Quilts ! I love quilting ..My brick quilt top

A brick quilt top !

I just need to cut my bamboo batting and backing so I can quilt this one ..I will take a photo and post when its completed..For the template I actually measured a standard house brick ..I cut 105 full brick pieces and 14 half bricks..Jack keeps asking me when am I going to finish it ..As I've made 2 more other quilts since..I made a rag quilt last month, which I'll post soon when I get some better photos and one for Jack's bed in blue and white ..

Making Pj's Last Longer..Lengthening The Legs !

 

Lengthening Jack's pajama  bottoms !

At the beginning of winter Jack said his pj's were to short, so rather then go buy news ones when there is still plenty of life still left in these ones. I decided to just lengthen them with some blue cotton fabric I had in my sewing room, that was left over from another project many years ago...very quick and easy to do, it took me less then half and hour..So he should get a few more winters wear out of them...before they end up in the rag bag..

 Step 1

I unpicked the current hem, then I cut two pieces of the blue fabric to fit the width of the legs and a little extra for the seam down the side and joined it together as you can see in above photo.It's double thickness but you could join it the other way and have just single thickness and just hem the bottom of the blue fabric ..either way just as good..

Step 2

Once that was done I folded the fabric back onto itself and folded the top edge over and sewing it around the cover the seam ..all done ..so it made the pj's bottoms almost another 4 inches longer..If you have boys you will know they grow upwards before they fill out that much so pants are always getting to short and yet still fit them in the waist..I have another pair to do as well ..so hope he wont need any more pj's for a few season yet...saves money and stuff going to landfill.So often we just race out and get new ones with out really thinking ..well not this time ..and they are only pj's so he only wears them to bed..so how flash do they need to be as long as they keep him warm, which they do ..so we are both happy ...
Note: You could also add some extra fabric to the end of the sleeves if they are to short by using the same process..but I checked Jack's and they were fine..maybe something to consider next year and they still fit every where else and haven't worn out...

Acrostic Cushions ! Birthday Gifts I Made !

This is an acrostic cushion I made for a birthday gift for a sweet 12 year old girl ...

It all started when I started sewing lots of fabric scraps together and I made some lovely zipper cases with them and gave them for gifts too...So after doing that I had another great idea ...I'll join some other pieces of fabrics together and make cushions, then I decided to make them even more personal and add their name and turn it into an acrostic cushion...So I joined the fabric strips together in a log cabin and in the middle I embroidered their name ...I quilted it onto a piece of cotton batting  then I lined it..so that was the front completed ...Then I made the backing from some more of one of the fabrics on the front to match...

 

Here is the completed front before joining it to the back..

The finished cushion measures 16 inch square or 40.5 cm square...

To make the backing I cut two pieces of fabric 16 inches by 13 &1/2 inches  or metric 40 cm x 34.5 cm. Then I hemmed both of the longest sides, the two pieces for the back overlap each other so the cushion fits snugly inside...

 

Its a good idea to pin backing in place before sewing. 

 This is how the back looks when its completed. 

I also made the cushion inserts as well, by sewing together some bamboo batting and filling with pillow filling.. I have also made another one with the name Genevieve for Samantha's younger sister for her birthday but its not until next year ..So I have it packed away until then...Here are both of the completed cushions I think they are really sweet, I was very happy with how they turned out ...

I'd love to hear what you all think..Aren't they sweet ..thinking they will look lovely on the girls beds or maybe on a chair in their rooms..

A great way to use up all those gorgeous fabric scraps which are way to precious to waste... 

Keep your pinking shears sharp !

A great way to keep your pinking shears sharp !

I have finally found a great way to keep my pinking shears sharp and at no cost, which is even better and it only takes a minute or two so I can have them sharpened any time I need to use them with out even leaving my sewing/craft room and a great way to recycle too...All you need is a small piece of aluminum foil, we call it Alfoil here in Australia. Now  fold your piece of foil to have at least 4 layers and cut through the layers with your pinking shears ..how quick, easy and simple it that ..keep cutting until when tested on a piece of fabric they are sharp and you're done...photo below is some foil wrappers from a tin of chocolates we bought Jack last Christmas and I decided to keep them in a shoe box in my sewing /craft room thinking they may come in handy for some thing..So that's what I use to keep my pinking shears sharpened now, I just get a few wrappers and cut through and then I'm ready to cut with them and recycling is an added bonus ...and free..so a win win in my book...

Make Your Own Food Cover & Serviettes

Food Cover & Serviettes.
I made these the other day for a gift for someone.
Its a food cover made from cream tulle with a border of fabric around the edges.I've been wanting to make some of these for gifts for a few years now, so finally I have and I also made a set of 6 serviettes to match.
I'm going to make one for myself, they are so handy for throwing over food to keep the flies off your food. Great to use at Christmas time or at parties. This one I made measures 122cms x 120cms or
48 inches x 47 inches.
Below is another photo of how it looks spread out .

Making Aprons

I made this apron the other day for my heart sister for her birthday, I really hope she likes it. I'm a member of Simple Savings and this year I joined heart sisters where we have 2 heart sisters one sends to us and we send to one. I love being a part of some thing that spreads joy and love. We need to make contact with our heart sister at least every 4-6 weeks , by sending a card a letter a gift just to let them know we are thinking of them. It can really cheer people up if they aren't well or have a few challenges they need to deal with or just to brighten their day a little. I love sending my heart sister things that I have made, sure hope she likes home made gifts.I plan on making these aprons to sell them so if any one is interested please let me know I will make them to (your colour choice) and when I've made some more I will post them on my blog for sale. All are made from 100% cotton fabric, made using solar power and lots of my love !
please email me at sherriec@westnet.com.au to see others for sale please visit my other blog at
http://sherriesbagworld.blogspot.com.au

This is a close up of the roses fabric across the pocket. I may do an apron tutorial if enough are interested.

This is my first attempt at making my own printed labels.It's very easy to do I will do a tutorial soon to show you how ...Still working on my designs...

Making A Bag For My Son Jack's Football Boots !

I made Jack a football boot carry bag.
As the the football season begins again, Jack will train on the oval at his school, therefore he will need to take his football boots with him to school in his school bag. As I don't want to use plastic bags and the football boots can get really sandy and gunky on the bottom, Yesterday  I decided to make him a bag to carry them in, better for the planet and I have made it big enough that it should last him years. They are very easy to make, the finished size is width 30 cm and length 36cm and a draw string either end so you just pull each end to close the bag. They are made from 100% cotton fabric and will be easy to launder when needed. You can also just turn them inside out and give them a shake to remove any sand and grass etc... I have also sewn an embroidered label that I sewed on "Jacks Football Boots". You can see two bags with both the same name as I made one for Jack's friend also called Jack, So Jodie if you are reading this blog post I made one for your Jack to put his football boots into. They would be great for storing so many things, Jack played cricket last year if he plays again I will make him another one for his cricket shoes. It makes them so easy to store, keeps them together and can be hung on the back of a door handle for easy access. I love fabric bags they have so many uses... What else does every one store in their fabric bags !

I Made Christmas Boxer Shorts !

I Made My Son Jack A Pair Of Christmas Boxers!
I finished them off today, only took about 15 minutes to join them together and put the elastic in the waist.They would probably still be waiting to be finished if not for needing to sew a ripped sheet before I washed it, because my sewing machine was threaded with red cotton, from some other Christmas sewing and I didn't want to change the cotton to white then back again to red to finish them. So sheet is mended and washed and on the line and boxers are on Jack's bed.Two tasks done ! The boxers are made from 100% cotton Christmas print fabric I've had there for years in my stash of fabrics. My mission has been not to buy any more fabric until I've used a lot of what I already have. I love buying fabrics when they are on special or something catches my eye. I would have enough to make at least 100 quilts... I've got fabrics from over 24 years ago, every now and then I say to Kev I should have a clean out and get rid of some, he says keep it all, you'll find a use for it one day. You just never know, I made Jack's Ash from Pokemon outfit from my stash. Any one else out there that hordes fabric like I do...What are your plans for it all....

Make Fabric Bags For Christmas Gifts!

Make Christmas Fabric Gift Bags !
I love making gifts, I made these lovely fabric gift bags to put Christmas gifts in. They can be used for storing things in after wards.eg (pens and pencils) I just cut out the fabric folded in in half inside out then over locked up the side and bottom, then turned the right side and hemmed around the top. Then I used ribbon to tie the present near the top. I think they look really cute, they can be filled with all sorts of goodies. I made one for Jack to give his dad ,that will have his favourite chocolates in which we will reuse and give him every year, saves wasting paper.
They can be made any size to suit the gifts you have.

Making Boxer Shorts & Inserting Elastic The Easy Way !

Making Sons Boxers Shorts !
A few years ago I brought some 100% cotton fabric remnants 2 x1 metre for 50cents each total $1 and made my three sons all a pair of boxers shorts each, there was enough left over to make Jack an extra two pairs. For the pattern I used an old pair of boxers shorts that one of my eldest adult sons had, that had worn out, so I cut & unpicked them to use for a pattern and the same with Jacks pairs, I had an old pair of shorts that were to small and did the same and enlarged them when I cut them out. I brought a roll of elastic for $2 so for $3 I made 2 adult pairs and 3 pairs for my 8 & 1/2 year old, that's good value. Especially when I couldn't even buy one pair for $3. This tutorial is to show an easy way to put the elastic in the tops. Most people sew the casing then thread the elastic through with a safety pin ,then sew elastic together then sew up casing,that's the long way of doing it .

Step 1.
After sewing the boxers together measure around the waist of the person the boxers are for. I measure and cut the elastic the same as waist measurement as they shouldn't be too tight,then I over lap the elastic about an inch and sew as shown in photo.

Step 2.
I over lock the top edge so I don't need to turn it under again, if you don't have an over locker you could zig zag or just turn under again. You will have your elastic in a circle lay it flat, I start at the back seam, I usually put a loop of ribbon or binding so you know the back from the front when putting them on.





Step 3.
Now fold the fabric over the elastic, make sure the material is folded a little more then the width of the elastic, so when you sew you don't sew the elastic as well, you will just feel as you sew.

Step 4.
As you sew around the top to in case the elastic,    you gently pull the elastic towards you as you gather up the back where you have sewn already ...very easy as you do it you will see what I mean.

Step 5.

That's the elastic put into the boxers completed.

Of course you can use this technique for putting elastic into any thing else that needs elastic. You will save so much time from the old way of doing it ,so easy & simple to do ...happy sewing every one ....

Hemming Denim Jeans !

Hemming Denim Jeans !
Today I hemmed two pairs of my dads new denim jeans.To make them look more professional you can buy heavy weight cotton the same colour as the cotton they have used to sew the jeans, or to save money and an extra trip to the shops if you have the same colour cotton, you can wind 2 strands of cotton together on the bobbin and use just the single layer on the top so you get the heavy cotton look on the outside hem. Also to avoid the heavy thickness on the bottom, I cut off the required amount ,then I over lock the edges then fold up one inch and   sew around the hem ,saves breaking sewing needles going through the extra thickness.

Shabby Chic Fabric Mirror !

Here is my shabby chic fabric mirror !
I have made quiet a few now, Most of my friends have one that I have made for them and given them as birthday presents  over the years!This one is on my bedroom wall and made from white cotton fabric and 100 % cotton lace. Some of the others I have made using cream calico fabric and 100 % cotton lace and a rose for decoration ! They are very easy to make !
I made another one so I could do a tutorial to show you all how to make one ! Lovely for any girl for her bedroom.

Step 1.
You will need a mirror the one I'm using is height 11 inches or 28 cm and width 7 & 3/4 inches or 19.5 cm . When I brought these mirrors they were wrapped in plastic wrap and on an oval piece of cardboard which I use in the next step .

Step 2 

Trace around the mirror with a pencil with a
border of just under 1&1/5 inches or 3cm.
Then cut it out.

 Step 3.

Measure around the mirror double it and cut a white strip of cotton fabric 2&3/4 inches 7.5cm then fold it in half and sew one side then turn out the right side I always use a chop stick to turn fabrics strips the right side. I know there is a gaget you can make to turn fabrics I will one day ! 

Step 4.

Thread the tube of white fabric that you have just made over the cut out oval and ruffle it up evenly around the ova.l 

Step 5. 

Then you will need to join the cut part with either a few stapples or sticky tape. Then pull the ends of fabric the join add a drop of glue it stitch it in place .

Step 6.
Now measure around the outer edge of ruffle and either sew or stitch lace on. I used lace that was already gathered. I stitched it to the inside edge .
 

Step 7.

This is the finished front with the lace either sewn or stitched

on .

Step 8.

Cut a piece of cardboard for the back of the mirror

the same size as the piece you began with about 3cm bigger all around then the mirror.

Step 9.

You will need to cut a piece of white fabric a bit bigger then the back piece of cardboard and also measure the centre and put two holes and thread through the piece of wire that you will need to hang the mirror up . I used a piece of white plastic coated wire that are used for twisted ties. and twist it a few times on the back to make it secure .

Step 10.

I used a glue gun but you could use any good glue

to cover the piece of cardboard with the white fabric.

                                                                                     Step 11.

This is the back to see the wire how it is placed you will also need to poke two holes in the fabric .

Step 12. 

Now cut another strip of white fabric, measure around the outside of backing cardboard and double it and cut that length by 3 &1/8 inches or 8cm wide. You will need to sew the ends together then fold right way with seam inside then gather around the edge so it will fit the cardboard back then glue onto the wrong side of the covered cardboard back .

Step 13.

This is how it will look from the back once it is glued into position .Next step is to glue the mirror in and glue the front cover on .

Step 14. 

After gluing the mirror in and the front on next is to

glue on the trimming braid to give it a nice finished edge. I have also made them using little strings of cream pearl beads in place of braid trim.

                            

Step15.                                                                Now you will need to stick your rose on the lower side like in photo . I used a white paper rose brought from a craft shop you could also use a dried rose which I have also used in the past. I hope you found my Shabby Chic Mirror tutorial easy to follow if you have any questions please feel free to post and ask me I will be happy to help in any way that I can . 

                                                                                 

Aprons ! So Easy To Make Your Own !

Aprons are so easy to make for yourself or great to make for gifts for family and friends !
Aprons are so handy to use while preparing food as they save your clothes from being ruined from stains from foods like beetroot if you are making a beetroot dip and other food spills in the kitchen.
You only need a metre of fabric to make a great apron . You can make it fancy or plain add pockets
or you can make ruffles around the edges. They can be great with a big pocket on the front which can also be worn when fruit or vegetable harvesting eg pick apples and put in the pocket to be taken inside to make an apple pie or cake ! I don't have an apple tree but it does sound nice. I pick lemons to take inside to make lemon cordial and home made ginger beer and home made salad dressing ! After writing this blog I'm going to cut out and sew a big pocket on the front of my apron ! Look for fabrics when they are on sale, makes the aprons even cheaper. My apron in the photo was made using  fabric that cost me $3.50 a metre and 100 % cotton so will wash well ! Happy sewing every one !

Make Your Own Christmas Stockings !

I made two of these Christmas stockings for Christmas gifts for two lovely little girls !
I made them using 100 % cotton fabric with pink beads under the cuff top and two rows of silver ric rac around the cuff top they are lined with the spot fabric which I made longer then folded it over to form the cuff. I used a piece of vilene to slightly stiffen the top. It is the same back and front as a lot of Christmas stockings are just fancy on the front,this way it looks lovely both sides so can be hung either way I also made a loop from the silver ric rac so it can be hung up.I was very happy with the finished project as I've never made Christmas stockings before took about two hours to  complete two of them ! I'm not going to do a tutorial as there are so many on the internet already. I have been thinking to personalise them and embroider their names on the top in silver cotton not sure yet. I may and then I may not I will see how I feel. Hi Kerrie if you are checking out my blog I made these for the girls for Christmas, I will probably be sending them next week some time !

Soap In Little Fabric Bags !

Soap in Bags !
These make lovely gifts for family and friends for Christmas or birthdays ! I made these last year to give at Christmas time and I forgot about them in my cupboard . I brought some natural lavender soap and made little bags with a draw string, they could be hung in cupboards to make them smell nice or could be used like the soap on ropes just hang the draw string over the tap in the shower. Another great way of using up scraps of fabrics left over from other sewing projects.

Chair Cushions !

Chair Cushions !
I made these quite some years back for my eight kitchen chairs. Jean an old friend of mine gave me some pieces of tapestry fabric what to do with it, I cut smaller squares of the tapestry fabric and  put a border of blue and white check fabric. Some times we don't have enough fabric to make something but by adding another fabric it can look quite lovely, it can enhance the over all effect .

Baby quilt I made for friends baby .

Made this for my friend Wayra's Baby!This is the baby quilt that I made for my friend Wayra gorgeous baby girl Nyah . I was really happy with it ,part of me didn't want to part with it . Wayra said it was a keeper that made me very pleased and all the effort was truly well worth it . It looks a little crinkled in parts because it had just been washed air dried then I put it in the dryer . Wayra just sent me a photo with Nyah lying on the quilt looks even more beautiful with her on it dressed in pink.

Wood Carry Bag

Hi all ,

A few years ago I made a wood carry bag to carry wood inside for our slow combustion fire and lately with this cold weather its been burning most days/nights.The bag has been used most days.The bag is made of unbleached calico fabric with a handle each side to carry it. It is great it saves so much time and mess on the floor.I place it on the lawn and gather up all the small sticks that have fallen from the trees and the carry it inside and lie it in front of the fire then I take it outside and shake off any dirt. For the large wood I do the same. Then when not in use I hang it on a hook behind the curtain. It has so many uses , It can be used to collect fruit and vegetables from the garden, herbs, flowers. great to use as a washing basket while travelling takes up next to no space . I will take a photo of it and with Kev's help will me put it on here for all to see and if any one would like instructions to make one please just post and let me know and if anyone has any more suggestion to using it please post and tell me . I made one for my friend Regina A few years ago . and I was thinking of uses for them. You could carry a baby in it , not the same one that is used for the wood though.lol... a clean one of course.