craft

Sewing Tutorial: Sewing Pattern Weights – Perfect Scrap Busting Project

hookstitchsewLeave a comment

A huge help for pattern cutting and made only with fabric scraps, these pattern weights are a must have that I wish I had made sooner!

I’ve been meaning to make some pattern weights for a while now and just haven’t got around to doing them. Now that I have got them made I wish I had got them made sooner – they are absolutely brilliant for holding patterns in place while cutting out without having to mess around with pins which also often leave marks in the fabric. In fact I was so pleased with how well these worked I went on a bit of a making spree and at current count have about 30 of these little gems! 


What’s even better about these weights is I made them all with just scraps of fabric out of my stash and anything that can help use up some scraps is a winner with me!

Fabric Pattern weights pattern:

I made two different sizes of these weights, so had had some longer ones for long pattern sections. The method to make both sizes is the same, the only difference being the size of paper template used.

Materials:

  • Fabric scraps.
  • Ribbon scraps.
  • Thread.
  • Pins.
  • Scissors.
  • Paper.
  • Pencil.
  • Ruler.
  • Aquarium gravel.

  1. Make your paper templates: 7×7 cm for the smaller weights and 10×7 cm for the larger rectangular ones and cut out your fabrics.
  1. Cut 7cm lengths of ribbon.

  1. Fold a piece of ribbon in half and place with its raw edges just over the raw edges of a piece of fabric placed right side up. Place a second piece of fabric right side down on top of this and sew down the side, along the bottom and up the other side.
  1. Cut Diagonally across at the bottom 2 corners to help with getting a nice sharp corner after turning.

  1. Turn the right way out, and fill with gravel.

  1. Fold in the top edge by 0.5m and match the two side seams together, slip stitch to close.
  • Now make as many as you need, and maybe just a couple more incase you run out while cutting out a pattern…think I definitely got carried away, don’t think I will be running out any time soon! 

Sewing How To: Finishing A Completed Embroidery Hoop Project – Backing And Hoop Decorating. Perfect Scrap Busting Project

hookstitchsewLeave a comment

Wrapping an embroidery hoop: A perfect way to finish off completed embroidery/sewing makes when displaying them in an embroidery hoop

So you’ve got your embroidery hoop design competed it’s now time to get it in its display hoop and show it off.

I often just leave the embroidery hoop plain or paint them to add a little more colour into the project. Another great way of decorating the hoop is to use fabric, this is also a great way of using up scrap fabrics.

And finally once your happy with you hoop it’s time to finish off the back to project it. the following ‘how to’ will show how to wrap an embroidery hoop with fabric and how to back it and create a loop ready for display.

How to – Covering/wrapping an embroidery hoop:

  1. Cut strips of fabric 4cm wide and sew them together.
  2. Fold the raw edges inwards and press.
  3. Wrap the folded fabric around the hoop using a clip to hold the start in place.
  4. Once the whole hoop is wrapped secure the start and end with a few stitches.
IMG_3699
IMG_3704

How to – Backing an embroidery hoop:

  1. Take your finished project and place into the hoop.
  2. Leaving a 5cm gap from the edge of the hoop cut away the excess fabric.
  1. Sew around 1cm from the edge of the fabric and pull tight to close the gap. Sew to secure.
  1. Cut a circle of felt big enough to cover the gap in the back of the project and sew on to cover. You can also cover the entire back of the project if you prefer.

To create a display loop:

  1. Cut 2 strips of 20x4cm wide fabric.
  2. Place pieces right sides together, sew around leaving top edge unsewn, turn out the right way and slip stitch the gap closed.
  3. Thread the fabric strip through the metal clasp section and sew the two edges together to secure and complete the loop.
IMG_3711
IMG_3712

Crochet Summery Garden Makes, Part 1: Crochet Hanging Plant Basket Pattern

hookstitchsewLeave a comment

The perfect way to add more plants into a garden this summer, even if your short on space – crochet hanging pot holders. These would also be great for indoor plants too – don’t think you can ever have too many plants around.

I have loads of different ideas for these so keep an eye out for all the different styles over the next few weeks.

Crochet Hanging Plant Basket Pattern

Fits pot size:

  • 8cm diameter base, 10cm diameter top, 9cm high.

Materials:

  • 100g ball of 4ply in blue.
  • 3.5mm hook.
  • Darning needle.
  • Stitch marker.

Crochet Hanging Plant Basket Pattern

Using 2 strands at the same time:

ch5, ss into 1st ch to make a round.

Round 1: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) 8sc into ring, ignore ss and ch1 at the end of previous round, ss into 1st sc of the round (8).

Round 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc into same stitch (2sc into next stitch)x7, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st sc of the round (15).

Round 3: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc into same stitch (ch5, skip 2 stitches, sc into next stitch)x4, ch5, skip 2 and skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round , ss into 1st sc at start of the round.

Round 4: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc into same stitch (6htr/hdc into ch5 space, sc into sc)x4, 6htr/hdc into ch5 space, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st sc at start of the round.

Round 5: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc into same stitch (ch7, skip 6 stitches, htr/hdc into next stitch)x4, ch7, skip 6 and skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st sc at start of the round.

Round 6: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc into same stitch (8htr/hdc into ch7 space, sc into htr/hdc)x4, 8htr/hdc into ch7 space, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round , ss into 1st sc at start of the round.

Round 7: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) 2sc into same stitch (8sc, 2sc into next stitch)x4, 8sc, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st sc of the round (50).

Rounds 8-9: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) htr/hdc into same stitch (ch4, skip 4 stitches, htr/hdc into next stitch)x9, ch4, skip 4 and skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st htr/hdc at start of the round.

Round 10: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) htr/hdc into same stitch (4htr/hdc into ch4 space, htr/hdc into htr/hdc)x9, 4htr/hdc into ch4 space, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st htr/hdc at start of the round.

Rounds 11-12: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) htr/hdc into same stitch (ch4, skip 4 stitches, htr/hdc into next stitch)x9, ch4, skip 4 and skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st htr/hdc at start of the round.

Round 13: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) htr/hdc into same stitch (4htr/hdc into ch4 space, htr/hdc into htr/hdc)x9, 4htr/hdc into ch4 space, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st htr/hdc at start of the round.

Rounds 14-15: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) htr/hdc into same stitch (ch4, skip 4 stitches, htr/hdc into next stitch)x9, ch4, skip 4 and skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st htr/hdc at start of the round.

Round 16: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc into same stitch (4sc into ch4 space, sc into htr/hdc)x9, 4sc into ch4 space, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st sc at start of the round.

Round 17: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) ss into same stitch, 6ss, ch3, skip 3 (7ss, ch3, skip 3)x4, skip ss and ch1 at end of previous round, ss into 1st ss of the round.

Fasten off.

For the hanging strings (make 5):

Using 1 strand and the 3.5mm hook, ch the length required and fasten off.Tie the strings in the ch3 spaces from round 18.

Crochet Easter Rabbit Ear Eggs With Hidden Storage Pattern – Perfect Easter Gift.

hookstitchsew2 Comments

I always need gifts at Easter and try and to come up with something different each year. This year I’ve gone for a egg theme and have made an egg with Easter rabbit ear details! I’ve got a few more egg themed ideas in the works too!

These little eggs are not stuffed and have a hidden compartment at their base so you can hide some mini eggs inside – or even a Creme egg. The hidden compartment also has a flap which covers the base so you won’t loose anything out of it, and rather than using a button to secure the flap when it a closed the rabbits pom pom tail is used instead.

Finished size (excluding ears):

  • 8cm tall.
  • 4.5cm at the eggs widest point.

Easter Rabbit Ear Eggs Crochet Pattern

Materials:

  • 4mm crochet hook.
  • 25g ball of DK wool in chosen colour for the rabbit body and ears, I used blue .
  • 25g ball of DK wool in white for the tail.
  • 25g ball of DK wool in pink for the inside ears.
  • Darning needle.
  • Piece of card to make the Pom Pom tail.

Rabbit Body:

Main body:

In chosen rabbit body colour:

Make a magic ring, ch1, 6sc into ring.

Round 1: 2sc into each stitch (12).

Round 2: sc around.

Round 3: *2sc into next sc, sc into next stitch. Repeat from * around (18).

Rounds 4-5: sc around.

Round 6: *2sc into next sc, sc into next two stitches. Repeat from * around (24).

Rounds 7-12: sc around.

Round 13: *sc2tog, sc into next two stitches. Repeat from * around (18).

Rounds 14-15: sc around.

Fasten off.

Body base:

In chosen rabbit body colour:

Make a magic ring, ch1, 6sc into ring.

Round 1: 2sc into each stitch (12).

Round 2: *2sc into next sc, sc into next stitch. Repeat from * around (18).

Ch9, ss into stitch at base.

Fasten off.

Rabbit Ears – Make 2:

Outer ear:

In chosen ear colour:

Ch5, sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc along rest of the row. (4).

Rows 1-6: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc.

Row 7: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc2tog, 2sc (3).

Rows 8-10: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc along row.

Row 11: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc2tog, sc (2).

Row 12: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc along row.

Row 13: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) sc2tog (1).

Round 1: ss around the edge of the ear.

Fasten off.

Inner ear:

In pink:

Ch7, sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc along rest of the row.

Fasten off.

Rabbit Tail:

  • Cut a strip of card 1cm wide and 5cm long.
  • Take the white wool and wrap around the 1cm wide part of the card 15 times.
  • Remove wrapped wool from the card then tie a 10cm long strip of wool around the middle to secure.
  • Cut the loops.

Rabbit Assembly:

  • Take the bottom piece and sew onto the bottom row of main rabbit body, only sewing for 3cm and leaving the rest unsewn.
  • Take the pink inner ears and sew onto the outer ears.
  • Fold in the bottom side edges of the ears until the meet in the middle and sew to secure.
  • Sew the ears on to the rabbit body.
  • Sew the Pom Pom onto the back of the rabbit body, sewing up through the Pom Pom and back down to secure.
  • The loop from the base piece will wrap over the Pom Pom tail to secure.

Sewing How To: Fabric Yo Yo

hookstitchsewLeave a comment

I love using fabric yo yo’s in projects, they are really versatile and they are great in projects on their own as well as being ideal for adding in extra detail and texture.

For some yo yo makes check out my yo yo rabbit tutorial.

Making a fabric yo yo:

Materials:

  • Paper.
  • Scissors.
  • Thread.
  • Needle.
  • Fabric.
  • Pencil.

Making the yo yo:

  • Draw out a circle on paper (an 8cm Size template will produce a 4cm size yo yo).
  • Cut out the circle.
  • Use the circle template to cut out a circle from the fabric – leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance.

  • Fold in the edge of the circle by 0.5 cm and sew around to secure.

  • Pull tight to form the yo yo.
  • Sew a few stitches to hold together.

Crochet Granny Square Hearts Themed Mat Pattern

hookstitchsewLeave a comment

I’ve had a rough idea drawn out for a granny square with a love heart pattern for a while now but haven’t had a chance to make it – until now…..Finally I’ve got round to getting it made.

It’s also been way too long since I’ve made something using a granny stitch so it’s great to get back to using it again – I always find things work up so quickly when using this stitch.

This mat has 4 heart details, using pink and red to to make the hearts really stand out. You could easily swap the red and pink for any other colours you would like, my next one will be made with two different shades of blue.

The pattern for this heart mat is available now over on my Patreon page for my subscribers.