Haul out the Holly Tutorial {Santa Pennant Garland}

Hello there & welcome if you're visiting from Gwenny Penny! 
I was so honored when Gwen asked me to participate in Haul out the Holly this year! 

It honestly didn't take me very long to come up with this idea. I was preparing for my first craft fair around the time she asked me to participate and I had pennants on my mind.... thus:

Santa Pennant Garland!

Let's get started!

Materials:
1/4 yd red flannel
1/4 yd white or cream flannel
desired length of 1" black satin ribbon (3-4 yds)
coordinating thread
spring loaded scissors (not required but recommended)
cardstock and marker

Let's make our triangle pattern:

1. draw a 5" line which will be the top of the triangle

2. draw a 5" line perpendicular to the first line (creating a T)

3. connect the lines to form your triangle

Cut out your pattern and grab your rotary cutter and we'll cut out our fabric.

I folded my fabric and cut 4 layers at a time.  You need 2 triangles of each color for each finished pennant.  The number depends on how long you are making your garland.

Now lets layer our pennants. 

Bottom layer- red

2 middle layers- white

Top layer- red

Pin your layers together. You should have a stack ready to head to your machine.

 

Sew along the 2 sides using a 3/4" seam allowance (mine fluctuated between 1/2"-3/4" but in the end you won't notice if they aren't perfect).

Grab those spring loaded scissors (great if you do rag quilting... which is why I bought them... still haven't made a rag quilt yet though! haha)

Start snipping 1/4" segments along both sides of each triangle.  Leave the top uncut & do not cross the line you sewed.

I went ahead and sprayed it down with water and threw it in the dryer to shrink it.

Now we'll add the ribbon along the top.  Leave a tail of 6" before your first triangle.  I just folded the ribbon over the top of the triangle and pinned it in place. I did not leave any space between each triangle.

I started sewing at the first triangle making sure to backstitch (at the end too) so it wouldn't come unraveled. 

Now I threw it in the washing machine to really get it to fluff up.  You might want to do this a couple times... the more the merrier!

Isn't it lovely on my banister?

I thought I'd try it on our large front window... tried taking a picture of the whole window but the light outside was playing tricks on my camera! 

Oh, and you might be wondering where the bow came from.  When I went to unwind my ribbon off the spool it was in 2 pieces so this is how I remedied it... I really like the bow!

Thanks Gwen for allowing me to participate in your 2nd annual Haul Out the Holly series! 

Pumpkin Patch Outfit

This outfit actually started as just the pants. 

But that creative itch overtook me & I was needing a break from sewing costumes and needed a quick little creative project. 

Both my boys are going through their fall growth spurts.... you know when your kids' old pants are a little too short and the next size up are a little too long?  I had just been rolling up the bottoms so they wouldn't trip and it occurred to me that it would be neat to add a little detail to make them look lined and therefor kinda cute when rolled up.  The verdict is still out on whether they look a little too girly... my husband immediately unrolled them! 

The shirt was super simple.  I found the pumpkin applique online and to make the sleeves just made 2 tubes and attached them along the seam of shirt. 

Wanna know how I added the faux lining?  It was pretty simple.

Take your kid's pants (they need to be too long).  I bought these a while ago on clearance for $4 at Target. 

Measure your child's inseam.

Measure the pant's inseam (so you know how much to roll up).

Measure across the bottom.  Double the measurement and add an inch for your seam allowance.

Cut 2 strips of fabric which are about 4" by whatever your last measurement was (double the length across plus 1").

Iron one edge or each strip and run a zigzag stitch along it.  I am not worried about fraying because this will be tucked up in the pants and won't be seen. 

Now iron the other edge over about 1/2" then started at the inseam, pin the ironed edge just along the bottom seam of the pants.  Make sure to leave a 1/2" loose at the beginning and end so you can close the loop when you're done.

Make sure you are using a heavy duty needle (for denim).  Slowly sew along the pinned edge.  I didn't worry about thread color in my bobbin because it won't be seen.  I also used a pretty loose stitch so I can rip it out later when the pants no long need to be rolled.

Now pin and sew the short ends that you left - make sure the right sides are together.

I added a row of stitches toward the top so the lining would stay up in the pants when rolled.

I think it turned out just as I imagined!

Take your little guy to the pumpkin patch to enjoy!

Fabric Pumpkin Guest Post

The other day when I posted about needing some guest bloggers, Chelsea from One Hot Crafty-Mama volunteered to help me out.  She has a really cute pumpkin tutorial to share with you today.   Thanks Chelsea!

Hello!!  I'm Chelsea from One Hot Crafty-Mama.  I was trying to come up with something easy and fun to do for the fall then I remembered some pumpkins that my mom had made when I was younger.  Going off of that memory this is what I came up with, I would love for you to check out how to make them.

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you some pictures of fabric pumpkins I made and I promised a tutorial on how to make them.  Here it is finally!!!  These are really simple and you can make whatever size you want.

Materials needed:

scrap fabric (the body of your pumpkin)

a even smaller scrap of fabric (your stem)

pillow filler or a couple of grocery bags

embroidery floss and a large needle

thread and a regular needle

I wanted to make a bigger pumpkin this time. So I used about a half of a fat quarter.

Then I cut out a circle, you can trace something or just free hand it like I did.

Using the needle and thread I ran the thread around the edge of the circle and then tightened it creating a pouch. *Note: be careful to not allow the thread to go all the way through the what you just stitched.

Open the hole up a little bit and add your filler.  I didn't have any pillow filler so I stuffed a couple of grocery bags in there and it worked great!!

Then tie your hole close.

Now using your big needle and the floss, start your needle on the bottom of your pouch and push it up through the middle, don't let the floss go through completely bring the end of the floss around the outside of the pouch and tie it off in the middle.   *Note:  I used all the threads of the floss on this pumpkin on the others I used 4 of the threads.

Go around your pumpkin starting at the bottom up through the middle, to the top and then around the outside back to the bottom (I hope that makes sense), continue at spacing the thread how you want to.

This is what the bottom of mine looks like.

Here is the top.  Tie off the floss I used the same spot that I started with. Now set it aside for a moment.

Now using your smaller piece of scrap create and strip.  However wide or long is up to the side of your pumpkin and how big you want the stem to be.

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise with the right sides together.  Now either use your machine if its handy or hand sew the long sides together. Then flip the fabric outside out and sew the bottom together.

Now its time to attach the stem to the top.  If you are making small pumpkins its easier to just hot glue the stems on otherwise sew it on. 

Now enjoy your pumpkin!!!


Thanks again Chelsea, I love this & need to make some!

Flat Iron Case {knock off} Tutorial

So the other day I went to a home party at my sister in law's house for Thirty-One Gifts.  They have the cutest products! But the whole time I couldn't help thinking 'I could make that!'  Especially when I saw these adorable hot iron cases. (Picture from their fall catalog (image source))

Look how simple!  But what a great Christmas gift...yeah I know, we still have Halloween & Thanksgiving to get through but let me tell you there's nothing worse than waiting till the last minute to make Christmas gifts.  It creates way too much unneeded stress!

Here's my fairly easy Hot Iron Case Tutorial:

Materials:

Exterior Fabric (I used a laminated cotton)

Batting (could use Insul-bright)

Heat resistant interior fabric (I used something like this)

Coordinating Piping (optional)

2" Velcro

First, cut your fabric.  You'll need the following:

18"x6" rectangle from exterior,  interior, and batting

14 1/2" x 6" rectagle of exterior, interior, and batting

Find a round object in your house to give the short ends a curve.  On your shorted (pocket) piece leave one end straight.

Take exterior and interior short pieces and pin them right sides together along one of the short ends.  Sew along this end.

Now open and lay this piece flat.  Take the short piece of batting and lay it along one of the pieces of fabric (I chose the interior fabric).  Then bring the exterior fabric over, sandwiching the batthing.  Pin the short end where you sewed before.

Topstich along this short side.  If you are using a laminated fabric then use a nonstick foot on your machine.  (My machine came with one).  Baste around the rest of this shorted piece & add velcro about an inch or so from the top.  I did not and had to hand stich it on later so I don't have a picture. 

Adding the piping: *this makes the project more intermediate if you want an easier version I will post another tutorial showing you how.

Start with the large piece of exterior fabric.  I started in the bottom corner and pinned the piping (with the rough edge facing out) around the whole piece.  At the corners I cut little notches so it would curve better.   

Here you can see where I began and ended.

Baste this in place.

Now take the shorter (pocket) piece and lay it on top of the piece you just sewed the piping on.  Make sure the exterior fabrics are facing each other.  Line up the bottom edges, you should have about 3" above the top of the pocket piece. 

Pin in place.  Tip:  If using a laminated fabric pin along your sewing line so that you don't leave holes in the fabric.

Sew in place leaving a 3-4" opening toward the top of one side.  It's important that you feel for the piping making sure to get your seam pretty close to it.  You can peak inside as your going to see where you need to sew close.  Take your large piece of batting and baste it on to one side of your project. 

Now carefully turn it rightside out.  I started at the top, then fold it down.  Make sure to keep the pocket to one side as you turn. 

Now pin your opening closed and topstich around the whole thing.  I used my nonstick foot and largest stitch my machine does (5mm).   

Add velcro to your flap, making sure it lines up with the piece you sewed on earlier.

Now your project is complete! 

Make one for yourself or to give away!  While you're at it make a matching makeup bag!