Fabric bucket!

Welcome back.

It's been so dreary this week. We've only had one sunny, day which thankfully was the day we spent at the beach. The only thing I think that is good for this dreary weather is sewing!!! Well I do love a good movie or magazine as well but the good thing about having hubby home on holiday is that I have an extra pair of hand with our little miss. :) So sewing it is!

First on my list was to replace the toy basket. It's reached it's expiry with the kids jumping in it, on it and rolling around over it, it's definitely time to replace it. I found this tutorial at PipiJoe and thought it was perfect. Little miss can jump in, on, and over it all she wants and all I have to do is dust it of and fill it up. This is what I got up to.

You will need a quilters to heavy weight fabric for this project. The bucket is made up of 2 pieces. The base and the side. You can make this any size you want you just need to make sure the side piece is as long as the circumference. (eeeeek) Here is a circumference calculator to help you along. So if your circle piece is 24cm in Diameter your rectangle piece should be 75 across. (these are my total measurements)You will need 2 sets, one for the outside and one for the lining. To make the circle piece the easiest way I've found is by folding your fabric in quarters (ironing it helps) and pining it down at the point with a tape measure. Then rotate the tape around and mark at your measurement as you go.

 

I've added 1cm because of where I've placed me pin. And this is what you end up with.

  

The next tip I have is when you get to the step where you need to attach the bottom to the side piece, pin pin & pin. The more pins the more accurate your finish circle will look. 

Make sure to leave your pins out slightly so you can easily grip them as you get close. The rest of the tutorial is self explanatory. I've just added handles to make mine a bucket/bag. The best thing about this bucket is it's reversible! And the finish product...

Too cute. I'd like to see little miss wreck this one. This would also look so cute at the door filled with all those thongs and flats I keep leaving around the house. It would make a gorgeous knitting basket. Possibility's are endless. For the meantime the toys look very happy in their new home.

Hope your all enjoying your holidays and I'll see you next time!

My New Fave!

Good morning to all. :)

I've been up since 5 this morning (for no reason except that I can't sleep) google eyed at the computer. Yup, when I can't sleep I catch up on all my fave blogs! And this morning I found THE ONE! (for now anyway) Long sought after and always just without reach is the blog that inspires you to try something different! Well this morning I found it! If you love sewing, quilting or hand embroidery and possibly combining all three you have to visit Comfortstitching! GORGEOUS quilt after quilt of inspiration! It's even got me thinking of doing some cross stitch... or something like that??
The very talented Aneela has been working with Moda to create a yummy new range. Isn't it just.... well gorgeous. I want it!

I love the little girl through out, so simple yet sooooooooo pretty! And you should see what Aneela has done with it!

And there is more. Check it out here. So be sure to have a look and soak up all the inspiration you can possibly absorb! Enjoy your Tuesday! :)

Sewing Tips!

Hi again!

Most of you know (if you saw my status on fb yesterday) that I'm not a hundred percent sure about the DP blog. To be honest it wasn't my intention to actually start a blog but instead a way of "advertising" for my quilts. But as time went on I found my self wanting to post weekly. But now that I've done a few more posts I've kinda lost my way a little. I follow a few blogs ranging from interior design to craft and sewing. They are my passion after all. But I found that this reflected in DP. A mish msh of things that I like. So my question to you was: Do you like it? I REALLY would love to hear you feedback! I want to be writing something you would read not just crazy rambling. So as requested by my Big Sis this post is full of sewing tips for you.

I've learnt that a lot of people either sew clothing or patchwork quilts. That's not to say you cant do both. I've tried both and that's the only way to know which you enjoy more. Either way the basic principles are the same. For a beginner sewing a garment, I found a step by step guide to sewing from a pattern. I couldn't have said it any better. To read the full guide visit here. (Please don't be offended by the website name, I am not implying anything. This was the best step by step instructions I found.)

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Tips For What To Do With Your Sewing Pattern

by: Carmel Baird

What to do with a sewing pattern once you take it out of the envelope.

1. Take the instruction sheet and it will show you how to set out the pattern on your fabric. There will be the lay-outs for the different widths of fabric, and for with or without nap. Some fabrics you can cut out your pattern pieces in opposite directions others you will have to lay the pattern pieces all going the same way or else the fabric will show a different shade. Velvets and corduroys are a good example.
2. Cut around the edge of the pattern with paper scissors, not the scissors you will be cutting the fabric with.
3. Always check the pattern pieces against you. You can pin the various pieces together and try it on to see if there needs to be any adjustments before you start cutting the fabric.
4. With your fabric right side down, place and pin the pattern pieces according to the layout for your fabric width and cut your fabric pattern pieces out.
5. You will see triangles known as notches. circles, arrows, broken lines, unbroken lines. On some patterns you will also see on the seam stitching lines arrows. This is according to the pattern maker the direction to stitch that seam.
6. Once you have cut out all the pieces, get your tracing carbon. Fold the tracing carbon so that when you place it between the fabric and trace, you will have the pattern marked on the inside of your fabric. 
7. Transfer all the pattern markings to the inside of your fabric. Use a rule to guide along the long seam lines.
8. Now you are ready to start sewing your garment and everything you had on your pattern is now on the inside of your fabric.
9. Once again, check the pieces against you to make sure the fit is right.
10. Pin, tack, baste where necessary, press as you go, fit as you go and follow the instructions. Take it step by step.
11. As a general guide when deciding on what length of fabric to purchase you need twice your length plus the length of the sleeve if you are making something with a sleeve. For skirts or pants you will need twice your length.
12. When looking for fabrics, anything that feels stiff will have a lot of what is called sizing and when it is laundered could go very limp and not hold its shape.
13. A good test for crushing is to scrunch the fabric in your hand and see if the creases will fall out. If they stay, then this will always crush no matter how carefully your press it.
14. Purchase your notions when you purchase your fabric - thread, zipper, bias binding, interfacing, lining. Check the pattern envelope for what you will need to complete your garment. 

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The only thing I do different is in step 6 I just pin the pattern onto the fabric and trace around the pattern with a fabric pencil. So here are few words you will need to know the meaning of:

Baste: Temporary stitching used to hold a sewing project in place and is removed when the sewing is done. (usually a long or large stitch, I sometimes do it by hand)

Nap:  A one way direction of texture on a fabric such as velvet or corduroy. When using fabric with a nap all pieces must be cut with the nap in the same direction. ( for example, If you can write in it with your finger and see what you've written, it has nap)

Seam: A way of stitching two fabrics together.

Seam Allowance: The distance from the seam to the edge of fabric. In patterns this is already included.

Another place to check out is Craft & Fabric Links. It has a free online sewing book for beginners to read. Very helpful.

So I hope these tips or steps help with your sewing adventures. If your doing this for the first time pick a pattern that is classified "easy". All patterns have a difficulty rating so keep an eye out for it. And most kids clothing is easy. Pick a non-stretchy fabric and stay away from chiffon or satin (they are super slippery for your first time) To be safe stick to cottons. Last tip from me is TAKE YOUR TIME! It's not a school assignment and you won't loose points for taking a week or two. You want your first experience to be a good one and rushing it will take that away so just take your time. If you have any questions please ask I would love to help. After all no question is silly if your a beginner.

Slovly

Well that's all folks. Have a good weekend and enjoy every minute!

P.S. Thanks Jo for the inspiration! ;)

Loving Bunting!

We meet again...

I wanted to share with you my new obsession. It must be summer that's brought it out of me, but I really love... you guessed it ... bunting!

It is the easiest and most cost efficient way of adding a little personal touch to a room, garden, deck, wedding, or party of any kind. I personally haven't made very many (in comparison to someone like the talented Amy at Giggleberry Creations) but now that I've tried it I want to make a whole lot more. They are soooooo versatile. I've seen ones made of fabric, paper, and ribbon. They can be made in any shape you can imagine, though the classic is the triangle flag. I'm planning on making my self a 5m length, in a gorgeous floral fabric to hang around the balcony for my fireworks cocktail party and I have to admit I don't know what I'm more excited about, the bunting or fireworks? So to share the obsession i've found some beautiful images to get you inspired.

The Purl Bee

Any colour any shape.

Creature Comforts

I love the way they've used the paper bunting on the letter and as a mini flag you could use as a cupcake topper. Very adorable!! Perfect personal touch!

The Green Familia

Slater Sparke

Just to say I <3 you.

The Sweet Occasion

A few of my favorite things

Yuuuuummmmy!!!

So as you can see there is nothing serious about bunting. It's all up to your imagination and theme! Even the kids can have a go! 

Hope you enjoy your day and I'll catch you later!