comfortstitching

easy pincushion tutorial (and a winner!)

So with Christmas fast approaching on the express train to stress supreme, why not keep calm and stitch up a few seasonal lovelies?  I'm sure sticking pins into something soft and cushion-y will provide some much needed release from all the building holiday tensions.  Part of the fun of this time of year for me is getting out all those seasonal everyday items  from santa-esque hair bobbles to snowy scene mugs, not quite the full on decorating just yet - more a few seasonal touches.   Why not make a few extra stocking fillers too!!   Anyway, where's the tutorial????  Without further ado........

You will need:

This is super easy so no stress necessary:)

2 x fabric pieces around 4 x 4" each

Some toy stuffing

4 x 4" thick paper to make your heart stencil

basic sewing kit

a little smugness ( yes, it's that easy!)

 

First you will need to make a heart shaped stencil.  For this I used some copy paper folded in half vertically and on it drew half a heart shape.

Cut around the half heart with the paper still folded and open up to reveal a full heart.  

Pin stencil to your fabrics, draw around it and cut out your two heart shapes.

Put these right sides together, then pin and baste.

 

I used my sewing machine to stitch a quarter inch in from the edge all the way around the heart, LEAVING A 1" GAP ON ONE SIDE.  You could hand stitch if you like.

 
Snip the seam allowance at intervals all the way around the edge. 

 
Turn inside out and stuff fairly voluptously - there's nothing worse than a skinny pincushion.  Please note the above and below photo's show a different cushion to the one I started with, this is due to forgetfullness in taking photo's whilst making the first pincushion.

 
Now simply slip stitch the open edge to stop future stuffing leakage.  Then get your pins out and feel  very macabre indeed whilst stuffing pins into snowmen or skaters or perhaps....................

 

a little red or two???

 

Talking of which it is winner announcement time (!)

Winner was selected by random integer generator.  Time stamp 2009 11 23  09:30:32

and the winning number is................................................30 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which is the number with Tiffany's name on it

Tiffany selected my puppy dog's tails and cars fabrics, Tiff they will be shipping there way to you soooon!

TWO DAY ONLY OFFER:  BUY ANY TWO FAT QUARTERS FROM MY SHOP AND RECIEVE A FREE EMBROIDERY PATTERN OF YOUR CHOICE - simply let me know which pattern you would like in the message to buyer when you make your purchase.  I have approx. around 1 yard left of each of the fabrics so if you would like some it will be first come first served as once they sell out, they sell out.  I have no plans to order more at the moment.

Hope you have enjoyed today's instalment..............I really reallly realllllly enjoyed doing the giveaway, so there will be more, more, more giveaway's in the future!!!!!!

The next one will be in a week or two!!!!!

and it won't be fabric................it will be something made!!!

Regular commenter's will have the pleasure of an extra entry, some giveaway's may also be for regular commenters only, so don't be shy..........get typing, I love reading all your lovely comments, every single one.

Other than that, there will be more tutorials - including one for the blocky munki quilt I showed last week, more patterns, more how-to's!!!!!!!!!

In short there will be more ;)

Now please excuse me whilst I catch a few hooks.............
 

 

(giveaway and) a new quilt top

 
 

Thank you to all who wished my ache-y self better earlier this week!!!  I'm slightly better but have no idea why I am still completely feeling like I've run a marathon when I haven't.  I have been drowning away my narky sorrows into THREE beginnings of new crochet blankets, more of which soon.  Today meanwhile I bring you some photo's of a new quilt top for a certain bossy little lady of mine - you know the one. 

 

 

lots of munki, kitty and bike-y goings on.

For reasons of knackered-ness I am going to keep today's post short and sweet.   So here as promised is the giveaway.

 

I am giving away the choice prize of any TWO fat quarters from my shop.  To enter take a look here, come back to this post and leave me a comment to let me know which two designs you would like for free!!!!  and also let me know what you would make with them.

For anyone who has already bought every single one of my designs (hello Katy!) you will instead be eligible for the special booby prize of something made by me instead!!!

You can link and blog to this post giveaway to claim an extra entry.  Anyone who has commented on this blog at least once over the last couple of weeks is also eligible to claim an extra entry.  So that will be a max of 3 entries if you link and have recently commented.

Otherwise strictly one entry only.

Competition closes 9pm -greenwich mean time - Saturday 21st November.

Good

luck

to

all!!!!!

Back soon with more quilts, tutorials, crochet and whoknowswhatelse!!

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EDITED TO ADD - Sorry comments are now closed.  Winner will be announced soon!

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apologies.................

 

 

Despite all my best ambitions, today's blog efforts have gone a little wonkily sour. 

To begin,

I am strangely achy and overly tired, though not ill I do have an acute case of crochet fever and a crushing need to sit and hook and switch off from the world.  I perservered against all the best judgement I could muster, taking photo's of my new quilt top and the results are alarming.  Too much rain and too much strong sunshine (and awful photo shadows) later and some perfectly timed camera battery running out at the wrong minute drama and I have decided to give up.................the aches, the rain and my camera are all telling me to sit on the sofa and just crochet.  So that is entirely what I am going to do!  for the next few days until I feel less ache-ily moany and perkier and quiltier and photo-taking-without-shadow-drama-able.  I do hope I am not letting you down if you were hoping for a more joyfully inspirationally post and hope you will return soon when I am hoping to return with said quilt top and oooooooh.......................................................................................................

.....a giveaway ;)

stocking tutorial

 
Fancy having a go at making your own stockings this year?  Just follow this easy plan! 

You will need :

christmas fabric scraps

around 20 x 50" plain fabric for lining and back of stocking

around 20 x 30" batting, I used scraps though, which I joined together below.

around 10" ribbon to make hanging loop.

quilting pins

newspaper

hera or other marker, ruler, scissors and basic sewing kit.

 
First you will need to make a stocking stencil to use to cut out your shapes later.  I used a sheet of folded out newspaper.  Using the sketch above as a guide (click on the picture to make it bigger), draw onto newspaper, use an upturned bowl to keep your corners smooth.  Cut out.

Next stitch your scraps together in rows of differing widths, stitch your rows together, using your newpaper template as a guide for size.  It is best to use wider widths and longer rows than you think you will need as you will lose quite a bit of fabric when stitching these rows together.   Use your stencil to cut out the patchworked front of your stocking.  Then cut another stocking out of your lining/backing fabric.

Turn your stencil over and use to cut out two more stocking shapes from your lining/backing fabric.

As I said above I used scraps of batting which I joined together by, cutting the edges to be joined with a rotary cutter and ruler and then used the largest size of zig zag on my sewing machine (see pics below) to sew together.    You will need to make two stocking shaped pieces of batting, one for the front and and one for the back.  Trim your newspaper stencil by half an inch all around and use to cut out your batting shapes.

 

Close up of joined batting

Basically you will be making two stocking shaped quilts, which you will then stitch together to form you stocking.  Using the diagram above as a guide (again, click on the image to make it bigger), layer your stocking shapes together, batting first then one of the reversed linings (remember where you turned your newspaper stocking over and cut out two more lining stockings, one of those) right side up, then stocking front, wrong side up.    Pin and tack in place first if you wish so everything stays in place.  Machine stitch the top edge together, a quarter of an inch from the edge.

Turn over the top edge so stocking front is facing up.  Iron the top edge down nicely. 

You will now need to repeat the above layering and top edge stitching with your remaining two lining pieces and the second piece of batting(see 'back of stocking' on diagram above).  This will form the back of your stocking. 

 

Pin your layers in place with quilting pins.  Do this for front and back pieces.

Now using your ruler and hera marker, etch a diagonal crease across the stocking.

Fit you machine foot with your tool guide as above, so that the guide foot rests around 2" away from the machine foot.  Lay the guide foot down on your diagonal crease and machine stitch an even 2" away from your marked line.  Continue, this time laying the guide foot on your stitched diagonal and machine quilting a second line parallel to the first. 

If you don't have a guide tool for your machine foot you will just have to mark all the lines out first on your stocking before quilting.

Repeat the quilting for your stocking back.
 

To make a hanging loop, I used a cut piece of the waist tie from a pair of munki pyjamas, you could also use some nice ribbon.  Overlock/zigzag together at one end to keep in place.

Insert into place between the layers on the back of the stocking, tack in place.

Place your front stocking quilted piece, right side up in front of you.

Top with your back piece with wrong side, ie. inner lining facing up.  Pin and tack the edges.

Machine stitch down the length of your stocking, across the foot, toe and back up.  I sew and overlock in one, alternatively sew first then zig zag around the edges. 

Turn the right way round and yell 'I'm ready when you are santa!!!!'

Have a superstitchy weekend!!!!
 
 

new quilt blocks (and another cushion)

 

Firstly the new cushion..................... and the sofa is looking likely to be dressed more than the tree this year.  But who am I to resist a few evenings sat, stitching together hexagons?

 

Second, I've been patching up these blocks for a new quilt to be finished this side of the big C for a certain daughter of mine who complains she has less quilts than her sister.

 

 

I've even allowed a bit of pink into my aqua and red syndrome.

 

I'm loving making these and the very best thing is they are oh so quick and oh so so so easy!!!

Talking of which, let the continuation commence..........

 

Back tommorow with a .................christmas stocking tutorial!!!!!

Don't miss it!

christmas cushion-ers anonymous

 
I've developed a seasonal bug I'm afflicted with yearly.  I call it  'one more christmas cushion cover won't hurt' syndrome.  Not a bad bug to have in November and December when the cold weather brings aches and pains and all manner of viral visitors ready to be eased into submission by a little gentle, homely comforting-ness in the shape of a pillow-y cushion or six!!!

 

 
So, to remind my girls what season we are currently in the moment they awake, I have stitched up a couple of patchworked bed pillow covers.  All decked in rocqua colours as my friend pam likes to call this combo.  This is exactly why I created my spoonflower designs so I could make stitch-ity bits like these for my two without having to search high and low for non-existent fun christmas fabs!!!!

 
I LOVE these, now I just have to turn out some for myself too!!

 

 
Oh and if you are interested in making 'housewife' pillowcases and ask nicely in the comments I might just put together a tutorial for you;)

I'm glad you enjoyed the zippy tute, please let people know the tutorial is here, they really are super easy to make for gifts!!!  Also let me know how you get on, by the sounds of things quite a few zippers were being bought on the weekend!!!

 
coming soon!!!

zip pouch tutorial

Just in case you might fancy snuggling up with a bit of stitching this weekend, here's a quick and easy tutorial to make a zip pouch that can be employed in so many different guises - to house your stitchy kit/make-up or as a kids pencil case for those with more pens than they can currently handle.  I chose to make my two a christmas pencil case each so they can while away the school day dreaming of snowier times.  I made a simple patchwork for the front but you could use just one fabric if you wish.

You will need:-

a cup of tea, thirsty work this.

2 pieces of fabric, 10"x5.5"each for the front and back pieces.

2 pieces of lining fabric, 10"x5.5"each.

10" zipper.

Basic sewing kit.

 

Take one of your lining pieces and lay it wrong side up, top with your front fabric piece. right side up.  It is a super sensible idea to sew the two together by stitching a line of stitches an eighth of an inch from the top edge.  I skipped this bit cause I'm lazy but I'd advise it. 

Fold over your top edge by a quarter of an inch.

 

Place this folded edge along one side of your zipper and sew in place using (super surprises) your zipper foot (or by hand if that pleases you).

Prepare the back piece and lining in the same way and sew this along the other side of the zipper, until it looks like this......

 

 

Fold in half with wrong side on the outside. 

VERY IMPORTANT!  Undo your zip a little or you won't be able to open it in a minute to turn it the right way around!!!!

 

If you have one attatch on overlocker /zipper foot to your machine.  You will need to stitch and overlock/zigzag a quarter of an inch all the way around the sides and bottom of your pouch.  My machine does this in one action but you could stitch your seam first and then go around again with the zigzag all around the side and bottom edges.

 

Your pouch will look sort of like this (if you used a plain lining and yellow zipper)

Matching snowman pincushion is optional.

 

Turn right side out.  Present to your offspring, who if they are anything like mine will say they are just putting it in the drawer until it's actually nearly christmas.

Now you've made one................ooh think of all the gifts you could make from this one turorial!!!

 

So what do you think???  good tutorial, bad ????  too easy?  too hard?  Just right in the middle!!

Let me know, I may have more up my sleeve!!!!!!!

Happy crafting!

 

I've been busy!!!   MOre sOon !!!!!

coral and emerald...................really?

 
You know me, stuck in my merry red and aqua rut, happy in my blissful ignorance of the rest of the rainbow when, I pull out of the airing cupboard these lovely seasonal cushion covers.  Made way back in ooh 2005 at a guess.  They got me thinking 'is the the weirdest colour combo ever or does it strangely work??...'. 

 
I've spent the last few days face-lifting these a little (they were always too big for their intended cushions) and pondering this thought.  I can't believe I'm saying this but I have quite a bit of of affection for this marraige of shades.  Maybe because it's odd, maybe because I am slightly influenced by my pot plants (see exhibit 1),

 

(this is a flaming katy by the way)
 

well if it works in nature, it's got to be a natural winner! (see exhibit 2).

 

 
Thoughts please??????

 

 
Drop by tommorow, if you fancy a little tute on something to make over the weekend, it takes less than an hour too!!!!!

boy!!!!!!!!!!!!! spoonflower fabrics

 
When I showcased my 'skip-ity' fabric a few weeks ago, a couple of you requested I design some boy fabrics.  Jo (bellsjo) particularly requested something along the lines of 'Slugs and snails and puppy dogs tails, which is all very well until you have a go and then realise how hard it is to come up with a fabric that is not too gory (which little boys would love but mum's, well wouldn't).  So here is my fabric interpretation of the rhyme...............I hope it appeals to mums and sons alike.

 
Poor pup!!!

 
For my second design, I went for that old boy-ish chesnut...........cars!!!  but decided to take a different road to the usual.  I've gone for the young boy as wannabe inventor, as that to me is boy-ish-ness in a nutshell.  Boys are always intrigued by the workings of anything and fascinated by designing their own supercars from a young age, that is what this one is all about.  So mum's of sons, as a mum to two girlies, have I got the boy thing wrong or right??!!!  I am intrigued to find how this goes!!!!

Well you know where to go look!!!!

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As promised yesterday, a sort of little mini guide to hanging up your mini quilts if you are a hanging up without a clue novice like me!!!!

 
You'll need loops!!  I made mine from the drawstrings from some munki pj's.  Cut into 3"-ish lengths.  Form into a loop and carefully overlock/zigzag the edge. 

Stitch onto the back of the quilt as shown, one on each end of the top.  Voila!!  Instant hangability!!!!!

 
This is how I did it, I'm sure there are many many other ways!!!

OOOh did you notice...............no red or aqua in this post!!!!!

 

Belle the cloudbuster!

 
Introducing my newest baby, no night feeds or nappy changing for this creation:)  Belle was thought up whilst listerning to 'get off my cloud' by the rolling stones of all things when antiquebrowsingshelfhunting 2 sundays ago.  First she got turned into a new-coming-soon-I'm-so-excited-fabric-design, then I got bored waiting for that to arrive (oh spoonflower - why do you take so long!!!) and she got re-born in embroidery.  Asha keeps checking that she is going to live with us as little red riding hood is off course being sent away to live in her new home soon.

 
She has now been reborn again (nine lives style) in pdf format, in case any of you are as stitch crazy as me and long to re-create her in real live stitch.  Perfect for any little girl to dream along to!!!  Belle is exactly where I want to be, floating in the clouds with the helpful aides of colourful balloons wearing stripy leggings and a bobble hat!!

On the subject of new spoonflower designs, I have created a few new ones that should be arriving in a couple of weeks.  I was wondering..................would you like to see and pre-order designs sooner or would you rather wait until the actual fabric arrives and see them then??????   I am quite excited about them, there are a couple of boy ones too as requested by angela and jo.  Jo wanted me to do something along the lines of 'slugs and snails and puppy dogs tails' which I did without making it at all as gory as I first thought it would.

 
As it's nearly halloween, we've got our decs and witchy tales ready today.  'The Worst Witch' is one of my all time fave books and this is my original aroundabouts 30 year old copy, scribbled on by my little sis as a baby (she's 30 now!)

We will be enjoying the spookiness with a little candy corn love from the delightfullykindandnotspooky jenny (Thank you!!).

!!!!!!!!!!!Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!