Pot Holder Make

I used Sedef Imer's Pot Luck project (from issue 25 of Simply Sewing)to make this pretty and functional quilted potholder.
However I did a few things differently:-
1. I machine appliqued the flower design using a narrow zigzag stitch.
2. I did not round off my corners.
3. because of reason two I did not need to cut my binding fabric on the bias.

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Applique Letters to your handmade gifts for a personal touch

The days are shorter and cooler that means the holiday and gift giving season is fast approaching. Time to make some handmade gifts. A nice way to personalize a gift is by appliqueing the recipients name, initials or as I have done just the first letter of their name.

Two easy ways this can be done are:-
Method One
Purchase ready made applique letters. Follow manufactures instructions to adhere letter to fabric (my letter is by Wrights)
Method Two
Trace alphabet letter in reverse onto the paper side of paper backed fusible web like Wonder under.
Cut out letter and fuse to wrong side of fabric.
Cut out letter from fabric.

Peel off paper and fuse to the right side of project fabric.

Sew around alphabet letter to secure to project.

Pull loose thread to wrong side of fabric.

 



How to Free Motion Stitch and Applique in 10 easy steps

Ice Cream Hoop Art

This is a quick and easy free motion and applique project I designed on a hot day recently using the tiniest of scraps.

Ice Cream Hoop Art
What you will need
5 inch embroidery hoop
fabric scraps in red, blue, cream and brown.
back ground fabric measuring 8 x 8 inches
fabric glue
ice cream template
black thread
darning foot
hand needle.

Instructions
1. Using the template cut out the ice cream scoops and cone.(or you could cut out the shapes free hand)
2. Assemble  and glue the ice cream shapes  in the centre of the background fabric.
3. Place the fabric into the embroidery hoop, (the opposite way to normal, so the inner ring is on the right side of the project)
4. Lower the feed dogs, change to a darning foot, place the hoop under the darning foot.
5. Using black thread begin free motion stitching around the ice cream shapes. For a bolder look stitch  over the original stitching again. Don't forget the cherry stem.
6. Remove the hoop from the machine and remove project from hoop.
7. Place project back in the hoop, this time the right way ( as seen in the photo above)
8. Trim excess fabric to 1 inch around hoop
9. Hand baste around fabric edge. Gather the fabric into the back of the hoop. Tie off the thread.

wrong side of project with fabric gather

10. Hang up your new art work and enjoy.

Spring Time Cushion

Spring ahead this weekend with a  new cushion to brighten up your living space. Using crisp white linen and turquoise. My inspiration for this cushion, the warm days we have enjoyed this week. My first choice was to use piping for the edges , unfortunately I only had a scrap measuring 8 1/2 x 55 inches of the turquoise fabric. I used binding on the cushion edge instead because I think it is visually similar to piping.

To make the cushion you will need-
One front piece 14 x 14''
Back pieces 11 x 14'' and 5 x 14''
Binding fabric 2 1/4 wide, length of fabric.
Bunny fabric and wonder under 8 1/2 x 11''
Large button
One zipper 18''

Instructions for the front of the cushion
1. Draw bunny shape on paper side of wonder under
2. Fuse wonder under to wrong side of bunny fabric. Cut out bunny shape. Remove paper back, fuse to right side of front piece, centered.
3. Zig zag or satin stitch around bunny shape.
4. Sew button tail on bunny

Instructions for the back
1. Place large back piece (11 x 14) right side up on work surface. Position zipper face down along 14'' edge. pin and sew together using zipper foot.(tip- allow the zipper pull to excess the edge of fabric, this way you do not need to move the zipper pull when stitching)

small back pieces pressed under 1''. zipper excess fabric edge.

2. Press fabric away from zipper and topstitch.
3. Press one 14'' edge of smaller back piece under 1'' to form a crease.
4. Place this edge along zipper edge,(raw edge aligned with zipper edge) right side of fabric to right side of zipper. Stitch together.
5. Refold at crease (the crease should cover the zipper), topstitch, allow zipper foot to follow zipper teeth.

Flap covers zipper. Zipper pull with in fabric area.

6. Back piece should now measure 14 x 14''
7. Trim the zipper , but first make sure the zipper pull is within the fabric area.
8.Stay stitch at each end of zipper

Instruction to finish cushion
1. Place front and back pieces wrong sides together, using a 1/4'' seam allowance stitch all four sides.
2. Bind cushion edges. For instructions on binding follow steps 7 to 12 from my potholder tutorial.