One Step Buttonhole
I love the buttonhole programme on my trusty Singer. Enough that I made a little video of how easy it is to use! Watch it here: One Step Buttonhole
How To Sew Darts
Darts are folds of fabric sewn into clothing that help create shape so that the fabric lies better on the wearer. The fold is make on the wrong side of the fabric and, when completed, appears as a short seam line on the right side. Darts are most common around the waist, neckline and bust of a garment. Initially darts can seem fiddly and tricky to master so I thought I’d put together a little tutorial starting off about how to sew a straight dart. I also managed to convince my boyfriend to let me get my hands on his camera rather than having to use my iPhone – so after he gave me a brief…
Mary Berry’s Chess Cake
This is a recipe from the Great British Bake Off ‘Showstoppers’ book. It’s a Mary Berry recipe, I love Mary Berry. I love her even more after watching Alan Carr interview Mel and Sue last night who told him that she went to Pacha in Ibiza at 71 and likes to drink tequila slammers! The woman is a legend! Anyway, I was making a cake to take to work for my birthday (an odd tradition, feeding everyone else on your birthday but we’ll go with it) and I chose this one because I loved the surprise element of cutting into what looks like a chocolate cake to find a checkerboard…
Cover Up: Covering A Binder with Fabric
This is a really quick and simple one, add a personal touch to plain old ring binders by covering them in fabric. It’s also a good way of using up leftovers – you may recognise this fabric from the latest boiler screen. 1. You will need: A ring binder Fabric Scissors Spray mount 2. The fabric needs to be large enough to cover the binder when it’s laid out flat plus an inch or so allowance round the edges. Cut to size if you have too much. Mitre the corners for neat edges. 3. Spray the outside of the binder with the spray adhesive and then lay it flat in…
Spaghetti Straps Solved!
I’ve always hated making straps, in the past I’ve even sewn two strips of bias binding together to avoid the painful turning process. No need for that anymore! I’ve found the secret to turning even the thinnest of spaghetti straps – a hair grip! 1. Stitch your strap as prescribed by the pattern then make a small slit in one end. 2. Attach your hair grip to the top section around one side of the strap and then feed both the prongs into the middle. Make sure you use a grip that still has the rubber stoppers on the ends so the fabric won’t snag. 3. You can now feed…
Sorting Out: Fabric
More work on the sewing room today, this time sorting out all my fabric. By rolling up the fabric and securing with burlap twine I was able to fit twice as much into the drawers. It’s also easier to see what’s in there and get a quick indication of how much of there is. I think it looks pretty too! If you wanted to be even more organised you could measure each roll and add a label for easy reference. Maybe one day I’ll get round to that…
Create Your Own Fabric Wall Art
This was a really quick one that I copied from the Ikea showroom. All materials are Ikea: Berta Ruta Grey fabric £7/m Rosmarie fabric £6/m Ung Drill frame £25 I had the grey checked fabric left over from the curtains and cushion covers I’ve made for the living room and thought this was quite a good way to tie the whole room together. The rose fabric was an offcut so I got it cheaper than the per metre price – all you need is one full instance of the three roses. I cut the check fabric to the size of the oval – I actually pinned the paper insert from…
Circle Skater Skirt Tutorial
I found the tutorial for this circle skirt in issue 19 of Cloth magazine written by Geneva from A Pair and A Spare (she has an awesome blog). The fabric used is Berta Ruta from Ikea in small, grey check. It’s currently £7/m and is great for dressmaking or home furnishings. I’ve just made some cushion covers with it and am in the process of finishing some living room curtains. 1. Measure your waist in inches and then divide by 6.28. Then measure the length you’d like the skirt to be. Add both together plus an additional 2 inches for the seam allowances. For example: My waist is 27 inches,…
Leather Necklace (Reblog)
dreamalittlebiggerblog: I have tried in the past (unsucessfully) to cut leather for jewelry making. This DIY from Minted Strawberry guesting at A Nest for All Seasons is really smart and I love the finished necklace. Jump Into Leather Jewelry with Aki. Definitely trying this one – so cute! Have loads of pleather left over from a recent project.
DIY Boiler Screen: Covering up the Ugly
I hate how ugly my boiler is. It’s scratched and the plastic flap has yellowed in the sun and it’s just generally unsightly. In my eyes, when on display, it made my kitchen look like a crack den. I’m pleased to say that the idea for the screen was all my own and after being inspired by a pin board tutorial I realised I could make it a practical as well as aesthetically pleasing solution. PLEASE NOTE: Not all boilers can be covered – please check the manufacturer’s instructions to confirm if your boiler requires ventilation. Start by measuring your boiler on each side. You will need to add approx…