inspiration

Giant crazy Christmas pincushion

Do you remember my Merry Christmas garland project?
Well I have many small  pieces left so decided make a funny holiday pincushion.
Crazy patchwork seemed mostly suitable technique for small pieces. I started sewing and soon I have big enough polygon. Trimmed the corner to have a round shape, thread a needle and with running stitch sew the end like making yo-yo.

 Tighten a little and begun filling with small pieces, left-overs and thread tails I had cut in process of sewing and collected in a small bag near my sewing machine. At the end I have tighten firmly, made a knot and made some stitches.

Cut a circle from fabric and fold this way.

 Stitched with hide stitch at the bottom.

 The pincushion is ready. Enjoy it!

Navy flags for decoration

My bathroom is sea styled so I decide to add more sea elements except traditional shells, boats, ropes, fishes etc.
Having good sewing skills there is no doubt what I have thought out.
Flags! That is the idea. Every ship puts flags when travel and when come into the harbour.

The color of course was chosen not real, they had to match my bathroom' design. White, orange and blue.
I drew some variation, decide what the size should be and began.

First I cut two pieces an sew right side together.

Folded in half and stitched according to the paper pattern leaving a half inch tunnel up for a string.

I used invisible thread, because couldn't decide which color is better  - white, orange or blue:)

 

Trimmed a quarter inch from the stitch and the first flag is ready.

 Then sew others the same way. The front sides are different patterns, the back sides are plain fabric.
At the end stringed together all flags and hang on my blue painted wall. Here there are.

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Merry Christmas Garland paper pieced technique

 I fell in love with paper piecing. After designing alphabet I discovered how many possibilities there are with combining letters.
Last my amusement was creating a garland  Merry Christmas! I used many different pieces from projects, made throughout the years.
This holy day has a special place in my life. Some years earlier we couldn't celebrate it. Now we have almost everything - presents, carols, Santa Claus.
After sewing the letters I have appliqued each of them on a felt square and at the end joined all squares by golden ribbon.
It looks great!

Tibetan drawstring pouch tutorial

I was kindly asked by an Etsy member elnorac to add a tutorial or direction for sewing this pouch. 

 Soon will be Christmas so I decided to make a present to all my reader. I have chosen red and green patterns for this tutorial. Hoping you like it!
In 30 minutes sewing  you will have a drawstring like this :)
The size is 4,5 inches width 4 inches height.

You need 2 almost half circle 5 inches x 4 inches and 2 rectangles 5 inches x 2,5 inches.

1. Sew each rectangle with half circle right side together.

2. Iron both parts.

3. Sew right side together and zig-zag stitch.

4.  Hem the end and stitch by hand.

5. Turn over and the pouch is ready to put the drawstrings.
 Here is the "Magic". Look carefully how to begin.

6. Cut two strings 20 inches long.
From the side seam begin  running stitch around the bag first one and then another side.

 

Tie two ends by a knot.
7. Repeat the same action beginning from opposite side a quarter inch distance between stitches.

Drawing two ends will close the bags. At this step open it manually - put finger inside and open.

8. Now it is time for endings.
Cut 2 circles 2,5 inches diameter from one color .

Fold in a half, stitch with a pin and sew diagonal.

 

 NOTE WHERE THE KNOT IS!

 

Turn over and pull the string to look better. 

 If needed cut the ends with scissors.
Repeat with other end.
These strings will close the pouch.

9. Now we make the strings for opening.
Cut two strings 10 inches long. Fix the string at the side seam between two running stitches.

Make the ends equal and tie a knot.

10. Cut 2 circles 2,5 inches diameter from another color. Make the ending the same way.

The back side of the pouch.

 Enjoy the magic! Yo can see how it "works" here.