London Mummy

Happy New Year with a peek at some of my Christmas sewing and fab tutorial compilation.

Well so much for my resolution of keeping on top of blogging and emails, failed already :)  Thanks to all who emailed me wishing me a Happy Xmas and New Year, I will respond soon I promise. 

Anyway just wanted to pop in and say Happy New Year and hello to everyone visiting from The Long Thread.  Ellen has compiled an absolutely amazing list of Tutorials and kindly included my Handmade Skittles and Ball Tutorial.  For those of you suffering from post Christmas crafting withdrawal go and check out the raft of wonderful tutorials she has featured, many of which I hadn't come across before.  She also has a really cute Reversable Skirt Pattern available in her Etsy Shop along with some cute machine embroidery designs for applique - go take a look!

As for me, I've been busy continuing with my DIY, more progress reports on that next week hopefully and trying to upload and edit some of my Christmas gift crafting photos:

Love this Robert Kaufman "Hot Couturier" print and thought the small scale would be perfect for a little doll's bed quilt set for a very special little girl who turned two on Christmas Day and has also just become a big sister to a new baby brother.

I teamed it with some very soft, fine red and white striped cotton/linen blend which was actually a real pain to work with but loved the combination of the fabrics.  The binding is the Michael Miller Garden Pindot - I cheated and just stitched both sides on in one go.  The quilt itself measures approx 21 inches by 18 inches and I simply quilted 3 inch squares - I like to keep things simple round here :)  For the pillow I made a simple calico stuffed one and then made the little patchwork cover using the fabrics I had used for the quilt - have to say I love this little set and will be making more for London Mummy soon.

I also made her this little scarf:

Really simple to make, a rectangle of the pretty blue floral fabric which is a lovely soft brushed cotton, a layer of "Warm and Natural" batting and some dark midnight blue soft corduroy for the reverse.  Plan to add a button and button hole but need to double check her neck size first - I have a habit of underestimating sizing :)

A few people asked me for a tutorial on the pyramid fabric shapes, both in the kids play size and door stop size and I will try and post that later on this week, provided I finish Livvy's floor first! 

Free Sewing tutorial - Lined pencil case or pouch with central zipper

 
A few people have asked me for a tutorial for this pouch or pencil case with a central zipper and lining so I'm happy to oblige :)  These are great for using up small fabric scraps.  If you alter the sizing to suit your needs, these are so useful for all sorts of different things, make up brushes, storing your undies etc when travelling - Livvy wants me to make her a larger one to put her loose papers etc in for school rather than using an ugly plastic wallet.

Apologies for the poor lighting, it is such a dull grey day here today.

For this tutorial I'm going to make a pencil case size so you will need the following:

OUTER FABRIC - cut one piece measuring 21cm by 21cm - I used some of Anna Maria Horner's Bohemian fabric in a lovely aubergine colour, although the washed out photos don't do it justice at all.

LINING FABRIC - cut one piece measuring 21cm by a width of 20cm - the width of the lining is slightly less as you will be fitting this inside the finished outer case.  I like to use linen as it adds a bit of weight to the finished case - I also used some black iron on interfacing to stiffen this pretty purple linen. 

ZIPPER

TO MAKE THE OUTER CASE

Turn under (wrong sides facing) half a cm on two opposite ends of your outer fabric and press:

Tack/baste one of your turned under ends to the zipper - I used basting tape to save a bit of time.

If you are not familiar with basting tape, it is basically just a self adhesive tape, cut a strip to the required length, press to the edge of the zip (the good side) and peel away the backing paper.  This leaves you with a self adhesive strip you can press your folded under edge of fabric to as below:

Now machine stitch in place using a zipper foot:

Again using the basting tape, I attached the other end of the outer fabric to the zipper - this will automatically form a tube shape and you will need to open the zipper to enable you to machine stitch it in place - a little bit fiddly when you get to the end but not too bad:

 

Now we are going to sew up the side seams.  Pull the zipper about halfway and turn your tube inside out - DO NOT FORGET TO HAVE THE ZIP PARTIALLY OPEN - otherwise you won't be able to turn your outer case right side out after you have sewn the side seams - I hate having to unpick when I forget to do this - it is so easily done if you get distracted :)

I use a safety pin to help hold the ends of the zipper close together and a measuring gauge to centre my zip - press lightly and then you don't really need to pin before sewing the side seams.

 

Use a 0.5cm seam allowance and backstitch at your starting, stopping points and over the zip.

 

Put the outer case to one side whilst we make the lining.

TO MAKE THE LINING CASE

On the two sides which measure 21cm , turn under and press 0.5 cm (wrong sides together - you can see the black interfacing I used):

Turn over so that the wrong side of the fabric is face down (not shown) and using the measuring gauge again fold the two turned edges towards the middle as shown - if you were to peek inside you should see the right/good side of your fabric.

 

Press the folded edges and sew the side seams - 0.5 cm.

 

Trim the seamed sides of both the outer and lining cases with pinking shears, this is when you cut off the excess zipper too..

Remove the safety pin and turn the outer case right side out - gently push out the corners with a point turner, chopstick or your fingers if you have nothing else to hand :)   I like to gently press the outside case at this point too.

Now insert the lining case inside the outer case as shown below - the wrong side of your inside case will face the wrong side of your outer case and enclose the raw edges of the seams:

 

I use my point turner to gently ease the lining case right into the corners  don't worry if you find the lining case is a little too bulky to fit the width nicely,  just stitch another seam line slightly further in from the previous line of stitching and trim again - not too much though otherwise you could end up making the lining too small to fit well!

 

Added another photo as light is better today and want to show just how lovely the fabrics are really :)

Now hand stitch the lining to the underside edge of the zipper - I don't turn it inside out to do this I just kind of roll it over so that I can access it easily - I hope that makes sense!  I like to use invisible thread so that my stitches don't show even if I accidentally let the needle go all the way through to the outside of the outer case but it's entirely up to you :)

That's it, you're done, do let me know if something doesn't make sense but hopefully the photo overload should do the trick.  I hope people aren't offended that I tend to go into such detail on my tutorials, it's just that if you are an absolute novice then more info is definitely better.

I usually like to add some beads and ribbon to the zipper pull but this particular zipper didn't have a hole in the pull so I couldn't but it was such a great colour match I wanted to use it.

A note on buying zippers, I bought a huge job lot on ebay ages ago, a complete mixed bag of colours which means I usually have a suitable colour zipper on hand plus it worked out a lot cheaper that way.  The company is Zipperstop and they are based in New York.  Here is a link to their ebay auctions for bulk buy zippers.  They ship worldwide and now also seem to stock all sorts of other bits and pieces too.

Sewing Tutorial - Handmade Vintage Style Fabric Skittles and Ball Gift Set for Kids

A while ago I promised a tutorial for my set of handmade vintage style fabric skittles and I'm pleased to say it is now done for you.  I thought this might be a cute little project for a handmade Christmas Gift for a child.

If anything isn't clear, please let me know and if you make a set of these please do send me a link or  picture - I love to see everyone's fabric choices :)

This is also the method I use for making bolster cushions etc, basically anything which is a cylindrical shape, just change the size and proportions to suit your project.

For each skittle cut a piece of fabric measuring 20 cm in height by 16 cm in width and two circles 5 cm in diameter.

Download skittlestemplates.pdf

To make a set of six skittles, you will need to cut 6 of the rectangles - I used three different prints for my set, all from the Alexander Henry Sage Glen Kids range - sadly now discontinued.

You need to cut 12 of the 5 cm diameter circles - I like to use corduroy for my circles as it gives a bit of grip when you stand the skittles.

Fold under and press approx 0.5 cm along each of the long sides - this helps with your starting and stopping points plus makes it easier when you come to slip stitch your skittle closed. 

On the wrong side of one of your circles,  mark a dot approx 0.5 cm in and then place the circle, right sides facing, onto the rectangle - lining the dot along the fold and the edge of the circle with the top (shorter) edge of the rectangle so that when you start to sew from the dot you are approx 0.5 cm from the top (shorter) edge of the rectangle.

  
Now sew your circle to the rectangle, insert the needle into the dot and it should be on the fold you made earlier.  Keep the outer edge of the circle aligned with the edge of the rectangle, every 5 or 6 stitches, I stop, insert the needle, lift the presser foot and turn the circle to align with the edges again, lower the presser foot and continue - just go slowly and you will be fine. 

You should end up on the fold on the opposite side of the rectangle.  At the starting and stopping  points backstitch a little to secure the stitches.

Repeat at the other end with another circle.

Now you are going to stitch the 2 long sides together (right sides facing and use the groove of the folds you pressed earlier).  Leave a gap of approx 5 cm or so in the middle so that you can turn it right side out - again backstitch at your starting and stopping points to secure your stitches. 

Now turn right side out and gently run your finger along the seams from the inside to gently press them open a little.

Fill the bottom of the skittle - about 5 cm or so, with dried rice to give it some weight which will help the skittle stand upright and then fill the rest with polyfill or similar.  Slip stitch the opening closed and then tie a fabric tie or piece of scrap fabric - I just literally cut a rectangle, folded and pressed in the sides and pinking sheared the ends and tied it around the top of the skittle to form the head shape.

Now onto the fabric ball:

Cut 6 of these shapes from your chosen fabrics, again I used 3 different prints. 

Unfortunately my scanner has died on me so I can't give you a template for this shape at the moment I'm afraid.   I made my own template out of card - top to bottom is 12 cm and the width is 5 cm at the widest point.  I just drew a line 12 cm long and at the halfway point  drew a line 2.5 cm  in length at a right angle. I then  drew a freehand curve to join the 3 points together, cut it out and placed my template on the folded edge  of my layered fabric - that way I didn't have to worry about the edges not matching up if  I tried to draw the whole shape freehand. 

Mark a dot at the two outer points approx 0.5 cm in from the edge on the wrong side of the fabric and sew (right sides facing) following the line of the curve.  I don't bother pinning the two pieces together but just press lightly with an iron which help hold them together whilst I stitch.  As always, backstitch to secure at your starting and stopping points.

In the same way, stitch another piece onto one of the first two pieces.

 Now you have one half of your ball.

Repeat with the other 3 pieces so that you now have two separate halves of a ball. 

Join the two halves together, right sides facing and leave a gap in the middle of one edge to enable you to turn

the ball right side out.  Press the edges open to help you slip stitch it later.

Turn through, stuff  - I make a little bag of rice to slip in the centre to give the ball a bit of  weight and then surround that with polyfill.  Slip stitch closed and you're all done!

Kimono Top from a great free sewing tutorial and a spot of organizing!

I am definitely the kind of person who likes to be organized, now anyone visiting my home might think that is NOT the case given the complete shambles it is in right now, but I just love sorting and putting things into boxes etc. 

My ribbon and trim stash were somewhat messily, for me,  organized into ziplock bags in a large box - not bad but it was not the perfect solution.  I often gaze in envy at those who have entire rolls of ribbon and trim neatly hanging on a rod, ready to be used at a moments notice but frankly, given the cost of trims and ribbons in the UK, particularly when your favourite haunt is the delightful V V Rouleaux a girl has to know her limits.

Whilst playing with admiring  my embroidery floss collection I was bemoaning the lack of suitable holders for ribbon and trims, why can't I find something like the little plastic holders for the floss but in a larger size I moaned to the lady in our local haberdashery shop - a gap in the market there if ever I saw one!  Well after some time spent searching on the internet I came across Cropper Hopper nothing new to all you girls in the US I'm sure but a revelation to this Brit who had an absolute ball sorting out all her ribbons - how sad is that :)

 

The perpex boxes are from Muji and the ribbons and trim fit perfectly - hmm, trouble is now my stash doesn't look that large, perhaps it is time to go shopping!

I wonder, could there be something similar for the fabric stash?  Perhaps along the lines of  the cardboard used for storing bolts of fabric seen in the stores - ah but would Muji make boxes large enough to hold them?  It would save all that unfolding and refolding of fabrics - perhaps I'll ask some of the fabric shops down in Shepherds Bush what they do with all the empty ones.

And now to a little sewing news:

Hanging on Olivia's newly painted antique sleigh bed, which she has had since she was about two, you see before you a sweet little Kimono top.  I found a great tutorial on the Habitual Blog.  This one is in a size 6-12 months and is a gift for  friend of a friend's baby girl.

 

I used two prints from Heather Ross' Lightning Bugs and other Mysteries by Free Spirit fabrics, you can purchase it from Sew Mama Sew and they will ship to the UK 

Depending on how this one fits little Celeste,  I plan to make her some more.  I think I'll change the internal tie to a button or a snap fastener and play around with the sleeves a little.  These are so satisfying to make and just so cute. 

Anyone else made some already?

Messing around with Fabric Scraps

Yet another long break - I'm slowly getting into my London Mummy/part time work/full time parenting mode but I have to apologize for being really behind on answering emails.  Thank you so much to all of you who took the time to leave the lovely comments on my last post - I will reply to your emails as soon as I can.

The part time job is going well, it is with a very good friend of mine, also a mummy who works in a completely different field to me as a mortgage broker, interesting time to be working in that field given the current state of the mortgage market.  I hadn't realized until now just how much I have missed the regular company of other people during the day, plus there is the added bonus of playing with her gorgeous fourteen month old daughter, Elena on a regular basis  :)

Not a lot of crafting been happening around here lately but I have been wanting to make a little set of these for some time now:

I love the (now discontinued) Sage Glen Kids fabrics from Alexander Henry and thought they would be perfect for this little project - vintage style skittles based on the style of the old vintage wooden sets which I thought would make a sweet little toddler gift.

These are so easy and satisfying to make,  I filled the bottom of each skittle with a little bit of rice to  give them added weight to enable them to stand upright and added some rice to the little fabric ball too.

Each skittle is just a simple cylinder shape, rather like a bolster cushion, then I just used little fabric scraps for the ties to give them the shape I wanted at the top.

If anyone would like me to provide a simple sewing tutorial, just let me know :)

I've also been playing around with some more soft fabric shapes:

These are basically just a variation on  the soft fabric cubes - I kind of like the idea of making lots of various sizes and adding some velcro so that they can be  used as building blocks for imaginative play plus I thought they would be a fun way to learn different shapes. 

Livvy decided the small cylinder shape would make the perfect seat/pouffe for a little dolls house and is keen for me to make a little soft sofa too.

The pyramid is made in the same way you would make a fabric doorstop, just on a smaller scale - these are all a great way to use up little fabric scraps  :

Basically four triangles and a square for the base - the sides of the square simply measure the same as the bottom of each triangle - again if anyone wants a simple sewing tutorial just holler :) 

Right we are off out to enjoy some much longer for sunshine - such a shame that the weather yesterday was so poor for the boat race, but many congratulations to the winning team, Oxford!