Sew a Prayer Banner

I’m back to sewing, and trying to use up some of my stash! I have a bag of quilts, most of which I sewed last year, that I’m donating to OxygenFarm Quilts in Nebraska, because they have partnered with a local to them non profit. The quilts will be going to homeless families with kids and I’m so overjoyed that the quilts will be loved! Onto the next project!

Step One Prayer Banner

This project was inspired by Tibetan Prayer Flags. I had a huge stack of squares in rainbow colors, so I just started sewing them together into strips. I collected an assortment of squares when I was sewing quilts to donate. I also have a stack of felt pieces, just waiting to be used in projects. I use the felt when I want a thicker layer that is somewhat stiff. It is perfect for backing smaller wall art pieces like banners and art quilts. You can use a heavy denim or twill fabric as a substitute for the felt. (The more layers you add to a piece, the more structure a piece gets. So layer up if you don’t feel like your fabric wall art is sturdy enough.)

Before you start sewing, decide what you want your banner to say. That will dictate how many squares you use. I wanted to use seven squares, so I decided on the words “Big Love” as my prayer. Building and nurturing the love in my heart has always been one of my greatest spiritual practices, no matter what I’m going through in life. What prayer do you want to be reminded of? If you are making these to gift to people in your life, you can do a word that means something to the individual and what they are facing, or even use a word like Bravery, Kindness or Gratitude…anything that invokes a positive feeling.

Step Two Prayer Banner

Back of Prayer Banner showing letters in reverse

I sewed a strip of squares on to the felt, then sewed in between the squares along the seams. Next, I sewed letters onto the squares, based on triangle shapes. If you are going to try this yourself, it helps to write the letters on the back in a light marker, then sew over the marker lines. The letters have to be backwards on the back of the project to show up right ways on the front.

Step Three Prayer Banner

Next up, delicately trim the fabric away to reveal the letters. It helps to lightly pinch the cotton layer to separate it from the felt and use the very tip of the scissors to snip a small hole. Then put the scissors through the hole and slowly trim away the fabric.

Once you get all the letters cut out, add ribbon or trim to the edges of the banner if you desire, or deck it out with some embroidery, buttons or beads. Add a loop at the top to hang it up, and the banner is complete!

Weaving with Upcycled Fabrics

Ok, so this post comes from the wayback machine! I like to envision the little bit of Scooby Doo effort that went into my makes back in the early 2000’s! I didn’t know a thing about sewing at the time, and had not yet been influenced by books and online tutorials. So I just came up with ideas by experimentation.

These two weavings came from my experiments. I was working with pre worn corduroy pants, and also got a bolt of white corduroy fabric. I used procion dyes to dye the white corduroy in batches. Eventually I decided to do a couple of weavings to hang up.

The concept here is that you just need fabric strips and a glue stick along with a sewing machine. As you are weaving, dab a little glue onto the backs of the woven strips to keep them in place. Let the glue dry overnight. Then sew along the edges of the rows with a wide zig zag stitch. On the orange weaving, I worked by creating sixteen patch of woven squares, and then sewed them together to create the larger piece.

I can see weaving being really cool for the back of a jacket, as a tunic or the top of a dress, or even as patches to mend clothes! Work small, work big, the process is pretty much the same!

I hope this little bit of inspiration gets you thinking creatively!

Ideas for Sewing with Bandanas

I purchased two packs of bandanas on Amazon two years ago, hoping to wear them as head coverings. One pack was made with a polyester fabric, which is super slick and doesn’t breathe. The other was just a bit too small. So the packs of bandanas have been in one of my bins in the sewing room, taunting me, beckoning me, playing with my head! After they played with my emotions for a while, I finally decided enough is enough! I set out to use up those bandanas, and came up with some clothes I’m excited to wear this fall.

The great thing about bandana packs is they come in sets with an assortment of colors. They aren’t usually safe to iron though, and the fabric can be somewhat questionable because they are cheap. Another peculiar thing is they are often slightly off in size. And the fabric is typically really thin, which can pose some challenges while sewing. Just be sure to use a solid zig zag stitch on the edges so the bandanas don’t fray if you decide to trim to a raw edge.

If you love bandanas like I do, or even just need some fresh inspiration, here are some ideas for sewing with bandanas! They are seventies chic, and oh so cool! Some of these would even make great gift ideas for the holidaze coming up.

1. Decorate with ‘em! You could deck out a living room or bedroom on the cheap. Think bandana curtains, a little bandana blanket, bandana pillows. You could drop twenty bucks on bandanas and add some of your own materials and completely redo a room for pennies!

2. Sew a bag or backpack! Fall is perfect for hikes in the woods, and campfires. If you want a Pinterest-worthy fall bag, look no further than a bandana bag.

3. Use bandanas to sew all kinds of clothes! Bell bottoms, skirts, tops. One thing to remember is bandanas are often pretty thin, so you might have to line the clothing to make the fabric more substantial.

4. Make eco items with them. Reusable shopping tote bags, handkerchiefs, etc.

5. Cover a notebook or journal, or use in a junk journaling project.

6. Do a bathroom makeover, and trim towels and a bath rug with bandanas!

7. Sew a bunch together to create a quilt for your bed. Just sew a patchwork of bandanas together, and then line with faux fur fabric with a couple of layers of batting in between for a super plush quilt.

8. Wrap gifts with bandanas for the holidaze.

9. Last but certainly not least, rock them as a head wrap! If you haven’t tried this at least once, you haven’t really lived! LOL!

The list is really endless. Bandanas are like precut squares, but I love the way they look because they are so reminiscent of Seventies style. They are fun to create with because you can use them as is and whip up all kinds of things really fast. I hope this post inspires you to get sewing! I’m getting back in the sewing room to dream up a way to use the rest of my bandanas.

Tips for Shopping and Selling Destash Fabric

Ok, so I’m going out on a limb here to say that it is more environmentally friendly to buy second hand than brand new. I mean, that is just obvious because buying new propagates the cycle of the production cycle. While buying second hand at least minimizes the impact a bit. What’s not to love about finding fabric someone else doesn’t have a use for and giving it a go in your own projects?

I finally did another round of destash. Last year I bought a “mystery box” of fabric on Etsy, and that practice is one I do not recommend. Mystery boxes are more like bits of walmart fabric that the other person buys from the store and then cuts into smaller pieces. My mystery box experience was absolutely horrific! I have yet to find a good use for any of the fabric I got in that stash!

Destash, on the other hand is different! About six years back I scored a huge back of odds and ends lace, bits of crochet and trims and have turned to that bag over and over for all kinds of projects. And one time I scored a bunch of yardage of knit fabric for like $20 plus shipping! Sure, not all the fabric was exactly what I was after, but I have used up the majority of that fabric by now.

I recently got a big lot of cotton fabrics, mostly pieces of around fat quarter to half yard sizes. The bundle was only $20, and that fabric is going to work so well mixed with my other scraps! And I got another bundle from the same seller for $18 of tons of yardage of knits. She must have really needed to make room in her sewing room, because the fabric is all spectacular!

Here are a few tips to score a destash for your own sewing.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. If you are looking for yardage, and the bundle has lots of smaller pieces mixed in, message the seller and see if you can just get the bigger pieces. I did that, because I needed pieces over 2 yards big. It turned out she actually had additional yardage that had not previously been listed. And was willing to create a custom bundle just for me!

2. Before you shop destash, get really specific about how you will use the fabric. There is no sense in buying bulk thrifted fabric if you don’t plan on using it. I swear, the amount of times I have purchased sewing materials only for those materials to sit on shelves and in bins for years is mind boggling. Have a use in mind, and then get right on putting that fabric to use before you continue shopping for more.

3. Be sure you avoid a “mystery box” and only buy destash where you are very clear what you are getting. I recently found a bundle of vintage laces and trims, and it was such an incredible deal! The seller had great photos, and the bundle was beyond even what I expected. It was only around $20 too, so I saved a ton of money! Buyer beware if you don’t get to see the fabric before you buy it. I mean, you are just throwing your money away if you do that!

4. If you have fabric of your own to destash, Etsy is a great place to do it! If you have a ton of fabric and want to get rid of it quickly, an EBay auction might be a better option. Sell what you don’t plan on using, and thrift fabrics that get you excited to sew! Price points that stood out to me were about $15-$20 per bundle, with about $14-$20 shipping cost per bundle. If it is lighter, obviously ship for less money. If the fabric is junk fabric or has an odor, it might be best to donate that fabric to a thrift store, or just be super clear in the listing what your customer will be receiving. Most thrift shops like Goodwill to name one, will recycle the fabrics that are junk!

5. If you are trying to thrift some vintage sheets, just be conscious of what you are planning to do with the fabric. A lot of sellers are cutting up old sheets, lace and fabric and selling small bundles. If you want more yardage, go for the sheets intact, and be sure to browse a while until you find something that is suitable for your project.

Thrifting fabrics and trims is a lot of fun! It is a great way to score big on fabric, and find unique vintage fabrics and sheets to work with as well.

Sew a Quick Phone Sling Belt

Ok, this idea has been just nagging at me. I have wanted a hip pack because I wear a lot of pants and dresses that don’t have pockets. Lately I find myself carrying my phone a lot, but I didn’t want to buy yet another bag! In order to reduce the amount of things I’m buying, I recently cut my monthly budget down to less than half of what I was spending. I mean…the number one thing I can do to help the environment is to buy less stuff. But buying less stuff is really challenging for me! So reducing my budget is a win for my long term goals and for the environment as well!

This sling belt is a super quick project. I literally sewed it in less than ten minutes! You can use knit fabric, or upcycle a t shirt that is one to two sizes too big for the project. It is basically just a strip of fabric with a pocket. If you can do something with simplicity, why complicate it? That’s my motto anyway! I sewed a button on the pocket so that I can tell where the pocket is when I’m putting my phone away.

Now I can carry my phone on those days I don’t wear pockets! I love my new sling belt, and I plan on rocking this a lot! Make some in different colors if you are worried about it clashing with your outfit. Or make it fancy and add longer ties, or piece together a few smaller pieces of fabric for a multi print belt. It just ties on the side, so be sure to place the pocket in a spot where you can easily access your phone.

Phone Sling Belt by Kathryn Sturges

Altered Slip Dress

This is a super quick altered slip, that turns lingerie into something you can rock anytime. The initial inspiration for this upcycle came from the book, “50 Nifty Thrifted Upcycled Fashions” by Cynthia Anderson. I went my own way with the project, because in the book you cover the entire slip with yardage of laces in different textures and colors. I wanted a more patchy look, so I ordered a package of lace pieces from a shop on Etsy. This slip was thrifted, and the lace edging fell off when I washed it! UGH! So I removed parts of the trim, hit all the edges with a zig zag stitch to stop it from unraveling and then added some sky blue quilt trim from my stash. You could easily try this with a tank top or camisole and it would turn out even better! I’m a little disappointed with how the slip fits overall, but love the concept behind the project! It’s amazing what a few scraps of lace can do to freshen up the vibe of your look!

Sew Harem Pants

I’ve wanted to try this project for years! Recently after sewing pants without a pattern, I got the courage to try and make some harem pants. The trickiest part to these pants is getting the pattern right, but you can adjust the pants a bit if they wind up not big enough after you get the initial pattern created.

Materials to make the pattern:

Watercolor paper, newsprint or some other junk paper

Tape

Ruler and marker

Ok, so I taped three pieces of cheap watercolor paper together, but the tape wouldn’t stick! I was trying to make a pattern that I can use over and over, so I wound up using watercolor paper and packing tape. The paper is thick enough that I can store it and then get it back out for multiple uses!

First, measure your low hip measurement, and then add eight inches to that measurement. Divide that number by 4. This will be the top horizontal measurement on the pattern. Mark where the measurement is, and draw a vertical line down the pattern on the right side. Cut out your paper so that the horizontal width of the pattern equals this measurement.

Next, measure from your waist where you like pants to sit down to just below your knee. If you botch this measurement, you can always add a band at the top of the pants later so that the pants have drape. This will be the vertical measurement along the left side. Make a dot on the pattern at the end of that measurement.

Figure out the length of the leg portion by measuring from your knee to the ground. Also, figure out how wide you want the legs opening to be so that the pants fit your lower legs. Make a dot at the width of the leg opening. Remember that the measurement is a half measurement, because the pattern is only for one half of the front or back of the pants. You can always adjust the length once the pants are finished, so add a bit to that measurement to make the legs long enough. Now, starting at the dot you made in the last step where the bottom of the knee hits, draw a line that is straight at first, but that curves down to the bottom measurement. My line was curved at first and then was a straight line going down.

The right line of the pattern will be the side you place on the fold of the fabric, so write “cut two on fold” along that line! You will be cutting out two of the pattern shapes onto folded fabric, so that the fold of the fabric is along the long side of the pattern.

Materials to make the pants:

Stretchy fabric like knit or other stretch fabric

Elastic

Basic sewing kit

Lay out your fabric, and fold it. Then place the pattern onto the fabric so that the fold line is on the fold of the fabric, and trace. Cut out the shape, then do it again!

Now you have two pieces of fabric. Sew the vertical edges of one piece of fabric to the other piece. Those vertical lines will be the front and back center of the pants. Then sew starting at one leg, along the curved area and then down the other leg. Try on the pants! This step is important to make sure they fit right! Mine wound up being too short, so the drape of the middle was not low enough. I added an 8 inch wide strip of fabric along the waistband of the pants. I also had to cut off some of the length on the leg to suit my preferences.

Add elastic to the waist! I used wide elastic and made a casing with the knit fabric, but sewing the knit straight was a challenge. If you have a wide elastic, you could just sew it on as is without doing a casing.

Sew a Simple Leafy Reversible Table Mat

Apologies to Mom, because this is one of her birthday gifts for her upcoming December birthday! I have been waiting to share it on the blog, but turns out I’m not going to see her until late Winter.

This simple table mat came together in a few sittings! I just thought a quick tutorial was in order, because holidays are fast approaching! This mat is the perfect hostess or mother-in-law gift…especially for those women who seem to have everything.

Materials

Two fabrics, one green and one brown

Neutral color binding, preferably in a stretch knit

Batting

Basic sewing kit

paper, scissors and marker for template

Step One: Create a leaf template. Aim to make the leaf approximately half of the measurement of the finished table mat.

Step Two: Trace the template onto the green fabric. I did five leaves, but you could easily do only three or add more for a larger mat. Then cut out the fabric leaves.

Step Three: Sew the leaves onto batting with a wide zig zag stitch. Then cut around the leaves to remove excess batting.

Step Four: Sew those leaves onto the brown backing fabric, with right sides facing out. Cut around the leaves again, and be sure to round out the tip a little for the next step!

Step Five: Attach binding around each leaf. Then, sew the leaves together in a pleasing design.

So easy! Make one or make a bunch! Check your list then check it twice for all those women on your list!

Three Tips for Working With Vintage Linens

I know a lot of eco seamsters use organic cotton and other eco friendly materials in their sewing projects, but I still love vintage and thrifted first over brand new. I recently picked up some vintage sheets, and this gorgeous embroidered tablecloth all from the 60’s, and what I love most about them is all the potential they hold! Vintage sheets and tablecloths are great for backing quilts, but they can also be used to sew dresses, skirts, tops and more! Home decor projects like curtains and pillows would also be a great use of these vintage treasures. They are especially good for quilt backing, because the fact that they are already big enough to cover a bed means that you don’t typically have to sew more than one piece together to create the quilt back.

Here are a few tips for working with pre loved linens!

1. Vintage tablecloths and sheets come in all different types, and they often get a lot of wear and tear over the years. The tablecloth I bought has stains and a lot of them have holes or tears. Make sure to read the fine print or ask questions first before buying, so you know what you are going to receive. If shopping in a local thrift store, be sure to open up the linens and inspect them before buying. You can always use applique to cover stains or mend holes, so search with an open mind to see what ideas you can come up with!

2. Wash vintage sheets and tablecloths in a very basic detergent. I got All unscented and clear, with stain fighters. I do not hand wash anything, I always just throw vintage linens in the machine on gentle and hope for the best! Dry everything on low, or air dry if you have a clothes line. Hand embroidered pieces might need a touch of delicacy when it comes to washing. Consider what you will be making with the fabric before washing, because some items are just a pain to wash by hand.

3. When you are looking for vintage linens, it pays to think about it like yardage! The sixties tablecloth I purchased was about $25, but it also has hand embroidery all over the edges. I found another table cloth that was much smaller, and that seller also wanted close to twenty bucks! But when I looked at the size, it was only a little bigger than a yard of fabric. Even though a linen is old doesn’t necessarily mean it is worth a ton of money! So compare the size of the linen in question to the measurement of a yard to make sure you are getting your money’s worth.

I can’t wait to get these beautiful linens in the wash and onto my sewing table! I hope these tips help you in your own quest for eco fabric!

Contemporary Sewing is not your Grandma's Style

Back when I first started sewing again about nine or ten years ago, I picked up a couple of books that were deeply inspirational to the way I sew today. For the life of me…I cannot remember what those books were called. I sold one to a secondhand bookstore, and another is an ebook on my ancient nook app. But above all I want to say that contemporary sewing styles are more rough around the edges. A contemporary seamstress is not afraid to show a raw edge or wing it a bit to produce results.

In the past, everything was done a certain way. Art quilts were finished with binding and displayed with a rod pocket. And projects were done with a fussy style by hiding seams and gasp…never show a raw edge! My mom loves to say that I never finish my projects the right way. The truth is, I’m a contemporary seamstress and I’m not ashamed. My style has helped me to be super prolific in the things I have created, and I love a scrappy no rules finish!

Some ideas for the budding contemporary seamstress…

1. Realize when it is ok to do an exposed edge and finish with a zig zag stitch. Being able to see some of the raw edge of fabric is a beautiful thing! Fabric frays and unravels and does all kinds of incredible things when you allow that beauty to show through. On the edges of coasters, art quilts and more…try using a zig zag stitch with a raw edge.

2. Gone are the days where you have to be proficient at hand stitching to get the job done! If you want to embroider a design on your project, sketch it lightly with a fabric pen or pencil and stitch with your sewing machine. You can also embroider text on projects that way!

3. Embrace a scrappy approach in your projects, and try to use what you already have on hand. A lot of books say that you need a long list of items to complete the projects. The truth is you just need something comparable to get the job done. Research substitutions for various sewing notions and wing it when necessary. Yes…you have full permission!

4. Try creating your own patterns for things! I have to admit it…I’ve only sewn with two store bought patterns in the last eight or nine years; one was a hat pattern and the other was for a felt cat plushie. For every other project I’ve created my own patterns for everything from appliques to clothes. Use your old clothes to create new patterns. Pick the seams and trace the pieces onto cardstock or large watercolor paper for a pattern you can use over and over again. And practice drawing a bit to get the hang of designing things in your own style. Believe me…it feels so satisfying to DIY patterns and the things you make will have your own personal touch.

5. Aim for imperfection! This one is so much fun, and is a theme I have recently embraced wholeheartedly in my sewing. Allowing yourself to break longstanding sewing rules and do what you want with your creative process is both more creative and freeing to your creative muse. Trust your own process and just have some fun! Especially if you are sewing for personal use, or even if you are creating fabric art…embracing imperfection can open up a whole world of possibilities for self expression.

I hope these contemporary ideas light a fire in your sewing hobby and get your wheels turning. Contemporary sewing is not your Grandma’s style…it is sewing for the young at heart!

Book Review in Pictures: Generation T

Generation T

Supplies

Making some cuts

Template

More cutting

Ready…Set…Go!

Sewing…My favorite part!

Photo taken by Jason Sturges

Awake and Aware Journal Quilt

For years I have pondered how to combine my love of fabric with art making. I’m finally taking that idea seriously and giving myself time to experiment and play! Something about drawing and painting on fabric just makes me feel like a kid again. Painting on fabric feels different than canvas or paper. Fabric is thready and nubby and bumpy, the texture is a dream to make art on. Lately I feel so inspired! A big part of what brings me deep satisfaction in this life is just experimenting with the materials I have on hand. It is surprising what you can do with a few fabric scraps and paint!

This work started about five months ago by sewing scraps onto muslin, then I got out some puffy fabric paint. I think it was more designed to create dots on rocks and stuff, and when I tried to draw with it I wasn’t entirely happy with the result. So I brought in some white acrylic paint. We got a huge snowstorm yesterday and the white reminds me of the cool chill of snow. I used acrylic paint markers and a sharpie to write and draw. An old credit card came in handy to swipe paint on the surface and smudge out mistakes from the puffy paint.

I love the way this turned out so hardcore! I’m thinking I will frame it and hang it on the wall.

Awake and Aware by Kathryn Sturges

Design and Sew Felt Plushies

Things got heavy around here, and whenever that happens I love to do a light hearted project! I was accepted to sell my art at a local outlet mall, but the contract involved more than I was ready for so I had to bail on the project. I was so excited about the opportunity, and my spirit tanked when it fell through. So I decided to make some plushies anyway, just for fun!

One of the items I was going to make to sell at the mall was felt plushies. I have a big stack of felt that is constantly taunting me to use up. What is it about felt that makes my heart sing? Could it be the thick nubby texture, or the bold bright colors? Felt is so easy to work with, it is a dream to sew. The two plushies above only took a couple of sittings to make, and you could make a bunch in a weekend.

Designing a felt animal only takes your imagination. The shape of the cat above came from a vintage Seventies pattern. But you don’t need a pattern to make these little critters. Here’s a quick outline of how to design and sew the plushies! The best part is you will get to dip into your assortment of buttons, trims and whatever you have on hand.

Materials:

Felt in different colors (If you can, try to find Eco Felt. But if you already have some felt at home that is the best bet.)

Permanent marker

Scrap material or patches

Buttons, trim, etc.

Fabric scraps to turn into clothing if you want your plush to have an outfit

Fiberfill, extra batting or scraps to fill the plush

Basic sewing kit

Step One: Choose an animal to base your plush on. Or step outside the box and come up with a quirky concept. You could make a creature like an alien, sasquatch, monster, etc…or something more feminine like a doll or teddy bear.

Step Two: I promise…you do not need a pattern for this step! Trust me! Stack two pieces of felt, then draw the outline of the felt plush. For the frog above I just drew a freehand design. Make sure the head and body are all one piece. You can make separate pieces for arms and legs if you want, or do like a gingerbread style shape and draw the entire body shape as one piece.

Step Three: Cut out the two layers of felt at the same time. This will give you the front piece and back piece. If you need to make arms and legs, you probably only need one layer, unless you want to stuff them to make them puffy.

Step Five: Now comes the fun part! Design the facial features and decorate the plush. You can sew on buttons for eyes, or cut out felt shapes. I sewed a decorative iron on patch onto the frog. Don’t iron anything on though, because felt melts. Decorate with bits of yarn or fabric, trim or ribbon. Just have fun with it! I chose to only decorate the front of the plushies and left the backs plain.

Step Six: Stack the front and back with right sides out. Then sew around the edge, making sure to leave an opening so that you can fill with stuffing. Fill the plush, then finish sewing around the outside.

Make one, make a bunch…give them as gifts, donate them, sell them! Once you make one you will want to make more because they are so fun!

Sunshine Eco Blanket Tutorial

I have wanted to try a project like this for years! It is so strange how creatives work, because sometimes you have so many creative dreams that ideas get pushed back years before you see them come to fruition. This eco blanket was really simple to make, and it would be an awesome holiday gift to share with a loved one. You could probably make this in a day if you spent three to four hours in the sewing room. And you probably already have everything you need to whip this up! Try to use what you have…that is the eco challenge posed here!

Materials:

Thrifted fabrics…or old sheets, an old duvet cover or table cloth material

Basic sewing kit

Binding for your blanket

Other scrap material for the applique (I used an old shirt and a quilting cotton from my stash)

A large plate or other round object

I scored so big when I got a mystery box of old knits on Etsy last year! I got tons of yardage of fabric for only $50, it was estate fabric and arrived in a big ole box. I hung up all the fabrics in my sewing room closet, and the other day I was super chilly, I wanted to make a poncho. So I grabbed these two fabrics from the closet, but quickly realized they would be really cozy as a blanket. Root around your linen closet and stash and see what fabric you can come up with! An outdated duvet cover, old sheets, an old fleece blanket or table cloth would all work to make this original blanket.

Step One: Cut two squares of fabric, approximately 55 inches square. I skipped this step and assumed my fabrics were already squared off…but they weren’t! Sometimes measuring is the way to go! You can make your blanket larger or smaller, depending on who will use it.

Step Two: If you are using a binding, stack the fabrics right sides out and pin with safety pins around the outside edges and sew. If you are skipping the binding, stack fabrics with right sides together and pin with safety pins, be sure to leave an opening to flip it right side out. I used regular pins and they immediately starting popping off the fabric. So safety pins or clips are your best bet! If you are not using binding, after you sew, flip the blanket right side out and close up the opening with a zig zag stitch. You could continue that or another decorative stitch all the way around the blanket with contrasting thread for a fun look.

Step Three: Attach the binding. I already had this binding in my stash, but you can make some yourself. Cut long strips of woven non stretch fabric, approximately three inches wide. Sew those together end to end. Then fold in half and iron with steam, fold each side under to meet the middle and iron again. Then simply wrap the binding around the edges as you sew, and attach with a zig zag or other decorative stitch.

Step Four: Grab the fabric for the circle part of the sun. The seams on this shirt started coming apart after the last wash, and I only wore this three or four times! GRRRR fast fashion! I was going to mend it, but then it dawned on me that it would make a perfect sunshine applique. The fabric is a super stretchy and slick, odd polyester blend. I traced around a large plate to get my circle shape and then cut the circle out.

Step Five: Because the sun fabric was so awkward to manage, I attached it to a quilting cotton backing to make it more sturdy. The fabric would not lay flat on its own, and immediately wanted to fold and bunch up when I tried to pin it to the blanket. You can applique with just about any fabric as long as you stabilize it the right way. Because I could not use heat on the fabric and fusible web, I pinned the circle onto a large square of orange quilting cotton fabric. Then I switched my thread to a burnt sienna color for contrast, and sewed around the edge of the circle.

Step Six: Next, grab a pair of scissors and cut around the orange fabric to make sun rays. I just did this freehand, but if you want a more uniform look you could trace around a template made of paper or cardboard. Pin the applique onto the blanket and sew around the circle first. Then stitch down the edges of the rays. Remove all the pins, and you are done!

I’m so glad I finally made this blanket, it had been a creative dream of mine from many years ago to make an artful blanket with applique and now I have done that dream! You can change up this project to suit your own vision! Make up your own applique shape and just enjoy the process.

Making Reusable Linens

Allergy season is here, but truly all year long I am tormented by allergies. I am one of those people who is allergic to dang near everything, including grass and animals. I typically blow my nose constantly throughout the day and night. I also use tissue and paper towels to dab excess water when I am painting. So I decided to create a little basket of hankies and rags for my art table. That way I can just wash everything instead of wasting so much paper. Today was my first day using the new handkerchiefs I made, and it will take some getting used to. I also made a basic drawstring bag so I can put some in my handbag for on the go!

Making handkerchiefs is actually super simple. They do not need to be fancy, and you can even make some without sewing. I used 10 inch pre cut squares and just hemmed the edges. But you could cut up an old sheet or cotton dress to use instead. If you do not sew, just get some pinking shears and trim the edges with the shears to prevent fraying. 10 x 10 inches is about the smallest I would recommend going, aim for 12-14 inches square at minimum. If you have some old bandanas, those would work great too!

Making UnPaper Towels is also super easy. You can buy them on Etsy, but making them yourself is a great way to use up some of your fabric and custom tailor the cloths to the specific purposes you will be using them for. A very basic rag can be created by cutting up flannel and zig zag stitching around the edges. Cut up tee shirts work great for dusting and are totally washable. Or use a flannel or cotton on one side and a more absorbent fabric like an old terry cloth towel on the reverse side for 2 ply towels. My twin sister bought me a bunch of UnPaper Towels from a woman who sews them online, and they were fussy with all these fancy details. Call me simple and plain, but basic things like handkerchiefs and cleaning rags do not need to be fussy, they just need to be functional.

Sewing your own fabric napkins is also super easy. Make them a bit larger, like 18x18 inch square. Use a single square of fabric for each and do a basic hem around the outside. Single ply is best for fabric napkins. I learned this the hard way and used a fabric on either side, which turned out to be way too thick for use as a napkin. You can use any cotton fabric for fabric napkins, and batiks or solids are especially nice because they look the same on both sides.

If you do want to add a nice element to your handkerchiefs or UnPaper Towels, embroider a little design on each one. Small bundles of each would be great gifts to give as well! When you are crafty, going green is so much fun! Little by little you can create objects of beauty that you will want to reuse instead of wasting paper all the time.

Stash Buster: Use Up Those Pre Cut Squares!

A big part of going green is making use of what you have instead of buying store bought goods. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed tonight because I have amassed so much scrap material, and I want to use it up. I literally feel like I could sew for the rest of my life and still not run out of fabric, lol! I don’t buy new fabric very often, but somehow I have kept all the leftovers from past projects and it adds up fast.

My quilt making used to be about combining mostly scrap material with a few yards of store bought fabric, but there was always something that I didn’t use. Quilters amass so much fabric and it is celebrated on Facebook…the pure gluttony of it all! I’m committed to using up what I have, or finding others who are in need of materials. I’ve donated art supplies to a veterans home before, and am in the process of looking for charities who might need supplies.

A year or two ago I bought two packs of ten inch squares from Amazon, and let me just say that it is not quilt worthy material! The fabric has lots of cute prints so I made a bunch of scarves when I was selling clothes. I was including a free scarf with each order that I received. Needless to say, I was left with tons of extra pre cuts.

Here are some ideas for using up pre cut squares. If they are ten to twelve inches, these projects might be a great fit! You can also cut up yardage for the projects. I’m enjoying using the squares because I can just grab some and get sewing. If you don’t have pre cut squares you could always spend a weekend cutting out squares from your scrap bin to use instead. Use what you already have, and try to be an eco frugalista when it comes to your sewing. Be conscious of your tendencies to buy new material for each project, and challenge yourself to use what you have on hand first.

1. Scarves

2. Fabric Napkins

3. Drawstring Pouches

4. Coasters and Table Mats

5. Hats or Bandanas

6. Fabric Gift Bags

7. Button Clutch and Wallet

8. Decorative Pillows

9. Patchwork Squares Quilt

10. Squares Bean Bag Pouf

I hope these ideas get you excited to get at the machine! One thing seamstresses are not short of is creative ideas! When you use what you have it actually makes you more creative, because you come up with new inventive ways to rethink those materials. Christmas is coming up soon, and if you start now you can sew your gifts instead of buying them from the store, or think of what you need and try to make it next time instead of buying it. Happy crafting!