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Dresden Template Project – Kids Apron

By on 06/08/2017 in Holly, Kids, Sewing

The perfect way to dress up any simple project is to add a dresden flower.  Dresden flowers look fancy and difficult, but with the right tools, it’s easy!  I made this simple apron for my cute niece today, but it needed something to dress it up.  Adding the dresden flowers to the pockets was the perfect finishing touch.

To start make (or buy!) a simple apron.  Here are a few tutorials that might help.  Little Chef Apron, Kitchen Buddy Apron, and Child’s Apron.

Now the fun part — making it cute!  I cut my pockets 6.5 inches square, serged all 4 edges, and pressed the edges under.  Top stitch along the top of the pocket.  I used this awesome dresden template from Nancy’s Notions to make the flowers.  The best part about this ruler is that you can make so many different sizes of flowers, with only one ruler.  I cut my pedals 2 inches.  It’s a big template, but it still works great for small pieces!

It took 12 pedals to complete my flower.  The book that comes with the template gives a lot of great tips on how to make your dresden perfect.  Here is how the back looks all pressed and ready to go.

I top stitched around my edges and added my center circle.  Now my pocket is ready to be sewn onto the apron.

Now you are ready for fun time in the kitchen.  Don’t forget to lick the spoon!

It’s your lucky day!  This dresden template is on sale!  You can buy the template from Nancy’s Notions for 44% off now! (expires July 30, 2017)  

 

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Quilt Group Project – Row Quilt

By on 04/17/2017 in Holly, Quilting, Sewing

I love being a part of a quilt group.  Getting together with friends that share my interest in quilting is so much fun!  My quilt group has done several different projects together, but this one will probably always be my favorite.  All my friends helped make a row quilt.  There are 12 people in our quilt group.  This process took ONE YEAR to complete.  Let me explain.

First, I chose the fabric/color scheme for my quilt and made a row of the desired width I wanted.  I put all my fabric and instructions in a box or bag and labeled it with my name and phone number (in case anyone had a question).

In our box we added instructions about what we wanted.  Examples:  Only use my fabric provided.  Add your own fabric to my quilt.  No applique.  Please use only pastels.  No rows bigger than 12 inches tall.  etc.

These are my blocks that I put together in one long row to start my quilt.

At quilt group each month we would rotate the boxes and make a row for someone else’s quilt.  At the end of the year, we had 12 rows made by 12 different people.

I brought all my rows home and added the navy sashing and I have a beautiful quilt with a lot of memories built in.

 

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Pool Bag Tutorial

By on 06/28/2016 in Holly, Sewing, Summer, Tutorials

Summer is the perfect time to sew!  Sewing things for your kids and family or WITH your kids can always fun.  I’m so excited to be included in the Summer Sewing Series with Polka Dot Chair.  There are some great ideas this year!  Today I’m showing how I made my new Pool Bag.  I just got it made and I can’t wait to take it to the pool to try it out.
summer-sewing-seriesDIY Pool BagLet’s get started!  Here’s what you need.

  • Fabric – 1 yard of thick fabric that is 60 inches wide.  I bought this cute striped fabric at Ikea for under $8 a yard!
  • Thread
  • Straps (optional) I used 60 inches (30 for each strap) but you can make them longer or shorter.  You could also use leftover fabric.

Bag Fabric

Cutting – Cut 2 sides, 2 ends, 1 bottom, 2 side pockets, and 2 end pockets.  See measurements above.  I have coordinated which way my stripes go, so pay attention to that if you are working with stripes.

DIY bag

Hem the top edge of all the pieces EXCEPT the bottom piece.  My favorite way to hem is to serge the edge and fold it over once.  I folded it over 1/2 inch and then sewed it down.  If you don’t have a serger, you can alway zigzag the edge OR roll your edge under (fold over 1/4 inch and then fold over another 1/4 inch.)

Bag TutorialPin your pocket pieces onto all the bag pieces (except the bottom piece).

Canvas Tote

Mark and Sew where you want your pockets to be on the side pieces.  I chose to have 3 pocket sections on my long sides of the bag.  I marked my pocket lines 6.5 inches in from the edges.

Beach BagSew your bag sections together with right sides together.  Sew in this order:  End, Side, End, Side, and then hook your first end piece to your last side piece.

Pool BagYour bag is coming together!  This is how it should look now!

Sewing TutorialSerge or zigzag your inside seams to help prevent fraying.

Sewing ProjectPin and Sew your bottom piece into place.  This is the trickiest part.  I like to sink my needle and pivot each time I hit a corner seam.  My seam along the bottom looks like a big rectangle.  I also serged the edge of this bottom seam to finish it off.

Towel BagTurn and Press – Turn your bag right side out and press your corner seams to one side.  You are almost done!

How to make a bag

Handles – Using the handle material, cut each handle to be 30 inches long (or your prefered length).  Pin into place.  I measure in 4 inches from the corner seam.

Bag with PocketsReinforce seam so that your handles are nice and strong!

Beach Towel Bag

Load up your bag!  I love all the pockets around the sides.  I use them for water bottles, sunscreen, goggles, snacks, pool toys, my phone, and wallet.  Nothing gets lost at the bottom of the bag anymore!  I hope you love your bag as much as I do.

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