Make it: Baby Sling - easy pattern

Make it: Baby Sling

Baby slings can be a big-ticket item in stores; you can save a ton of money and add a personal touch by designing them yourself. They only require 2.5 yards of fabric and this pattern is so simple to stitch up.

Baby Sling Materials:
2-1/2 yds. tightly woven cotton fabric, 44" to 48" wide
sewing machine
thread
heavy-duty needle
2 - 4" rings made specifically for baby slings

Fabric pattern tips: Both sides of the fabric will show when you use a sling; you may want to choose a fabric that does not have a "wrong" side.

1. Turn under and press one of the short edges of the fabric; turn under an additional inch and press to create a clean edge. Stitch in place. Repeat for the selvage (long) edges. Leave one of the short edges raw.

2. Line up the raw, short edge of the fabric against a ruler or self-healing mat with measured grid marks. Fold in a deep (3" or so) pleat. The pleat should be oriented with the fold line parallel to the long edges of the fabric. Pin the pleat 1" from the raw edge and 9" from the raw edge.

3. Continue pleating the fabric with smaller 1" pleats. Pin each pleat 1" and 9" from the raw edge.

4. Stitch across the 1" and 9" pins through all thicknesses of fabric to secure the pleats.

5. Zigzag the remaining raw end through all thicknesses of the folded fabric.

6. Pull the pleated end of the fabric through both of the rings, folding through the rings to line up the 1" stitch line lines with the 9" stitch line. Pin in place.

7. Stitch through all thicknesses using a smaller stitch length to add strength to the seam. This seam will take a lot of stress; it is important to have a strong seam that it is backstitched on both ends. Sew an additional seam along the zigzag line for extra security.

8. To wear the sling, one end should extend from the back over the shoulder to the front torso. The other end wraps around the waist to the front torso. Thread the loose end through both of the rings and then back through one ring. Pull the loose end to tighten or loosen.

RESOURCES :
Baby Sling Rings: slingrings.com

make it: 4th of July Table Runner w/ recycled jeans

Recycled Denim - 4th of July Table Runner

In under 2 hours you can whip up this project! All you need is some scraps of red, white & blue fabric, old pair of jeans, some folk art fabric paint and a sewing machine. This is an easy breezy quilting project that is perfect for beginners.

The table runner can be customized to any table size and with different fabric choices, this project could be for any holiday or everyday.

Supplies:
FolkArt Fabric Paint - Brush On - Pearl White
Star foam stamp
Foam paintbrush
Denim Jeans
Various Red White & Blue printed fabrics (at least 18" wide)

Steps:

1. Cut the leg portion off a pair of jeans. Slice up the side seam and place the leg flat. Use a ruler to square the leg to 18" on one side. The other side can be as long as you wish. For the design I made, the leg piece measured 18" x 18".


2. Apply the fabric paint to the foam stamp with a foam paintbrush and stamp all over the denim. Reload with paint as needed. Allow the paint to dry and heat set with an iron.

3. Cut the printed fabrics into strips that are 18 wide and as long as you wish. For added interest, make each piece a different length.

4. Sew the printed pieces and the painted denim together to form a long strip. You will be sewing them right-sides to right-sides.

5. Press the seams flat.

6. Continue sewing until you have formed a piece that is 18" wide and as long as you wish.

Sew a backer for the runner in the same fashion as step 2. Next, place the backer piece (right side down) on top of the runner. Sew around the edge leaving a small opening for turning. Trim the corners on an angle. Turn the runner right side out and press. Topstitch around the outer edge.

Stitch This: Baby Booties pattern

 Handmade Baby Booties

Keep your kids’ feet nice and toasty with incredibly cute, easy-to-make fleece booties.  This project is from the Babies episode of Creative Juice on HGTV & DIY.

Supplies:
Booties pattern - see below
1/4 yard fleece fabric
9 inches 1/4” soft elastic
16” Decorative ribbon
Sewing machine
Matching thread
Scissors & pins

Steps:

1. Pin the pattern in place on the fleece fabric (make sure you place the pattern on the fold of the fabric) and cut around the pattern. Repeat this for the second bootie.

2. Remove the pins and open the booties up, place them right sides down.

3. Cut the elastic in half (1 piece for each bootie) and following the pattern, sew stretched elastic across the appropriate stitching line, repeat on second bootie.

4. Fold the bootie in half (rights sides together). Cut the ribbon in half (1 piece each bootie) and fold the ribbon in half and pin in the marked spot (see pattern). Pin and sew around the edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

5. Turn right side out and tie the ribbon in a bow. Use your scissors to cut fun fringe at the top of the bootie. Repeat steps 2-4 for the second bootie.

click to download - enlarge or shrink to adjust the size.

Review and Tutorial: The Rotary Cutter and Embosser by Simplicity

Once in a while I stumble upon a crafty gadget that I love.  I fell for the Simplicity Rotary Cutter because it is dual purpose, a wrist saver, works on paper or fabric and it is easy to operate.

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Let's Cut FaBRiC!

 First up, I wanted to change the factory straight blade for a scalloped edge blade. 

To do this, I used my personal flat head screwdriver to remove the plastic protective covering.

 That was easy!  Cover is gone now .

 Next, I loosed the knob on the end of the blade arm.

 This a pic of the exposed blade with out the knob or plastic cover.  To remove the blade just pull on it and the small black metal washer.  The blades are not sharp so you can easily handle them.

 Replace with a scalloped blade.

 Reattach the knob on the end of the arm.  Turn to tighten.

 Replace the plastic cover using a flat head.

To adjust the pressure (this is how the blade cuts) you will need to adjust the blade height.  Look for the "up and down" bolt in the lower center on the front of teh machine.

Grab the pressure adjusting tool that comes with the machine and use it to turn the bolt up or down until the feed roller is touching the blade.

 Sorry for the fuzzy pic through the plastic protective cover. This is the blade touching the feed roller.

 Plug in the foot pedal and electrical supply to the back of the machine.

 Turn on the machine and use the knob to the left to adjust the speed.  Low was WAY to low for me.

 Easily adjust the size of strip you want to cut by twisting the red knob and shift the guide to teh left and right.

 My first test cut......it was a no go.  I needed to adjust the pressure.  I needed more pressure so I raised the feed roller closer to the blade.

Now we are CUTTING!!! yea - worked like a charm.

Love the scalloped edge.  

 More cutting!

My first cut strip.  I ended up cutting loads of strips for my wreath design. 

Here is the wreath I made with all my strips of fabric.

Visit this post for complete instructions.

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Let's Cut PaPeR!

 Cuts like a charm!  woo - hoo!

 Perfect for trimming scraps.

Here is the card I made using the papers cut on the machine. 
Visit this link for instructions!

Make it: Beach Towel Roll Up

Stitch up this handy beach towel that boasts a hidden compartment perfect for stowing your valuables and a cushy pillow. All you really need is couple of beach towels to get started.

Surfs up! With this beach towel roll up.

Supplies:
Two beach towels
Sewing pins
Sewing machine
Thread
Sew-on hook and loop tape
Two 30” lengths of ribbon
Polyester stuffing

Steps:

1. Lay your towels down one on top of the other with the wrong sides facing. Store-bought towels are not always exactly the size that is specified on the label, so your towels may not line up exactly. If this is the case, just line them up as best as you can – they don’t have to be exactly the same size for this project to work. Alternately, you can trim them and re-hem them to get them to be just the right size.

2. Divide your towels into thirds by measuring the length of the towels and dividing by three. Pin the towels together along each third point, pinning all the way across the width of the towels. Sew the towels together along each of these lines using a long straight stitch.

3. Stitch hook and loop tape to the inside edge of the towel layers in the middle third. Sew around all edges of the hook and loop tape to secure it. This third of the towel will form a sealable pocket where keys, jewelry and other valuables can be secretly hidden.

4. Find the center point at each end of the towel and pin the end of a 30” piece of ribbon in between the two towels at each of these points. Starting just below the hook and loop tape, stitch the towels together all along the perimeter, making sure to catch the ends of the ribbon as you stitch. If the binding along the edges of your towels is too thick to feed through your sewing machine, just stitch the towels together a little bit further in from the edge to avoid the thick binding. You want to leave one side of the top section open to stuff the pillow. Also do not stitch over the hook and loop section.

5. Stuff the top portion of the towel with poly stuffing. Pin the opening closed and stitch it shut using the machine or a hand whipstitch.

6. To roll-up the towel: Fold the towel in half with the ribbons together. Fold or roll up the lower portion of the towel, leaving the ribbon exposed at the top. Wrap the ribbons around the towel roll and tie together.