bag? I could only find the trailer on you tube. I am 3/4 thru and having problems. Thanks, Phyllis

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hello Phyllis! There is a video available here (just select ‘Video Only’ from the dropdown box in the product listing): https://sewsweetness.com/products/amethyst-project-bag I’m also happy to help via email, you can always email me at [email protected]. Please let me know what Step # you are stuck on. Thank you!

  24. granyrudolph says:

    Hi Sara! I am a thankful fan! I love your series and love all the designs of bags you have created. In my mind, I’m making them all! 🙂 Going through the pages of patterns, I notice all the templates for the patterns. Do you have a video about templates, how to store, clean, or just how necessary are they to have?

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hello there! The acrylic templates are completely optional, since the printable pattern pieces are included in the patterns. Some people like to have the acrylic, especially if they are making the bag over and over (either as gifts or to make and sell at craft fairs). Here is a general video about how to cut using acrylic templates (check about 16 minutes in): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiyx-RC35Y Some of the acrylic templates are sort of “technique” templates, and most of those have their own videos on their product page in the shop (such as the Zipper Pocket, Rivet Centering, Purse Feet, Seam Guide, Boxing Corner, etc. templates). Thank you!

  25. Saphronia Hines says:

    I want to see the tutorial for the Morningstar bag

  26. Saphronia Hines says:

    I want to see the tutorial for the Blazing star bag

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hi Saphronia! The video for the Blazingstar Bag is available to purchase here (just make a selection from the dropdown box in the product listing): https://sewsweetness.com/products/blazingstar-bag Thank you so much!

  27. barbara vivas says:

    I wish there was a tutorial for the tudor bag

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hi Barbara! A video is available to purchase for the Tudor Bag here (just make your selection from the dropdown box in the product listing): https://sewsweetness.com/products/tudor-bag Thank you!

  28. Cyndy says:

    I would love to see a tut on the kismet bag. No matter how I try, I cannot get the topstitching even on the very top, thru all those layers, and the layers from the handle in t there. I have a good machine that sews thru just about anything, and am using a big needle. (Husuvarna Viking Sapphire 960 Q

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Cyndy! A video for the Kismet is available for purchase here: https://sewsweetness.com/products/kismet-trinket-boxes However, it sounds like you had a lot of the steps finished already. Have you already tried a microtex 90/14 needle (I use either the Organ brand or the Schmetz brand)? If you’re getting skipped stitches, this video may help: https://sewsweetness.com/2022/01/video-how-to-avoid-skipped-stitches-on-corners.html

  29. Susan J Minamide says:

    Where did the Superbloom tutorial go? The link in my pattern just brought me to this page and there is no video that I can find.

Comments make my day and I love to reply!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.