Simple Napkins with Applique

How to make some fun, easy napkins!

Instead of buying napkins, this year I will be making some using different appliques and embroidery.

I cut & sewed a bunch so they are ready to be embellished. This one has an English Paper Pieced Heart, I will do some other appliqué too, can also use embroidery for a fun touch!

To make the napkins I used Essex linen. Cut to 12 inch square. You can make them any size you want. 

I forgot to prewash before sewing, but it is a good idea if you want a nice polished look after. 

Cut your squares or rectangle or whatever shape / size. Remember to factor in 1/2 inch for hem on all sides

On your ironing board, fold over and iron 1/4 inch. Press well 

Fold over 1/4 inch again and press well. Pin if you like.

Sew on the good facing side, using a 3.5mm straight stitch. You can also get creative and use a fancy stitch on your machine. 

And your done!

Embellish as desired. 

 

 Hidden Cottage Quilt

Ive named this after the material line I used for the quilt. Its quite simple and would be a great quilt to use up scraps

I used per block:

4 inch block for the centre

(4) 2x4x inch strips for the sides

(4) 2 inch squares for the corners

Finished block is 7 inches

I made up 30 blocks 

Matching up sets:

Ready to sew!

To make a kids quilt, sew 5 blocks in a row. 

Optional: I put a row of sashing in between each row

Then sew the rows together & quilt as desired.
 

 My Favourite Crochet Edge

I love using this simple edging stitch on my pillows, runners and pot holders. 

In a chain space: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, ch 1 

Continue all the way around doing 2 in the corners. 

This long skinny runner was for the window ledges where I put plants to make them look cute and protect from the plant pots

 

Applique Block - 13 inch

Simple Framed Block

 

This is a 13 inch block, not a traditional size, but I had leftover strips from a project, the spare fabric was 10 inch so I made them into blocks, the 10 inch squares bring the centre. You can make these blocks into pillows, runners, quilts etc. 

If desired make an appliqué and sew onto the 10 inch square, you can also embroider or just use a print you like, be creative. 

I used:

10 inch square for the centre, (4) 2.5 inch squares for the corners, (2) 2 x 10 inch side strips, (2) 10 x 13 for top & bottom strips.

To make the corners on the 10 inch square: Use 2.5 inch squares to make the corners. draw a line diagonally on the back of the 2.5 inch square, place in the corner of the 10 inch square and sew on the line. 

Trim 1/4 inch away from the newline and flip the triangle back to make the new corner, iron.  

Do this to all 4 corners. 

Not to waste fabric you can sew the cut off triangle 1/4 or 1/8 seam and make a mini half square triangle. See the bottom of the post to see what I do with them. 

Sew a 2 inch by 10 inch strip the sides of the centre square, iron

Sew a 2 inch by 13 inch strip the top and bottom, iron

Block complete. 

You can make the corners larger by using larger squares, add more strips to the sides and bottoms.. have fun. 

 To use up the mini half square triangles, lay them out in any design you wish. I like to make mini star blocks. Sew two hst together to make a flying geese. Put these around a 3.5 inch centre square, add 1.5 inch squares to the corners. I stock pile these and make pillows or use for other smaller projects. 

Happy Sewing!

Bloom Quilt Sew Simple Shapes - Paper Piece Applique Version

How sweet is this flower?

Lori Holts Bloom Quilt is full of sweet flowers, all appliqued. 

Applique is one of those techniques you love or hate and there are many methods to do it. I love it and usually use the paper piece method. 

How does Lori do it? Her method is quite easy, trace your acrylic sew simple shape onto lightweight interfacing, put that on top of your fabric and sew on the drawn lines. Cut the shape out about 1/8 away from the sew line, cut a small hole in the interfacing and turn right side out. It gives a really nice applique piece. Why don't I do that?

I personally never get curves and small bits to look right on the many times I tried and I can never quite get all the interfacing not to be seen when stitching down the shapes. I have used paper piece applique for a long time, first applique I did was a Tilda design using that method and its stuck. You need some card stock, cereal box, tissue box, any sturdy card stock will do.  

 

Trace the sew simple shapes you need for the block onto card, label and cut out. They can be reused :) 

Place your paper shape on the fabric you want to use. Draw around with a pencil making sure to draw about 1/4 inch away from the paper, this extra is the fold allowance. 

Cut them all out.

Using a glue pen or water soluble glue stick, fold over the edges.

 Iron well on both sides.

Remove papers carefully and iron again.

Tip: I use a double pointed knitting needle to help remove papers.

Place them on your background square to make your finished flower and secure in place. You can use a bit of applique glue, kids white craft glue (make sure its water soluble), a glue stick or tiny applique pins. 

You can now sew them on. Some like to use a fancy stitch on the sewing machine, I prefer to hand stitch them on. 

Enjoy your flower :D

Goings on in the studio

Well.. the house and studio. Here's a day

Welcome to beautiful New Brunswick in Winter. This was before the latest snow and we have a massive system on the way for tomorrow night. This will get interesting!

 This is Scouse, she is our lab/collie and quite the character. She loves all my sewing and likes to pose with my makes. Here she is modeling an apron I made last year, I took it out of a box and she insisted she ware it. Isn't she pretty! I finally took it off her 20 mins later. 

Meet Ella! or Elliebellie as she's also called. She's a beagle/jack Russel/who knows what. She's a sweetheart and rather chunky. Not her fault, she eats way less then scouse but has a very odd build. She loves everyone. 

Back to the studio.. I'm making a few quilts for the shop. I wasn't planning in it originally, however I have been asked if I was making some so here it goes! I quilt them myself usually with embroidery thread, hopefully it won't take me forever. I love this line, its called Darlene's Favorites, all 1930s prints. Almost done cutting!  Updates will be posted.

My forgotten knitting. I started this last year thinking it would help get me through some burnout, but no, it didn't lol 

Its based on a sweater pattern from Susan Crawford, I'm using the base and added some fair isle. Its currently in my bedside table. I get a few rows in before bed, its starting to grow :D

I am using Excelana by Susan Crawford, one of my favorite wools... its lovely :D

My Shroom quilt has a new home! 

The spare rooms coming along and is looking really nice. 

This is how I find them in the afternoons. Very comfie!

Back to my quilt now.. keep smiling!

 

How to sew a EPP dresden

Sewing EPP Dresdens

This is my method of sewing English paper pieced Dresdens, you can also sew them in a circle if you wish. 

Papers: 2 inch pointed Dresdens by Sue Daley Designs

This Dresden has 12 blades.

For each blade, you will need a 3 inch x 1.75 inch rectangle. 

Lay the paper down in the center and use a ruler or cut by sight 1/4 inch from the shape

Once you have the fabric trimmed, glue just inside the edge of the paper and fold all the sides over. You do not have do fold the very bottom. 

Lay the blades in a circle.

Start sewing.

Divide the circle into 4 groups of 3 blades. 

Starting with 1 group, sew with the arrows as a guide.

 Start at the top and sew to almost the bottom. bring your needle and thread across the bottom of the middle blade ready to sew the next blade on. 

This is what it looks like from the front.

Add the next blade.

Place on top of the center blade and sew from the bottom to the top. 

You will now have 1 set of 3 sewn. Repeat for the other sets.

Time to sew the circle together. 

Start with the blue like and sew together the two top pieces

Next sew on the bottom right.

Sew the last section in place

Finished Sewing!

Remove papers carefully, I like to use a knitting needle. 

Press with the iron.

Prepare the center circle.

Cut fabric making sure to leave 1/4 inch all the way around.

Glue and fold the edges over.

Press well with an iron and remove the paper. 

Press with the iron again. 

Place the Dresden on where you wish to applique it. 

You can pin it or use some water soluble glue to keep it in place.

Hand stitch in place or use a stitch on your sewing machine. 

Last place the circle in the center to cover up the messy center and sew in place.

Voila!!!