MAKE - HOTPOT MATS

HOT POT MATS

The cheats way! There are a lot of fabrics, especially Japanese prints which make fabrics ready made in quilting squares, the one I have uses I brought from a Fellow Folksy Seller, but tons to be found on Etsy.

These squares are 2" square and as the pattern repeat was every 4 square I have made them 6" square.

You will need

Fabric cut to size 6 1/4" x 6 1/4"

Wadding/Batting - over sized

Backing fabric - over sized

Bias Binding - up to 30"

 First lay the backing fabric face down

Then the wadding / batting

Last Top fabric face up, and then pin together

(I have used 2 layers of batting in mine, as I wanted them foolproof and a little spongy!)

 Starting from one corner edge, I have my machine needle in the middle, for these small ones as I want my lines closer together, but for larger ones I would put the needle over to the left.

Set the stitch for a straight line, I use the same stitch I would use to sew most things! Start sewing following the edge.

When you get to the next corner, I may take a couple attempts at making sure your needle is far enough along, but you need to stick to the edge of the fabric, repeat this until you reach the beginning.

 You now will continue to follow with the sewn line on the right, around and around, until your squares get smaller and you reach the middle.

Secure last stitch, back and forth.

 The Lines on the front

 The sewn lines on the back, easier to see the sewn line on this side.

 OK your mat will look a bit like this before trimming

 Trim you excess backing fabric and the wadding/batting fabric

 Next attaching the bias binding, I use what I sell which is single folded 25"

Open out one edge and pin to one edge of the mat on the front.

 Sew down the open fold, until you reach near the end

(which is the distance you are sewing away from the edge)

I somebody has a better way of doing this let me know, as I do like to make my own way of sewing as I go along!

 I then remove it from the machine and place the binding on the next edge, as in the photo

 Another glimpse how the binding will tuck, pin if need for ease.

 Following from where you left off sew down the 2nd edge, repeat the for all four edges

 End of the fourth edge, I sew right off the end.

 Turn over to see what you have achieved so far!

Last bit, and hand sewing, pin the back of the bias binding and slip stitch closed, folding your four corners as you go (I really do need to do a binding tutorial!)

One thing I forgot to mention is insert a piece of ribbon across one corner on the reverse before you start sewing, so the mats can be hung on hooks in the kitchen!

If you think I have missed anything let me know.

Happy Sewing.

Kx

MAKE - SCRAPPY BIRD TUTORIAL

SCRAPPY VINTAGE BIRD

Do you want to make one of these really tweet birds?

Follow the instructions below.............Kx

 This paper pattern is A4 so if you can copy and paste to fit an A4 great, if you can't email me @ sewsimple@hotmail.co.uk and i'll email you back with it,

 First cut out your pieces of fabric 2 for the bird, 2 for the wings & 1 bottom strip.

Put a mark on both bird pieces where I have written mark.

I have used unbleached cotton / linen and vintage floral fabric from one of my FQ bundles.

 Place the wings where you thing best, and at this point embellish or do any thing you want to your bird, before we sew it together. Sew the wings on. I want mine to fray.

 Starting with one bird piece place your long bottom strip tip on the mark (as shown on the top picture)
Pin if you want, I have pinned to show you but find it easier to work without pins and the pieces are so small.

 I sew only 1/4 inch from the edge..If you have a bigger seam then the bird will be smaller, otherwise you can just enlarge you bird pattern to size bird you want

 One side sewn and it will look like this

 Next attach the other side in the same way, once sewn your bird should look like this.

Next flatten, line up the beak and tail, sew from where you see the cotton stitches under the beck to the cotton stitches under the tail (leaving 1 to 2 inch gap on its neck/back to turn fabric).

 No need to buy a load of polyfill, plus I wanted these birds to be a bit more organic, so I have stuffed them with fabric scraps.

 One stuffed bird, ready to be hand sewn shut.

Last add some button eyes.

 Scrappy Bird 1

 Scrappy Bird 2

Scrappy Bird 3

MAKE MONDAY

MONDAY'S MAKE - TISSUE CASE TUTORIAL

For all you lovely blog followers, who haven't clicked on my tutorail page and who want to have a go at something simple and make a few stocking fillers for family (I know, shouldn't be taking about Christmas yet!!!), and you have scraps of fabric you don't want to throw away and are waiting to used up, this is the perfect make in under 1/2 hour. Simple!

Let me know how you get on, and don't forget once you have mastered the art of making them, just adjust the sie for different tissue pack sizes, even large mans tissues, for dad to sit next to the bed or in the car.

http://blondedesign.blogspot.com/p/tutorials.html

And before I go I have finally purchased a now sewing machine, can't wait, as I have bee using the same machine for over 20 years, which has no flat bed as I broke it about a year ago, no cover for the bobin loader on the front, broke that too, no light as the electrics to that went a few years ago, it only had 6 stictches, ziz zag small.med.large, straight stich small,med,large, oh and backwards. So any new machine is going to be a joy to work with and this is the baby below....and it only has 294 stitches...so it is going to take me a year to use every one!!

Kx

MAKE MONDAY

Monday's Make

I Love Boden Clothing, but just don't have the cash flow to go out and buy it, so I had a lightblub moment and have set myself a weekly challage to make new or re-invent some key pieces to get my own Boden look! (Oh dear what have I done....)

So the first is the simplest for me and for anybody who can't even sew, take one pair of old or new sneekers (bargin £6 form Asda), 2 metres of bias binding that I make for my shop blondesbackyard, otherwise any of those ribbons you have stashed to match the outfit you are going to wear, I used 1m of binding for each sneeker, tie'd a knot in each end no sewing required. Voila a Bodenesque pair of pumps.

Today I made a vintage & retro peg bag for the blondedesign shop need to play around with the neck a little on the next couple I do, using retro barkcloth fabric, a few cute buttons from the stash and chocolate spotty ribbon.

Also for the blondedesign shop I have made my first couple of gadget bags, after making one for somebody at work.

This one is classic Miffy with Amy Butler full moon fabric and red spot lining, chocolate spotty ribbon and a detachable key chain.

And this is a fab fabric I picked up off ebay - shoes!!! with Amy Butler full moon fabric in lime and a funky orange zip, more Amy Butler lining, green spotty ribbon and a detachable key chain.

Both of these are padded the Miffy one being over padded for those who like to make sure their gadget doesn't get broken.

Kx