Sewing

Christmas Mini Stockings

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Continuing on from my Christmas Tree makes are these mini stockings, these are great  for putting little presents into and they can easily by personalised by sewing a name onto them.

I made these using Christmas Birdhouse fabric by The Craft Cotton Company.

To make a stocking:

Cut out a paper template the size you want your stocking to be, then cut out 4 pieces of fabric in two different colours to give you a front and back in one colour and a front and back lining piece in another colour.  Cut out two pieces of batting the same size.

Cut out 2 pieces of fabric 4 x 28cm to make the loop.  Place these two pieces right sides together sew around leaving the top edge unsewn.  turn out the right way.

Place a piece of batting down then the back piece right side up on top, fold the loop in half and place with its raw edges against the raw edges of the side of the stocking,  followed by the right side down front piece and a final piece of batting.  Sew around leaving the top unsewn.  Turn out the right way.

Take the lining pieces and place right side together and sew around leaving the top edge unsewn.

Place the lining inside the stocking and fold the top edge of the stocking inwards by 1 cm and the lining outwards by 1cm, slip stitch around to secure.

Fabric Christmas Tree Decorations

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Its that time of year where it all gets a little manic as I realise theres not long left for me to finish off all my Christmas present makes, no mater how early I start I always seem to end up at this stage with me looking at the calendar wondering if I will actually manage to get them all finished.  Luckily I have always managed to finish just in time – although i have been known to be frantically finishing off an item on Christmas Eve ready for the next day!

I have got most of the Elf gift bags finished, and I have now decided to focus on some of my sewing Christmas makes.  First up is a fabric Christmas tree, these are perfect presents if you are needing to post them as they are nice and flat so are easy to post without having to box everything up.

I made these using fat quarters from the Christmas Birdhouse  and Essential trends (red) fat quarter sets by The Craft Cotton Company.

To make one tree you will need:

2 pieces of fabric:

5×5 cm, 7×7 cm, 9×9 cm, 11×11 cm, 13×13 cm, 4x5cm.

10 cm ribbon.

5 buttons.

Take each of the two pieces and placing right sides together sew around leaving a gap for turning.  Turn out the right way, press and slip stitch the gap closed.

Lay the square pieces out so each one is lying on top of the largest square, then starting with the smallest square fold up the bottom point and sew to secure.  Next sew a button onto the folded up part of the square.  Repeat with the remaining squares.

Take the rectangular piece and place on the back of the largest square 1cm up from the base and in the middle and slip stitch along the top edge of the rectangle to secure.

Take the ribbon, fold in half place on the back of the smallest square 1cm from the top point and sew to secure.

Something a little random (but very cute) a couple of camels!

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After making some teddy camels a little while back I had the idea of making some more but this time rather than just a singular teddy I would make one camel which a couple of little camels could fit in.

I used fabric from the Moroccan Bazzar range by The Craft Cotton Company.

For these camels you need a template for the main camel (with separate legs) and a template for the smaller camels (with separate legs).

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For the main large camel (adding a 0.5cm seam allowance):

In one colour: using the leg template cut out 8 pieces of fabric for the legs (2 for each).

In another fabric: using the main camel template cut out a front and back piece.

In batting: using the main camel template cut out a front and back piece.  Using the leg template cut out 4 leg pieces.

In another fabric: using the main camel template cut out a front and back lining piece.

In another fabric: cut out two  20cm x 4cm strips for the tail.

For the smaller camels (adding a 0.5cm seam allowance):

For each camel (Make 2 small camels)

In one colour: cut out 8 pieces of fabric for the legs (2 for each).

In another fabric: using the small camel template cut out a front and back piece.

In batting: using the small camel template cut out one piece.  Using the leg template cut out 4 pieces.

In wool: for the tail cut 3 10cm long pieces.

Making the large camel:

The legs

Take a piece of the leg batting then place two of the leg pieces and place right sides together on top.  Sew around the leg leaving a 4cm gap for turning.  Turn out the right way and slip stitch to close the gap.  Repeat with the other 3 legs.

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The Tail

Take the two tail pieces and place right sides together.  Sew around the edge leaving a shirt edge unsewn. Turn out the right way.

The body

Take the front and back piece and place right sides together placing the tail in-between the front and back with its raw edge against the raw edges of the front and back piece, then place the body batting piece on top. sew around the edge leaving the hump part of the camel unsewn. Turn out the right way.

Take the front and back lining piece and place right sides together.  Sew around the edge leaving the hump part unsewn.

Place the lining into the body piece and fold the raw edge of the lining backward by 1cm and fold the raw edges of the lining inward by 1cm.  Pin to secure and slip stitch around.

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Sew the legs on to the body using embroidery thread and long stitches.

Making the small camel:

The legs

Take a piece of the leg batting then place two of the leg pieces and place right sides together on top.  Sew around the leg leaving a 2cm gap for turning.  Turn out the right way and slip stitch to close the gap.  Repeat with the other 3 legs.

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The body

Take the front and back piece and place right sides together placing the 3 strands of wool which make the tail in-between the front and back piece with the raw edges f the wool against the raw edges of the front and back piece, then place the body batting piece on top. Sew around the edge leaving a 3cm gap for turning. Turn out the right way.  Slip stitch the gap closed.

Sew the legs on to the body using embroidery thread and long stitches.

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Patchwork fan block quilt

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I received some lovely Japanese Florals fabric by The Craft Cotton Company and decided to do a fan block quilt. I must admit was a little daunted about all the curves – I don’t think I have ever sewn so may curved edges before, however, I made sure I took my time (I’m terrible for flying off at speed and then wondering why it all went wrong!) and all the blocks came together without too many problems – I have to admit there were one or two I got a bit carried with and in my haste hadn’t pinned properly so had to redo – getting carried and going to quickly is always my downfall! The tutorial to make one is available over on The Craft Cotton Company blog:https://www.craftcottonblog.co.uk

This flamingo cushion will always stand out from the crowd!

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I’ve had the idea for a flamingo cushion for a while now and when I received some Essential Trends fat quarters in pink by The Craft Cotton Company I knew they would be perfect for making one with.

It was great fun putting this cushion together and I have kept him sat on my craft desk as it makes me smile whenever I look at it – I will have to make some to go in some other rooms!

The tutorial to make your own is available over on The Craft Cotton Company blog :

https://www.craftcottonblog.co.uk/single-post/2018/05/31/Mini-Flamingo-Cushion

Take a journey out into space with a space themed wall hanging

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When I first saw the Star Gazer fat quarter set by The Craft Cotton Company I knew straight away what to make with it – an appliqué wall hanging, the fabric colours and patterns were perfect.

I opted to have a space rocket travelling through a star filled space surrounded by planets and stars and am really pleased with how it’s turned out.

The tutorial is available over on The Craft Cotton Company blog:

https://www.craftcottonblog.co.uk/single-post/2018/05/29/Space-Mini-Wall-Hanger

But of floral fabric fun with a reversible bag and woven cushion

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Don’t think it’s possible to have too many flowers so this English Garden fabric by The Craft Cotton Company was perfect for me to get making with! I decided on two different makes which combined used 1 jelly roll and 1 fat quarter set.

I was a bit worried about problems I might encounter with the woven cushion but the only thing that went wrong was me forgetting to pin some of the strips before lifting it up for sewing so they all went all over – serves me right for not checking they all had pins!

I really wanted to add something to the reversible bag when I had got it finished so decided to add a bow to the handles, I really like how it adds a little bit of detail.

These tutorials are available on The Craft Cotton Company blog:

Woven cushion:

https://www.craftcottonblog.co.uk/single-post/2018/05/15/Woven-Cushion-Cover-Tutorial

Shopping bag:

https://www.craftcottonblog.co.uk/single-post/2018/05/17/Sew-a-Reversible-Shopper-Bag-with-Bow-Detail

A few triangles later a folded star cushion emerged….

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I’ve been looking at folded star/pine burr quilt designs for a little while now and have been wanting to see if I could make one. I received some gorgeous floral fabric from The Craft Cotton Company and decided it was now or never and would give it a try by making a cushion cover.

I seriously underestimated just how many triangles would go into making the cushion cover, but after a few extra cutting out and ironing sessions I had enough to put it all together. I was surprised how easy it was to make the folded triangles and put the star pattern together – the effect looks much more complicated when you see it all finished, the main thing was trying to keep all the gaps between the triangles the same distance, if the gap started to change it effected the overall pattern.

I really enjoyed making this and will be making another one soon – possibly a square cushion or maybe a quilt, although the amount of triangles needed to make a quilt would take me a age to get all cut out and ironed, then there’s still all the sewing together….

The tutorial to make one of these is available over on The Craft Cotton Company blog:

https://www.craftcottonblog.co.uk

Mosaic patchwork cushion tutorial

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Following on from camel bunting, sprocket cushions and camel toys I also used the Moroccan Bazaar fabric by The Craft Cotton Company to make a mosaic effect patchwork cushion. I would have loved to make a quilt in this pattern but it would have taken me much longer than the time I had, especially since I kept sewing the squares on wrong side around and had to spend my time unpicking – imagine how many I would get wrong on a big blanket!

Really pleased with how the mosaic effect turned out, might have to do a few more different patterns!.

Tutorial to make this is available over on The Craft Cotton Company blog:

https://www.craftcottonblog.co.uk