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{tiny} Needle Case Tute

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Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
Friday, June 4, 2010

Fix a Quilt

11:07 PM | Posted by Mel
Be Aware, Be Thankful
1. FREE family activities
2. Creative Free family activities
3. My little family
* * * 


1.  Find the rip, tear, stain etc.
2.  Find a shape that will cover the entire ripped/stained area
3.  Appliqué onto quilt using your favorite method of appliqué (I hand stitched this one)


Good as new!!  So go ahead, USE your quilts, LOVE your quilts, FIX them and USE some more!!


The longer we love this quilt, the more stars it will have!


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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

A Visit from Lori & Scotty

10:34 PM | Posted by Mel
Be Aware, Be Thankful
1. Jose
2. The other guy
3. Jumper cables
* * *


Last week, Lori - one of my sisters-in-law, and her son Scotty visited us from our home town in Utah.




A while ago, Lori sent me a link to make a darling car mat.  I suggested that we make some while she visited - and so we did!




The Diet Coke is in the picture so you can see the size that the car mat rolls up into.  Yes, I just so happened to have a few cans lying around!


We had our mishaps and unpicking which resulted in LOTS of laughing! 



I thought I had made it clear to Lori that she shouldn't use the scissors, but before I knew it, she was cutting notches into the tracks!  She's better with the chalk liner and unpicking!


The boys had a great time!
  


SUCCESS!


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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Shapely

12:41 AM | Posted by Mel
Be Aware, Be Thankful
1. Sunday afternoons 
3. Spring
* * * *



So I've been playing with shapes in my art groups.  In one of the groups we were to come up with a shape to use in a collaborative piece.  We haven't done anything with it yet, so I decided to try the shape as a border to a mini quilt.




I 'created' my shape by folding up a piece of newspaper and cutting out the corner shape.




I bound the little quilt in black with a small print, I don't think the print is noticeable here.  I was going to go with a stripe, (I love bias stripes for bindings!) but thought the size and busy-ness of the border print would look better with a more serene binding.


If you are one of the many who Schnibble, you will recognize the center as one of the blocks for this month's project.  I got my top done early and had left overs - I love 2fers!


I used fabrics from the line Oz by Sena for Moda - love it!!

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Sunday, March 14, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's!

5:37 PM | Posted by Mel
Be Aware, Be Thankful
(Urban's list)
1.  Playing with Daddy
2.  Costumes
3.  Red chips (Doritos)
* * * *


This is a quilt I made last year.  I love it!  



I've posted it before, but since it's nearly St. Patrick's day, I knew you wouldn't mind seeing it again!


The tutorial is at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure.  There are two sizes, I made the larger one this time, but I know I'll be making more - for gifts!

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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Pin Head {tUtORiaL}

10:11 PM | Posted by Mel

I've seen darling pinheads made from clay, but I don't know how to manipulate clay.  I do, however, know a thing or two about fabric and paper!


This project is easy but a bit messy.  If you're not afraid of messy - join me!


2" corsage pin(s)
wire cutters
fabric or paper* scraps
needle and thread
mod podge 
paint brush
foil or wax paper

*I got my paper images from a quilting magazine.  You could use scrapbook paper or wrapping paper as well.

* * * * * * * * * 

Cut off the factory heads of the pins (does that sound gruesome?) with the wire cutters.





NOTE:  You may want to tape the head to your surface so when you snip it off, it won't shoot off somewhere where you can't find it - or poke your eye out!





Trim your fabric or paper front and back pieces so they are the same size.  I kept mine around 1/2" to 3/4".

* * * * * * * * * 
For the fabric pin head:
Use a simple stitch to sew front and back piece together.


Insert the pin between the front and back pieces.  Position the top of the pin in the center of the square.


Brush on a generous amount of Mod Podge to one side.  Straighten the pin if it gets skewed.

When front is dry, apply a coat to the other side.

Repeat application at least 4 times.  Make sure each layer thoroughly dries before adding more.

* * * * * * * * * 
If you'd like to add a button:

Sew the button to one of the fabric pieces before you sew the front and back together.  

As you apply Mod Podge to the side that has the button, be careful not to get too much on the button.  You can scrape it off if it's inevitable.

* * * * * * * * * 
For paper pin heads:

Apply Mod Podge to the backside of one of the paper pieces.

Position pin in the center.

Now apply the podge to backside of the second piece of paper and line it up with the other.

Press firmly into place.

Make sure your pin is straight.



When front is dry, apply a coat to the other side.

Repeat application at least 4 times.  Make sure each layer thoroughly dries before adding more.

* * * * * * * * * 

I suggest you make a few pins at a time to make better use of the mess you are going to make!


If your pin gets messy while applying the Mod Podge, wait till you're completely done to remove.  When it's dry it easily peels off the metal.

So, I'd love to see the pinheads you create!  Send me a link!


All pincushions in my photos are Tuffets, a Schnibbles pattern.


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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Christmas a month late

10:00 AM | Posted by Mel
Mom and Dad finally got the package we sent them for Christmas!  Gifts are fun anytime I guess!  They loved  what we packed and didn't seem to mind that it was a month late.


The snowman quilt was from a BOM set I have.  I love the colors and Mom has it hanging up even though it is summer in Argentina right now.





I love how this runner turned out.  I made it with a Portabello charm pack.  It was inspired by Sherri's free tutorial I found here.










I asked my friend Marta if she would quilt it for me because I wanted a pretty feathery pattern and I can't do that.  I love how it turned out!!

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Collin and Quilt

10:50 PM | Posted by Mel

This darling boy is my nephew Collin.  





He got the quilt I made during Pat Sloan's OP Challenge last year.
I love how baby and quilt turned out!


I made a tutorial for how I made the blocks, go here to see the tute!

Labels: | 9 comments
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Small Needle Case Tutorial

10:15 PM | Posted by Mel



I wanted a needle case that was small so it could fit into my hexagon storage thingy. Since Robyn has got me hexing - no, that's not texting inappropriate messages - I thought I'd go with that shape for this project.
I love the small size and thought I'd share how I made mine just in case you find yourself needing a case for just a couple of needles!

You will need:
  • Four 1" hexagons cut from fabric
     for a real good way to prep your hexies,     see this tute from Karen
  • Piece of Wool - 3" x 3" 
  • Tiny piece of stabilizer - really, no bigger than 1/2" sq (thins could even be a couple extra layers of fabric, a piece of batting or a piece of wool.)
  • Template Plastic - 3" x 6"
  • Button with a shaft (see pic below)
  • Elastic Cording - 2"
  • Needle
  • Scissors
  • Thread



For this project, buttons with shafts will provide the closure for our needle case.  The elastic cording will fit around the height of the shaft, keeping the front and back cover to stay together.


Cut:

From wool:
  Cut a piece 1" x 3/4" this will be your 'joining' piece.
  Fold remainder of wool in half.
  With one of the six sides on the fold, trace your hexagon onto one side and cut out.  This is where you will keep your needles or pins.
  I cut my wool shape 1/4" smaller all around, with pinking sheers.


NOTE: Some wool pieces are fluffier than others. I wish I would have considered this as my insert turned out thicker than I had wanted.
From template plastic:
  Cut two hexagons from the template plastic, but make them 1/4" smaller than your fabric pieces. I just cut 1/8" from all six sides.





Now measure and mark 3/8" from just one side and cut.  This will make allowance for the joint piece to butt up against so there isn't too much bulk.





Choose which fabric will be the front of your case and sew a button 1/8" to 1/4" from the edge. 
Put the small amount of stabilizer behind your button (on the wrong side of the fabric) to add some, well, stability to the stress your button will receive by being the closure of your case.



Which pieces will make up the back cover?  Make a loop with your elastic cord and sew it between these two pieces.



Insert the wool piece that will join the front and back cover by butting it up against the template plastic.
To join the front and back covers of your case, whip stitch two hexies together for each cover.  Use a clip to keep the plastic piece and joint piece in place as you sew.


Now stitch your wool piece to the wool joint from the inside.  I used a very simple stitch with embroidery floss. 





Fill your needle case with needles and you're ready to sew and go!







This is the perfect size for what I'm doing!





Now I need to figure out how to fit a can of Diet Coke in here!









Variations:
You could use wool for your 'cover' hexies instead of cotton fabric
You could use Velcro or a snap instead of a button for a closure
If you don't have plastic, you could use cardboard from a cereal box
Instead of whip stitching to join two hexagons, you could use a blanket stitch




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Monday, August 17, 2009

Linen or Gift Bag Tutorial

4:14 PM | Posted by Mel
The gifts inside will be will be a bonus to the fun fabric wrapping!
This project certainly can be sewn by hand if you don't have access to a machine.
Before you begin, square up your fat quarter.
Make a double fold on the raw edge and press.
The other end will be the selvage edge.
If you are making this project as a bag for a gift, you may want to
use a large stitch so the receiver can easily undo the sewing and use the fat quarter as she/he desires.
If you intend the bag for your linens you can use a regular sewing stitch.
There is no need to back stitch at this point, but if it's your habit, go ahead!
After seams have been sewn, press.
Fold your double hemmed edge down about 3 1/2".
Fold the selvege end up to cover first fold. Keep about 1/2" away from the folded edge.
Get ready for the thank you notes!
Your gift will all the more appreciated when when accompanied by a designer bag!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Other uses for this designer bag:
Organize your drawers. Put items you don't frequently use (nylons, scarves, do rags etc.) into one of your handmade bags to keep your drawers nice and tidy.
Going to the pool? How about putting your undies in one of these bags just in case your bag topples over you will be saved from scrambling to rescue your unmentionables before others get a look!
Traveling? Make a bag for each pair of shoes. It will keep your clothes from getting dirty from the soles.
Organize your jockey box (glove box). Put all your insurance and registration info in a lovely bag so they are all together when you need them.
Perhaps you could keep your makeup or hair accessories in a bag or two.
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