CLOSET DIVA

Here is a sassy little gift you can make in no time at all.   My daughter designed this one.  It is for hanging in your closet to keep your clothes smelling wonderfully fresh and lightly scented.  You could stick one of these little babes in your drawers too.  
Dresser drawers that is............. 

She found vintage napkins at a thrift store for this one.
Four of them for a dollar!

Wild Diva!

Then she dug around in my stash and found some slinky black.  I have no idea what I used it for in the first place but I do know it was NOT something slinky for me.  It did work for this little Diva though.  When she first made it, it just didn't have enough going on.  I looked at it and decided it needed some WOW factor.  I put on some rhinestones and a little belt and buckle and some fringe at the bottom of her dress and she looks like she is ready for a wild night on the town.  (Maybe I should have made something similar for myself!)  

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Downloaded Pattern - Click Here
• 2 pieces of fabric about 6 x 8 in. or use a vintage embroidered napkin or handkerchief.
• 1 - 15 inch piece of ribbon or cord for hanging
• Any embellishments you may want to add     

Print out the pattern and cut apart on dashed line. DO NOT cut out the pattern. 

Place fabric with right sides together. Place ribbon on the inside, making sure it is not twisted and leave the ends exposed through the top.  This is only so you know where to put the shoulder points of the pattern.  

Pin on the pattern making sure that the ribbon ends
will be centered on the shoulder points as in the picture.

Your pattern can be positioned over a fancy corner on a napkin or any part of the fabric. You can take into account any of the design elements in the fabric you are using.   Again DO NOT cut out the pattern or fabric until later.  

Now you can sew directly on the black lines using a very small stitch,
being careful not to catch the rest of the ribbon into the seam.  Also note on the
pattern where NOT to sew.  See arrows!

Sew the ribbon into the seam only on the shoulder points and I stress again...don't catch it in the seam anywhere else.  Be sure to leave the bottom open where designated.  

When you have finished sewing you can then cut out around the entire body
preferably with pinking shears about 1/4 inch away from the black line. 

Tear off excess paper.  Clip the neckline and curves being careful not to cut through the stitching. You don't want to get too close to the stitching on this...just a little trimming will do or your ribbon will pull out and the neckline will tear open and you will toss it in a corner and you will get all huffy and no one will get a Diva.

Turn right side out and iron but not the ribbon.  It is at this point
that you may want to add some rhinestones, especially if you use the
heat set glue back ones.  Even if you glue them on,
now would be the time because it is nice and flat.

Stuff the top 1/3 with stuffing very firmly.  You must have a firm bust don’t we all? Fill the rest with flax or rice, lavender flowers and lavender oil. You can use any scent you choose and you can use just stuffing but the flax or rice do add some nice weight to the Diva and she hangs so much better.  You can glue the bottom shut or sew it.  

I put it upside down in a can while I filled it and added the glue to the edge.
You don't have to turn in the seam when gluing, no one will see it once
you add the lace or fringe.  Just glue it shut...nothing fancy needed here!

Glue or sew on lace or fringe to the bottom to hide the opening.  I prefer to glue it as it was a lot easier to do.  I use Unique Stitch Glue, also called Liquid Stitch glue to close the opening but I use a glue gun to put on the fringe.   If you iron that Unique Stitch Glue, it dries immediately and it is a done deal! I have no idea why they would want you to wait 24 hours to let it dry when the iron will do that in seconds!  That same company also makes an iron on glue but this works just the exact same way...they are not fooling me...or you now!

Well, here is the latest little Diva.  

She will fit into my closet just fine.  

  

Have fun with this and if you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

ALMOST HAPPY 4TH of JULY

I have to say, this may be almost too late but I had to share.  I made this for a church Bazaar at the end of April but it is the technique I wanted to share.  This pattern is called Land of Liberty by Debbie Mumm.  It can be downloaded for free from her website.  Look under free projects.  You might want to browse a bit there also!

Anyway, what I did for the wavy part of the flag is I just used red and white striped fabric and fan folded it a bit off kilter into a piece that would be large enough to accommodate that part of the pattern. I ironed it very well to hold the creases and then I used a bit of Unique Stitch glue here and there to hold in place.  I didn’t want it totally stuck together because I wanted it to look like it was waving in the breeze and give a little texture to the wall hanging.  Once it was cut out according to the pattern directions I just sewed it in as if it were one solid piece.  I loved the way it turned out and the lady that bought it, really looked it over trying to figure out how I did it.  It sold for $45 and I was thrilled to be able to contribute. 

I also made two quick table runners that were so simple using the same red and white stripes.  I had a couple Friendship Star blocks left over from a project and put them on the ends of a piece of that striped fabric, put a little sashing around it to make it bigger  and then quilted it and binded it. Sewed on 4 star buttons in the corners and WALA…instant table runner.  The other one is just scrap pieces sewed together and quilted.  These also sold for $45 each.  WooHoo 

This is on the display board along with many wonderful things for the bazaar.

Here is the quilt I made also for the Bazaar.  I made it queen size and included the Pillow Shams and also the pillow for them.  They sold raffle tickets on it.  I have no idea how many tickets they sold but they were happy.  I am always excited to help some organization make money.

This is actually being displayed on my dining room table before we took it to the bazaar.

AND for my electronic cutting machine friends...here is a simple little SVG for the 4th of July.  This will come in 4 pieces on your mat when you upload the SVG.  The red part has the star holes cut into it so whatever color  you use as a background is what will show through the stars.  Don't forget to keep those little stars that are cut out!  

CLICK HERE to download SVG

Have a very safe and wonderful holiday!

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR!

Microwave Potato Bag

I know there are a lot of tutorials out there on how to make one of these but I thought one more wouldn't hurt. I think I do mine just a bit different as far as finishing the ends. Let's see if I can get this information out there in an easy and informative way and without leaving out too much. This pattern makes 4 of them from a yard of fabric. I know you are going to want to give some away so why not just cut them out and do them? Here we go!

Equipment needed:
Sewing Machine
Rotary Cutter
Cutting Mat
I want to stop here and tell you, if you do not have a rotary cutter and mat by now you really need to get one. I use mine not only for my sewing and quilting but also for my paper crafts. You will also see in my photos that I occasionally use it too much and ended up with paint and stain on it. Oops! Don’t do that! OK…back to list…….
One yard of COTTON fabric, No need to prewash…that comes later
One yard of COTTON muslin or any other fabric you want for a liner
1 1/3 yards of COTTON batting, it is called Warm Tator
COTTON thread in your choice of color

I found all my fabrics HERE.


By now you have gotten the feeling you need to buy COTTON for this. Yes, you do. You do NOT want anything that is not COTTON. Right down to the thread. It is because anything that has something else like polyester in it should not to be used in the microwave. It may melt or start fire or be embedded right into your food or God knows what kind of mutation might happen to you.  I have never had it happen YET and I just don’t have time to clean up any smoke damage right now or I would try it just to see.


The first thing is to press the fabric nice and flat. Fold it lining up the selvages together. (Selvages are the thick sides to the fabric) You may need to slide it back and forth to get it to hang straight and you might also end up with edges that don’t match but do it just get those selvages matched nicely and that the fabric hangs nice and straight.


I tried to make the following graphics to scale as much as possible. They are supposed to represent a 24 x 24 mat.  OK...use your imagination!


Now you lay your fabric on the cutting mat lining up the folded edge on a line at the bottom of the mat and the selvages to the top. You are going to straighten one side of this fabric. Lay the ruler along one edge using the mat as a guide for making it straight. I don’t care if it is the left or the right, whatever is comfortable for you, just make sure one edge is straight.






Cut off the excess sticking out from ruler.

Now that you have one edge straight cut a piece of fabric from that edge at 23 inches.  You will have about a 13 inch piece left over. Keep that for later. 

  We will now turn the fabric on the mat and cut off those selvages.  Your fold will now be to the right.

Once you have the selvage cut you will make your first cut at 11 inches.Your fabric is doubled, you will get two pieces from it at this first cut.

Set those two pieces aside and open up the folded piece that is left. Now you have one single layer on the mat.

Cut another 11 inch piece from the one straight edge. You should now have three - 11 x 23 pieces of fabric


With the piece that is left on the mat cut out three strips that are 2 1/2 inches wide and 23 inches long. These are going to be the bindings on the edges of the bag. Don’t get your panties in a bunch, binding is very very easy…really it is!

Now fold those skinny long pieces in half the long way and iron them. They should look like this.

Now for that left over 13 inch piece. You will open that up and cut off the selvage and cut a 23 inch piece from that end and from that cut an 11 inch piece. There will be enough left to cut one 2 1/2 inch piece that is 23 inches long for the binding for that same piece.  Press it as you did with the others. You will now have one more 11 x 23 piece for a total of 4 pieces.  You should also have 4 skinny pieces for binding. 

Cut out your muslin backing the same way only you will not need the binding pieces. 
Now we have to cut the batting in the same way. Your Warm Tator batting actually comes 23 inches wide so all you really need to do is straighten it and then cut it into 11 inch pieces just like you did the fabric. You should end up with Four – 11 x 23 pieces.

Now we will layer them all together. The muslin backing is on the bottom. If you have chosen a print fabric for the lining, make sure that it is RIGHT side DOWN. Next lay the batting on top of that and then the outside fabric with RIGHT side UP. See Photo below.

Now we are going to stitch all the layers together. This is called quilting. It is best to pin or baste the layers together just to hold them while you are quilting it. That is up to you but I highly recommend it.   I do because it keeps it from wandering around while you sew.

I like to quilt it together with just a simple meandering stitch. If that is not for you, you can just do some straight lines down the middle both ways. It is just to hold it all together when you wash it. You don’t want your batting getting all bunched up! 

This is what my meandering looked like.

OK...now that you have that done...here comes the binding!  All you have to do is match the raw edges of the skinny piece to the short side of the quilted piece.  I start out at the top edge with it hanging past about 1/8 of an inch.  I will cut that flush with the long edge when I am done.  I put a white piece of paper so you cold see where the skinny piece was.  It was hard to tell with those spuds all over the place!  Sew it together using a 1/4 inch seam.

 I like to keep sewing along the edge so when I get to the edge of the first side I grab the other end and butt it up against the side I just sewed and keep sewing. It looks kind of funny but then you just cut it apart. You only have a 23 inch piece to work with so you want to be frugal with it. Maybe these photos will help.

 

When you have it all sewn on, cut it apart between the gap. You will have a binding now on the top and bottom of the quilted piece. All done at once! WOOHOO

Now that you have them cut apart it is time to iron them. Press the binding piece away from the quilted piece and then up and over to the inside.  Folding it over the edge and press it well so it stays folded over.

 You can pin it in place if you wish. Now just stitch in the ditch. That means to stitch right in the seam. Be sure you are catching the folded over edge. See below.

THERE! You just put on binding and didn’t even know it. Now wasn’t that simple? This is what the other side should look like. Oh, it is lovely!



You are now on the home stretch. It is just a matter of sewing up the sides and turning it right side out.

I set my piece down, right side up. I fold the left side over 6 inches and then the right side over the top of it about and inch or so past the other edge.  It should measure about 10 1/2 inches overall. That is about what I come up with.

Pin this all in place and sew up the sides. I used about 3/8 inch seam. You can maybe do that or even 1/2 inch seam. I like to trim the seam with a pinking shears but that is up to you. You might want to trim the corners before turning right side out to reduce the bulk.

The worst part of this whole thing is that you now have to wash it to remove any of the sizing that is in the fabrics before you use it. That is easy to do, just swish it around in some cool water and a bit of soap and then stick in the dryer or just let it hang to dry. I know you can’t wait to try it so if you really want to and need to…you can use a dry iron and iron it until it is almost dry. A little moisture won’t hurt and it will just keep the spud moist while you cook it.

Here are the instructions per the Warm Tator Wrapper

It's not just for potatoes anymore!

Potatoes - 2 Large - 8 minutes
Red Potatoes - 2 Large - 8 Minutes
Sweet Potatoes - 2 Medium - 10 Minutes 
Corn on the Cob - 2 Large - 6 minutes
Rolls - 3 medium - 20 seconds


Estimates based on an 1100 watt microwave oven with a turntable. If you do not have a turntable, you will need to turn your bag over at the midpoint of the suggested cook time to prevent scorching.  Wash raw vegetables prior to cooking.  Drying is not necessary as the extra moisture aids in cooking.
Do not leave microwave unattended while cooking in case flames shoot out the door and up the ceiling and engulf your entire kitchen. 
Just kidding but you might want to keep an eye on it the first few times you use it so you know how long to cook something.

Happy Tator Bakin’!!!

MY KINDLE COVER



Can you tell I like bright colors?  I love my Kindle!  This so easy to drop in my purse and I also keep it by my bed to slip the Kindle in when I am done reading.



Materials Needed:

9 x 12 inch piece of batting

2 fat quarters or enough fabric to make 3 pieces of 9 x 12 fabric and a scrap

Heavy duty Interfacing (Decor Bond by Pellon works well)

1 inch of Velcro

Chocolate

Coffee

Music

Good looking man rubbing your shoulders

OK...on to the directions!

1. Use an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper as your pattern. Yup...computer paper!  Cut out three pieces of fabric from that pattern. One will be the outside and two will be the lining and the inside pocket. I prefer to have the two fabrics for the inside to be a different color but that is up to you.

2. Cut out two pieces of fabric for the closure tab that are 1 3/4” x 3”. I prefer matching the outside fabric but you can get funky with that if you want!

3. Cut out all the same size pieces again this time cutting it out of iron-on heavy duty interfacing and iron to wrong side of all pieces. I like to use the Décor Bond by Pellon. You can iron on all the interfacing onto the fabrics beforehand and cut it all out at once.

4. Take one of the inside fabrics and cut off ½ inch off the short side. It will now be 8 1/2 x 10 1/2. Fold that in half, wrong sides together, matching short ends. This will be your inside pocket for the Kindle. It will now be 5 1/4 x 8 1/2. You can top stitch this or add some kind of decorative stitch to the folded side.

5. Now round off all outside corners using a spool of thread including one end of the tab pieces. DO NOT ROUND OFF THE FOLDED SIDE OF THE POCKET…only round off the bottom edge of that piece. It really doesn’t matter what spool you use, just so there is not a definite corner because it will get hard to turn right side out. A regular large size spool is great. It has about a 1 1/4 inch diameter.

6. It is at this time that you will add Velcro to the front cover and to one side of the tab. I placed one piece of Velcro about 5/8 inch from raw edge of outside piece on one side. See photo of the completed pouch. The other piece of Velcro went to the inside edge of the tab. Once that is done you can sew the tab pieces together, turn right side out and top stitch.

 





How to layer it all together:

Place a piece of cotton batting down first, then put the outside piece down on top of that with right side up, now the inside pocket with right side up (if there is one) matching the bottoms of the two pieces. Next lay the last lining piece down with wrong side up. Pin everything in place. Sew all the way around with a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance leaving a 3 inch opening on the bottom side for turning. Clip corners and trim edges, Turn right side out. Press it all out nice and flat.  I steamed mine so it would keep its shape.  I stitched real close to the edges, probably about 1/16 of an inch away. This will give it definition and also close the opening. No need to hand stitch closed.

For beginners you might want to stitch down the pocket to the first fabric first and then do all of the fabrics together.

Now for the final finish.  Grab that chocolate and coffee, read your Kindle and let your man rub your shoulders.  OK...we will all be happy with the chocolate!

This and the next photo show how I put on the Velcro



I added a little button for decoration only.  It has no function except to be pretty. 
You could add a YO YO or any other embellishment also.

Here I am trying to show you how I stitched close to the edge. 
 I think it is important but it is up to you.



Here is how it fits nice and snug into the pouch. 


Hope this helps someone!











1940's APRON

Well, my daughter and her hubby came home last weekend. I always look forward to those precious moments. She decided she wanted to make an old fashioned apron. She proceeded to browse through my unending stash and find enough material. How strange, not only did I have the fabric but also a pattern for it! OK...it was not strange at all, I am a hoarder of all wonderful things to craft with. If I don't have it...it is just that I haven't ordered it online or have gotten to the store yet.

We had a blast doing it. We cut a "new" old fashioned handkerchief in half for the pockets. I wanted to put on some rick rack but she wasn't into that much bling on it. She did find some really cool "old" buttons but you can't see them on here.


Anyway here she is modeling her creation!  (Why is she holding that knife?)






Maybe if I get my apron done I will have to model it!

Pushin' For A Cushion

Well, I just finished a custom made bench cushion for my oldest daughter. Oh, I had the usual fun of planning a sewing project for a family member. I loved looking for the fabric all the while matching it to the newspaper ad of tomato soup. While I was visiting her in Columbus, OH, she gave me an ad of tomato soup in a nice off white bowl and said, “There, those are exactly the colors I am looking for!“ After I got off the plane back in Fargo, I went right to Joann Fabrics, still clutching that newspaper clipping and holding it up against all the fabrics. There they were! They jumped right out at me! I got so excited and as usual, I had to tell all the strangers waiting to buy fabric about my find. They all agreed…it matched the soup or they were being polite to an overly excited woman.

First of all, I made the piping myself and it turned out so nice that it was pure pleasure to work with. I measured twice, cut once and was happy with it. That is always a scary thing. OK...I asked myself, why is this turning out so well? What is in store for me?

The piping also went on very well. I loved it and I loved the colors. I had not been sure of them but once I got used to the color and not the idea of eating soup it was OK. I continued on and put on the side of the pad to make the box-like cushion it was intended to become. Oh, the excitement was building. You have no idea how much I love to sew!

OK...sewed on both sides and then turned it inside out to see how wonderful the piping was. OH, MY. It was lovely. And then…what the hell? I had put the side piece on with the seams to the outside!! Oh, there was no way I was going to tear all that out. I decided to just take out the bad seams and fix them. OH...#$%^$&^#$% ...I am OK now…deep breath…it worked....whew....



Now, on to putting in the foam piece! Have you EVER tried to stuff 6 feet of green rubber foam into a very form fitting casing? It was like wrestling an old alligator without teeth. It was soft enough, safe enough, but by gosh that thing wanted to fight me for all it was worth.

I had left a large enough opening on the side to push it there, or so I thought. I would put in one end and then it just wouldn’t move so I had to actually shimmy it on there. Kinda like putting a size small panty hose on a queen size woman. I know this from experience...and it is not pretty.

OK…got it shimmied on but then the other end had to also go through that same opening, all the while the other piece was still sticking out. Another round of wrestling. I yelled downstairs to hubby, “Hey, you might have to help me with this”. He yelled up to me, “What are you doing?” He could hear me huffing and puffing through the floor grate of this old house and I am sure he felt pieces of green foam raining down on him but he is smart...he plays dumb...so he probably thought it was best to just keep his distance. I yelled back, “I am trying to stick a 50 pound 'gater into a 5 pound bag.” All I heard was silence. He knows after 30 years that it is best to just let me have fun with my hobbies and experiments no matter what kind of noises come out of me or what is raining down that floor grate. He did just that and I do know he would have helped if I had “specifically” asked. He does well with directions but I have to outline them for him. By that time I would have it done, sat on it and probably had time to replace it!
Anyway, by the time I got done I was actually sweating. Now THAT was hard work because it’s dumping freezing rain outside…I should NOT be sweating...no one should be sweating.

I finally got that thing wrestled in there and finally got it sewed up. It ain’t goin’ nowhere! Oh, I hope it looks nicer when it is tied to her beautiful bench.

I do hope my daughter loves it. If she doesn’t, I may have to take up “gator” wrestling instead because after this...I have the experience!