How to make a curtain for a cubby hole or shelves.

As Summer draws to a close more of our customers have been talking about house hold sewing projects that they have been putting off until the nights have drawn in. Many are currently lining their curtains to help stop drafts and to cut down on their  heating bills. Some people spoke of making their rooms look tidier by placing simple curtains over cubby holes or shelves.  These curtains are often held in place with the same wire as net curtains. There are many fabrics  that are suitable for a project like this, from the classic Gingham fabric to cotton prints and satin. I decided to make a satin curtain with an organza over lay to add a little sparkle.

You will need;

Fabric (I used Satin  and organza)
Pins
Thread
Needle
Scissors

Step One. Measure and cut your fabric.

The cuby hole I am covering is 60cm by 135cm. I want my curtains to have a bit of fullness and so I am making two curtains that are 45 cm wide.
I cut out two rectangles of 49cm by 145cm to allow for hems and seams. I then used these as a template to cut out the organza.





Step Two. Hem the satin and the organza panels.

Normally we hem things towards the end of construction, but for this method we need to hem first. A chequered pattern on your ironing board is a real help in making sure your hems are neat and even. To hem fold the edge of the fabric towards the wrong side of the fabric, press and then fold the fabric again. Stitch in place.









Step Three. Baste the organza to the satin.

A basting stitch is a long stitch that is not seen in the final product. Basting stitches are used to reinforce a section of a garment that may get placed under strain, such as an arm hole, or to hold two or more pieces of fabric together as they are manipulated.

Place the WRONG side of the organza (the side which has the hem  folded up on it) on top of the RIGHT side of the satin.  Pin the fabrics together along the long edge and paste with a small seam allowance (I used 5mm). Even though the stitch won't be seen it is still a good idea to make the seam as neat as possible.  Repeat  on the other side and on the second curtain.

Step Three.  Hem the sides.

Hem the sides of the curtains in the same way as the bottom of the curtains but with  narrower hem (in this case I  used 5mm). The hemming is made much easier by basting the two layers of fabric together first. Many people try to skip the basting phase of construction. However basting only takes a few minutes and really makes the future steps of construction easier, quicker and neater.

Step Four.  Make a casing for the wire.

A casing for the wire can be made in exactly the same way as the lower hem. However when folding over the fabric measure the curtains to make sure they are of the right length.

A simple curtain that you can put together very quickly. Whilst I love my books a curtain like this can help make a more cluttered book shelf look neater (such as a shelf full of files or reports).

Have a look around your home and see what other quick sewing projects you can complete to enrich your surroundings.

Thoughts on making toys

We have often given you tutorials on how to make things that are suitable gifts, such as the carrier bag holder or kindle cover. We have also uploaded tutorials for projects that kids can make their selves, like our non-sewing cushion cover. However there is not much information out there for making toys FOR children. It can be a thorny issue as everyone is concerned about child safety.  So we've put our heads together and come up with a few things to think about when making a toy.

What are "Child Proof Eyes"?

Non-Child safe nose with washer

Child proof nose with hole

Most teddies and dolls have plastic of glass eyes and noses. These rounded eyes have a stem on the back which pokes through the fabric. They are then held in place with a washer which grips the stem. It doesn't take too much effort to pull the eyes (or noses) out. This represents a very real choking hazard. To help prevent this child proof eyes have a small hole drilled through the stem. Once the eyes are in place and the washer griping the stem tightly you can sew through this hole, stitching the eye to the fabric. Thus if the washer is worked lose the eye will not come out.  However in toys for younger children you can be even safer by replacing plastic eyes with fabric eyes that you appliqué on. Ensure the fabric doesn't fray first (give it a lot of tugs along the edge) or hem the eyes (a roll hemming foot is fantastic for this). Then stitch the eyes in place. Don't rely JUST on glue, although gluing the eyes in place first makes the sewing a lot easier.

What fabrics are suitable for a soft toy?
When people think of soft toys their first thought tends to be fuzzy teddy bears. There is a wide selection of teddy bear fur available and most of it is suitable for soft toys. However there a few things to think about.

Make sure the fur does not pull away from the backing fabric easily.

For toys for younger kids it's best to avoid very long pile fur as this can become a chocking hazard.

Avoid fabrics that are overly flammable (if in doubt to a quick burn test on a small sample).

Of course you don't HAVE to use fun fur. Soft natural velvet makes  a very soft and cuddly teddy. I have also seen some very cute toys in cotton.

How  do I pick a design?

 If you decide to use a commercial pattern for your toy then the pattern will give you recommended age ranges. Again there are a few simple things to think about.

Chocking hazards. When children put things in their mouths they may not just be tasting them. It's how babies and young children feel different shapes and textures. So avoid making toys with long limbs as these will end up in the little ones mouths and present a choking hazard.

You don't have to make a teddy at all. One of our customers made her child a cuddly book! Each page was a different colour with an animal appliquéd on top it. The cover was padded and very cuddly.

As well as sewing patterns we do sell some sewing kits and crocheting kits for stuffed toys.

What can I stuff the toys with?
We recommend Hollow Fill stuffing. It conforms with safety regulations as well as being much easier to use than any alternative. Avoid using scraps  of fabric. If a seam bursts then the strips of fabric you use to stuff the toy become chocking hazards. Using scraps also gives  the toy a lump feel and makes it harder to wash and dry.

We hope this blog helps you with what has to be one of the most rewarding projects you can undertake. I know a few of the teddies I've made have been well loved and have been handed down through families which always give me a warm sense of satisfaction.

A simple Hot Water Bottle Cover

As it happens the snow is pelting down as I write this. I've been focusing on making things that could make suitable presents or useful in the colder weather, so the weather is quit fitting.  I've kept the design of this cover very simple for a reason. The cover has no fasteners at all, so there are no buttons  Velcro or ties to irritate the skin or to risk catching on your hands. Thus this hot water cosy is perfect for those with sensitive skin.

You will need;
Fleece (around 90cm by 25cm)
Scissors
Thread Snips
Thread
Needles
Pins
Ruler
Chalk

I've made this particular cover out of blue fleece I happened to have at hand. For a more stylish cover you could use a patterned fleece .

You will need a strip of fleece a little wider than half the circumference of the hot water bottle when filled (measure with a tap measure and not a ruler). In this case my hot water bottle is 44 cm wide, I've added 2 cm for ease, and then a seam allowance (5/8 of an inch on either side). The strip should be twice the length of the bottle plus an extra half length.

Hem both of the shorter sides. To do this place the fabric right side down on a table and then turn over 5/8 of an inch to the wrong side, and then roll again so the raw edge is tucked away. Pin in place and top stitch.

Believe it or not you've almost finished.

Place the strip right side up and pop the water bottle on top. Line the bottle up so the bottom of the fleece folds up to the neck of the bottle. Mark on the fleece where the fold is. Then fold the top down over the top of the bottle giving it a little room (around 2 cm). Again mark where the fold is.

Your fleece should be marked like this.

Fold the top top part of the fleece over (right sides together) Using the mark as a guide to where to fold.

Now fold the bottom up, using the mark as a guide.

Check the dimensions by popping your water on top of the cover.

If everything fits pin the sides in place. You will notice there is a large area of over lap. This is what holds the cover in place when it is folded right side out. Stitch along the long sides.

Turn the cover right side out. You effectively have a little fleece envelop with a flap to open to slide your water bottle into.

And there you have it. One fleece cover with no fastenings to catch yourself with. WARNING time! DO NOT FILL YOUR BOTTLE WITH BOILING WATER. Bottles can leak, so don't use water hot enough to scald yourself! This may seem like a very simple cover, but I still believe it's the best. Brighten it up with some festive fleece or other fancy patterns.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Sewers and Crafters.

Although this blog is connected to a real physical shop it is not about selling things. The mission statement at Fabric8 is to inspire and this blog is an extension of this philosophy. Over the last year I've blogged about the textile industry as well as tutorials for sewing projects and ideas to help you enjoy your sewing more. We are here to help and not just to sell. However this Saturday I helped serve several people looking for gifts for friends who sewed. And so I thought I'd share the advice I gave them here today.

  To me the greatest gifts are gifts that keep on giving. in the case of sewers, knitters and crafters this can mean some tools that make the task of creating easier and more of a joy. There are many tools that make our lives easier but which we always put off buying for ourselves.

  A classic item that can be of great use to the sewing and crafting fanatic is a good quality pair of scissors or shears.  The two typical sorts of scissors are the hard grip and soft flexi grips. As to which is best I think it boils down to personal taste.  Left handed  scissors  are a perfect gift for south paws.

If you are buying scissors then I have to recommend embroidery scissors. These are not only better for needle point and cutting threads close to the fabric but they also help make your larger scissors last longer. If you use regular scissors to snip lose threads you will wear a blunt patch into the blades. Using a pair of embroidery snips for this purpose will make your main scissors last years longer.

 Pinking shears are another tool we often are guilty of trying to make do without. The sharp zig zag pattern provided by pinking shears is not only decorative.  Fabric is less likely to fray when cut with pinking shears, making them the perfect tool for projects such as bunting. 

If you have a friend who is an all round crafty person then they'd love a magnifying daylight lamp. The daylight simulation bulb of the Purelite lamp  helps the cunning crafter select the correct colour threads or work close up without straining their eyes. Useful not just for sewers and quilters but also card makers beaders and cross switchers or any hobbies and crafts.

You really don't need to spend much money at all to give a thoughtful gift. Many sewers make do with one colour of Tailors chalk. Having multiple colours can make marking out a pattern much easier by letting  you select a different colour for different features, such as doing darts in blue, pockets n red etc. at only £3.83 this little pack of 4 colours of chalks makes a great little stocking filler.

 An interesting item is the quilter's block viewer. This handy little gadget can give  you a sneak preview of how an entire quilt will look based on just one small section.

So there are a few examples of gifts for your sewing friends  Of course you don't have to spend money to give great gifts, you can make something personal and heart felt. Just check out the tutorials on our blogs such as;

Kindle Cover
Carrier bag holder
Harem Pants
Pirate Shirt
Pouch 
and for your geek friends Custom made reusable cable ties.

Ribbon & Cinnamon Decoration and Christmas Card Holder.

Love it or Loathe it, you can't ignore Christmas. I realized the other day that I'm normally a lot happier this time of year. I sat down and looked at what was wrong and it came to me. I have more work to do than time to do it, and less money than I'd like to spend at Christmas. It occurred to me that I can't be the only one thinking the same.  Therefore I decided to experiment and come up with some decorations that were festive and yet quick and cheap to make. This would allow me and  anyone else in the same boat to have a hand crafted personalized Christmas, without spending too much time or money.  I thought about Ribbon. Ribbon is cheap and plentiful at this time of year. Not only is it inexpensive to buy but many people have plenty spare in their homes. The other advantage of ribbon is it comes in many styles and patterns, allowing you to make a truly unique ornament  which could also me a nice early gift to someone.

For the Cinnamon decorations you will need
Ribbon
Cinnamon Sticks
Scissors 
Optional 
Needles
Thread
Elastic Bands

For the Christmas Card Holder you will need;
Ribbon 
Needles
Thread
Scissors 
paper clips (or sticky tape)
Cinnamon sticks decorations.

This simple decoration is my homage to the yule log symbolizing warmth and comfort. Cinnamon sticks can be often found very cheaply at oriental supermarkets.

Bundle the cinnamon sticks together. Things are a lot easier if you hold them in place with elastic bands.  I used Dalchini Sticks which are very thick.

You can simply tie  the ribbon around the sticks and pull it into a bow. Then hang or rest the sticks into your tree. This also can give an artificial tree a warm subtle scent.

You can hem the ribbon first by folding the ends over double and top stitching in place.

Smaller cinnamon sticks give a more delicate looking decoration.











Christmas Card Holder

Christmas Cards always help a room feel festive, however finding space for them all can be a struggle.
For the cost of a piece of ribbon and a few minutes you can have a custom made card holder.

I find Grosgrain Ribbon works best

To begin with take some ribbon, about 3 times longer than the Card holder needs to be. Pleat the ribbon along it's length, make the pleats around 1.5 cm deep.

Stitch the pleats in pl;ace with a singe row of stitching down the middle.

Take a paper clip and slip it into one of the pleats

Slide a Christmas Card under the paper clip so it's held in place

Add more cards as you receive them and just pin or otherwise fasten the card holder in place.

The pleated detail of the ribbon does add a festive charm to this little project

I chose brown to match my sofa  but red, gold or green would look fantastic.

For more idea on festive projects and amazing wrapping ideas check out this fantastic blog I found today.

 http://claireabellemakes.com/2012/11/19/christmas-wrapping-ideas/

A Non-Sewing Cushion Cover

Half  Term Holiday is here.The blog already has a few projects suitable to keep the kids occupied  or ones that could be useful for the  up coming Halloween festivities. These include :
Pirate Shirt
Harem pants (or Pirate Pants)
Kindle Cover
Carrier Bag Holder
Plushie Pumpkin
and Hosting a Halloween Party

Some of these have a fair bit of sewing involved, others have less but here is our totally Sewing Free Cushion Cover. Perfect for those new to crafting, and something you don't need a well stocked sewing room for. This can be done sitting on the floor watching television, or on the kitchen table.  This project exploits an interesting property of Fleece. It does not fray. Thus we can cut a fringe of strips into the fleece without fear of it unraveling. Some fun furs have this property as well however the wrong side of fun fur would be on display and is unattractive.

You will need:
a cushion to cover (or a pillow, or a  pillow sewn in half)
Fleece
Scissors
Chalk
Pins

Cushions pads suitable for this project can now be found in your local Fabric8 Shop

 Place your cushion on a section of fleece right side up and draw around it. Then decide on the length of fringe you want, add a bit more for the knots and draw this added length around your cushion  Finally draw a square on each corner of the larger rectangle that reaches to the cushion (see picture, click on it to enlarge)

Cut out the larger rectangle and then remove the corners you drew on the inside of the rectangle as well. Use this as a template to cut out a second piece of fleece.

Place one of the fleece shapes on top of the other, wrong sides together and pin  together on the INSIDE of the small rectangle (the cushion sized middle of the shape).

 Cut a fringe from the outside of the fabric to the line marked where the cushion will be. Try to make the fringes of uniform thickness (I went for 1 cm) you CAN mark out each individual cut but to be honest by the time you take into account  where the scissors actually cuts you may as well do it all by eye. You DO need the same number of fringes on the top piece of fabric as on the bottom. This is why we cut the two layers of fabric at the same time. to make the fringes line up.

Place the cushion between the two layers of fleece. At one corner tie the last strip of one side of the top  layer to the first strip of the other side of the bottom layer.  This makes the fringe criss cross at the corners. Repeat for the other three corners.

Tie the strips of the fleece of the top layer to the bottom layer's strips as shown, going around the cushion  Try to make the knots of even size and done up the same way each time. This gives a nice neat finish.

From start to finish this project takes less than an hour (depending on size of cushion).
This is a quick, cheap and easy way of making a cushion to match a room, and of pulling together different colours in a room.  You could make these as a gift for a sports fans using the teams colours. This is also a fantastic project to introduce textile crafts to the kids if they are stuck at home during the holidays. Being able to make something for their room in colours they like (for example, to match a football team) can give children a  real sense of achievement

Although in my case my cat  has claimed my cushion as her very own.