sewing bee...

Here in the UK, everyone in the crafting world is currently going Great British Sewing Bee crazy (for what it's worth, I am Team Lauren), although I suspect the rather easy on the eye Patrick Judge may have a little something to do with it's popularity!

Anyway, in celebration of all the sewing machines which will no doubt now be being purchased, here is my contribution to get people sewing.  In the Sewing Bee, they are making clothes.  In my humble opinion, sewing clothes can be quite complicated, so if you are new to the craft, here's a simple little project to try which encompasses a handful of techniques, a sewing bee softie...

You will need :

selection of fabric : black & yellow (I used fabrics with sewing related prints!)

selection of craft felt

toy stuffing

2 small buttons or beads

sewing thread

embroidery thread (I used Pearl Cotton 8)

paper, pencil & scissors

pins & a needle

Step 1 : First create 2 squares of fabric, (8x8cm) by patch-working together 3 strips for each. 

Step 2 :  Draft yourself a pattern for the Bees body by drawing an oval shape onto the paper that is roughly 6.5cm tall and 5cm across.  Cut out and pin the template to the first of the fabric squares and trim to size.  Repeat for the other piece.

Step 3 : Pin the 2 fabric ovals, right sides together, sew round the edge to join (either by hand using backstitch or on a sewing machine), leaving a small gap for turning it back right side round.

Step 4 : Through the gap, stuff the bee, tuck in the fabric edges and then stitch the gap closed.

Step 5 : Switch to the embroidery thread and add eyes by attaching 2 small circles of craft felt with a tiny button or bead in the center.

Step 6 : Make yourself another template, this time a wing shape (mine is kind of like a flower petal) and cut 2 from the craft felt.  Stitch into position with the embroidery thread.

Step 7 : To finish off, after the wings are attached, take the needle up through the middle of the bee and tie a loop in this thread so you can hang your bee up.

And that's it, all done.  A quick bit of sewing and you've practiced pattern drafting, patchwork, sewing, applique and embroidery!  You could make lots and create a mobile, and even nip over to Whip Up for the Ladybird project I posted there, both insects are about the same size so will work great as a pair.

dalmatian...

I don't know if it's my internet or blogger itself that is to blame, but it's just taken me over an hour to just load up this one image!  So, to play it safe for now, all I'm going to say is...

Dalmatian Softie (spelt it right first time for once!)  ...is on Etsy now.

Fabric & felt...

When I started designing patterns for the Countryside Softies book, there were decisions to be made regarding materials.  I tend to work mainly using a base of felted wool, and for a number of reasons chose to stick with this as it's easy to work with, very forgiving for those who are a bit nervous about their stitching, and also I do love the way it looks for the finished piece.

But, I was also aware that Softie design is already a fairly smallish market, and one which was reduced further by the use of felted wool.  I've had quite a few emails from crafters struggling to find wool clothing suitable to use.  My own stash has not been added to as often as I would like.  I will still be using felted wool for items I make myself, but it's what they call a 'no brainer' for any PDF patterns I release to use fabrics as their base.  Which means I'm now working on choosing which fabrics to use for which designs, which is actually amazingly hard, as from a business perspective, the fabrics can't overpower the design as the images of the finished pieces are what will potentially sell the patterns.  

Also, as a way of giving my patterns a bit of kerb appeal, it's all about the added extras.  This is why I'm aiming for the patterns to include other bits and pieces, like the cat pattern will be a large cat design alongside the kitten, mouse and a miniature ball of wool.  I'm also waiting till I've got 3 patterns complete, as if I launch three instead of just one initially, again from a business perspective it gives more opportunities to run launch offers, 2 for 1 that kind of thing.  

As an aside, do you think there is a market for scrap bags of felted wools?  It's something I'm going to give a try, but one factor coming up against the idea is our UK postal system and the recent increased charges!  Not good for small businesses at all and it's leaving many to have to re-think their product range entirely, which is a real shame.

Etsy update,

I've added a few new items to the Etsy shop, they are...

SOLD

Fantastic Mr Fox, using that lovely Marvel comic print I talked about last time,

some cotton reel pincushions, using the same fabric,

 

and three more pincushions using a sewing pattern print as I'm always getting a steady trickle of emails enquiring about these so thought it would be a good idea to sew a little batch.

All are on Etsy now. 

Super,

It must be noticeable to blog readers that I haven't been blogging with any regularity of late.  I think it's something most bloggers in any subject hit at sometime or another, a bit of writers block along with a dose of self doubt, why do I blog and do I want to continue?  I do want to carry on, I know that much at least.  Baby steps, baby steps...

First place to start is a run down of what's been going on here...

An online friend featured some Marvel comic fabric in a project she made on Facebook, which caught my eye.  I got some from Ebay (UK link) and have tracked it's origins as being from Camelot Fabrics who seem to have the license for Marvel.  Have to admit though, the comic book cover fabric (USA link) is definitely my favorite.  

  

Of course, as soon as it arrived, my son's eye's flashed wider with a 'ooooh, is that for me?' expression.  I'm sure some will make it's way into his room eventually (and join the scraps he is currently squirreling away in his bed/nest), but for now, it is intended for a few Superhero type Softies.

Fantastic Mr Fox/Dame Edna

Apologies for the out of focus image, it's from Instagram, but how do you make Superhero eye masks, look like eye masks and not glasses??  It's a real problem.  And Luke tells me Mr Fox needs a cape as all Superheros should have a cape.  I am drawing a line at red underpants though!