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'Make it' Project - Noel Bunting

We just love Christmas and crafting for Christmas,so we though we would create a selection of festive 'Make it' projects.....sound good?

So to start off with, here is a rather Christmassy 'Noel' bunting to decorate your home .........

complete with jingly bells......

If you would like to make this you will need:

1 Fat Quarter in the fabric of your choice for the bunting flags (we used Tilda Mini Star Red)
Small pieces of contrasting fabrics for the appliques (we used Tilda Mini Stripe Red and Tilda Dotty Green)

Bondaweb

150cm of 25mm Red Bias Binding

2 plain red buttons for the Holly Berries (ours came from this bundle)

1 Large Red Polka Dot Button for the 'O' 

and finally 6 x 10mm Jingle Rusty Tin Bells

This is how we made it.....

Firstly, you will need to print this pattern. To do so, highlight the picture below, then 'Right' click on your mouse, then select 'open in a new window' and then print using the keys 'CTRL' and 'P'.

Cut out the templates

Now it's Bondaweb time.  Bondaweb by Vilene is the most amazing product, it is a fusible, iron on, double sided adhesive sheet and makes your applique projects a doddle.  Firstly and the most efficient in terms of fabric and Bondaweb use,  trace the outline of the letters in reverse on to the paper side of the Bondaweb (1), cut out roughly (2) and then iron them on to the reverse of your chosen fabric (3) cut out accurately and then peel of the paper backing (4).  You now have your applique ready to iron on to your bunting flag. 

Alternatively, you can iron a piece of Bondaweb on to the back of your chosen applique fabric and then draw around your letter templates.  This method is quicker, although you will have more waste, we do however keep all our leftover Bondaweb fabric scraps for future projects.

 The MOST important thing however for which ever method you use, is to ensure that you trace your letters in REVERSE.   

Repeat this process for the holly leaves using your green fabric.

On the reverse of your chosen flag fabric, trace around the bunting template and cut out 12 pennants.  (6 fronts and 6 backs)  You can of course use a cheaper alternative for the backs if you prefer.

Place 3 holly leaves on to the right side of your first bunting pennant, play with their positioning until you are happy, ensuring that they are at least 1/4" away from the outside edge of the pennant to allow for the seam allowance.  Carefully iron in place, you will need to hold the iron over the appliques for aprox 20 seconds to ensure that they are 'stuck'.

Repeat for the letters and the final holly leaves.

Using you sewing machine or if you prefer by hand (back stitch would be good, check out this tutorial on Sarah's Blog) , stitch the appliques to the flags.  We used our standard  machine foot and stitched aprox 2mm from the outside edge of the applique using black thread.  Use a complimentary shade of thread if you wish.

 Pull through and knot off all your ends.

Sew a red button at the centre of the holly leaves.

and a large button to the centre of the 'O'

Now match up your fronts pennants to the backs and place together, right sides facing.  Pin and sew with 1/4" seam allowances

Trim the point as shown

Turn through, press and trim across the top raw edge of the flag, so that you have a nice and neat straight edge.  

TOP TIP - Use a chop stick whilst pressing to get the pointiest points possible!

Place your flags in a pile in reverse order ( holly / L / E / O / N / holly). 

Measure and mark 25cm from the end of your bias binding, this is the start position of your first flag.  

TOP TIP - Fold over and crease your Bias Binding across the width along the entire length before you start you can then simply tuck your bunting flags in to the 'pocket' as you sew.

This bunting is made with 5cm (2") gaps in between the flags.  The easiest way to get an accurate gap is to stop stitching as you reach the end of your first flag and then measure 5cm ( you will see from our Little Kitten Homemade bunting days, that this measurement was marked on my sewing machine)

Fold back the bias binding and crease with your finger.  Now continue stitching and stop as soon as your needle reaches the crease mark.  Lift up your foot and tuck in the next bunting flag and continue sewing, repeating until you have stitched all 6 flags.

Trim the ends of your bias binding so that each tie, is the same measurement and your flags are nicely centred.  Fold over your ends and hand sew in place to create a loop for hanging.

Finally stitch little jingly bells to the tips of your flags.

Ta Dah........
That's it you're done, so stand back, admire and enjoy!

T

This project will take aprox a couple of hours to make. Hopefully the instructions are nice and clear, but please do get in touch if you would like any clarification.

We'll be back soon with another festive project!

Happy Crafting!

'Make it' Zakka style Pincushion

 Now I'm sure that you must have heard our the squeals of delight, when Penny and I opened the parcel containing these beautiful fabrics by Japanese maker Sevenberry.....are they not just the prettiest!  Having used Sevenberry fabrics for many years in our own crafting, they have been on our wish list for Pretty Fabrics and Trims since the outset.  The problem we had, was choosing just which ones to stock!

Now obviously, whilst cutting up some precut 'mini' and 'small' pieces for the shop, I couldn't resist making something.  As you may know from my Little Kitten Homemade days, one of my favourite things was to combine pretty fabrics with linen and as I've been wanting a  new pincushion for my downstairs sewing kit, I set too gathering up some supplies and made this.......

If you would like to make one too, you will need:

some scraps of pretty florals, I used Sevenberry fabrics Flower Meadow Pink, Floral in Yellow and Blossom in Pink, available as a pretty Pink and Yellow Bundle

Natural Linen

Natural Teeth Cotton Lace 

and a Medium Mother of Pearl Button 

For the front of the Pincushion, cut a piece of linen measuring 4 x 4 1/2" and from each of the florals,  a strip measuring 1 1/4" x 4 1/2"

From Flower Meadow Pink, I also cut a piece measuring  5" x 4 1/2" for the back of the pincushion

Please note I used 1/4" seam allowances

First off sew the three florals together along the 4 1/2" side, neatly press

Now sew the florals to the linen and press

  

Using the seam line as a guide sew on a piece of cotton lace and for an extra pretty touch sew a button positioned at the centre on top of the lace

With right sides together pin the backing fabric to the front piece and sew around the outside edge, leaving a gap as indicated by the two pins

 Trim the corners

Turn through to the right side.  I find a chop stick is a great tool to get nice pointy corners.

Stuff (whilst we're talking stuffing, for the pin cushion I used some toy safe poly fill, however, I am definately going to make some more these and fill them with lavender as Christmas gifts for my children's teachers) 

Finally slip stitch the gap closed and ta da, you're all done!

And just because we love them so much, here's some more pictures of our gorgeous new fabrics

I hope that you enjoyed the project and feel tempted to give it a go and if you would like to view our full range of Sevenberry fabrics, they can be found on our website HERE

Happy Crafting

'Make it' Project ~ Petite House

 

 

 

Our Petite Houses are perfect for hanging from your twiggy trees, on a dresser or chest of drawers, or get organised and make some for the school fayre or as end of term Teacher gifts.  What ever you decide they're fun and quick to make.  So here we go.....

 

First off you'll need to gather your materials together.  We used:

 

1 piece of Tilda Star Grey Brown (a mini piece will be more than enough)

1 piece of Tilda Mini Spot Cadet Blue (as above)

White Cotton Teeth Lace

3 Small Mother of Pearl Buttons

Scraps of Robins Egg Felt and Chalk White Felt

Oyster Bakers Twine

 

But you can take inspiration from any of bundles HERE

 

You will also need:

 

Stuffing of your choice ( we used dried lavender )

Thread

Pins

Needle

Sewing Machine ( or you cold hand sew the whole thing )

 

Please note that we have used 1/4" seam allowances throughout

Firstly, you will need to print and cut out this pattern.  To do so, highlight the picture above, then 'Right' click on your mouse, then select 'open in a new window' and then print using the keys 'CTRL' and  'P' 

Now cut out the pieces as shown above

With right sides together pin and then sew the roof section to the house section

Press the seam open

Using the seam as a guide, pin and then sew the lace to the front 

Now pin the door and window to the front using this picture as a guide

Make sure the door is position 1/4" above the bottom edge to allow for the seam allowance

Sew in place using a contrasting colour thread.  We did this by hand using Back Stitch, however if you prefer you can machine sew  

Once you have sewn the door and window, you can now decorate the front.  We added two small mother of pearl buttons and a little felt heart (see below), but feel free to use your own imagination

We find it easier to cut small hearts free hand.  First cut a small square of felt, fold it in half

Then simply cut out half a heart shape, open up and ta da....

With right sides together, pin your completed house front to your choice of backing fabric and cut out

Sew around all sides, leaving a gap to allow you to stuff your house

Trim the points, turn (see Top Tip), press, stuff and sew closed.

TOP TIP: A chop stick is a very handy tool to keep in your sewing kit.  It's point, yet not sharp end is great for pushing out the point and corners 

Finally sew a button to the point of the roof and create a hanging loop from some bakers twine

That's it you're done!

We hope that you enjoy making your Petite Houses, please do let us know how you get on, we would love to see some pictures!!

Oh and finally, to keep up with behind the scenes goings on, please hop over to Sarah's new Blog

See you soon!