Quick Scarf Tutorial...

Looking for a quick gift? We've got you covered. I was on the Moda Bakeshop website the other night and found this fun and easy scarf pattern. It takes one charm pack and 20 inches of flannel (WOF). Here's how mine turned out...

First you take your charm squares and mix them up and pair them so you can zip through chain piecing them. YES, I said mix them up! Put away your OCD for now, believe me it'll be great! After I paired up my squares I just stacked them up and started stitching.

Once you get all your pairs stitched then press them open. Be sure to press half one way and then the other so when you stitch your four patches they will nest nicely. Then pin your seam so you will have nice corners. When you press your four patches, to avoid have that bulk of fabric in the middle of your block snip your fabric and then press. Be sure NOT to snip your stitching!

Then just continue adding to your scarf. Repeating the process of pinning and pressing. I used all but two charm squares. Once you get all your patches sewn together, press and cut your flannel into two strips 9 1/2 inches by WOF. You'll need to sew them together end to end RST. Then lay your flannel strip RST with your patchwork and even them up, pin and stitch 1/4 inch seam around the outside leaving and opening on the side to flip out your scarf.

After I turned out the scarf I stitched another 1/4 inch seam around the edge to close it up and give it a more finished look. There voila' you have a lovely scarf!

 

 So what do you think!! Easy and fast! Send us your photos if you make one! We'd love to see how they turn out! Happy stitching and may your bobbins always be full!

Aprons!

Looking through gift ideas, I keep coming back to aprons. I love aprons, especially home-made aprons. The ones you find in stores just don't always give me what I'm looking for, so I'm always looking at apron patterns. Over the next few weeks for our feature of 'Gifts Under $30' I will be offering quick apron tutorials.

Just as an FYI of what's coming up. We will also be featuring designer Erica Plank of Unseen Hands. We will get to pick her brain and tour her studio! I can't wait!! I am also putting together a tutorial to make your own 'color catchers' so stay tuned. A great way to keep up with what we are doing is to become a 'Lovely Reader' over to the right! We will also be offering specials exclusively to our 'Readers' so you don't want to miss out!



Back to aprons... in the shop right now we have this adorable panel to make this quick apron. I took it one step further and backed mine and made the ties wider. I'm also thinking of just using this as a template to make others just the same. They are so quick and you can make them more appropriate for a female OR male, which is also a nice plus!

This panel also comes in this great fat quarter tower, so you could make other things to coordinate! Mug rugs come to mind or table toppers... just get creative!!

Hope this helps you to get your creative juices going!! Happy sewing and may your bobbins always be full!

Napkins...

Now that Autumn has officially begun, all my thoughts are on gifts. Family, friends, hostess gifts! I guess I'm just a giver and I love hospitality. People gathering together to share a meal and some time together. All excuses to decorate and embellish things around your home to make them more inviting.

I've been going through other blogs and magazine for new ideas of things to make to continue our theme of gifts for under $30. When you make it yourself it can be easily done and they can be so fun and personal!

A few posts back I gave you a tutorial for our 10 Minute Table Runner. I kind of got in a groove and got addicted to completed projects!! So when I made a 'runner' for my step-mom I had to make napkins to go with, so here's what I did.

For this project you will need:

• sewing machine
• rotary cutter and cutting mat
• cotton thread (we used 50 wt)
• straight pins (if you'd like)
• 2 yrds of main fabric
• 1/6 yrd coordinating fabric

1. Press

As always you need to press your fabric. Remember NOT to iron, as this can distort and stretch your fabric.

2. Square up

Remember to square up your fabric so your end product will lay nicely. If you're not sure how to do this see our later post. Click here...

3. Cut your fabric

I cut my main fabric to 12 1/4 x 15 1/2 and my coordinating fabric and bottom (main fabric) to 2 1/2 inch strips.

4. Sew

Next I sewed the strips and main fabric together with 1/4 seams and pressed. Then I sewed the pieced front to the back, right sides together leaving a small opening to turn out.

5. Turn out and poke out corners...

Next I turned out my napkin and used my 'Purple Thang', yes that's actually what it's called and poked out the corners. Then press.

6. Back to the machine...

Once you have your napkin pressed, then you need stitch the open closed and I top stitched around the napkin. Then you're done!!

 

 

Once you make one, you'll get them down and find your own style! They make a great gift and they're 'green' if you're into that too! Happy sewing and may your bobbins always be full!!