Bevy of Bookmarks all from Scraps

 

Yay!  That is my first thought at all these projects that use up scraps.  I save just about everything, and times when I don't save an odd and end I often regret it, I am going to refer to these moments as "never say never crafting supplies".

These bookmarks are made up of three elements of which I have been hanging onto for a long time.  Skinny fabric pieces, skinny interfacing pieces and small bits of ribbon.  Some fabrics are just too cute to throw away no matter how small, I already have quite a few items I offer from scraps, like mirrors, paperclip bookmarks, magnets, hair accessories, coasters...and more.  Now these bookmarks will be offered at some of my upcoming offline events.

This collection of fabric started simply by a leftover and thinking it looks just like a bookmark, the same thing happened with skinny interfacing leftovers too...hmm, fabric for cute and interfacing for body.  I have done these in another post a much more involved type of bookmark here, but I wanted fast and simple, so I cut down the steps and made about 40 of these in a few short hours.

I trimmed the fabric and interfacing to more or less the same size, thought this is not a requirement.  I did work in a common size for most about 2.5 inches wide by 9 inches tall, again it can be any size.  I did try to have the interfacing which will provide the stability to be about the same size.

My interfacing is medium or heavy weight fusible, so I first fuse to the back side of my fabric, layer with a backing fabric and trim the top with pinking blade or sheers.  Pin together to keep the pinked edge lined up.  This will be the top and where you will put the ribbon tab.  Again mainly relying on scrap ribbon using 11-12 inch piece loop and put edges inside the top of the book mark, inside about 1/2 inch.

These will be raw edged, so your layering would be right side up (interfacing should be sewn on) then your backing fabric should be right side down.

I did my start and stop stitch at the point where the ribbon is in the bookmark, and sew around the rectangle back to the start. I used about 1/4 inch seam, this can vary as needed or as you like.

Trim around all 4 edges with pinking blade or shears to cut down on raveling.

Behold this lovely pile of scraps is now a lovely pile of bookmarks, awaiting being stuck in a book.

Yo Yo Kanzashi Brooches and Pins Tutorial

I am well into my March challenge of making 2 kanzashi or yo yo's a day I have kept up pretty good and have already put many to use. This is just some quick tips for turning these fabric embellishments into brooches and pins.

Items you will need:

• Flowers and yo yo's (of course) I have actually been using the Clover makers that make these super easy and loads of fun to make. Use method of your choice. My kanzashi's are 3-4 inches, yo yo's are 1.5-2.25 inches.
• Buttons - I have exclusively used SHANK buttons
  
• Felt - it was amazing how many fabric squares I found tucked into many spaces in my fabric stash, I think I found around 40 sheets, in many many colors. (yay for using things I already have)
• Glue, I mainly have been using a low temp glue gun and embellisment glue, though I have had better results with the glue gun
• Bar pins, I got both 3/4 inch and 1 inch size, if choosing just one I would get the 1 inch size first
  

I highly recommend pre cutting all felt into circles, and making the backing or pin in batches, if using multiple colors prep those too. The felt will not be seen but color coordinating is a nice touch.

I had this perfect size gold metal button that was the perfect template for trimming my felt circles to 1 1/4. Other sizes that worked was a quarter, I actually trimmed a little bigger around, about 1/8 th of an inch, this worked well for the 3/4 inch pins. A spice jar lid was nice for some of the bigger brooches, cut a few and see what size you like best.

Take your circle and fold in half, snip a triangle in the fold, when cut free this will make a little diamond, just use the tip of your scissors, really sharp will work best. About 3/4 inch from that just cut a slit

I stuck the pin side through this little diamond, and then moved it around to fit the clasp side through the slit.

Completed back, the left is a 1.25 inch square, the right is prep and sizing for a smaller quarter sized backing with the smaller pin.

Using glue gun generously apply glue, remember it will spread out so leave some space for the glue to move to the outside edge.

Stick down, make sure pin is positioned upright, (I had one end up sideways) and a centered as you can get, you will have a few seconds to do this, upright is key Be careful to not squeeze glue through the holes in the felt it can glue the pin and make it in-operable...yes, did this once too.

Putting on a button, to me this is really fun, maybe it is my epic button collection that mostly goes unused, but this is where you can really complete the look. It also sort of hides some of the un-eveness that might have occurred on the front.

Auditioning buttons, this is half the fun! I ended up with button number four.

Glue the button down. I used a low temp glue gun, you could also use embellishment glue which is intended to glue a porous (fabric) to a non porous (button) item. I found it too drippy and not as secure, I actually intend to test this more.

You can use this technique for kanzashi and yo yo's. I bend way back the petals, towards the front of the kanzashi or in the case of the yo yo's this would be the back.

I then fill that little circular area with the glue, an then some on the surrounding edges, you need to take into account your button. Obviously bigger buttons will hide more glue...I cannot stand to see any glue on the finished product so this is really important.

Then insert your shank button into the glue and close up the flower to engulf the shank, squish it down gently and twist if it has an orientation, again you have a few seconds to wiggle this as needed.

You can finish the back as detailed above, I will add that when adding pin to the back of the kanzashi it may be necessary to go back around the the felt and add additional glue to fully adhere circle. This is also a good time to flatten to the back your petals, you will have a few seconds to work the flower flat to the back.

I found really using the glue gun to be an excellent hold, I have tried pretty hard to pull off flowers from a few test pieces and not been able to do it.

These are the backs of the little yo yo's these will be giveaway items at a few upcoming spring events, so cute and easy to add to blouse or accessory...hint hint :)

Quilters Band Aids

How cute is this idea and also so fast to make up a batch. I found this idea in a link party yesterday from The Moody Fashionista. I instantly knew I needed to make a few myself 'cuz as luck would have it I have fabric scraps. Here is a link to the original blog post that inspired my own creations, thank you!

What you need:

• Fabric scraps, small scale images will work best
• fabric band aids
• hole punch - I used 1/8 inch
• double sided tape, I used fix it strips
• scotch tape

I first prepped the band aid, I actually used the scotch tape to hold the band aid closed on the paper side, as these are now open and also now less sterile, this will help a bit to keep it clean.

I had these fix it strips which were just about band aid size anyway, I cut in the middle where the padding will be on the band aid 6 1/8 inch holes to help with breathing.

I then put the double sided tape on the fabric side of the band aid.

Stick the band aid with the double sided tape to the back side of the fabric, trim to shape of band aid and you are done. Super sharp scissors help, or a rotary blade works nicely too, smaller blade is better for the curves.

Be the envy of all your sewing friends next time you get a boo-boo!

Valentines Crafts Revisited

I did a few simple and fun Valentines craft tutorials last year about this time, I thought I'd revisit those posts with pictures and links to the original inspiration. Enjoy!

Above is a Conversation Hearts Valentines Topiary, my 5 year old and I did a few of these, the one above survived I double wrapped it in ziplock bags and kept it in my china cabinet. The link for this can be found here.

Simple goody bags you can use to tie up Valentines treats, add a tag and use as a class room handout, link for this here.

The above is one of my personal faves to make, I have been making these for years. Glassine paper and ribbon make little pouches to hold a variety of candies. Post for this can be found here.

Hideaway Two-fer

I recently got a piece of this oh so cute Hideaway fabric from Lauren and Jessi Jung, love the little village among the trees. I knew the minute I opened it I needed something for me in addition to the totes I would be making for the shop.

I had seen a table runner from this line so I went in search of that, thinking I would place an order. However I found this free pattern for this window box pillow so I immediately made this for my living room window seat. You can find the pattern for this free pdf pattern here. I followed the pattern dimensions exactly, then quilted the top to some batting as this is how I make all my pillows. I just did simple echo quilting on the brown around all the windows.

The pattern then called for 9 raw edge yo yo type of flowers. I am not a big fan of raw edge applique and I have pretty much every size of the Clover yo yo makers so I used the large and the medium for mine. It called for 9 of these in the pattern I figured double that would be even more fun, embellish with some buttons and my garden is complete. Now the Two-fer, a matching bookmark! Some fabrics are just so cute you cannot even toss the smallest of pieces, so I whipped up this bookmark, a few simple directions below if you want to make one yourself. Sorry about the dark pictures, it was seriously so bright that day but my camera had the wrong setting, I think you can still see.

Leftover pieces of fabric, rick rack and ribbon, a piece of fusible fleece, a 1/4 inch smaller on the length and the width. Trim the corners and a "notch" on one side, about 2 inches long, 1/4 inch deep.

Cut ribbon and rick rack about 12 inches, I find sewing one side down, then folding trims back and sewing a second time the easiest way to manage this bulk. Be sure your pieces are not twisted, and layered nicely. Also, it may help to pin the ribbons down so they don't get caught in the stitching.

Pin fabrics right side to right side, layer fleece on top of this, I put the fusible side down, so it is to the wrong side of the back piece of your book mark. Start sewing at one side of notch, sew around all side stopping at notch, this is where yo will turn your bookmark right side out.

Use your favorite corner turner, I often use a chopstick, or a corner turner, a handy notion to have around, or a few as these always go MIA.

This is where the notched out fleece will be very helpful, fold in the seams, the notche eliminated the bulk in this stitch you will find the fleece can be caught in the fold of one of the seams. Pin and sew a topstitch all around the bookmark in coordinate/contrast thread, I often use monofiliament, this will close the bookmark so it is ready to use. Once turned it will help to press.

Refashion Denim Jacket

What I had intended to be a sort of tutorial is now just a show and tell with a few hopefully "helpful" hints on how to refashion your own denim jacket. I got this jacket for my 5 year old at a mom to mom sale last fall for just $2.00. It was just about brand new, of course these types of jackets can take a fair amount of wear and still look brand new.

Fabric choices, 1/4 yard of the big flower dots, which was my focal, then coordinating 1/8 yard cuts of compliments and a few yards of rick rack and trims

I also wanted to make a statement type of jacket with a little more grown up girl feel, not super babyish so that was reflected in the color palette. I knew pink and purple would have to be a part of it but also added orange, aqua, lime and aqua throw in some rick rack, buttons, handmade yo yo's and this colorful jacket gets RAVES every time we are out and about. Fun thing about it is we have lots and lots of colorful clothes to go with it.

I used an assortment of fabrics, 1/8-1/4 yard each and various sizes of rick rack 1-1.5 yards each. I really did not have a plan except that I new I wanted to cover the back completely and do some embellishments to the top, and that I wanted to cover the pockets and the placard below the pockets. I still want to add some crystals or hot fix rhinestones to the upper chest portions and maybe the sleeves.

I did lots of measuring and math to get the correct dimensions for the back, I also did this wrong. It was wrong that my math was too perfect to the size I wanted which meant it finished on the heavy seams, since I have an industrial machine this was no problem, but if not there is no way I could have sewn through my fabrics and the seams, so either bigger or smaller by 1/2 inch would be better. I would recommend making paper templates of all pieces, then add your seam allowances to come up with your finished pieces.

Sewing the pieces onto the denim, a form of machine applique:
I made my square for the back then used interfacing, actually I used pattern ease as this is what I had on hand so it had grids which were not a problem, if it were lighter fabrics those might show through. I would recommend a light weight sew in type for this application, I used this on the back piece, the front placards and the squares on the back top detail.

Make your component then sew RIGHT SIDES TO RIGHT SIDES to the interfacing, you can sew it all the way closed because you are going to cut a slit in the center to turn right side out, also trim the corners as needed and poke cleanly, press your piece. Now all your seams are inside and it is ready to be sewn down, I sew as close to the edge as possible to get a clean look to your piece.

Sew your applique piece right sides together to your interfacing

Back piece turned, pressed ready to applique

Sew down to jacket

Completed patch sew down

Front piece ready to be turned and pressed

Sew down

Square for back, fabric to fabric, same method, sew, clip corners, turn and press

Squares sewn down by machine, yo yo's sewn down attached by hand with a button to help secure

For the pockets I made a paper template, and then built the pocket, this is a "sleeve that has been slid up over the pocket, then sewn down, I seed from the top all the way through the jacket, actually closing the pocket so it is not functional to put anything inside or to snap close.

Pocket is two pieces of the paper template (in fabric) sewn right sides to right sides, then the top opening is press to encase seams, slide over pocket sew.

Applying rick rack, for the jumbo I used fray check, then folded it under itself for the bottom trim, I sewed all along the top and bottom edge with a matching thread.

Thinner rick rack can be just sewn down the center, I used a mono-filament thread on the blue detail.

Additional detail on the sleeves, a simple tube turned right side out, sewn down

Pretty much done, I am going to be on the lookout for more bling for the top, but so far it has been a great piece that goes with most of my daughters colorful wardrobe!