The Sewing Bee

Stitch and b*tch Love

JustPlainJane — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:59:36 -0800

Just wanted to post a pic of the little swatch I knitted. It isn't much, but it's more than I ever imagine possible. I wanted to say Thank you !! To Sasha, the Stitch & b*tch book rocks, and explains things so easily. It is now on my Christmas list, since I'll have to return my copy to the library soon I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn.

What I'm Working On Right Now

JustPlainJane — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:54:33 -0800

This is what I'm working on right now, to put in my son's room. If anybody is interested in the pattern, let me know and I'll post it.
should look like this once donethis is another w/my Daughter's name

Cookie Cutter Ornaments - For Any Holiday!

ALSW — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:09:58 -0800

From Sewing.Org

You can make any holiday celebration special by using selected cookie cutters to decorate with. Cookie cutters are non-denominational and come in any size and shape. A fun winter break project to share with your kids. You can decorate with left over bits of ribbon, small buttons, and small pieces of fabric or felt.

Cookie cutters provide a variety of shapes to be used as patterns for holiday ornaments. To make the patterns simply trace around the cookie cutters and add 1/4 inch (6 mm) seam allowances. Stitch the ornaments wrong sides together and leave the seams exposed for a homespun look.

Make the ornaments from cotton or cotton-blend fabrics. Add decorative details to the ornaments with fabric paints in fine-tip tubes. Hand-paint your own designs or follow the imprints of plastic or metal cookie cutters as a guide for painting the details. For best results in painting, prewash the fabrics to remove sizing.

Practice painting on a scrap of fabric before painting on the ornaments to perfect the painting techniques. To keep the paint flow even, tap the tip of the bottle gently on the table to eliminate air bubbles. Wipe the tip of the bottle often while painting, to prevent paint buildup. If the tip becomes clogged, squeeze the tube to force paint through the tip onto a sheet of paper or a paper towel. If necessary, remove the cape and unclog the tip with a toothpick or needle.

Cutting Directions

Make the patterns (see step 1). For each ornament, cut two pieces from fabric, wrong sides together.

You Will Need:

Scraps of cotton fabric in desired colors
Polyester fiberfill.
9 (23 cm) length of ribbon or cording, for hanger.
Fabric paints in fine-tip tubes, for decorating ornaments.

How to Make a Cookie Cutter Ornament

Transfer cookie-cutter design to paper by tracing around cookie cutter with a pencil; add (6 mm) seam allowances.

Cut fabric pieces for ornaments. Fold ribbon in half to make hanger; glue-baste to top of ornament as shown.

Place the fabric pieces wrong sides together; pin. Stitch (6 mm) from raw edges, using short stitch length; leave 1 (2.5 cm) opening for stuffing.

Stuff ornament with polyester fiberfill; use eraser end of a pencil to push stuffing into smaller area.

Stitch opening closed, using a zipper foot. Trim seam allowance to 1/8 (3 mm), taking care not to trim off hanger.

Add painted details to the ornaments as desired, using fabric paints.

Tips for Making Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Mark stitching lines lightly with pencil or chalk when the seam allowances overlap.

Paint details on ornaments using paint tube as a pencil; keep point on fabric while painting to get the finest line.

Trim around the ornament using pinking shears, if desired, for a decorative edge finish.

Silk Edged Top

ALSW — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:14:34 -0800

How cute is this shirt? I love the idea of taking something that you already own (or will soon) and jazzing it up a little bit, making it all your own. And what easier way than with just a little bit of silk ribbon?

Ribbon-Trimmed Pillowcases

ALSW — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:02:08 -0800

One of the books that I recently got out of the library, Sew Stylish, had this cute little idea in it. While the book didn't have too many fabulous ideas that I just had to try, I thought this one was an easy and simple way to add a touch of fun and coziness to a room that's calling out for a little help.

In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, it might be a perfect present for someone else as well - my mother-in-law, in fact. Nice!

Hooded Scarf

JustPlainJane — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:42:37 -0800

Hooded ScarfBrady Modeling Hooded ScarfBrady Modeling Profile of Hooded Scarf

I just completed this over the weekend, and was much easier than I thought it would be. Here are the instructions.

Scarf measures approx. 10" wide x 72" long.
Amount: 15 oz bulky weight yarn
Crochet Hook: U.S. Size N-15 (10mm)
Gauge: In pat- 8sts=4"; 5rows=4" (check your gauge use any size hook to obtain the gauge given)

Chain 24
Row 1: Skip first 5 chains, (2 double crochet in next chain, skip next chain) 9 times, one double crochet in last chain, turn.
Row 2: Chain 3, skip first double crochet, (2 double crochet in space between next 2 double crochet) 9 times, double crochet in top of turning chain; turn.
Repeat Row 2 for pattern until 72" from beginning. Fasten off.
Fold scarf in half. Beginning at the fold, sew a 10" seam to form hood. Weave in ends.

Cross Stitch Patterns For a Present

ALSW — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:34:31 -0800

While losing myself in Barnes and Noble last week for a few hours, I stumbled upon a book full of cross-stitch patterns and ideas for great gift and household ideas that included cross stitchery. And while I'm seriously considering buying the book, in the mean time, it gave me a fabulous idea:

I'm going to make my grandmother some cross stitched placemats for Christmas.

Problem is that I have no idea what kind of pattern to use. I don't want anything particularly childish and I think I'm leaning towards something floral or scenic. I haven't decide how many I want to do just yet (enough for family dinner or just two for her and my grandfather) but I'm obviously on a deadline. I have all the materials - including some placemats, but I need to figure out what to put on them!

It has to be something that works more or less year round (nothing Christmas-y or summery) and could be anything from a border to a little scene or person. I'm up for all ideas - whether they're online pattern or just thoughts!

Easily hem jeans keeping old hem line

TheUrbanMommy82 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:13:25 -0800

I wanted to post this link to a girls blog, it has great directions on how to easily hem jeans keeping the old hem intact, making them look professionally hemmed. I haven't tried it this way yet, but will soon. Here's the link:

http://www.daciaray.com/?p=38

Sweater Stocking

JustPlainJane — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:42:47 -0800

Sweater Stocking
Sweaters with unusual pockets, collars, or buttons make excellent stockings, and making a stocking from a patterned sweater creates the illusion that you knit it yourself.

1. Place basic-stocking template* on sweater, positioning it so that buttons are centered, pockets do not fall into seams, and collars are incorporated by laying template flush with shoulders of sweater.

2. Pin template through front and back of sweater. Cut out both layers (we elongated the toe for the stockings shown at left). Pin the stocking pieces together, right sides facing.

3. Leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance, stitch around the stocking; leave the top open. Remove pins.

4. So that the curves lie smoothly, cut notches about 1/8 inch from the edge at the ankle, toe, and heel.

5. To make the cuff, stitch the short sides of the cuff fabric together, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Slip the cuff over the stocking with all the seams facing out. Align cuff seam with seam on heel side of stocking, and stitch the top edges of the cuff and stocking together, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

6. Turn the stocking right side out. Hand-stitch a 1/2-inch hem around the rim of the cuff. Fold the cuff down so that the seams connecting the stocking and the cuff are completely covered. Press if necessary.

For the pocket stocking in the photo, a contrasting toe and cuff were made from wool felt. For the cardigan stockings, no cuff is needed. Simply adjust the stocking template to accommodate sweater's neck plus a 1/4-inch seam allowance on each side.

We offer the template in a portable document format, or PDF, in order to make the details clear and printable. To view and print the file, you need a program called Adobe Acrobat Reader, which most browsers already include. If you have trouble downloading the file, or if you'd like to upgrade to Acrobat Reader 4.0, you can obtain the software for free from Adobe's website.

Here is the link for the template:
http://www.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf3/sweater_stocki...

Patchwork Potholders

ALSW — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:00:44 -0800

Here's an easy project that'll add a little something to your kitchen. Use scrap fabrics or go on a hunt for something to match your kitchen, but use your imagination! And feel free to create your own pattern as well.

Our block is made up of 2 inch squares of two different colours. Then borders (also 2 inches wide) were put on top and bottom, then the sides.

Once your block is made you make a loop of the border fabric. Place this loop in one corner on the right side of the holder. Cut a backing the same size as the block. For batting you can use 3 layers of terry towel. Place your towelling down first, then the quilt block right side up. On top of that in one corner pin your loop, with raw edges even with block. On top of that place your backing right side down. Sew all around outer edge using a 1/4" seam making sure you have caught the loop in your stitching line. Leave opening about 3" wide along one edge to turn.

Turn and machine stitch around entire edge, making sure your opening was stitched closed. You can really use your imagination with these and they are pretty as well as useful.