Showing posts with label Handmade gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Handmade gifts. Show all posts

Thursday 8 October 2015

Bowls and rugs from scraps


In a departure from my usual sewing of clothes, I've had a brief foray into homeware. I saw these rope bowls popping up here and there and thought I'd give one a go. Rather than using plain or dyed rope, I raided my remnant bin and found some bits I liked. I tore or cut the scraps into strips about an inch wide and wrapped them around the rope as I sewed. The rope is 100% cotton, approximately 7mm in diameter, from Bunnings.


I used a zig-zag stitch for the sewing, the longest and widest on my machine. I began sewing a spiral and just shaped the size of the base and the shape of the bowl as I went. As I came to the end of a wrapped strip of fabric, I just overlapped the next one slightly and carried on. The stitches hold the wrapping in place.


I like how the torn and frayed edges add texture to the bowl and I also like the bits and pieces of sparkly fabric I included as they catch the light.


I have this sitting near my computer and currently use it to store all the ear phones that used to disappear up the vacuum cleaner. I find myself gazing at it often. It's not perfect, but it makes me happy.


The other things I've been making are patchwork throw rugs.


Look at those jewel colours and lovely fabrics. 'They must have cost a fortune', I hear you exclaim! Well no they didn't because look!


All free upholstery samples that are no longer needed by the fancy shops. What's more, they are already grouped in coordinating colours and like fabrics and cut into rectangles ready to stitch together! I got these samples from Remida creative reuse centre in Perth.


I'm no quilter and this is supposed to look rustic (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). I just arranged the colours in a pleasing way and sewed them together, first by sewing strips and then sewing the strips to each other.


The larger pieces in the sample packs tended to be darker colours and I used these for the back of the rug, just piecing, then trimming, until I had the right size. Next I did stitch-in-the-ditch quilting along the front stitching lines to hold the front and back pieces together. Finally, I cut wide bias strips from burgundy corduroy and used that to bind the edges.


This throw rug, my second and better attempt, was tied up with a bow to form part of the present I gave my parents for their recent golden wedding anniversary.

Here is the first rug I made:



This one looks lovely in my house and feels very nice to sit on.


It goes well with my bowl too!

Friday 17 May 2013

A cosy jacket for my mum (Burdastyle 12/2012, #140)


My gorgeous Mum turned 70 last week! I know, neither of us can believe it. She certainly doesn't look her age.

Anyway, as usual I headed to the sewing machine to make the majority of her presents. This jacket, Burdastyle Magazine 12/2012, Jacket #140, was a request Mum made while she was flipping through my magazine. She wanted something warm that she could use as a jacket and a dressing gown when she was on holiday in cooler places than our hometown of Perth.

Burdastyle Transform Jacket
The pattern suggested 'fulled loden' fabric should be used for this jacket. I have been informed by a helpful reader that this is quite readily available in Germany, but is difficult to find here. It's also apparently a bit scratchy to wear. I wanted something cosy and soft, so I chose this grey polar fleece.


The majority of the vertical seams are sewn wrong sides together so the seam allowance is exposed on the outside as a feature. I carefully trimmed the seam allowances after stitching so they would be neat on the outside. The edges of the hood, hem, pockets and cuffs are left raw. I finished these with pale grey grosgrain ribbon, which was a nice detail.

I like the way the cuffs fold right back.


I made the jacket a size smaller than I would usually wear as my Mum is a little squirt. The jacket is quite snug on me, but fits her well.


The hood is very roomy and forms the collar when it's folded down.


This jacket is super warm. I nearly expired taking these photos!

As well as the jacket, I made this tea towel. It has hand prints of all the grandchildren, done in fabric paint. I used free motion sewing to write the names of the children and to applique '2013' on to the bottom corner. I made bias tape to bind the edges.

This basic idea for this came from 'Make it Perfect', but I changed it a bit.


There were a couple of other 'bought' presents. But I think mum appreciated these - and the hand made card and birthday cake :)

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Little sweetie turns 1


My sweet, little niece turned one this week and, of course, I had to indulge in some rare little girl sewing - living, as I am, in a house full of boys :)

The little, soft shoes are from the 'Make it Perfect' book by Toni Coward. I made them as she's just walking and might need something warmer than bare feet as winter approaches. Here in Oz, many children go barefoot most of the time, which I think is just fantastic, although I know some frown on the practice! I have trouble getting my boys to wear shoes at all.


The shoes/slippers are made with faux silver leather with a thicker brown vinyl sole. They are lined with red panne velvet.


I made size 1 and the fit is perfect. I left off the front strap as it didn't seem to fit such a small shoe. The 'leather' would not ease to fit the sole, hence the gathers. I think they look ok actually and the shoes stayed on all through the rigours of a first birthday party so I was impressed with the pattern.


Next was this all-in-one rain suit. As far as I know, these waterproof suits are not available in Australia, but I did see them in the UK when we lived there (at great expense I might add!)...


...and they didn't have ears on the hood or bling on the sleeves!


I used this pattern, Simplicity 7807 for a fleece all-in-one. I made size 18 months so it would last hopefully two winters.I changed the sleeve and ankle cuffs to be elasticated instead of covered over.



It is a tad roomy!


Ahh, that's better :)


This is made with waterproof fabric from Homecraft Textiles. The fabric has a coating on the inside, but is soft enough to use without lining. It never gets that cold in Perth, so I opted not to line it.


I added the silver ribbon to the sleeves and zip pull and self-made gingham bias binding to the inside of the hood.


These little hip hop-style pants were a last minute addition to the present pile as a request from my sister. I copied them from a pair of well-fitting RTW (ready to wear) pants. They are made from panne velvet and are comfy and cosy and practical. 


Here, being modelled with Grandad while playing with the mini kitchen/hairdressing salon we also got for her.


 Aww, the girliness, it just kills me!

Thursday 3 January 2013

More Christmas sewing

I was kept very busy before Christmas making presents for my family. I have already detailed the tennis outfit I made for my niece using Jalie patterns 2795 and 3023. 
I also made...

A 'rashie' (lycra swim/surf/sun top) for Mr Meggipeg. His old one was completely stretched out of shape, but I managed to trace a pattern from it and make him a nice new version. He was most pleased and has worn it several times already, some even to go swimming ;)

I rarely convert my overlocker (a Bernina 2500DCET) to a coverstitch machine, but I did for this project and the hem turned out really well. I should do it more often as I forget what to do each time and always spend ages consulting the instructions! This hem was done with a three-thread coverstitch.


For reasons that now escape me, I chose a three-step zig-zag on my sewing machine to finish the sleeves. Maybe I'd already forgotten the coverstich instructions!


My sister requested some cotton lycra shorts with a stretchy waistband to keep cool and comfortable during our hot summer. I made these for her. They look better on!


To hide the stitching on the turn-ups, I sewed a strip of fabric over the inside seam, just at the bottom where it would show.


Another request was this stretch mesh swimming wrap for my Mum. I surreptitiously traced one she already had and liked. It is basically a large rectangle with two little sticky-out tabs for the ties.


I finished the edges by overlocking the edge, then folding and stitching a 1cm hem with zig-zag.


...and for the littlest member of our family, my 8 month-old niece, I made a swimming outfit from this cute polka dot lycra from Textile Traders. The top is made using Kwik Sew 2596 (also used here for a baby t-shirt) and the pants are made using the tutorial and free pattern by Dana from Made. This is a great pattern if you are looking for a baby gift.


I added ruffles to the back of my version using strips of pink lycra. I also finished the sleeves with the same pink fabric, just folded in half and stretched slightly as it was sewn on (as for fold-over elastic).


Awwww, so cute!

Finally, I made a hat to go with the swimming outfit and some very light pants to protect that delicate skin from the sun when she is riding in the pram (both using Butterick 3846 in size M). The pants are made with printed muslin from Textile Traders and finished with more pink lycra used as fold-over elastic.


The hat turned out a little large so I added a button and elastic loop to keep it out of her eyes until she gets a bit bigger!


Modelling the pram pants!


Phew! I'm looking forward to some me-sewing now :) Fortunately my sister gave me 'Drape Drape' and 'Drape Drape 3' for Christmas (I already have No. 2, also from my sister for my last birthday - she knows me well). Fire up the sewing machine. Yee ha! (or whatever 'Yee ha' is in Japanese).





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