Simple Gift Bag

Gift cards can be boring but useful gifts, I wanted something to make it look a bit nicer. Here is a simple bag pattern you can put the gift card in along with a few goodies :)

Material cut 10 inch x 7 inch (or any size you want)

Tie: Ribbon, string or strip of salvage or material

Sewing machine & Thread

Serger if you have one can come in handy too. 

Cur your fabric out. Place right sides together and either serge the sides and bottom or simply sew with sewing machine. Leave the top open. 

Sewn!

Fold the top over about a 1/4 inch and iron

Fold and iron again. 

Flip right sides out.

sew around close to the folded edge and your done!

Happy Holidays!

Embroidered English Paper Piecing Wall Hanging

English paper piecing can be used for so much more than a quilt. Combine Embroidery with EPP in a hoop and Voila! Wall Art! 

For this project I used:

1x 1.5" Hexagon paper

6x 1.5" Jewel papers 

Fabric for the EPP papers

Thread and needles for EPP

8" Embroidery hoop

6 strand DMC cotton and needle for embellishment

Piece of cotton larger than the hoop by about 2 inches all the way around

Im assuming you already know how to prep and sew English paper piecing shapes.

Method:

1 Cut the Fabric for the EPP papers and prep the papers. Sew the flower shape together. 

See the bottom of this post for tip on making neat folded points. Iron, take papers out and press well.

2. Center the flower on on the backing cotton and using small applique stitches sew the shape onto the back ground

3. Place in hoop and center the shape. Using embroidery floss embellish the flower shape. I used simple outline in running stitch. 

4. To finish the project, using thread and leaving a long tail, sew basting stitches around the outside of the hoop about 1/2" from the hoop.

5. Trim around the edge using pinking sheers if possible about 1/2" from the basting stitches

6. Pull the long tails to draw in the backing and tie a good few knots and you're done!

To make nice neat points:

I first fold some of the bottom sides to secure the fabric to the shape

Apply some glue near the point

fold the fabric down on the point of the paper, try not to squish the paper point

glue and fold each side 

And there you go.. isn't it tidy :D

Vintage Charm Pack Project

Its been a while since I last posted. Lots going on, busy at day job, fun summer with my grow-kids. Our youngest just left the nest.. the house is eerily quiet and I need to direct my thoughts somewhere, so back to blogging and making!

I took a charm pack on holiday with me and ended up with some hexie flowers. Best thing about using 1 inch hexie papers, they require a 2.5 inch square if your not fussy cutting making them fast and easy and no need for a template. I cut a charm pack in half (put one half aside for later) and used the other half to cut into 2.5 inch squares. I got 10 hexie flowers. When I got home I decided to sew them onto blocks, I used 7x7 inch squares. 

Now I had the other half pack to do. I wanted to change it up a bit and found 1 1/4 inch pentagons also use 2.5 inch squares nicely as well. I'm currently working on these and sewing into 7x7 inch squares. These take 1 less 2.5 square as there are only 6 pentagons to a flower, so I'm going to make 10 and re-evaluate. 

I have yet to figure out what I am going to do with them.. but this is a start. 

  Happy Stitching!

Squared Hexi Block

The Squared Hexagon Block

These make really nice pot holders, table runners, a quilt block or just something nice for the wall

I used 1/12 inch hexagon papers, any size works.

You will need:

Method A: 20 x hexagons (Cut 3 hexagons in half to make 6 half hexagons)

Method B: 17 hexagons, 6 half hexagons

  Take 6 hexagons, using a ruler mark them as pictured

Cut on the line and you will have 6 stubby hexagons and 6 paper bits. You won't need the bits.

Take 4 of the half hexagons and mark them as pictured above

Cut, save the large bits, toss the little ends. 

You will now have all the pieces. Start planning your project, Make your center hexi flower and add the sides.

Ta-Da! 

To make a sweet pot holder:

You will need: 

The finished squared hex block

Backing measuring 12"x12", 

Batting measuring 10 1/4" x 10 1/4"

Thread matching the backing

Iron

Sewing machine

The binding is included in the backing.

Remove papers, iron the edges inward.

Lay your backing wrong side up, batting in the center and squared hexi block on top. make sure you have 3/4" of backing all the way around the block. 

Pin and quilt how you like. I stitch in the ditch around the flower and the center hexi.

Fold the backing so the edges touches the edge of the hexi block.

Fold the binding over the hexi block and pin or clip. I find its easier to do this one edge at a time so the finished piece sits nice and flat. 

Sew close to the edge. Repeat for the other three sides

Finished :D

EPP - How to

How to English Paper Piece

English Paper Piecing (EPP) is a method of hand sewing. The finished piece can be something small like a coaster, table runner, wall quit or a full king size quilt if your really ambitious. This method is not new, it traces back to the late 1700s and was widely popular during the 1800s where cards, letters, any bits of paper were used. They didn't always remove the paper as it is good insulation, I'm not sure how comfortable that would be as a quilt tho... but warm!

The method is pretty simple. Cut shapes from paper, glue or stitch baste the fabric around the paper and sew each piece together. You can use scraps, anything that will cover the paper piece your using plus at least 1/4 inch around all edges so you can fold them over. For really tiny pieces you can get away with less, but more is better. You can also fussy cut - this is finding a image in the fabric and cutting it out.

I glue my papers, it is fast, easy and when your working full time with very little time to create, it saves oodles of time. You can also stitch baste, there are lots of tutorials out there for different methods. 

What you will need:

Glue Pen:

There are ones just for EPP or a simple water based glue stick you can buy at any craft store. For small pieces 1 inch and under, the pens work best.

Papers:

 You can cut the shapes yourself, however I do recommend getting dye cut ones. They fit together perfectly every time. 

Needle:

  I like to use Milliners needles. They are long and thin and don't tire or cramp my hands

Fabric: 

Quilting cottons are normally used, but you can use anything, including

 washed vintage fabrics 

Template:

Optional but handy. You can buy see through plastic ones that match the paper pieces or you can make your own. Simply use card stock and trace your paper shape. Use a ruler to make a 1/4 inch fold line all the way around. Cut it out, than cut the original paper shape in the center.  

Scissors:

Good fabric scissors and some little ones when sewing to cut the threads

Marking Tool:

I use a pencil when tracing the shape onto the fabric. You can use marking pens if you like

Thread:

All purpose sewing thread in a colour to match your fabric

Lets start:

Prepping The Papers:

Put your template on the image you want or just on the fabric. If you do not have a template - put the paper shape on the fabric. 

Trace with a pencil or marking pen around the template, or without a temple: trace a mark that includes 1/4 inch all the way around for a fold line.

Cut the shape out

Lay your paper on the shape. Make sure the fabrics back is facing you.

Place a line of glue just inside from the edge as shown by the pen mark in the picture. 

Fold

Repeat for the next edge

Work all the way around

Finished!

Now to sew!

Thread your needle and make a knot at the end of the thread. Sew into the fold so the knot it hidden.

Place the two pieces together, good sides facing.

Start sewing, I use a simple whip stitch. Make sure to stitch the corners at the beginning and end. I use about 10-12 stitches an inch. 

Row finished!

Fold it open, here is the front all stitched.

This is the back

Place the next pieces where you want it to sit

Fold it over so the two pieces are ready to sew. and sew the seam.

Finished! 

Now to bring the needle back to the bottom so you can sew the bottom seam. Simply bring the needle along on of the seam edges and come out where you want to start sewing.

Sew the bottom seam.

Finished!

Now keep adding pieces and keep sewing.