Bohemian style belt :: a tutorial

Have you noticed? This summer, it's all about belts. Belts are quick fixes to any outfit, be it chic or casual. This summer, they come in different styles, widths, textures, and colors... I particularly like tiny belts - they add elegance to any silhouette (read: suggest the presence of a waist, even if there ain't any...LOL).

I don't quite remember what exactly triggered this project - was it my new leather punch? - but I had it in mind for quite a while - I just hadn't found the time yet to work it out. But I did now! Hurray to all the cartons unpacked!!

As always, this is a very easy project, which requires very basic sewing skills only. Also, very little is needed. Except for a free hour or so you'll need:

- an old leather belt, or a cheap new one
- fabric scraps, ribbon or bias tape,...
- a leather punch
- scissors
- big needle
- ruler and marker

Preparing the fabric:

From your fabric scraps, cut strips of different lengths. I cut mine about 1cm wide. No need to cut in bias - we like the frayed look on this project! I didn't measure the exact length the strips totaled up to, but my guess is you'll need about three times the length of your belt. If you're not sure, cut as you go.

Preparing the belt:

1. Determine how far apart you want the holes. I used 1cm intervals. Starting from the buckle, with a felt tip, make a mark every centimeter, about 0.5cm from the side. Do this all the way around the belt.

2. On your leather punch, determine which size of holes you want (use a piece of scrap leather or card board to test the sizes, before you start on the belt - the holes need to be big enough to fit the fabric strips through). Now, punch your way around the belt. This is the most and only labor intensive part of this craft, I promise!

Assembling:

1. Thread a big needle with the first fabric strip, tie a knot at the other end. Sew your way around the belt with a whip stitch through the holes. Change fabric strips as you go and to your liking. Don't worry about the lose ends - we will take care of those later - just start with a new strip in the next hole as you change.

2. Weave in the loose ends at the back of the belt, by slipping the needle under a couple of stitches. Cut off what's left. Repeat for every loose end and ...

Done!!
A bohemian style leather belt to give that white shirt and jeans outfit a little color boost!



Notes:

- If you don't have a leather punch, you can find them at most hardware stores, where they'll likely be cheaper than at specialty stores or craft stores.
- Instead of using fabric strips, one could also use different strands of embroidery floss of several colors combined together, leather shoe laces, raffia, ...
- I combined different types of fabric, but of course you could limit yourself to the use of a single color - in that case just cut your strips as long as possible.

Please note, this tutorial is intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form. Thanks for understanding!

If you made something using a tutorial found on this blog or if you got inspired by something you found here, make sure to post your pictures here.

A new prototype

Don't you remember those little coin purses worn around the neck, back in the seventies I guess it was. Everyone in class had one of those. We wore them on school field trips with the coin which mom gave us in the morning to buy a drink or a little souvenir with, safely tucked inside, or as an accessory on other days on top of one of those tight turtle necks and with flared jeans and clogs underneath, or with a smocked dress. They disappeared, probably because they weren't that safe after all but I still remember mine. I got it when on vacation in Spain. Our first time in the South. It'd been on my wish list for a while and I wouldn't leave Spain without getting one of those! I no longer have it but I remember exactly the way it looked.

Anyway, as I wanted to experiment with rivets and snap closures I decided to make one of those coin purses. My choice of leather wasn't ideal as it was slightly too heavy for my paper punch - so maybe it is my tool kit which isn't adequate? I might want to invest in one of those real leather punches, for one thing.
I suffered quite a bit before I had the snaps and rivets into place and then my sewing machine refused so I had to work it manually to get the needle through the leather - but I like the result and so do my girls...

Little by little I'm adding to my leather working skills. Hopefully it will get me far enough to, one day, tackle that beautiful skin I got a while ago... I'd love to make a purse or tote of some sort.
We'll see - let's not rush into things!

Valentine's Day :: DIY embroidered tape and a box

I love Japanese masking tape - I have a small collection of tape in different colors and patterns. The only problem I have with Japanese tape is that it doesn't stick. At first I blamed it on the paper I was using, but I've tried it on several types of paper and every single time the tape was undone by the time I was to give my present. It doesn't exactly leave a good impression at the receiving end - Oh, I'm sorry but I started unwrapping it already for you...hope you don't mind - It makes you look like a toddler at a birthday party!

Now, as you may know, I've been experimenting with Vliesofix lately and fabric, embroidered or not, on paper. Contrary to masking tape, it sticks!  And while I was thinking of a way to wrap my little notebooks for sending them off, I thought why not use the very same technique for wrapping - a piece of embroidered fabric to stay within the theme and to add a little accent to envelopes or to adorn small gift boxes with and wrapping paper. (Mind the idea of fabric tape isn't new. Check out Annekata's tutorial, for instance, which you can find here and la.daridari's fabric tape which you'll find here) So, I embroidered little bits and pieces in the same fashion as the little note books, and it worked out really nicely, if I may say so. I was also lucky to find (in my own closet of all places!) narrow double sided tape from a big tape brand , which made the task even easier.  I've tried it a couple of times now and it works like a charm - the only thing that didn't make it was the button I attached onto an envelope sent across the Atlantic - which was risky, I know. The button didn't survive, but the rest did, as you can see here!

If you want to give this a try, this is what you'll need:

- fabric scraps
- embroidery floss and a needle
- sewing scissors
- scraps of Vliesofix
- double sided tape
- gift boxes, wrapping paper, tissue paper, envelopes, greeting cards...
- buttons


General instructions:

- embroider the little scraps of fabric
- cut a piece of Vliesofix or double sided tape to size and stick it to the back of the fabric strip
- next, stick it onto envelope, wrapping paper, greeting card, gift box, ...

For the box:
- The little box  in the picture is a single chocolate box turned inside out - carefully undo the glued side of the box, turn inside out, and glue the side closed again.
- sew a button onto a strip of fabric
- put tape onto the back of the strip, leaving the button part of the strip, tape-free!
- stick strip to the top of the flap of the box - the button part is loose
- with a needle make a hole centered in the middle of the front of the box and pull through a piece of thread (make sure to tie a knot!)
- close the lid of the box and next twist the thread around the button


A couple of side notes:

1. When to use Vliesofix and when tape?:  use Vliesofix for sticking fabric onto an envelope or greeting card - use tape wherever you would use regular tape (on wrapping paper, gift boxes, etc.).
2. Why use Vliesofix and not glue?  Though glue might also work, I believe you get better results with Vliesofix - it's much neater to work with for one thing (no sticky fingers), dries instantly and doesn't leak through the fabric, blotting it or making it stiff.
3. Make enough of these at once and keep them in a little box, ready for immediate use.

Have fun creating!

Please note, these tutorials are intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form without permission. Thanks for understanding!

If you made something using a tutorial found on this blog or if you got inspired by something you found here, make sure to post your pictures here.

The first tutorial of 2011!

The mild temperatures of the last couple of days got me all energized and in an early Spring mood. This was  especially true at the beginning of the week when we had a lovely sun on top. I have been cleaning out closets, laundering sheets and blankets, doing lots of ironing, ... and a  couple of  early Spring crafts, one of which even resulted in this tutorial - the first one of  2011!

So, yesterday when my hands were itching to make something I came up with this very simple, whimsical fabric sausage necklace. I got the idea for this necklace while shopping at COS, one of my new favorite stores - and as it turns out this store might become a favorite of K. too. He found himself a couple of really nice things there last week, but this is totally besides today's topic. The necklaces I saw were at the kids' section and simply lovely - but for kids, in size, I mean. In the woman's section they had similar ones made out of leather - very stylish, very simple, simply  l o v e l y!

I decided to give the fabric ones a try. I'll be honest - it takes a bit of patience to get the wool (or poly-fiber fill) down the tube but I think it is totally worth the effort. You won't need a lot of fabric, this is yet another craft you could use fabric scraps for. Since I have something with gingham lately, I combined two different gingham fabrics, a Japanese flower print and  some stripes. You can go totally crazy combining different colors and prints, or keep it really simple and use only one color. Instead of knotting in between "beads", I combined knots and colorful ribbon ties. You might also use embroidery floss in between beads.


You'll need:

- a couple of fabric strips of different length but same width - I used 4cm wide strips - enough to total (at least) 1m50
- matching thread, sewing machine
- chopstick
- wool roving or fiber fill ( I recommend using wool roving here as it's easier to manipulate down the tube and you'll probably need less to form a firm bead - trust me, I've tried both!)
- optional: narrow ribbon, embroidery floss




Instructions:

1. Sew fabric strips together to make one long strip (pic.2).
2. Attach a safety pin near top on the right side of the fabric - you'll need it for turning the fabric (pic.3).
3. Fold strip in half lengthwise and sew side-seam ( the safety pin will be on the inside), leaving an opening at the bottom  (pic.4).
Note: depending on the length and width you chose you may find it easier to leave an additional opening somewhere halfway the sideseam - this will save you time while stuffing the fabric tube.
4. Turn the tube you obtained inside out by pushing the safety pin all the way down the fabric tube (pic.6). Shape the tube.
5. Using small pieces of wool roving at a time, make the beads, by pushing the filling through the tube with a chopstick (No need to form the beads before you stuff them inside - the chopstick will do that for you). Tie a knot  before and after each bead or use ribbon, embroidery floss to the same effect (pic.8).
6. Close the remaining opening(s) with a whip stitch. Shape and pull and finally tie a knot - Done!

Isn't it lovely!? Pair it up with a simple T-shirt, tank top (I'm thinking Summer here) or a simple white shirt...

Please note, this tutorial is intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form.  Thanks for understanding!

If you made something using a tutorial found on this blog or if you got inspired by something you found here, make sure to post your pictures here.

DIY Gift Ideas # 4 :: Whimsical Pillows...

The week hasn't exactly been going as planned but things seem to have calmed down now. I hope.  I didn't forget about the promise I made earlier this week - the only problem was finding half an hour to get my act together (and half an hour of good light as well). And I did today!

So, here's our most fantastic pillow ever! My girls' very favorite (and mine as well) totally whimsical triangular shaped pillow (this is actually the simpler version of a pillow I made a little while back but which didn't make it to the blog yet, somehow). It's absolutely fun to make and more importantly, it's absolutely easy to make. A perfect beginner's sewing craft. As a matter of fact we each made one. Little H. made the blue with mountain scenery one, big girl M. made the flowered one and I did the striped one. All three fabrics are from IKEA. The felt balls I still had here at home (no, Michelle, we didn't make them, though given all the roving I still have I might give it a try!). So, if you're still looking for a fun handmade present or for something to keep the kids busy during the holidays, keep on reading! All it takes is three seams and some stuffing!

What you'll need: 


- fabric: a 32cm x  64cm piece of heavy cotton, denim, canvas,... (seam allowance included)
- 4 felt beads in assorting colors - pompoms would be nice too, by the way!
- poly-fiber fill to stuff the pillow
- sewing machine
- needle and thread
- scissors

Note: you can make the bigger or smaller, just make sure that the long side of the rectangle is twice the short side in length.



Instructions:

1. Fold the rectangle in half, right sides facing. Close two of the three open sides using a 1cm seam allowance and clip the corner as shown in picture 2.
2. Open up the remaining side and fold as shown in picture 3., i.e. fold the pillow cover such that the seam from step 2, ends up exactly in the middle of the remaining open side (so you will have 15cm of fabric on either side of the seam from step2). Pin and close that side, leaving an opening big enough for turning and stuffing (picture 4.).
3. Turn the cover inside out and shape (corners!). You'll get something that looks as shown in picture 5.
4. Stuff your pillow with the fiber fill to your liking, making sure the stuffing gets well distributed (picture 6).
5. Close the gap with a couple of stitches (picture 7).
6. Sew on the felt beads, one at every tip of the pillow (picture 8). And that's all there is to it (picture 9)!

Make sure to make enough of these for a pillow fight!!
 

Please note, this tutorial is intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form.  Thanks for understanding!

If you made something using a tutorial found on this blog or if you got inspired by something you found here, make sure to post your pictures here.

Advent Calendar :: Oh Yes!

Ok, I'm a procrastinator - you knew that already. But I guess that little bit of pressure is what I need to be inventive. You see, yesterday morning, December 1st, we didn't have an advent calendar yet, though the kids had reminded me several times over the last couple of weeks. And yesterday late afternoon, still on December 1st,  I was ready to present this calendar to my girls. And they loved it!

It's one of those projects again that just happened while I was going. When I started all I knew was that I had to make 50 (well 48 actually) bags somehow, big enough to contain a chocolate coin.  The origami paper I intended to use for this purpose was simply too bright (really it hurt our eyes when we opened the package - the prospect of having to actually look at it for nearly a month made us change our mind). I wanted bags, but I wanted them quickly. So then I came up with this idea: making bags from a long sheet of parchment paper folded in two. With pencil,  I traced a raster of 4 columns by 12 rows. With the sewing machine I first sewed the columns (I sewed down on either side of the pencil line), then cut the paper along the traced line, to obtain 4 long strips. Next, I started inserting coins and as I went, after each coin, I stitched the pocket closed along the horizontal lines  I drew in the first step. It was actually fun doing and overall it didn't take that long. I didn't bother about cutting off threads, just left them on hanging. With stamps I printed on the dates. The only thing left was finding a way to hang the strips - and even that didn't take long. I just took another one of those wire coat hangers (I'm running out of them) and sewed the strips onto the hanger,. Now both girls have their advent calendar strips  hanging sisterly next to each other, and every night after dinner, they'll cut off the corresponding  pocket containing their coin.

Et voilà!! Fast, cheap and easy!!

Say it with flowers... and berries

a sequel to my earlier fabric flower post...

I was getting the glass to be brought to the glass container ready when I came across another of those clear glass juice bottles. I put it aside as it was exactly what I needed for another fabric flower project I 'd been thinking about. So on Friday afternoon, when I was done with all my chores I started on this fabric bottle cover. (I seem to have a penchant for covers on anything lately) Initially I planned on using a different type of fabric but I could immediately tell from the way the fabric draped around the bottle that it wouldn't work out the way I wanted, so I went looking for another type of fabric instead. In the back of a closet, I found some long forgotten sheer cotton fabric I once bought to make blinds for the kitchen windows of a house we no longer live in (no need to add I never made those blinds, I guess). I cut off about 30cm, enough to cover the bottle and make flowers from strips. Then, I simply draped the fabric in a single layer around the bottle and hand stitched the seam, with the bottle still in it for a perfect fit and gathering the fabric here and there to get a ruffled look. With the excess fabric near the top I made a first rose. Next I ripped strips from whatever was left to make the other flowers and I sewed them right onto the bottle cover (I didn't even bother to take the bottle out).

Making the bottle cover took me way less time than finding the right berries. I knew exactly which ones I wanted but I had the hardest time finding them. As a matter of fact I bought two large branches of them and cut of two twigs for the picture. The two big branches are now sitting in big vase on a drawer in our living room and I love it. It gives that winter - Christmas feel ( the outdoor temperatures are flirting with zero degrees Celsius which certainly helps). I like to have flowers in the house, but with the heating on they simple don't last that long. So, I hope the berries will last a little longer than just a couple of days...

And as to the bottle - it would make a nice little present and definitely would add that little something to any dinner table, don't you think?

DIY Gift Ideas # 3 :: The year in scraps...

I briefly mentioned it here and also here, this little project of mine. I didn't feel like going out, but was dying to start on something new. Instead of running to the store for yet another piece of fabric, I started rummaging in my closet.
One of the first things I came across was the bag where I keep my fabric scraps. It's a huge bag, by now. As soon as I pulled it out I knew what I wanted to get started on. A quilted table runner! I have deep admiration for all those quilters out there. The real ones. The ones who make these huge blankets, meticulously, patiently, with no mistakes. I have been willing to make something quilted for the longest time, but I never started because I know that I won't succeed. You see, I'm not good at doing the same thing over and over again, I'm not good with repetition, at sticking to the book. Not when I'm sewing. I get distracted too easily for making these huge patterned blankets. I need immediate gratification, too. Given that and the fact that I had a bag full of scraps, of different sizes, I decided to go for some freestyle instead. And I had fun at it! All afternoon I kept on cutting pieces in smaller pieces, combining them just the way I felt, sewing them together, pressing the seams, cutting some more, adding... until I ended up with this. This table runner is my year in scraps...



It's a bit crooked, I know, but that's part of the free style (lol) and I like it, to the extent that the prospect of tomato sauce being spilled on it made me change my mind! I won't use this as a table runner. I don't know what I'll be using it for instead - maybe I'll just hang it somewhere, until I grow tired of it and use it as a table runner then.

The hardest part, I found to be the quilting itself. I had to start over a couple of times, before getting it 'right' (I know: nothing about this piece of work is 'right'), not satisfied with the chosen pattern. Eventually, I settled for some sort of spirals. Very free style, very me. And that's the interesting part, actually. Those lines add an extra dimension to the piece. Patches, though patched together with other patches to form an new entity, get their own expression, their individuality again, through the lines of the stitches. A revelation to me! To my surprise, I even liked hand stitching the binding at the front. I never thought I would find this a relaxing process.



So, what does this have to do with the holidays? Nothing much, really. Except that making this just made me realize that you can get a long way with just some pieces of scraps. Combine them, cut them and make something personal - be it a table runner, place mats, coasters, a pillow, a throw... make something YOU - give something YOU...

Wishing you a happy Thursday/ Turkey Day!

xo, P.


PS: One thing I might do before hanging it, is washing it to get some shrinkage, which I really like in quilts (the batting is 100% cotton). I'm just worried about the colors bleeding. Any suggestions there?

DIY Gift Ideas #2 :: Say it with (fabric) flowers...

When I saw these fabric flowers in the latest issue of Marie-Claire Idées, I couldn't put down my magazine fast enough to get started. I made a whole bunch of them the same evening and while I was doing so I was thinking of the many different ways I could use them. In the original project they were used to decorate a seat cover.

The flowers are really easy to make. All you do is roll and twist a fabric strip to form a flower and then secure with a couple of stitches. Instead of cutting my fabric strip I ripped it, which gives a nice frayed effect. You can find many different ways to fold flowers online. Just google "fabric roses" and you'll end up with an extensive list. This tutorial is pretty close to the way I did it. Many people use glue or secure the flower with a couple of stitches as they go. I didn't do so, but finished folding my flower first, then put a couple of pins through the back to secure, and finally sewed the "petals" into place with a couple of stitches on the back, making sure to go through all layers. You probably won't be able to go through all layers at once - just work your way around the rosebud making several small stitches. One flower takes approximately 10-15 minutes to make depending on its size. I made mine while watching, or should I say listening, TV and found it very relaxing.



Once you have finished a bunch you can use them to decorate well basically anything. Here are a couple of examples. Of course I had to make a tote. It's a basic tote, in natural linen,  finished with a French seam, and with leather handles. As I liked the selvedges of the fabric - it has the same pale aqua green in it as the flowers -  I didn't even bother to finish the hem. With no lining, no hems and no fabric handles to sew, this bag is a real quick one! But I love the way it turned out - the rough look of  the linen and the frayed edges of the flowers combine really well, I believe. 



And if you thought I ran out of ideas for wire coat hanger make overs... here's just another one in my collection. This one's entirely hand sewn, as I was too lazy to pull out my machine. Fun to make and another fast DIY gift.



Little H. and I also made a cute little purse together, lined with a liberty like printed fabric. She took care of the side seams of both linen and lining and sewed on the snap closure. The result is one to be proud of, little Elf! Well done!

The possibilities for these little flowers are endless. I have a couple more in mind - now I just need to find the time to work on them.

In the mean time, here are some useful links to tutorials if you'd like to make any of the above:

- Easy tote bag for beginners
- Denim tote (you could use this bag and sew on the handles the traditional way)
- drawstring bag
- Fabric coat hanger cover 
- Fabric flowers found at  Susie Harris' blog here

Right now...

... I can't get enough of making these...
To be continued...

Wishing you a happy and relaxing weekend!

xo, P.

DIY Gift Ideas # 1:: a polar fleece poncho

November is almost halfway through. The first Christmas decorations are showing up in town, and I try not to see them. Because I'm a procrastinator and it reminds me of all  things still to be done. And because, somehow, the whole holiday craze makes me feel uncomfortable - more and more - every year. "Do we really need to spend that much to get through the holidays and to make everyone happy?" is the question that comes to my mind when I see all this extravaganza. This DIY Gift Ideas series is an attempt to do things a little differently this year - and at low cost. All it takes is a tiny bit of creativity and a little bit of time. I truly hope to inspire at least some of you to craft along!

Ok, I promised I would kick off this series with last weekend's project. It's finished - I like it, but I'm waiting for better light and more time to take a couple of pictures.

So, why don't I get you started with a polar fleece poncho instead! I made this poncho a while ago after seeing a girl wearing a more luxury - hooded - version of it. The weather has gotten too cold and wet here to wear it outside, but little H. likes to cuddle up in it here at home and wears it as that little layer extra in the mornings and evenings. Just like the other poncho's, it is super easy to make. With only a couple of seams and the use of an easy to work with material like polar fleece, this project is accessible to even the most inexperienced sewer - a kid literally could make this. So, maybe this might be a good idea to keep your child busy on a rainy day as well.
About the fringe: I used masking tape to set outlines for cutting - if you want to perfect this you could even make marks on the tape to space them out evenly. I didn't go through the hassle of doing this, I didn't even bother to work myself all the way around with the scissors - I simply folded the poncho such that front and back were perfectly aligned on top of each other and I cut through both layers at once.

What you'll need

- polar fleece: it usually comes in 1.50m width, so half a meter would do for a poncho for an 8-10 year (adjust for bigger sizes)
- matching thread
- masking tape
- good sewing scissors
- sewing machine (note: depending on the machine being used, it might be useful to test the machine on a little swatch first to see how it's behaving in terms of tension and needle.)



Step-by-step instructions

1. Pattern: make a paper pattern of a 63cm x 44cm rectangle. This includes seam allowances. This should fit an 8 – 11 year old. You can adjust the dimensions accordingly for bigger sizes (to check hold the rectangle across your body, the short end being one of the shoulder seams). Make sure to have a difference of at least 18-20cm between the width and length of the rectangle as this will determine the size of the opening of the poncho for the head.
2. Cutting: fold your fabric in two, pin the pattern to both layers of fabric. Next cut your fabric. You obtain two identical rectangles.
3. Assembling: (see also Fig. 1) With the right sides of the fabric facing each other, pin the short side of one rectangle to the longer side of the other. Sew with sewing machine. Do the same with the other two ends. In the middle you’ll have the opening to put your head through.
4. Hemming the collar: With the right side of the poncho facing you, turn  the top 1.5cm of the opening inward and do this all the way around. Pin while you’re going, to secure. Next, topstitch on the machine.
5. Cutting the fringe: place your poncho in front of you such that front and back are perfectly aligned on top of each other. That way, you’ll be able to cut through both layers of fabric. Now, using some masking tape, define the size of the fringe you want (6cm in the poncho shown). Start with an incision at the center tip, and than gradually shift over the next couple of incisions until it becomes perpendicularly upon the tape. Then continue to cut parallel on both sides, left and right from the center tip.
6. Optional: you can further decorate the poncho, using ribbons, buttons, appliqué, sequins, embroidery… Use your imagination!

 Please note, this tutorial is intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form without permission. Thanks for understanding!

Did you make something using a tutorial found on this blog or did you get inspired by something you found here? Then make sure to post your pictures here!

A new month, a new bag...

It's not that I haven't got any - it's just that I like making them. Shopping totes, grocery bags, whatever bags, ... So, here's a new one. Denim, combined with linen for the outside and muslin for the inside. No leather this time but sturdy woven cotton straps. While in Belgium last week I went to my favorite store in Leuven, Hexagoon, and I stocked up on wide twill tape of different kinds. I haven't had the time yet to make pictures, but I certainly will. I got linen tape, wool tape and cotton. I'm not sure I bought enough though, as ideas keep popping up. I think you'll see lots of tape showing up in my projects as of now...

I whipped this bag together on Monday afternoon. It was an idea I had spinning around in my head for a while now. I like it and so do my girls! Our new favorite - the perfect bag to take the lunch boxes to school with in the morning!

DIY :: Last minute Halloween fix - a witch's cloak

The Toussaint vacation has started here and as always on the last school day before the break, they celebrated Halloween at little H's school. For weeks she'd been debating about what to wear and then on Thursday she finally made a decision. She wanted to be a witch. Only problem: her witch hat was nowhere to be found! On Thursday afternoon, 5:00 p.m., I promised I would fix her something for the next day and off I ran to the mercerie around the corner. Their selection of fabric is limited but they had black lining - just what I needed for a quick fix, last minute witch's cloak! 45 minutes later, I had a happy little witch running around the house. A black shirt and skirt and matching tights and she was all set! I also promised her I would put on some face painting in the morning, so she would look like a real witch.
She was too excited to sleep and woke up in the middle of the night a couple of times. In the morning, too excited for being tired, she got dressed in no time, even thought of brushing her teeth without me having to remind her, and had a final look at the wrinkles and witch's warts I drew on her face. She looked like a real witch, she said approvingly.
As we walked to school she kept on rattling about how great this day would be and about all the candy they would get and what everybody else would be wearing. Right before we reached school, she took off her winter coat, I messed up her hair a bit with my fingers so it would look a bit more witch like, we adjusted her cape and off she went... as happy as could be, my little witch...!
Though they do this every year at school, and you'd expect I got used to it by now, it gets me all sentimental over and over again. Seeing that little girl, who still likes to dress up, her sérieux when doing so, disappear in the crowd, swallowed by the other monsters, witch's, sons and daughters of Frankenstein, gave me a warm feeling inside.
Her Halloween day at school went really well - she got plenty of candy, even got some for her sister, and at night, that little witch of mine, fell asleep on my lap before we could even take care of the wrinkles and warts still on her little face...



If you are as desperate as we were last Thursday about finding a real witch's outfit, below there's a rough sketch of how you could make a witch's cloak in no time. I hope you don't mind my rather poor drawing skills. Since I had to rush it a little bit, there was no time for the usual step-by-step pictures ...

I'm wishing you all a happy Halloween!

100% easy single seam poncho :: a tutorial

 

In case you were wondering, yes, that's me in those pictures. I had an extremely kind, patient and talented photographer - my big girl M.!

With both of my girls having a poncho now (well almost - I'm about to finish little H's one) I couldn't stay behind, right? I've always had something with "wraps". I have several and especially like them at this time of the year. They're incredibly cozy, but not always handy, I admit - they tend to unwrap easily and get in the way. Not so with a poncho, I figured. 
Now, on several occasions I've seen women wearing this kind of poncho here which I really liked -  a very simple, minimalistic yet elegant interpretation of the classic poncho, with only one seam apparently. With three meters of knit fabric, I thought, I might as well give it a try. And I'm glad I did!
Barely a couple of days old,  it's already become a favorite! I wear it on top of a light sweater or long sleeved shirt,  with jeans and boots.  And it looks great, I must say.  Casual-chic. The perfect outfit for a nice autumn day (well, any day really).  Since I used a not too heavy knit fabric, there's a nice natural drape to it as well.

As it's really super easy to make I decided I wanted to share this project. If it weren't for the step-by-step photos I probably would have finished it in under half an hour!  Also, while making the poncho I figured out a new and very satisfactory way of finishing corners.  I'm probably reinventing the wheel here - if so, please, forgive me - but it worked out really nicely, so I definitely will use that technique again!

Ready to get started?


Instructions for an 100% easy single seam poncho:


What you'll need:


- 78cm of knitted fabric (150cm wide) or any other fabric with a nice drape
- matching thread
- pins and sewing needle
- sewing machine equipped with a ballpoint needle when using knit fabric
- iron

1. Fold your fabric as shown in the above diagram. 
2. Shoulder seam: Pin one of the open sides together as shown in the diagram, leaving a 30cm opening to start from the fabric fold, for the neck. Sew on the machine.
3. Corners and hem: At the wrong side of the fabric, fold in the corner as shown in pic. 4, so you get the acd triangle and use a pin to secure. Next, fold the end ab such that  a and d coincide, and do the same with the end bc to let c coincide with d as shown in pic 5-6. Secure with pins. You'll get a corner which looks as shown in pic 6. Continue to pin the hem all the way around. Next, sew on the machine. The two corners will look as shown in pic 8. With needle and thread close the little opening between b and acd, using a whip stitch (pic 9). The finished corners now should look as in pic 10 (wrong side of the poncho) and 11 (right side of the poncho).
4. Neck line: fold in the fabric at the neck line, pin with needles to secure and top stitch on the sewing machine (pic 12).
5. Press all seams flat and your poncho's ready to wear!

That's really all there is to this very simple poncho!

I'm planning on making a couple more of these when I come across the right fabric. One of the things I'd like to try is to make one in a light weight fabric, gauze cotton, or maybe silk, for summer.
I think that actually might look nice on top of a pair of jeans and a tank top, don't you think... ? To be continued, I'm sure...

And now I have to find something to make with the remaining 2m22 of fabric left...

Please note, this tutorial is intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form.  Thanks for understanding!

If you made something using a tutorial found on this blog or if you got inspired by something you found here, make sure to post your pictures here.

100% laine

On my last trip to the Marché Saint-Pierre here in Paris I found some really nice knitted fabric, heathered gray/beige, 100% wool (it still smells like sheep!), at the ridiculous price of 12 euros for 3 meter (a little less than 17 USD for 3 1/3 yard). It's been sitting in my closet waiting for me to find the right use for it and... time. And today I did!
So, stay tuned as I will show you some pictures of what I made and there might be a short how-to coming up later this week as well...

The week in a jar

This is the jar I keep within reach while sewing. All loose ends and bits and pieces of fabric end up in the jar. The bigger pieces go in a separate scrap bag, which is getting way too big, by the way.
I like my little jar. It's a nice way of keeping track of projects - a time line in a jar. A sequence of projects.



So, yes, I've been busy sewing again. Several projects at the same time, as a matter of fact. Maybe they'll end up on the blog one day, maybe not.
I still have to see about that...

Have a great weekend!


xo, P.

Time for a new tutorial...

I found some spare time to finally write down the tutorial I promised last week. The bag has been used extensively lately, and I must say it's one of my favorites (didn't I say that of every single one of my bags?).

 It's sturdy, carries quite a bit and yet it still looks elegant, if I may say so myself. And it's so simple to make. Ready?!


Here is what you need:
- enough denim, canvas, or any other heavy-weight fabric you have at hand to cut two 54cm x 52cm pieces from - the given dimensions include seam allowances for side seams and bottom seam (note: since I wanted to make use of the denim's nice selvedge (Yes, Cindy, you got that right - that was of course on purpose!!), I cut two separate pieces.  You could of course take one long strand and fold the fabric in half - do not forget to adjust for the seam allowances in that case and to add some at the top as well.
- two 65cm x 6cm straps of leather
- an awl
- heavy duty thread and a ditto needle
- scissors
- large paper clips
- sewing machine
- iron



Instructions

1. Cut the fabric as shown in picture 2.
2. Bottom and side seams using the half French seam: on the sewing machine, sew the bottom seam closed on the right (!) side of the fabric, taking into account a 2cm (3/4'') seam allowance(picture 3).
Cut away half of the seam allowance on one of the pieces as shown in picture 4. Press the seam open. Fold the longer seam allowance over the shorter, tucking inside the shorter end and secure with pins (picture 5.). Now, sew into place ( picture 6). Repeat with both of the side seams.

3. Boxed corners using a French seam: on the right side (!) of the bag,  fold the bag such that bottom seam and side seam align perfectly on top of each other. Pin and next sew together (on the right side!) (picture 7.). Press. Next turn the bag inside out, fold and tuck the first seam inside layers. Sew on machine making sure to use a slightly bigger seam allowance than in the previous step. The result should look as show in picture 9.

Note: for a good description of the different types of French seams and felled seams, check out Annekata's tutorial here.

4. Handles: I got the idea for the handles from the Japanese sewing book Making Leather Bags Lesson 1,2 by Umami Yoshimi Ezura - a gem really, that I recommend to anyone loving nice, simple and yet elegant bags.
At both ends of each strip of leather, make little wholes using an awl (picture 11), making sure the distance between wholes is equal and left and right on each side match perfectly. These wholes will help you sewing the handles to the bag more easily. If your leather is thin enough you could omit this step. Next, mark on your fabric where the handles should come (picture 12). Now, pinch your leather strip between the fabric, folding the leather strip in two (I ironed the fold of the leather handles - before you do this try on a little piece first to see how your leather responds to heat). Adjust such that the previously made wholes coincide perfectly. Secure with a large paper clip (picture 13). Sew into place with a heavy-duty needle and some heavy duty thread, using small stitches and going through the earlier made wholes. (I did every stitch twice to make sure the handles are tightly sewn to the bag.). And done!

As usually, if you have questions about this project just let me know! I'd be happy to help. Also, if you made something using a tutorial found on this blog or if you got inspired by something you found here, make sure to post your pictures here.

Good luck!

As with all tutorials found on this blog, please note this tutorial is intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form without permission. Thanks for understanding!

Back to school and a new bag

Our summer vacation has come to an end. It was great. It was fun. I was in good company all summer.
But tomorrow part of my good company is going back to school. I'm sure that will be great and fun too. They're so ready to see their friends, to make new ones and to finally meet their new teachers.
We've been busy preparing and labeling all the school supplies for the last couple of days.
The girls got new back packs and I... a new sturdy denim shopping bag for the occasion!

Don't you like those handles?! I got the idea from a bag in Making Leather Bags Lesson 1,2 by Umami Yoshimi Ezura, a Japanese craft book I bought over summer and which I found here (thanks, Michelle, for those links!). If you like stylish, simple and minimalistic bags like me, this is a must have book!

This was my first craft in weeks, and it won't be the last as I have plenty of denim and leather left!

'Wishing everyone a happy September!

Cheers,

Pascale

Sewing with kids :: the easy tote bag revisited

It has been a creative summer, somehow. We haven't been home much, but when we were, we spent our time creatively. The girls rediscovered their sewing machine. This nice tote which M. made for one of her friends is only one of the results - it was a special request, actually, from her friend who loved the first bag so much she asked M. to make her one too. Doesn't it look fantastic?! The only difference with the first bag is that this one has only one strap. For the full tutorial click here. To finish it off I made her her own label with some twill tape and stamps.

A nice back-to-school surprise for one lucky friend if you ask me...

And yet another clothes hanger tutorial...

You might start wondering if all is well with me...
Another clothes hanger tutorial?! Really!?
What's so interesting about a clothes hanger, you'd want to decorate it anyways?


I know, I know! Just one more to add to the list and then I'll stop, I promise... (hmm - I'm no so sure about the last part...)
But to be honest - I like these wire clothes hangers. Because of what they are, because of their simplicity, the bareness, the fact they're reduced to the essential. And yet they have so much potential. To hold clothes for one thing. But it's also a perfect frame to work around and to play with.

A couple of nights ago, my hands were itching - I felt the need for something creative but something slow (it'd been an eventful day - I'll spare you the details, but eventful it was). How about some embroidery with that hand dyed wool floss I got myself, I thought. I've been fascinated by Sachiko embroidery lately (for a nice tutorial, check out this post at the Purl Bee). I like the contrast between the little stitches and the fabric, the combination of simple straight lines into stunning patterns. I just wanted to give it a try. The clothes hanger cover that I had still in the back of my head seemed perfectly adequate for that matter.

You've probably seen these clothes hanger covers before. They are easy to make and I think they are useful for hanging slippery shirts or dresses. So, that's what I have for you today. Turns out that I'm not the kind of person for large symmetric pattern embroidery, so my Sachiko embroidery experiment soon became an exercise in free style embroidery. But it still was fun and definitely asks for more.

What you'll need:

- wire coat hanger
- piece of cotton or linen
- embroidery floss + needle
- sewing machine
- iron
- pins, scissors, ...


Steps:

1. Trace your clothes hanger on a piece of paper and cut out (pic. 1.).
2. Transfer pattern to double folded fabric and cut fabric taking into account a 1-1.5 cm seam allowance (pic. 2-3).
3. Pin the bottom hem of both pieces (pic. 4.) and sew on sewing machine(pic. 5).
4. Pin the two pieces together and sew on your machine leaving an opening at the top (pic. 6-7). Make small cuts at the rounded parts, perpendicularly to the seam (pic. 8). Turn and press with iron (pic. 9)
5. Using some embroidery floss decorate the cover. Add a little button, if you like. And done.



You could of course decorate the cover in many different ways, embroider or applique names on it, have your kids draw on them with fabric markers or paint with fabric paint, tie dye, ... Or why not transfer one of your kid's drawings onto the cover and (have them) embroider the outlines. This could make a nice and easy, personalized gift for the holidays (holidays!? already?)...

I mentioned the new Flickr pool already a couple of times. If you made something with the help of a // Between the lines // tutorial or got inspired by something you found on this blog, don't be shy, and show us what you made! Check out this luxury version, for instance, of the clothes hanger covered with fabric strips, made by Cindy.Aren't these lovely/! And I think the hangers covered with Japanese masking tape are really clever! Thanks for adding these, girls!