Month: November 2013

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Sewing Tools #1

Favorite tools

There are some sewing tools that I just can’t do without.  I have my favorites because they do the work I want them to do.  I’d like to introduce you to just a few of my best friends on my sewing table….

Let’s start with the sharp stuff: I’m a big fan of Gingher scissors and shears. I am very persnickety when it comes to having sharp scissors to work with, and my Ginghers have never failed me. I use a pair of Dressmaker Shears and Embroidery Scissors. Never, never, NEVER, let your good shears cut paper, and always treat them with great respect on the cutting table. I keep the Embroidery Scissors on a lanyard around my neck while sewing so that I don’t have to dig around when it is time to clip a thread.  My Ginghers cut very straight and never give me grief. I use Fiskars Softgrip pinking shears for cutting cotton fabrics and cutting around curves. This pair with the orange handles is very ergonomic for my hands.  When buying scissors and shears, select a quality brand like Gingher or Fiskars.  Before buying (because they can be expensive), use a friend’s pair for a day or try out a pair in the store so that you can see if the handles and general feel are good for you.

Ball point pins are my favorite type of pin, but even if they are not ball points, I still like pins that have bead heads or something that helps me handle them (rather than the flat head of a standard pin).  I have a pin cuff that I wear around my wrist when pinning a pattern.  Actually, I have a couple of these, some of which are magnetized. Chopsticks are very useful for turning and for making corners just right, and in the photo you can see two types: one with a pointy end and another with a square end.  I use both depending on the job to be done.

Choosing the right sewing tools can make the difference between a frustrating day and a pleasurable day sewing.

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Iron-On Fun

While waiting for Granddaughter sEaMcRaZy, we had a Baby Shower Onesie Party! We used SarahSaysSew’s fun templates and decorated onesies, bibs, blankets, burp pads, and anything else we could find iron flat!

Many of our guests were not “crafty” but they soon found their inner sEaMcRaZiNeSs! SteamASeam made it very easy and the templates were cute and just perfect. Granddaughter sEaMcRaZy is modeling one of our creations – a bib decorated with hearts.

 

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Easy No-Sew Fleece Blanket Tutorial

sEaMcRaZy's Easy No-Sew Fleece Blanket

Go to any craft store and you will likely see tied fleece blanket kits. The “Easy No-Sew Fleece Blanket” uses a slightly different technique and you end up with a smoother, less bumpy un-knotted edge.  Instead of knotting, we will use a “poke” technique. You will see what I mean in a minute. First, gather your supplies.

Here’s the list:

1 1/2 yards of 60″ wide fleece (I used a butterfly print)

1 1/2 yards of 60″ wide fleece (I used orange)

scissors

5″ square (or if you do not have one, you can measure with a ruler)

June Tailor Quarter Cut

rotary cutter

cutting mat

Choose complementary colors for the fleece. I think a pattern and a solid looks nice. You might want to try two solids for a collegiate look. For this project (a lap quilt), we picked out a colorful butterfly print and a solid orange as contrast.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tL-KzM83fNA/Un2L_pjnsEI/AAAAAAAACHk/uqYFmVO7rEQ/s144-c-o/SDC11919.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/November82013#5944061008802197570″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”SDC11919.JPG” pe2_img_align=”none” ]

Most of the time, fleece has a curly edge that might even have some words on it. Go ahead and cut that off.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WxpYH_ccz6Y/Un2L_xnZqXI/AAAAAAAACHo/jDiu_-z6S-g/s144-c-o/SDC11921.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/November82013#5944061010965539186″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”SDC11921.JPG” pe2_img_align=”none” ]

Now it is time to match the edges of the two fleece pieces. Put one on top of the other, wrong sides together. Square up the edges, and pin the blanket together so that it does not shift while you are moving it around.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iji0dxhiNas/Un2L8QRDSmI/AAAAAAAACHY/ENeC9dRkClw/s144-c-o/SDC11922.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/November82013#5944060950473820770″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”SDC11922.JPG” pe2_img_align=”none” ]

Slide the cutting mat under one corner of the blanket. Carefully cut a 5″ exact square. We will cut a 5″ square from each corner. I think it helps to keep the blanket straight if we cut one corner, then work toward the next corner, and then cut a 5″ square, rather than cut all four corners at once.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RI7xbUKJu8I/Un2MAhX2YSI/AAAAAAAACHw/lLH4RsTXj20/s144-c-o/SDC11924.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/November82013#5944061023785214242″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”SDC11924.JPG” pe2_img_align=”none” ]

We are going to cut strips 1 1/2″ wide by 5″ along each edge. Between each cut, we will cut a short 1″ cut between. [pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aPyd00oWXZc/Un2Vyt9w1dI/AAAAAAAACJQ/xOsBB5LTRzs/s144-c-o/scheme.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCLKD2eWJqtH-SQ#5944071781763569106″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”scheme.jpg” pe2_img_align=”none” ]

I like to use June Taylor’s Quarter Cut for this task, but you can also measure and cut. When I use the Quarter Cut template, I use painter’s tape to mark the lines. I put the tape 5″ from the edge, and mark the grooves that are long and short cuts.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CGI4H1AmFuU/Un2LQM_XC1I/AAAAAAAACGg/u19ALU4pBEU/s144-c-o/SDC11925.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCLKD2eWJqtH-SQ#5944060193680067410″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”SDC11925.JPG” pe2_img_align=”none” ]

Make sure the edges of the blanket are very neat and straight. Put the template over the fabric and cut the strips as noted above.  When you get near to the next corner, stop and cut the 5″ square from the corner, then complete your cuts. Turn the corner and begin again, cutting 5″ strips that are 1 -1/2″ apart, with a 1″ small cut near the top of the strip.

After cutting all around the blanket, set your cutting tools aside. Here is where we will use the “poke” technique. Pick up a two layer strip; hold the top strip in one hand and the bottom in another. Poke the top strip into the small cut in the bottom strip. Now the bottom strip is on top. Poke this strip into the small cut in the other strip. In other words, poke top in slit, then poke top in slit. I used butterfly fabric and orange fabric, so my mantra went something like this: butterfly into orange, orange into butterfly. Gently pull through.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gQsTd8Ah_Vo/Un2Za_PX4EI/AAAAAAAACJo/RtMMmsevj7E/s144-c-o/2013-11-08.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/Seamcrazy02#5944075772130484290″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”2013-11-08.jpg” ]

Here is a close up of the pokes:

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0l2-cbhv-GI/Un2LOY1VoKI/AAAAAAAACF8/jj5WjcnSvC0/s144-c-o/SDC11936.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCLKD2eWJqtH-SQ#5944060162499518626″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”SDC11936.JPG” ]

And a longer view:

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rOCV-Hb6-hI/Un2LR0iXIFI/AAAAAAAACHM/-ZPHWtzrcW0/s144-c-o/SDC11935.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/110956043075394460751/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCLKD2eWJqtH-SQ#5944060221475725394″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”SDC11935.JPG” ]

This no-knotty “poke” technique makes a great baby blanket, too. It’s also super as a lap blanket now that the weather has started to turn a little chilly.

sEaMcRaZy Edna has been enjoying her cozy new “Easy No-Sew Fleece Blanket,” and we are thinking about making another very soon…..

 

 

 

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Hot Stuff Hot Pad/Mitt

Here’s a hot story – don’t get burned by evil cook pots and pans! This Hot Stuff Hot Pad/Mitt makes the kitchen a little bit more bearable.

I think it turned out nice; and it’s been given a test run with some hot microwave baked sweet potatoes yesterday and some biscuits today. I like the fact that it doubles as a hot pad and a mitt.  With Insul-bright insulating batting inside, it protect hands and countertops.

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Red Wheelchair Tote

Red is Edna’s favorite color; if she ever has a choice of fabric, the red fabric ends up on the cutting table. She recently made this very nice Wheelchair Tote in – you guessed it – red floral cotton.  The Tote hangs from the back of the chair by ties.  She added a velcro top closure, two velcro closure pockets on the outside, and two on the inside. She used self-fabric buttons to give it a tailored look. It will match the wheelchair, which happens to be red, by the way.