Window Mobiles

 

First collect materials:

Shapes: Take easy shapes from colouring books, quilt books, online etc. Do not make them complicated but stick to hearts, birds, owls, simple bunny outlines etc. Get the picture to the size you want and cut out or make a template. 

Fabric of your choosing

Interfacing such as foam, fleece or batting. If using batting double it up for better structure. 

Trace the shape onto the foam/batting etc and cut out.

For the fabric: for simple shapes like hearts trace one side only and use a large enough scrap for the opposite side or fold it like shown here. For directional shapes like birds, trace two (one per side) by flipping the template before tracing. If need to add wings etc. do it before going on to the next step. Leave some room between the shapes

Line it all up as follows: Bottom fabric with traced shape good side up if directional like a bird or just a plain or folded piece as shown in the picture. Place fabric with traced shape good side down. Make sure traced shapes line up if they have extras like wings etc. Place foam in the traced lines. If the foam is fusible, you can iron set it onto one of the fabric traced shapes to make it easier. If not use a glue stick to stick it in place.

Sew around on the traced lines, leave a gap for turning, turn right side out, make it look pretty, iron and and stitch or close stitch by machine closed.

Use string to connect the shapes and hang from a small nail or tack from the window

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!

Tulip Runner

 

Its spring and spring means pretty flowers! Here is how to make a quick and easy runner.

Tulip Blocks: I made 5, you can make as many as you want. Material for each block:

Size: 5 inch x 9 inch

Background (white):
(1) 3.5 inch
(2) 1.5 inch squares
(4) 2.5 inch squares
Draw a diagonal line on all background squares.

Tulip:
(1) 3.5 inch
(1) 2.5 X 5 inch

Leaf (green):
(2) 2.5 x 5 inch

Stem (green):
(1) 1.5 x 5 inch

Sashing: (6) 2 inch x 9 inch Strips in background (I used off white). (2) Strips of 2 inch background as long as your finished runner for top and bottom boarders. 

Backing: as big as your finished runner. I used less then 1/2 yard.

Place the 3.5 white square on top of the 3.5 inch tulip square. Sew 1/4 inch away from the diagonal line. Repeat on the other side of the line. Cut on the line to make 2 half square triangles.

Place the two half square triangles side by side, make sure the bottom points are in line with each other, fold over top the other and sew the center seam.

The top of the tulip will look like this

Place the 1.5 inch white squares on top of the bottom corners of the 2.5x5 inch tulip piece. Sew directly on the line. Cut 1/4 inch away from the sewn line and fold the corners back.
Place the 2.5 inch white squares on the 2.5x5 inch leaf piece as shown. sew directly on the line, cut 1/4 inch away from the sewn line and fold back the corners.

Tulip top: Sew the two pieces together as shown.
Leave/stem: Set up as shown and sew together.
Last sew the top tulip flower to the bottom stem/leaf section. They may not match perfectly together, center the center of the tulip flower in the center of the stem, this will center it all. Sew the sections together
Trim to 5 inch wide / 9 inch long.

Sew the 2x9 background strips in between each tulip and the ends. Sew the top and bottom strips on. 

Place on backing with good side down, sew all the way around leaving a turning gap. Turn right sides out, iron, sew close to the edge all the way around. Add trim like ricrac if desired. 

Videos:

Tulip Runner: https://youtu.be/6JKLDEHzNiE

Tulip block: https://youtu.be/85R0sKtqImE

No Boarder backing: https://youtu.be/PYDMUE8-e14

Have fun! 

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. 

 

TriPatch Pot Holder

 EPP triangles, some pretty scraps and Voila! Pretty pot holder!

I used the following:

60 x  2 inch triangle papers by Sue Daley Designs

2 inch Sue Daley acrylic template (optional)

Glue Pen

Assorted 2.5 inch scraps

Needle, thread, scissors. 

Batting: 11x11

Backing: 13x13 square

Start by taking 6 of your triangle papers and cut in half  for the edge pieces. Make sure you have 6 in one direction and 6 in the opposite direction. Cut your fabric at least 1/4 inch larger, cut out and glue baste or stitch baste if you prefer to the papers.

Using the 54 triangle papers, cut our fabric triangles at least 1/4 inch larger all the way around. Glue or stitch baste to the papers. 

Collect all your sewing supplies

Arrange them how you want it to look. 9 triangles & 2 edges per row. 

I like to sew these in rows, then sew the rows onto each other. 

Isn't it pretty!

Remove all the papers. I find a 4mm knitting needle helps. If stitch basting remove the basting stitches.

Once all the papers are out, press really well, making sure to press the sides the way they were folded for a nice edge

Place pressed top on the batting. Quilt as desired. I stitched long the diagonal lines. 

Trim the excess batting. 

Place backing wrong side up on your table. Center the top on the backing and trim to have 1 inch of backing all the way around. 

I pin the edges of the patchwork so it stays in place for the next part. 

Press the backing in half towards the front piece all the way around. 

Fold it again, this time onto the patchwork front. Clip or pin in place. 

You can machine or hand stitch the folded binding edges, I prefer hand stitching. 

To finish, I quilted the row of triangles and around the edges of the binding so it was all quilted together. 

Finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you would rather sew this by machine, use a 60 degree triangle ruler and machine stitch them together

I used various prints I had in stash from Darlene's Favorites by Darlene Zimmerman, Robert Kaufmann Fabrics for the front. Back is medium dots by RJR. 

Check out www.victorystitches.com for EPP papers, notions and fabrics 

This pattern was written by me, Vall for victory stitches. It can be used for personal use or if you want to sell the finished item. Do not copy my tutorial for print or resale. If making or sharing this pattern, please do the right thing and give credit. Thanks, Vall. 

 

Patchwork Wash Mat

So simple and so practical

Mine was 12 inch x 16 inch

12 squares cut 4.5x4.5 inches

1 piece of old towel cut 13x17 inches

Arrange squares in a pleasing pattern in 3 rows of 4

Sew the rows of 4 together

Sew those rows together

Give a good iron. 

Lay down the towel, place the patchwork good side down on the towel. 

Use lots of pins and pin around, the towel will like to slide around so plenty of pins helps. Make sure to mark a 4 inch turning gap. This gap you will leave un-sewn.

Start sewing at one turning gap marker, sew all the way around to the other gap marker. Make sure to reverse stitch at the beginning and end. 

Clip corners and turn right side out. 

Make the corners look good and give it a good iron. Make sure to iron the turning gap so it folds nicely. 

Top stitches all the way around. If the corners are too bulky, skip the corners and just sew down each edge. 

Sew a top stitch along the center of the patchwork to secure both sides of the project together.

Finished!

Simple Bunting

 Simple Bunting

I love bunting. Its not very common here in Canada, but as its so easy to make, I made some for my craft room

Materials:

Ribbon, as long as you want the bunting

Material - What ever you like, I used cotton that came in some charm packs. Charm packs are great as you get a nice variety of material in small amounts 

Pinking Sheers -scissors that make a zigzag cut

Sewing machine and thread colour of choice

Cut material in triangle shapes using the pinking sheers. 

Lay out in your triangles 

Lay ribbon over top and pin in place

Run through your machine. 

If you dont have a machine, you can also use 3 buttons to secure each triangle, one on each end and one in the middle

Tidy your ends -I cut mine on a diagonal using pinking sheers as the in the bottom picture. 

 Enjoy!