Enter the draft stopper! I didn't put much design into this--- just pulled some similar-in-length scraps from recent projects, sewed them together, connected the two ends with circular pieces to help form a tube, and then sewed it up leaving a gap in the middle to turn it inside out and stuff. For the stuffing, I also used some of the unsewable scraps I have been saving up from recent projects. So a double-recycling win AND an energy efficiency win!
A quick project using up some recent scraps, both internally and externally. I don't heat my bedroom or spare room, which means that in these frosty winter temperatures, the contrast between those rooms and the main space can be a little dramatic. No complaints when it comes to sleeping, but I wanted to manage the flow of air between the two spaces so I am not wasting energy.
Enter the draft stopper! I didn't put much design into this--- just pulled some similar-in-length scraps from recent projects, sewed them together, connected the two ends with circular pieces to help form a tube, and then sewed it up leaving a gap in the middle to turn it inside out and stuff. For the stuffing, I also used some of the unsewable scraps I have been saving up from recent projects. So a double-recycling win AND an energy efficiency win!
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While the title of this post is not a very clever play on "Lovin' Spoonful", I generally stand behind my latest experiment of making quilted oven mitts. In short, I had a bunch of quilt batting off-cuts from the many quilts made this year, and I was trying to think of ways to use them that didn't involve basting them into another big piece to use for another quilt. (I hate throwing out things that can be sewn, even batting, but even I have limits....)
Inspired by my super grimy pair of 12-year-old oven mitts, I decided to experiment with a basic template/ process for making a pair, and was so inspired I got a little carried away playing around. In short, I cut 4 rectangles of batting to an approximate mitt-appropriate size (plus seam allowance). I did try cutting the batting into mitt shapes before quilting the fabric on to the batting, but that came out awkwardly. So I found it easier to quilt a rectangle of fabric and cut out the mitt forms from the batting and fabric together once they have been sandwiched and quilted. I picked out some fun fabrics for both the inside and outside of the mitts (spending a little more time/effort on the outside to put on a cuff/ add details, etc... and then quilted each of the sandwiched panels. Once everything is quilted (I liked using variegated thread!) and cut into a mitt forms, I make a little loop toggle out of a coordinating fabric to hang them up, and sew two of the mitt panels right sides together, bind the raw edge at the opening of the mitt, and bob's you uncle! This was a fun way to use some smaller bits of fabric, and also to use some of my enormous stash of quilt batting off-cuts. Hooray on both counts! For me, sewing is both a creative pursuit and often a catharsis. I sew to make the world beautiful in my own small way, and in doing so I also sometimes try to quietly heal myself and others. There is something about the plush softness of fabric, the pliability, the sinking-in and relaxation inherent in the final product that conveys some of what I want to be giving to the recipient. This project embodied this underlying motivation, making a plush pillow for two of my colleagues who have survived a challenging work context with me together (hence the purple heart). I wanted it to look fractured and complex and yet ultimately whole, beautiful and unified, so I pieced together small bits of purple fabric into mosaic panels, which I then cut into squares accompanied by a soft grey to construct a simple but complex heart. Bordered by a complimentary grey, backed by a plush green upholstery fabric and filled with organic cotton stuffing and lavender buds for an added aura of relaxation, these matching pillows (one of each of them) hopefully mark a challenging context and most importantly, surviving and thriving despite the challenge. A fun and satisfying project!
Inspired by Canada's 150th celebrations this year, I've made some Canadian bunting to deck the halls/ walls/ decks/ etc... Sturdy, resuable, suitable for indoors or outdoors, 100% washable, approximately 2 meters long and great for Canada's 150th, Canada Day or even sports events and other patriotic moments, this bunting is an eco-friendly patriot's dream! Available with roping made in coordinated or contrasting grey fabric. Check out my Etsy shop if you are interested in picking up your own set and get your Sesquicentennial on, eh!
Playing around with some more intricate cozy designs, and made this is a customized tea cozy made for Christine H. for her birthday with some semi-intricate piecing, made in colors to match her new décor/ informed by her tastes. Took quite a bit longer than a solid design, but I like the result. In terms of customization, the teal-and-spotted triangles were pieced from small off-cut triangles from another project (#recycling) but also reflect her new accent colors, the traditional florals at the top are from a couple of vintage pieces found at a craft fair inspired by her teacup collection, the gold stripes reflect her gold shelves in the updated living space, and I added some small panels of leafy greens inspired by her love of Blanche Devereaux's wallpaper in The Golden Girls. The whole thing is lined with a graphic print of apples and limes (see my grocery bag experiment), and bound with some homemade bias tape. TBH, based on her reaction I am not sure that she liked the cozy that much, but I am pleased with how it turned out. So there you go! Can't win them all, but I enjoyed the process of thinking about the elements, and am generally pleased the final outcome
A fun experiment to make a cool puppy crate cover for my sister's new puppy, Garby. The crate sits in the middle of the living room and was just covered with a towel, so I wanted to make something that looked a little nicer for day-to-day use. Used some of the dog-themed left-over fabric from the Dogs Playing Poker art event, along with some other upcycled fabric in my stash (thanks Margie and Value Village!). I didn't have a pattern to make this of course, but did have the general dimensions of the crate so I improvised. Features include:
Despite what one may conclude based on my recent posts, I do actually make quilts... I am working on two lovely lap quilts right now but, they are gifts so I will post more when they have been safely ensconced in their new homes so as not to ruin the reveal.
So in the meantime/ at the same time, I am still on the bag train, this time experimenting with designs for reusable grocery bags made with upcycled fabric. I got a big remnant piece of this slightly strange, graphic lime/apple fabric at Value Village and decided to play around a bit. I used as a 'pattern' an existing reusable bag that is well loved and I have had for almost 10 years, and then went to town! I am loving the design of this bag, though it does take a fair amount of time and fabric to make. Will play around with some other ideas in the coming weeks/months. Highlights of this effort include:
I have been playing in the National Capital Concert Band for three years now, and have been lugging my music stand and music folder to and from rehearsals/concerts in a ratty reusable grocery bag. Time for an upgrade! I picked up a small remnant of the black-and-red instrument fabric a year ago, but only recently got my act together to make a tote for my band accoutrements. Nice to have this project off my to-do list!
Features/ lessons learned include:
Inspired by the winter weather, I REALLY got into tea cozies this winter. I am a tea-ficionado from way back, and love making accessories to enable my obsession. I found a basic PDF pattern on Sew4Home's blog to use as inspiration, and adapted to my own liking (ie: shortened the length, added extra curve to the bottom edge to ensure maximum table contact (meaning maximum warming power), used a smaller seam allowance, etc...) and then started playing around! I had fun matching the outer fabric with a complimentary and fun lining, experimenting with binding (I liked using stuff I made myself bast), adding decorative pull tabs at the top, quilting the front simply with some shimmery thread, and using the serger to finish the inner seam.
I have made a bunch now and really like how you can play with color in making these things. I also like the personalization factor-- of note is the last picture in this post, which features a tea cozy made out of a plaid skirt that my aunts shared back when they were growing up together. I loved repurposing a well-loved piece of clothing into something they can look at and enjoy every day. Plus, I added a little bit of lavender in the quilted pockets so that they would get a delicate waft of provence while they are keeping their teapots warm. For a lover of reading, a lover of sewing and a lover of scrap busting, these bookmarks are the prefect labour of love for me. Essentially I just went through some of my lovely-patterned but smaller scraps, and after sorting into some color/pattern families, I sewed them into random but pleasing sheets of pieced fabric. From there, I cut the results into 3x9 strips, sandwiched them with interfacing and a backing fabric, sewed it up with a gap to turn them right side out and topstitched after a solid pressing with the iron. They are of course a bit fussy and time-consuming to make, but are oh so satisfyingly book-y and scrap-bust-y to complete!
I sold a bunch at the recent 613Flea holiday market in November 2016, and will also be giving some to my bookclub members and other booky friends this holiday season. Hooray! |
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January 2024
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