Category Archives: Sewing

Trick-or-Treat Pail

March 15th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

It’s not quite Halloween time yet, but if you use your imagination, I’m confident you can come up with a gazillion variations for this basic, kid-friendly project. A cute pail like this could be used to hold almost anything, from fresh-cut flowers to pens and pencils to the bits and bobs that tend to gather on your furniture’s surfaces. You might start by finding something that needs to be “contained,” then design the pail around it’s contents!

Click here to download the free, full-color project sheet, which includes this variation. Author, Sue Astroth used the pail technique to create a pirate’s spyglass. She says:

With an old kaleidoscope (I found one at a thrift shop for 25¢), a little fabric, and a cool skull medallion—you’re set!

This project is an excerpt from Super-Simple Creative Costumes by Sue Astroth, which includes tons of Easy sew and no-sew costumes from sweet to scary.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

Leave a comment | Permalink

No-Sew Fabric Flowers for Kids

March 12th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

Nothing brightens up a room like flowers. These are easy to make with kids and a fun way to use scraps. Make a bouquet or a table centerpiece or string them together for a flower garland or other wall decor. Use the patterns included in this PDF project download, or create new blossoms.

The download also includes the below Lily Pad or Poinsettia Centerpiece. You will make these the same as the flowers except layer the smaller flowers inside the bigger flowers. Make a lily pad or napkin base.

You will also find general directions for fast2fuse fusible interfacing in the download, complete with a list of three shortcuts that are sure to save you time!

This project is an excerpt from 100+ No-Sew fabric Crafts for Kids by Mary Link which includes oodles of projects you can do with kids and for kids, including bookmarks, coasters, mobiles, games and toys, party goods, room décor, and holiday goodies.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

1 Comment | Permalink

Technique Tuesday: Blanket Stitch and More

March 9th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

Laura Wasilowski is doing something very interesting and cool over at her blog called Thread-u-cation Thursdays, where each week she introduces and demonstrates a new stitch with how-to photos and written instructions.

Laura is kindly letting us borrow some of her content for this week’s Technique Tuesday Craft Month blog post! The technique we are featuring today is Laura Wasilowki’s Blanket Stitch, and at the end of this post you’ll be able to download a free PDF with some additional stitching techniques.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Laura Wasilowski’s Thread-u-cation Thursday: Blanket Stitch

The Blanket Stitch always gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. It tucks in around a fabric edge holding it safe and neatly outlining the shape. But it can also act as a decorative stitch across the surface of fabric creating rows of UUUU or MMMM depending upon orientation.

Here’s how I make my Blanket Stitches: With the thread on top at A, place the tip of the needle about 1/4″ up and to the right of point A. Insert the needle at B and exit at C, about 1/4″ to the right of A. Trap the thread coming out of A under the needle tip and draw the needle and thread slowly through the fabric.
Continue Reading…

3 Comments | Permalink

Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Ornaments

March 6th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays, especially now that many of us are into giving authentic, handmade gifts, as opposed to gift cards from a favorite corporate monstrosity. Today’s project is a collection of Christmas ornaments—but with a little imagination and creativity in your fabric choices, you can make to function as “everyday” ornaments if you prefer.

Click here to download the 6-page full color project sheet PDF. Happy crafting!

Circle Bell

Two for the time of one! This sweet little bell will charm everyone—especially if you really hang a small jingle bell inside.

Triangular Bell

Three small pieces plus three small holiday bells, and it’s a charmer. Listen to its sweet music when the air moves it.

Gift Box

With just a bit of hand sewing you can create this sweet gift box ornament and the ribbon to decorate it.

Circle Strip

You can’t get much more basic than a straight strip of stiff interfacing and fabric. This is a very fast ornament to make, and with the right fabric and a few beads, it is sure to become a classic on your tree.

These projects are an excerpt from Fast, Fun & Easy® Christmas Decorations by Linda Johansen.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

Leave a comment | Permalink

Canvas Bag Valentine Project

February 10th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Tristan Gallagher

003

Are you searching for ideas for a handmade gift for a friend or sweetie this Valentine’s Day? C&T author and editor Liz Aneloski has converted a Ready-to-Go!® Blank Canvas Book into an adorable purse that doubles as gift packaging. Quite clever really! Slip in a card, poem or something personal & sweet. It is truly darling and will remind the recipient of you as they use it again and again. The final bag has two compartments inside and two pockets on the outside. Plenty of places for hiding surprises!

Continue Reading…

Leave a comment | Permalink

Valentines Day Project: Love Notes Door Hanger

January 27th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Susanne Woods

DSC00436-225x300I put together a tutorial for a “love notes” door hanger on my blog and thought C&T blog readers might be interested in this fun and quick little project just in time for Valentine’s Day.

I re-purposed some discontinued fabric sample swatches from the furniture store my husband and I own to create this little pocketed note holder. I leave for work before anyone else in my family is awake so love notes are a nice way to connect without being there. I know my two pre-schoolers just love it…and I think my husband does too, because I always write a little love note to him as well.

Click here to automatically download the tutorial instructions.

5 Comments | Permalink

Terrie Sandelin’s Kaffe Fasset Scraps Placemat Project

January 20th, 2010 in Projects, Quiltmaking, Sewing
By Megan Wisniewski

placemat_mini_quilt

If you are anything like me, you like to begin the new year with a new look for your dining room. Lucky for us, C&T Publishing author, Terrie Sandelin, has been hard at work creating a free mini-quilt placemat project for us using scraps of Kaffe Fasset’s fabrics. The project uses the 13-Square foundation from Terrie’s book Miniatures in Minutes for the pieced squares. Click here to automatically begin downloading the project instructions, and in no time your dining area will have fresh appeal!

Terrie’s blog is jam-packed with free projects and other goodies. She revisited and revised the concept of school supplies with this pretty file folder she made using fast2fuse interfacing. She just posted a tutorial for this project here on her blog.

file folder front[4]

file folder open[4]

The author of Miniatures in Minutes, Terrie Sandelin has developed a technique to create gorgeous miniatures with minimal time and effort. You can visit her website for project ideas, classes and more.

2 Comments | Permalink

Lorraine Olsen’s Half Block Handbag Project

November 12th, 2009 in Projects, Quiltmaking, Sewing
By Megan Wisniewski

Untitled1Author of Little Lone Star Quilts, Lorraine Olsen, has come up with a brilliant way to show off some of her scraps from hand dying. It’s called the Half Block Handbag and uses techniques from her new book. Would you like to make this? Click here to automatically download free project instructions.

7 Comments | Permalink

A Halloween Recipe for Life Long Memories

October 31st, 2009 in Projects, Sewing
By Amy Marson

Last weekend I spent 9 hours over two days making Pac-Man and Clyde the Ghost costumes for my 13 year old son Parker and his best friend Will. I had no pattern to work from and little idea of how to put the garments together, knowing only that the boys wanted dimensional costumes and that I was to create what they described.

Once the boys explained what they wanted, I found a patio table that was about the right size for the circle shape of Pac-Man and started from there. We designed as we went, discussing different options and the pros and cons of each. We brainstormed about how we could construct the pieces so that Parker and Will would retain the ability to move around in their costumes, at least enough to be able to function at school on Friday. We ironed together for two hours, with me on one iron and the boys, on their hands and knees on the floor, using the other one. We cut out the shapes of the characters and I pinned.

Continue Reading…

9 Comments | Permalink

Sewing Snack Bags and Sandwich Wraps

October 21st, 2009 in Projects, Sewing
By Susanne Woods

Like most of us, I am trying my best to reduce, reuse and recycle. I felt guilty every time I pulled yet another paper towel off the roll to wrap my toasted breakfast in to transport off to work. So this weekend, I felt enough was enough and during nap time I sewed up a bunch of these cinch top snack bags and some sandwich bags!

4 cinch top snack bags

Fussy cut around a different fruit for each sack to make the tab top

My husband recommended a design for the sandwich/morning toasty bag and I faithfully executed a sandwich bag that was amazingly easy and the perfect size for a fat quarter.

4 sandwich bags-2 for me and 2 for my pre-schooler!

Instructions:

1. cut two rectangles 7 1/2″  x 18″

2. taper in the top about 1/2″ and a slight angle to the 3″ down mark so that the top of the bag slides nicely under the strap

3. Place a piece of 7 1/2″ ribbon or bias tape and position about 2″ from the bottom of the bag and pin to the right side of one of the fabrics.

4. With right sides together, stitch around the entire bag using a 1/4″ seam allowance and leaving a 3″ gap in the top to turn it right-side out.

5. Before turning, reach in and remove the pins that were holding the ribbon/bias tape in place, and trim the corners off a bit so that you have nice neat corners.

6. Turn inside out and push in the corners to make them nice and neat.

7. Fold up the bottom of the bag with your featured fabric and ribbon/bias tape on the outside by 4 1/2″ and pin into place.

8. Tuck in and pin the opening you used to turn the bag inside out closed and stitch around three sides of the bag starting at one of the bottom corners going up the longest length to the top of the bag, along the top (making sure you are successfully stitching the opening closed) and back down the other long side of the bag.

9. This stitching should be as close to the edge as you feel confident (I used 1/8″). You will be leaving the bottom of the bag unsewn.

10. Stitch two horizontal rows about 7 1/2″ from the top of the bag to indicate where the top should be folded down and tucked under the strap.  I’m not so sure these stitched rows are totally functional. It does keep the bag from getting too..*ahem*… baggy though.

And that is it!

I’ll post a tutorial next week for the cinch top bag that I used to morph these three tea towels I found at a garage sale for $1 each as I used the same directions for the snack bags photographed above.

DSC02461

The post was updated on 10/28/09 with a correction to step 4

5 Comments | Permalink
C&T Publishing is a group of quilters and crafters dedicated to publishing products tailored to our audience. This blog is where we break away from book schedules and marketing campaigns to focus on what drives us to be creative and how this creativity manifests itself in our every day lives.

  • JOIN US

    C&T Creative Troupe

  • Grab our Blog Badges!

    i heart fiber art

  • New Releases









  • Coming Soon