Archive for the ‘Make this:’ Category
Make this: #26
Posted on: March 11, 2009
Cicada Daydream has put together a tutorial for a tote bag using a fat quarter of fabric. It uses every bit of it, so you want to make sure everything is squared and true, which may mean you need to trim a little bit here and there to get perfect measurements. The tutorial works around the various widths you encounter with fat quarters: narrow goods (45″ wide) have a width of about 20″ to 22″ usable, and wide goods (54″ wide) might have a width of 26″ to 28″ usable. Check out her other tutorials while at her site.
j carolyncreative has posted this tutorial for a tote bag. This is a 14 x 11 x 3-1/2 deep tote with one exterior pocket and two interior pockets—one zippered. It’s designed for hard wear with two layers of fabric at the bottom and straps that won’t rip off. While you’re there—and I know Valentine’s Day is gone for this year—look at her tutorial for a Valentine’s pennant and card. A neat idea!
For the animal lover, activist, or anyone with a warped sense of humor, this buck will make anyone proud. Use his antlers to hang your scarf or hat, your necklaces, or use him as wall art and dress him for any holiday you celebrate. Chronicle Books showsyou how. You make this guy is made from foam core and wrapping paper; however, that perfect hunting or camo fabric will work like a charm.
Made by Rae is offering this tutorial for her Buttercup Bag. The pattern uses a fat quarter of fabric for the outside of the bag and a little less of another fabric for the lining. You’ll also need a magnetic snap and a couple of buttons, although it looks pretty cute if you leave the buttons off. You could also try piping or ric-rac over the pleats. If you have little ones, be sure and look at her tutorial for star dust shoes. And it doesn’t take much to whip up a pair for your cutie patootie!
With Easter just around the corner, here’s AllSorts bounding bunny pin. He’s really teeny tiny, less than 3 inches across, but he looks very cute pinned to your sweater. He stitches up quickly, so you can make yourself a whole bevy of bounding baby bunnies for your Easter outfit…or Easter basket.
Finally, Amy Butler has put out two new patterns: her August Fields duvet cover and Nora’s Mid Mod 2 quilt. I love that fabric in the duvet cover. My problem is that I live in a small town, and I have one quilt shop that sells Amy Butler fabric, and not her complete line. I just know that I’m going to have to go to Houston or Austin to find this.
Make this: #25
Posted on: February 23, 2009
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Once Wed shows how to make these pretty hanging handkerchief vases. Laurie has collected handkerchiefs for a while and has tried to figure out a way to incorporate them into a project. Handkerchiefs come in all different patterns and every color under the sun. You could coordinate these vases with any wedding, function, or just to dress up a room. After you’re finished with them they could easily be disassembled and the handkerchiefs and jars could be used again for their original purpose.
This next one isn’t sewing, but these cupcakes are so cute I couldn’t pass them up. And who doesn’t love the Cookie Monster? Actually, any ‘critter’ from Sesame Street would make a cute cupcake. Made by Cynthia Rae gives you the instructions right here. Be sure and check out her other tutorials for a little boy’s camping lantern made out of a peanut butter jar and a battery operated votive candle, and her how-to on how to customize coasters.
Taffy Talk has a tutorial to make a Mickey Mouse hotpad or potholder. Anything Mickey becomes a favorite to me, so I know I’ll be making some of these up for my own kitchen. Another suggestion is to shrink down the pattern and make coasters. Be sure and check on the right side column for links to other tutorials they offer…cute ones!
Here’s another cute one: the Tag Monster. CraftSchmaft gives you the pattern and instructions here. He’s a cute little guy, but just the thought of sewing on all those ribbons makes me shudder. It’s a toy but after putting in all that work I’d probably be sitting the little guy on a shelf…up high away from little fingers or puppy teeth.
Here’s a neat pin cushion. It’s a perfect way to separate all your pins and needles by size and color. The great thing is that everything used to make it can be found around your house right now. You can make something functional out of scraps and trash! You can shut the lid when you’re not using it to keep out little fingers. Check out the instructions on Whipup here.
Until next time!
Make this: #24
Posted on: February 18, 2009
Okay, I know we just celebrated Valentine’s Day, but I couldn’t resist giving you this link. The web site for the International Chapter of the Junior Society gives instructions how to make your own Valentine Vermin. These little felt mice sit on slices of heart-shaped Swiss cheese, and are incredibly simple to make. What kid wouldn’t want to take these to school instead of those store bought cards? What better way for them to show their friends how much they care about them and value their friendship? You have plenty of time to make dozens of these before February rolls around again.
Here’s a spot kids will like. Joe, from Toy-A-Day, has started a year-long project where he plans to design, construct and post a new paper toy from a basic template each day for one year. So you’ll have 365 toys at the end of the year. All the toys are free to download if you want to make them. You can also design and make your own by getting a copy of his blank template here. An easy way to keep kids occupied.
Many of you already may be familiar with Wild Ginger. Wild Ginger has a free program, Wild Things, that you can download to your computer. Wild Things! is a free software program that you can use to easily design and print patterns for hats, bags, shoes, and wraps. All of the patterns in Wild Things! allow you to specify the dimensions for each item you draft and prints them to the dimensions you specify. It has an embroidery design tool to help you place your design. Wild Things! comes complete with a ‘Help File’ as well as sewing instructions for each and every style of pattern. You do have to register in order to download the program.
Until next time!
Make This: #23
Posted on: February 10, 2009
Nostalgic NeedleART shows you an easy technique to make ribbon pansies or violas. You can use them as an embellishment on a crazy quilt block, a purse, or a shirt. The pansy is made with the fine wire removed from the edge of both the flower’s ribbon and the flower center’s ribbon. Be sure and look at her crazy quilt blocks. She’s posted one for a birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. A great idea for a quilt. You can order a CD of her vintage postcards that she uses in her quilt blocks.
Okay, here’s a different project. Get yourself a cute bra and a couple of yards of fabric, and you can make yourself a new party dress. DIY Style gives directions here. Just make sure that when you purchase a bra for this project that you make sure the back of the bra is made with similar fabric or trim as the front. Nothing worse than having one with elastic that looks like your standard bra!
Bitty bits & pieces has posted this tutorial for her love notes heart. The pillows are like a little Valentine card mailbox (remember making those in school?) that you can hang on a chair, a doorknob, or a bedpost. Just stick your love notes in the pocket. At the bottom of the tutorials she’s posted some photos of hearts she’s made using decorator fabric, tassels, cording, braided trim, ribbons, and metallic charms.
Chickpea Studio has a new tutorial for a pocket bag. Chickpea loves pocket bags because they are useful in preventing scratches from other things in your purse, they can be made in any size with no effort, they keep things clean, they use up all kinds of scraps, they use a ponytail elastic that comes in a lot of color options, and they need a button but no button holes! That last one is the best reason to like pocket bags. She has two different tutorials listed: one is a PDF and the other is a Word document.
I hope you’ll try some of these great tutorials. Until next time!
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Goodness, where should I start? My apologies to all for being away so long. An explanation is surely in order but, unfortunately, there isn’t one. No broken sewing machines, no lack of fabric or patterns, no major family or work emergencies, and no exotic trips to far off locales (unless you’re one of those who count Oklahoma in December as exotic).
I’ve decided that I’m one of those people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues. We have normal mental health (which, of course, depends on your definition of ‘normal’) throughout most of the year, but we experience depressive symptoms in the winter and, get this, we may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. Now I have a reason (with no guilt!) to eat my way through every bag of cookies, bag of candy, tub of cake icing, and carton of ice cream in the house.
I’ve not done a bit of sewing since late October/early November. I haven’t turned on my sewing machine, although I’ve heard him calling my name from time to time. The same with my poor, poor laptop. The little guys are missing me so.
I found these projects on the internet the few times I turned on my computer. You may want to try some of them.
Craftstylish has a tutorial showing how to make this fabric basket. You can use this soft coiled bowl to stow all your notions, threads, jewelry, and more. There are step by step instructions with photos. With Valentine’s Day just ahead, check out their tutorial for this heart sachet. A set of of these are a great gift and a good way to use up your fabric scraps.
As I’ve said previously, we’re in the process of painting the inside of the house. Yes, we’re still painting the house. And, yes, we need to finish this project so we can move onto something else. We acquired quite a collection of chip cards from our days of picking colors for the house. Here’s a neat way to use them. How About Orange used old paint chip cards to make bookmarks. She says to just trim them to a size you like, paste two colors back-to-back with some rubber cement, attach a string or ribbon, and you’re done! They’re especially sturdy because the paper stock they’re printed on is very tough. Now you have no excuse to use old receipts, toothpicks, or food crumbs as bookmarks.
Check out these two new Valentine projects from The Purl Bee. She gives these instructions for making your own sewn paper Valentines. These pretty little cards are a great way to use up the last little pieces from stash fabrics and any leftover thread you might have. Her other project is for these little Valentine pins. These little pins look like they are as fun to wear as they are to make, and is a perfect project for the kids to make for their class valentine swap. Each one takes just minutes to make so you can whip up a bunch in no time.
This site, Cherrymix, has patterns for little food items made from felt. Aren’t these little cupcakes cute? Cherrymix has been around since 2001. It was originally just a gallery site showcasing their personal work. In 2003 it opened a store selling plush toys. The store closed in 2006, but the free patterns have stayed online. You can download patterns for a fortune cookie, a cupcake, a marshmallow, a loaf of bread, and three for sushi: shrimp tempura, mini mochas, and onigiri.
Until next time!
Make this: #21
Posted on: November 13, 2008
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Poppy Lane shows how to make these little flower bowls that you can use in your sewing room, office, bathroom, or bedroom…any place where you need a little storage. They are easy to make with two pieces of fabric and a piece of fabric interfacing. Also check out her tutorial to make a heart wreath for Valentine’s.
Craftstylish makes these nifty quilted flowers to add to a tote, make into a pin, or make a bunch for a bouquet. A great way to use up your scraps, and they’re really fast and easy. All you need are fabric and batting scraps, thread, and some small buttons. And a sewing machine, of course. You can find the instructions here.
The blog dearfii has a couple of projects I found interesting. The first is for these little pin cushions. A sewer can never have too many places to put their pins…right? You can find the link to the PDF here. The second is for this fabric bowl or a wee little Easter egg bowl. This is so easy with fabric and glue. A nice project for kids and your fabric scraps. Here are the instructions.
Flower Garden gives instructions to make a ready threader, which is a handly little holder to carry a spool of thread and some pins and needles when you carry a project along with you to the doctor’s office, the dentist, or a trip out of town. It’s also neat to carry a tube of lipstick or chap stick. Another great idea to help use up all those scraps we all save.
And finally, we can’t end without a new purse project. Heart of Mary has a nice project for her ‘finish it your way’ patchwork bag. You can find the how to’s here. The idea of ‘finish it your way’ means you have the choice about how to do the final bag assembly. You might want to leave the top open, as in a simple tote, or close it with a magnetic snap, button loop or zipper. You might add a flap. It’s up to you. Notice the ‘download tutorials’ button on the right side of the page? Be sure and click on it and check out her patterns for both a large and small messenger bag, a backpack, and her little angel doll. A great site!
Until next time!
Make this: #20
Posted on: November 3, 2008
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My dog, Hemi, has an obsession with kitties. We can’t tell if he loves them or hates them. I found this tutorial for kitty ornaments. I’m thinking if I make several and place them in his favorite places, I may be able to help him overcome his ‘little’ phobia. You can find the pattern at Annie’s Cupboard. If you like primitive this is the place to go. The site has everything from Raggedy Annie to Christmas and Halloween items. She has a lot of free patterns that you can download, and she lets you sell what you make.
You find charm packs everywhere these days. I’m sometimes at a loss what to do with them, other than make quilts. Buttonberry has this tutorial to make a nice charm tote. She also has this tutorial for a Posh Pick n Mix bag that takes very little fabric and very little time.
I haven’t bought a pumpkin in a couple of years. I always say I’m going to but never get around to it. Probably because I feel obligated to make pumpkin pies or something out of those disgusting innards. And Roger always wants to toast or roast or bake…whatever it is you do with those seeds. However, I’ve found this pumpkin pattern at Schlosser Designs, which will satisfy my yearning for a pumpkin but won’t do much for Roger’s seed toasting/roasting. While you’re downloading the pattern check out her other tutorials. She’s got some neat ones!
Until next time!
Make this: #19
Posted on: October 23, 2008
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Well, I spent a little time wandering around the web and found a few neat projects that I filed away in my huge stack of papers that I really must go through one day. You may be interested in them too.
Pink Penguin shows how to make this reversible patchwork tote bag. You can find the tutorial here. I wonder how this would look made out of old tee shirts? I mentioned in an earlier post (Make this: #12) about Pink Penguin’s tutorial to make a fabric basket. I know some of you made her baskets and told me how easy her tutorial’s are.
For those of you who sell your crafts here’s a little tutorial on how to make your own labels. Even if you don’t sell your creations, it’s still nice to put in a label so that someone knows that you took the time to make them a special gift. The tutorial includes photos so it’s easy to follow. You’ll find that making your own labels is cheaper than having them custom made.
L’arbre de Bobines tells you how to make this drawstring bag. Isn’t it so cute? I think these would make great little gift bags. I think the site is either French or Italian. The tutorial is in English but you may have to read parts of it two or three times in order to grasp what you’re supposed to do. Still, it looks easy enough to follow. Plus, she says you can contact her if you have problems or questions.
Here’s a couple of pin cushions that will look nice in your sewing room and look easy to make. UK lass in US has a tutorial for the apple here, and you can find the instructions for the pear here. She also has this tutorial for a fabric doll house that will make a nice Christmas gift for a little girl.
Finally, some nifty projects disappeared from the Kunin Felt website when they reorganized. Blossom the bear and Skippy the rabbit were some cute ones from 2000. You can find Blossom here, and Skippy is here. I found these links through Silver Seams Open Source Sewing. If you sell your crafts then you need to check this site. Her patterns are available for you to make and sell. Here is what she says,
Some years back, I decided there was a need for “open source” sewing patterns – not just free instructions on the web with a “You can use this but don’t resell the results” afterthought, but properly licensed stuff like I use when I’m wearing my software developer hat. Since then, the potential for hobby crafters to sell their work has only increased (Etsy, etc.), so there’s more need than ever for the ability to sell stuff without worrying about getting a special dispensation from the pattern designer, or worrying about a C&D or a DMCA takedown notice.
I hope you’ll try your hand at some of these projects. Until next time!
Make this: #18
Posted on: October 3, 2008
I happened upon MJ Trimming by accident, but I found this tutorial for a button bouquet. You can find the how to’s here. According to their website, MJ Trimming, based in New York, has over one million products, including rhinestone crystals from Austria, silk Jacquards from France, hand-cast metal buttons from Italy, and handmade wood-beaded fringes from India. They say that visiting the store is like a trip to a candy store for creative people. For those of us who cannot make it to any of the M&J retail stores in New York as often as we would like, well, we can shop around the clock at www.mjtrim.com.
The blog, Bloom, has this tutorial for her blossie bag. Her original bag was made for her 12-year old daughter to take as a gift to a friend’s birthday party. Well, I really like this bag, but I’m not telling you how old I am! Check this link to see other fabric combinations for making this bag. Be sure and check out her tutorialfor ‘easy peasy bag pockets’ and her tutorial for ‘faux piped bag handles’.
Make this: #17
Posted on: August 19, 2008
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Sew Sassy Mama has instructions for making this fabric grab ball. This is a new blog. Her first post was in mid-July. It’s always nice to find that people have visited your blog, so be sure and visit and leave a little thank you note.
With fall just around the corner, check out the J. Caroline Creative tutorialon making a Halloween basket with a place mat. She’ll also show you you how to make these nifty storage baskets in two different sizes. I must try my hand at these as I don’t think a person can ever have too many places to store one’s junk important objects.
I’m not sure what Manucré is calling this bag, but whatever its name…it’s cute! Quite simple. Here are the instructions. The site is in French but it translates into easy to follow directions. If you have the time, she has some tasty looking recipes you might want to try (if you can figure out how to convert her measurements). Maybe I can talk Michell into giving some of them a go. Those French classes in high school will come in handy in situations like this. As well as those years of culinary school!
You can make this little boxy pouch from three bears. You can see how here. This little bag is only 4.5 inches long, 3 inches high and 2 inches deep. Just big enough for a lipstick and a compact (or better still, she suggests lots of candy).
Finally, here’s a handy wall organizer for your sewing room, bathroom, closet, office…anywhere you need some storage for little things. Here’s the instructions. I just happened to pick up some of that apple and pear fabric a few weeks ago.
Until next time!
Make this: #16
Posted on: August 1, 2008
In searching the web this morning I came across a couple of more cute things to make. I found these cute reindeer gift card holders at my little mochi. The instructions are here. Okay, I know it’s the first of August, and the temperatures here are in the triple digits, but we only have 145 days, 13 hours, and 36 minutes until the big day. Just about time for us to start our Christmas projects.
Allsorts has this pattern for little elf clogs. Wouldn’t these be cute on a dinner table or attached to a gift? Note that these are little shoes (being for elves). These little clogs just lend themselves to creative embellishments, so an Elf Clog group is set up on flickr so you can share photos of your creations. I can also see them in green felt for Saint Patrick’s Day.
Everybody knows how to make a pompom; however, Molly Chicken shows how to make them out of fabric. They’re made with all those lttle strips you get when you’re straightening your fabric edges. Molly Chicken gets lots of these little strips because it takes her two or three goes to square up her fabric. Fortunately, I have the same problem. You can find the instructions here. Don’t you think this could be considered a ‘go green’ project?
Now, as much as I hate to, I really need to get off the computer and go do some chores.
Until next time!
Make this: #15
Posted on: July 24, 2008
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The Angry Chicken has a tutorial to make this five minute skirt. You can download a PDF with the instructions. By the way, the five minute rule only applies if you use a serger, but it’s a simple skirt so even using a sewing machine won’t add much time. It’s a two piece pattern with no waist band. While you’re there, be sure and watch her how to video on applying bias tape. Besides being informative, it’s also entertaining and you can see how to make a cheap video with a low budget.
Aren’t these sharp looking quilts? These are made by Karen Griska at Selvage Quilts.com. I’ve decided I just really enjoy the look of things made with selvages, which these quilts are done in. I’m not sure how long it takes to collect enough selvages to make a quilt. Karen has this tutorial that shows you how to make several types of blocks using selvages. The FAQ also has interesting info on using selvages.
The newest project at DIY Style is a foldover clutch purse. You can download a PDF with instructions that show you how to make it with and without the decorative details on the flap. You can see all the other projects listed here. They have a little bit of everything: fashion, home decorating, and even some doggie duds. I don’t think I can get my dogs into any kind of duds so I didn’t even look at these patterns.
Finally, Dizzy Daisy shows how to decorate button clip and bobby pins to match your outfit. A very simple and easy tutorial that uses fabric scraps, a fabric covered button kit, glue, and a pair of needle nosed pliers.
Until next time!
Make this: #14
Posted on: July 3, 2008
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Made by Rae has this tutorial to make this Itty Bitty baby dress. She gives you the pattern for a newborn and for a 1-3 month old little girl. Amber from Inspiration for Crafting enlarged the original dress to fit a toddler (I believe a 3T). You can find the pattern here.
Amber’s site shows several ways to fix up onesies for a little boy. The first is with a little bow tie. The tutorial is here. The second tutorial is for a onesie with a necktie. You can find it here. While you’re there be sure and read her tip for using plastic produce bags in place of Wonder Under. I use a lot of Wonder Under so I’ll have to give this a try.
Oh Fransson has a nice tutorial to make this giraffe quilt. She used a giraffe print Minky as a backing for this quilt. She suggests that if you use Minky that you only quilt the top and batting before adding the backing. The quilt is small, but it’s just the right size for a stroller or to use in the car seat. She gives wonderful step-by-step instructions on making a crazy nine patch block.
Until next time!
Make this: #13
Posted on: June 30, 2008
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Lola…again has posted tutorials to make her angel and jenny bags. The angel bag is the pink one, and the jenny bag is the orange. She also has a few more tutorials on her site so check them out while you’re there.
Show Your Workings has this tutorial for a Japanese knot bag. The tutorial is actually a PDF so you can download it to your computer. The pattern uses two fat quarters and is reversible. Very cute.
Lila Tueller Designs has this tutorial to make a cute little dress out of a ‘onesie’. It’s a great project to use up your fabric scraps, and it’s easy to make. I’ll remind you all again that I still don’t have grandchildren (Michell…are you reading this?), but perhaps some of you can make this cute little dress for a cute little girl.
Until next time!
Make this: #12
Posted on: June 18, 2008
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Pink Penguin has several nice tutorials. Here are the instructions to make a fabric basket. This tutorial is very easy to follow. I think I’ll make some of these to use around the house and in my sewing room. These would also make nice gift baskets for someone special. Especially if they’re done in birthday or Christmas fabric. While you’re at the Pink Penguin be sure and check out her other tutorials for both a pen and camera case.
My girls are in their twenties and have already moved out on their own and, unfortunately for me, there are no grandchildren in sight in the near (or distant) future. However, for those of you who still have a little girl at home, Grand Revival Design has this tutorial for a ruffled skirt. She also has this pattern for a cute little girl’s hat. This tutorial is very easy. You can whip up several of these in one sewing session.
You can download the bird pattern at Spool to make this cute mobile. Look for the link to the PDF in the upper right corner. Over the next few months Spool is planning to give directions to make the bird mobile. Each bird only takes two pieces of fabric so throw in a needle & thread and you have a great travel project.
Until next time!
Isle B. Stitching 
What we’ve said!