Back to school - kit bag

 It's the beginning of September and now suddenly it's back to school, and my granddaughter, Abi is starting school - so this week I'm making a little bag for her P.E. kit -

 

I have used 4 floral prints from the Little Bird Told Me fabric range from Lewis and Irene -
38cm x 30cms for the bag, and small pieces for the letters and flowers.
I fused web to the back of the fabrics for the letters and flowers before cutting them out - it makes it so much easier when stitching the shapes in place - no pins needed!
I used the Big Shot machine and the following dies to cut out the flowers and letters -
Flower, layers and leaves, by Dena Designs - 657690 -
http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657690/sizzix-bigz-die-flower-layers-leaves
for the capital  - Lollipop Shadow Capital letters - 657892
http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657892/sizzix-bigz-alphabet-set-4-dies-lollipop-shadow-capital-letters
and for the lower case letters - Lollipop Shadow Lower Case letters - 660112
http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660112/sizzix-bigz-alphabet-set-4-dies-lollipop-shadow-lowercase-letters
Remember when cutting out letters the fabric needs to be right side down on the die because the letters and cut in reverse.
The letters and flowers were fused into place one side of the bag -

I placed the letters about 12cm from the bottom edge, and 5cm in from the edge, but this doesn't have to be exact., and added the flowers underneath and to one side. I stitched all the letters and flowers in place as this bag may take quite a bit of hard use!.
To make the bag I folded it in half, right sides together and stitched the side and bottom - leaving a 2cm opening 2.5cm from the top -

and I used a zig-zag stitch to neaten the raw edges.
A 1cm fold was made around the top edge, onto the wrong side, and then folded over again 2 .5cm and stitched down -

The opening in the side seam allows a ribbon to be threaded through as a drawstring.
The bad is complete and can be turned right side out ready for use. If you like you can pull the ribbon through so that the knot is hidden inside.
I think I might have to make a new bag for her big sister - but that can wait until later.
Next week is a mystery.
Have fun stitching.
Angela

Tool roll for Father's Day

For several weeks now I've been convinced that Father's Day is this coming Sunday - BUT I was  wrong - so I may even be able to create another Father's Day gift next week.

I used to find it difficult to find things to give to my Dad - but I think he would have loved this -

He was a carpenter and he often helped with jobs around our home - and so this would have been very helpful when moving his tools around.

Now I will give you the measurements for the one I have made, but you can vary the size and the sections to suit the tools that your father, husband, boyfriend, grandpa, uses.

You will need a strong piece of fabric - I had a heavy twill type fabric, but you could use denim or canvas ( if you re-cycle a pair of old jeans please make sure they aren't his favourite old jeans!!)

80cm x 50cm (31" x 19 1/2")

3 pieces of cotton fabric 15cm (6") square in different colours.

45cm x 15 cm (18" x 6") fusible web.

1m (1yd) heavy ribbon

I used the Lollipop Shadow dies in Lower case - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660112/sizzix-bigz-alphabet-set-4-dies-lollipop-shadow-lowercase-letters

and Upper case - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657892/sizzix-bigz-alphabet-set-4-dies-lollipop-shadow-capital-letters

along with the Big Shot machine - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660200/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-white-gray 

Cut the fusible web into 3 x 15cm (6") squares and fuse to the wrong side of the cotton squares.

Select the letters that you need on each die and cut out - remember to place the fabric right side down on the die when cutting.

Arrange the letters on one end of the main fabric about 10cm in from the right, 6cms from the bottom edge, and 15cms from the left side. Fuse, and then stitch in place -

 Fold the raw edge of the left edge to the wrong side and zig zag stitch. 

Make a fold 15cm from the edge and stitch a 2cm seam from the fold to the neatened edge -

and make a double fold and stitch to neaten the rest of the edge. Turn right side out, and repeat with the other end. This creates the pocket section

Mark the compartments along the pocket section - I made my sections 9cm (3 1/2") to fit the tools, but your tools may be different sizes so measure before stitching - I stitched along the bottom edge for 9cm, then stitched up to the edge, and double stitched at the top before stitching back to the bottom, and repeated along the length of the roll -

Next I made a narrow double fold along the last raw edge and stitched with a straight stitch, then folded the edge over 8cm to create a flap. Stitch along the fold.

Finally - I put the tools in the roll,

and rolled it up to find where to stitch the tie -

I stitched the ribbon tie just above the line of the pockets and reinforced with several rows of stitching.

 

I apologise for the rather scruffy tools but they are rather old now!

It's quite a quick project, and I hope it's useful, as I mentioned before it can be adapted to take all sorts of different tools, or cables.

That's all for now - I'll be back next week.

Angela

 









Christmas present

Is it really only 2 weeks until Christmas? yes it is and I haven't really started my Christmas shopping, or written a single Christmas card yet. At this point I have the choice to panic!! or roll up my sleeves and get started. Seeing as the first option will take me to next week with nothing done my sleeves are being rolled up and the fun begins - but first I have to help my colleague Kayleigh with a cushion for her niece for Christmas.

To begin we cut the fabric for the cushion front - 45cms by 35cms from Little Red Riding Hood fabric. For the back we cut - one piece of red and white spot, and one of plain red - both measuring 45cms x 30cms.

Then we used the Big Shot and Sizzix Bigz Alphabet Set 4 Dies - Lollipop Shadow Capital Letters http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657892/sizzix-bigz-alphabet-set-4-dies-lollipop-shadow-capital-letters

We ironed fusible web onto one side of the plain red fabric before cutting out the letters, once cut Kayleigh positioned the letters onto the cushion front and ironed them in place - now because Kayleigh hasn't done any sewing I stitched around the letters for her.

We cut 4 circles of plain red using the 2" circle on die 659845  http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/659845/sizzix-bigz-l-die-circles-2-3-4, to use to cover 4 buttons for the back fastening.

A double 5cms fold was pressed along one long side of each of the fabrics for the back of the cushion. Using the red spot piece we marked the position for the 4 buttonholes -

 

Once the buttonholes were stitched, through the double fold of fabric, the buttons were sewn onto the double fold of the red fabric, to match the buttonholes (the fabrics overlap by 5cms).

The cushion back and front were pinned right sides together and Kayleigh, carefully machine stitched around all 4 sides, and then turned the cover the right side out.

Here is the cushion - and Kayleigh's smile just shows her sense of achievement ( next year she might attempt a small quilt!)

A good evenings work!

Now this only took a couple of hours for Kayleigh to make - and if you are confident sewing then it could be made in about an hour - so their really is still time to make that special gift.

Now where is my pile of Christmas cards to write?

Angela

 

A baby bunting

Hi everyone! This week was specially creative because I had to do a gift for a friend of mine who was a mummy to a beautiful and loved baby girl waited for long time.
It was difficult to choose her name but finally Sara was the perfect name for the parents.
So , I decided I wanted to do a nice and cute bunting.

As I  have done before, I cut out fabric from more than one die by Sizzix.

This time I have used an  alphabet  die and  one of the new flowers dies.

659960 Flower #4 Bigz Die by Stephanie Ackerman

657892

Sizzix Bigz Alphabet Set 4 Dies - Lollipop Shadow Capital Letters

Before  using the Big Shot I ironed some fusible web to the fabrics for letters , flowers and leaves.

The last ones ( flowers and leaves) are double side with fabric.

I stitched some decorative stitches around the flowers after I cut out.

I cut six triangles for top fabrics and six more for the backing.Ironed each letter and  I used the applique or blanket stitch on my machine for letters on the top of the triangles .Turned the triangle pieces to face right sides together and sew all around, then turn .

I chose a beautiful petal ribbon and a bias on it like you see in the pics and finished by hand.

My backing  is a nice white fabric  with embroidered stars.

Some details ......... with flowers  and leaves sewed and some buttons.

I´m very happy with my first bunting sewed. I want to do a new one for my teenager daughter with other style.

Hope you  have a wonderful week.

 See you next Saturday!!

Love

Mercedes

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¡Hola a todo el mundo !Esta  semana ha sido especialmente creativa porque tenía  que hacer un regalo para una amiga que ha sido sido mamá de una preciosa  y esperada niña.

Fue difícil hasta que decidieron el nombre pero finalmente Sara fue el que más convenció. Por esto decidí hacerles un bonito banderín con su nombre y tenerlo para decorar su dormitorio.

Como ya he hecho otras veces, he usado varios troqueles de Sizzix, Uno ha sido para las letras y otro para las flores y  hojas, uno de los últimos  diseñado por Stephanie Ackerman.

659960 Flower #4 Bigz Die by Stephanie Ackerman

657892

Sizzix Bigz Alphabet Set 4 Dies - Lollipop Shadow Capital Letters

Antes de usar la troqueladora Big Shot, planché  entretela de doble cara sobre el revés de las telas para las letras, hojas y flores. En estas últimas volví a planchar tela , de tal manera que se quedaron dobles. Entonces corté todas las telitas con los troqueles .

Bordé con puntada decorativa alrededor de las hojas  y las hojas ,usando la máquina de coser.

Corté seis triángulos para la parte de  delante y otros seis para las traseras. Planché las letras sobre cuatro de ello y las dejé pegadas. Hice una puntada alrededor de cada una. Luego coloqué el triángulo de la parte trasera y cosí por el revés. Di la vuelta y planché. Para unir todos los triángulos elegí un bonita cinta con pétalos y sobre ella un biés que cosí a máquina. Echa un vistazo a las fotos.

Luego acabé a mano por el revés.

Los detalles y la tela para la trasera , una bonita batista blanca con estrellas bordadas, puedes verlos también en las fotos. 

Para ser el primer banderín , estoy muy contenta cómo ha quedado y ya estoy pensando en hacer otro para mi hija adolescente ,pero claro, con otro estilo.

Espero que tengáis una semana estupenda.

Nos vemos el próximo sábado.

Cariños.

Mercedes