Tutorials

Here is my big list of craft tutorials that I have made or want to make but never will due to the short, short life we live. Some are repeats from older posts but I wanted to consolidate this list into one post that I can update regularly.

Sites with many tutorials:
The Purl Bee (Lots of really excellent tutes. Check out the right column of the blog to find them.)
Wee Wonderfuls (Mostly softies)
Craft Tutorials has a ton of tutorials
Moda Bake Shop has tutorials for precut fabric packs ("honey buns", "jelly rolls", etc.)

Misc:
Camera Strap Cover at Made by Petchy
Checkbook Cover at Liesl Made
Honeycomb Smocking at Tumbling Blocks
Ironing Board Cover at Instructables
Fabric Bunting at WhipUp
Fabric bucket at pippijoe
Box pouch at Indie House

Baby & Kid stuff:
Baby dress/tunic at Made by Petchy
Chenille Bib at happythings
Chenille-backed Quilt at happythings
Baby Cubes from London Mummy
Cloth Shoes at Stardust Shoes
Superhero Cape at Puking Pastilles
Paper Dolls at Sugar City Journal
Boarder Fabric Sundress at Lil Blue Boo

Bags:
Reversible Patchwork Bag at Pink Penquin
Tote Bag at JCaroline Creative
Drawstring Bag at happythings
Lindie Bag at Craft Apple
Cozy Camera Case at Amy a La Mode
Bagsket at Foofanagle
Kidlet (small bag to hang on a door handle) at JC Handmade
(Check out this older post for more bag tutorials.)

Holiday:
Elf Clogs at allsorts
Peace Dove ornament at Bella Dia
Wine gift bags at Under A Blue Moon
Little trees at Little Birds Handmade

To wear:
Spring Ruffle Top at Sew, Mama, Sew
Shirt to Blouse at Jezze
Hat at Curiously Crafty
The Eddie Cap (for kids) at Mushroom Villagers
Summer Slippers are Lady Harvatine

Patchwork and Quilting:
Gretchen Block at Seven Stitches
Value Quilt at Willy-Nilly
Polka Dot Quilt at and other silly things
Rick Rack Patchwork Blocks at Oh, Fransson!
Rec Room Patchwork Pillows at Oh, Fransson!
Dear Jane blocks at That Quilt


Embroidery:
Embroidered Alphabet Mini Quilt at O.F. Patterns and Tutorials

Inspiration: Outdoor Music Festivals via The Fabric Shopper

The Fabric Shopper blog has a very neat post about fashioning your own cool clothes to wear to summer festivals. They give two examples for a rock & roll festival and a jazz festival. But I thought there was one glaring omission...didn't the hippies invent summer music festivals? So here is my suggestion...

I couldn't find a good inspiration photo but I'm thinking a long tiered skirt and a tie-dyed cami.

Do it yourself skirt with this free pattern from j caroline creative:


My selection of fabric for the tiers (picking fabric for this skirt is great fun!):


1. Garden Bright from the London Calling collection by Robert Kaufman
2. Jackie Blue from the Pretty Please collection by Jennifer Paganelli for Free Spirit
3. Libby Royal from the Dance with Me fabric collection by Jennifer Paganelli for Free Spirit
4. Unicorns Purple from the Far, Far Away fabric collection by Heather Ross for Kokka

Then, sew up a white cotton cami using Simplicity pattern 3882 and tie die using these instructions from Rit Dye. (I suggest a single complimentary color to the skirt or you may end up looking like a crazy person!)


And maybe a headscarf to complete your look?

I am soooo not the hippy but this post was fun to play in...thanks Fabric Shopper for the inspiration. AND for the giveaway win! I won an American Pastimes fabric bundle! I can't wait to get the package in the mail to see what fabrics were selected from the collection. As you may know, I'm a big Red Sox fan so I'm particularly happy to win some of this baseball inspired fabric.

Dank

That is what the weather has been like here for what feels like weeks. Maybe it has been that long. It's been raining or about to rain constantly. The house smells funny from all the humidity. It's been too wet to leave the house much (I really don't like going out in the rain). You would think that I would have gotten more sewing done but, see, I started reading those Twilight books and...well...that along with taking care of the baby meant no extra time for other things.

I have completed two projects and both of them are on my To Do list! I'm very excited to cross stuff off already.

The photos are poor from the lack of sun to help my tired camera along. And I also embarrassingly didn't realize that I had left the manual focus turned on. So I've been taking pictures thinking that the camera was focusing on it's own and then swearing at my camera when I saw the blurry images full-size on my computer screen. My camera thinks I'm crazy.

I made the baby boy some modified "Kimono Style PJ Pants" from Amy Butler's Little Stitches book. Rather than adding the extra wide trim at the bottom, I just used some homemade bias tape. I was looking to make shorts but these are more short pants. Next go-around I will make them a bit shorter but in a bigger size. He's is going to grow out of these very quickly.


And the second project is a play mat, also for the baby. This is the only photo that was in focus (!) so I will try to take them again once the sun makes another appearance.


I used this tutorial on the "katie did journal" blog. Have you seen this blog? Katie makes some beautiful clothes for her two little girls...gorgeous stuff. She has a little boy now as well so I will be looking out for ideas on sewing for boys. (Why is it so much harder? Are dresses really all that much more exciting then pants?)

The play mat is just two solids -- blue and dark tan -- plus batting quilted together in a free form zig-zag pattern. I added some patchwork to the binding just cuz. The mat is about 30x35 inches. And I call it a mat because that is what it's job will be but it could also make a very nice baby blanket. Thanks Katie for the nifty idea!

Free Tutorials from other Blogs

I thought I'd leave you with a big list of stuff to do while I'm away next week. Sew, Mama, Sew just finished up their tutorial contest -- lots of new ideas going on over there. And here is a list of tutorials from other blogs to keep you busy. Hey, Christmas is coming so start working on those gifts!

Sites with many tutorials:
The Purl Bee (Lots of really excellent tutes. Check out the right column of the blog to find them.)
Wee Wonderfuls (Mostly softies)
Craft Tutorials has a ton of tutorials


Misc:
Fabric flowers at Wisecraft
Snapped fabric box from My Little Mochi
Ironing board cover at Instructables

Baby stuff:
Chenille bib at happythings
Chenille-backed quilt at happythings
Baby cubes from London Mummy
Cloth shoes at Stardust Shoes

Bags:
Quilted Lingerie Bag at CraftStylish
Drawstring Bag at happythings
Evening bags at Threads
Lindie Bag at Craft Apple
(Check out this older post for more bag tutorials.)

Holiday:
Elf Clogs at allsorts
Peace Dove ornament at Bella Dia
Wine gift bags at Under A Blue Moon
Corset Ornaments at CraftStylish

Softies:
Lamb at Pattern Bee
Pears and apple at Lil'd
Toadstool from LucyKate Crafts

To wear:
Hat at Curiously Crafty
The Eddie Cap (for kids) at Mushroom Villagers
Bloomers (for little girls) at Reclaiming the Home
Tiered Skirt at Kuky Ideas
Wide Wrap Belt at CraftStylish
Tie Top Tank from Belle Epoque
Summer Slippers are Lady Harvatine

Have a tutorial that you created? Or know of one you love? Share them in the comments please!

Mini Post: Freebie!

Happy Zombie recently posted a free pattern for the cutest little needle book!


You can get the PDF download through this link. I have been wanting to make a needle book...I'm putting this on the list of to-dos for this weekend.

(Photo from the Happy Zombie site.)

WIPs, Part 1

Not all that long ago (end of summer, maybe?) I got the urge to sew stuff. I was inspired by Threads and Sew Stylish magazines but then got really turned on when I started reading all the amazing craft blogs. I am proud to say that I did act on and finish SOME projects that inspired me on these sites. Some others...um...act on, yes...completed, no. And here they are:


Used a pattern from Tiny Happy's Shoulder Bag Tutorial. I started this in September.


Poor Pointy Kitty! All sewn together but for your little back piece! From free Wee Wonderfuls pattern (among many others available through this link from the generous Hillary Lang).

And some little trees from Little Birds Handmade. I did finish three of these but wanted to make more for gifts...maybe next year.

I'm hoping that presenting these Works In Progress here will urge me to complete them. I can't have this post just linger on without a conclusion, right?

Sashiko

I wasn't planning on posting today but I checked out my Bloglines and noticed that The Purl Bee has a tutorial on Sashiko! It's like they're reading my mind! And I love The Purl Bee's very clearly written tutorials -- and they have a ton. Now I guess I'll have to give Sashiko a real go.

And I'd also like to thank Peg at Ivy Arts for saying such nice things about my little Using PhotoShop to Aid in Quilting post. Her quilt is coming out great. I love the bright colors she is using...I keep going back to her blog just to look at this particular block.

Miscellany

Ok, ok, I know, I said no more holiday stuff...but this is for NEXT year. All the stuff I wanted to make or found too late:

• Very cool wine bottle bags from Under A Blue Moon.

• Patchwork balls from Grand Revival Designs. I'll make mine with holiday-ish fabric for ornaments.

• The bird ornaments from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts


And just some more stuff I'd like to make:

• The oven mitts from Denyse Schmidt Quilts

• The elephant from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts

• Summer slippers from Lady Harvantine because my feet get hot in the summer but I like to be wearing something on them around the house.

• Sewing machine cover! Canvas maybe? Something pretty to look at.

• A small patchwork thing to hang on my wall. Using stash fabric that I really like to look at.

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Above picture: Using a mask to help pick fabrics for my Too Hot To Handle Oven Mitts from Denyse Schmidt Quilts.
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Ah Choo!

I wanted to make much progress on my planned projects this weekend but ended up with a cold instead. Haven't felt well all week so I've been watching DVDs instead:

- Entire 4th season of The L Word (OK)
- Started watching the first season of The Tudors (Looks like it will be pretty good.)
- Evan Almighty (eh)
- The Departed (Excellent! Four starts. Two of my thumbs up.)

And about to watch 3:10 to Yuma.

Hopefully I will have more to write about this weekend and into next week.

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Made above bag with tutorial from The Purl Bee: www.purlbee.com/jaipur-tote-bag/

Plus fabric buttons and a pencil roll.
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The Last Holiday Post, I Promise

Made, hung and enjoyed the flag bunting that was very popular in craft-web-world this year. Over done by now? Perhaps. But I still like it.

Get the tutorial at WhipUp.

Holiday Gifts

In the scramble to get everything done in time for Christmas, I didn't take as many pictures of my projects as I would have liked. But here are a couple in-process pictures and one finished gift.

Woodland Elf Hat from Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. Made for my 3-year-old niece along with a purple fairy skirt. The yo-yo I used on the flower is the same fabric as the waist band of the skirt. The hat was very easy to make and the flower is super cute.

For my nephew and brother-in-law (who are BOTH six!) I made the Eddie Cap from the tutorial by Irene at Mushroom Villagers and a matching scarf. They came out really great. I am so sad I didn't get any pictures of these.

A note about the Eddie Caps: I made mine out of a dark gray corduroy and added a striped flannel lining to the top part. Also, I shortened the bill about an inch so it didn't hang over their faces as much. In seeing it on the boys, I think the extra inch would have been too much so I'm glad I decided to edit the pattern.

Stepping Stones Quilt for my mother-in-law. I really liked how it came out and wish I had taken a picture of the completed quilt. I didn't worry about lining up all the stripes in the striped pink fabric. It ended up looking homey that way but your eye still followed the stripes up and down the quilt.

Irish Chain Quilt for my grand-mother-in-law. The quilt is all quilted in this picture, I just needed to trim and bind. I used the dark green for the binding.



I'm not a New Year's Resolution kinda gal but I think I'll make one to be sure I take pictures of completed projects this year!

Great Expectations, Part Deux

Way back in this post I mentioned that I would be making some softy trees. Well, I did make them and they adorned our mantle over the holiday. I thought I'd finally post a picture of them...very cute and quick to make.

The design is by Little Birds Handmade and you can get the pattern and tutorial here.

Great Expectations

Been a few days since my last post. Both my husband and I were really sick with this vicious cold that has been going around. And we are trying to sell our house and buy a new one. So stuff's been going on.

I did get the chance to make a few of some cute softy Christmas trees. The intention was to make them for a gift but I like the first set so much that I'm going to keep those for myself. I'll post pictures once I can take some in daylight.

You can see pictures and get the tutorial here.

Lately every day I think I'm going to come home and start a new project. Then after getting dinner ready and any other random thing that MUST be done today I end up too beat to pick up something new. So I end up watching a Sox game and calling it a night. This is one reason I am so happy we are looking for a new house. The town we're looking in is halfway between here and work. My commute will be 20 minutes or so rather than 50ish. I am really looking forward to that.

Bags, Bags, Bags

I’m looking for some things to make for holiday gifts. So here's a compilation of bag ideas and tutorials:

Martha Stewart Bias Tape Bag (pic at right)

Beach Tote from BeSewStylish.com
I've already made three of these bags...they really do only take 2 hours. Less if you do more than one at a time. I'd like to try these with a lining as well.

Roomy Shoulder Bag

Jaipur Tote Bag
(Started this one today already...about half way completed)

Cute little zippered pouch
(Plan on making a ton of these to coordinate with the other bags)

Another little zippered pouch - with zipper at front

Little girl purse

Another Bias Tape Tote

It's amazing to me how many people post tutorials for projects. Such a great sharing community. Maybe someday I'll have ideas and tutorials to share!