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.
Category Archives: Sewing
Free project—insulated hanging tote
Judy Bowers, a member of our Creative Troupe, designed and wrote the instuctions for this adorable tote using Insul-Fleece® Metalized Mylar Insulated Interfacing in the beverage holder strap inside, to keep drinks at preferred temperature.
Insul-Fleece has metalized mylar layered between polyester fleece to create a high-quality barrier that reflects heat or cold. This special combination of materials is very flexible and easy to sew through. Once you have sewn it into your project, you can machine wash, tumble dry, and iron (Continue Reading...)
Bottle gift “sleeve”
Just in time for your 4th of July parties…here’s a quick and creative way to wrap a host/hostess gift. I discovered this method when I needed a quick wrap for a bottle of olive oil I was taking to a friend.
I’ve noticed creative types are repurposing sleeves from shirts and sweaters as vase and bottle gift wraps. With an old linen shirt in the “ready for scraps bin,” I thought I’d give it a try and here’s how it unfolded.
Get organized: a Christmas planner project
I know, I know it is way too early to think about Christmas…right? Or is it? Throughout the year I find myself collecting bits of information that will help me as I select gifts to either buy or make for my family and friends at the holidays. Things like…Vanessa likes Peerless Coffee best, or Rick wants the 5-minute Pizza cookbook and Debbie’s present is under the guest bed behind the box of ribbons. The problem is finding all those little notes (Continue Reading...)
iPad sleeve Timtex™ Craft Pack project
Fathers Day, graduation, and back-to-school to name just a few, are reasons to sew up one or two of these. Easily slip your iPad in the sleeve when on the go or simply to protect it when not in use.
This sleeve was made as a gift for a friend—I don’t own an ipad myself, but I do covet them!
A shoulder strap option is included for that sling over the shoulder on the go type person. Have fun with the stitching (Continue Reading...)
The art of letter correspondence…and the snail mail folio
My 8 year old daughter loves receiving mail. By claiming the chore of mailbox retrieval, she’s always first to discover the treasures that lie within (fingers crossed, one will have her name and only her name on it). Her grandmothers are especially supportive in cultivating a love of letter writing, and by corresponding with them the old fashioned way, she has learned that if you write, you shall receive.
In this day and age emails and texts are the dominant means (Continue Reading...)
Spring Potholder project
Yes, it’s a potholder! I made it and love it. My passion originates from the process of creation. Using patterns and inspiration from Fusible Magic by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, I had a blast cutting shapes, contemplating combinations, playing with color choices and best of all, experiencing the wonders of fusing (quick and easy).
By the time I finished my “heat shield”, my head was reeling with ideas for decorating messenger bags, jumpers, denim pant legs, gift cards and more. Stitching will add (Continue Reading...)
Two Button Purse Project
Look what Creative Troupe member Rosalind Pollock created using Liquitex® ink! and paint, fabric and thread! This is a great project for anyone interested or curious about surface design. The technique is simple and the results are stunning.
TWO BUTTON PURSE
By Rosalind Pollock
Materials:
Liquitex® Professional Acrylic ink! -Naphthol Crimson, Phthalocyanine Blue, and Transparent Raw Umber
Paintbrush, plastic palette and water
Cotton fabric, thin batting and backing fabric (approx.13” x 8”)
Thread
2 buttons
Scissors
Pencil or wash away marking pen
Instructions:
Mix a few drops of each of three colors (Continue Reading...)
Soft tile trivets inspired by Tile Quilt Revival
During our last series of Craft Camps here at C&T (whereby we take turns teaching and making wonderful things using new products and books, or playing with new twists on older titles) I taught a version of a soft trivet that won’t scratch or burn your table, using the fabulous designs in Tile Quilt Revival by Carol Gillham Jones & Bobbi Finley, and our fantastic Insul-Fleece®.
We took over the conference room to make some resized Birds in the Branches and All (Continue Reading...)
Fabric table runner
Jane Dávila, author of Jane Dávila’s Surface Design Essentials, has created a fast and fun way to enjoy fabric you’ve created yourself using art materials. The big squares in the design of this table runner pattern will show off your own surface designs, such as this paint-washed and stamped fabric. The size of the finished table runner is 63” x 15” but it can easily be made longer or shorter to suit your table.
Supplies:
Hand-painted or printed fabric ¾ yard
Sashing fabric (Continue Reading...)
Put on the Cuffs
I love shopping for ribbon and this pretty little cuff project is the perfect excuse to add some more spools to my stash as well as breathe new life into some old favorites. I love analogous color schemes in my clothing and I can’t wait to play around with a bunch of different ribbon pieces and see which combinations of textures make for the most dramatic look.
This ribboned cuff seems to be the perfect accessory for so many different outfits and (Continue Reading...)
