Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Today's tutorial was an idea I had when I walked into my sister's office without knocking, and began talking to her before I realized she was on an important phone call. I had to do that apologetic move and bow out until she was finished. I thought a stitched double-sided doorknob hanger would be good, that way my sis could use it to let me know when it was alright for me to barge in, or flip the hanger over if I need to zip my lip. This is a good doorknob hanger for offices and workspaces, but I also thought it might be good to change out the telephone image and use something appropriate for a nursery when the baby is sleeping. Either way, this doorknob hanger can help alert visitors as they approach your door.

To make this doorknob hanger you will need:

-muslin in a 18x18 inch piece (there will be scraps)
-11 inch piece of ribbon
-poly-fil or fiberfill
-embroidery supplies (hoop, floss, scissors, needles)
-sewing machine and coordinating thread
-scissors
-pins
-Telephone embroidery pattern (available at Urban Threads)

I created a pattern of sorts using a free vintage pattern from French-knots.com and incorporated text using a stock font in a Word document. You can access the vintage floral pattern here, but I have also made the floral pattern with text available for you here.

Step 1: Transfer the patterns to fabric. Make sure to place the the patterns far enough away from each other so you can cut 6.5x6.5-inch squares out of fabric with the embroidery at the center. Stitch.

Step 2: Once embroidered, cut two 6.5x6.5-inch squares with the embroidery at the center of each square.

Step 3: Place one square with the right side, face up, and lay the ribbon on top of it with the curved part inward and the edges aligned along the top edge of fabric. The outer edges of the ribbon need to be at least 1-inch away from the side edges of the fabric. Lay the second embroidered square right side down on top of this. Pin in place.

Step 4: Stitch around the exterior of the square with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving one small space at the bottom of the square open, for flipping. I used red so you could see where I sewed this up.

Step 5: Clip the corners and flip, pushing the corners out.

Step 6: Take poly-fil or fiberfill, and stuff the doorknob hanger to your liking. Be careful not to overstuff the hanger, because it can bust out the stitches.

Step 7: Using a ladder stitch, close the space used to flip and stuff the doorknob hanger.

Step 8: Hang on your office or work room door and hope I don't barge in while you are on the phone!

Hope you enjoy this week's tutorial and give it a try!

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I have a cute and easy tutorial for you today, featuring a vintage embroidery pattern available for free from French-Knots.com. I embroidered this ribbon frame pattern, and added my hand written initial, on the front of a small pouch. I will be doing some traveling in the near future and needed a jewelry pouch for toting around my rings and things.

To make your own jewelry pouch, you will need the following supplies:

- Two pieces of fabric 9-inches wide by 14-inches long (one for exterior & one for lining)

- One 35-inch piece of ribbon or string

- One medium-sized safety pin

- Embroidery supplies

- Sewing machine and coordinating thread

- scissors

- iron and ironing board

Step One: Transfer your embroidery pattern to your fabric and stitch it up. I used this ribbon and flower frame pattern, and hand wrote my initial into the center. If you don't want to add your own handwriting, there are various embroidery alphabets available, some great ones are available here, or you could use your favorite computer font.

Step Two: Place your exterior and lining pieces of fabric right sides together. Mark a 2-inch space that will remain open and unsewn along one of the longer sides. Using a 1/2-seam allowance, stitch around all four sides, leaving that 2-inch space open.

Step Three: Clip the corners and flip the fabric out through the 2-inch opening and press. You don't need to worry about stitching the space used to flip just yet. We'll stitch it shut in the following steps.

Step Four: With your lining piece facing up, fold over 1-inch of the short edges of fabric and press. Stitch each side along the bottom edge to create the space for the drawstring.

Step Five: Fold the fabric in half so that the lining is exposed and the exterior fabric is facing itself.

Stitch up both sides using a 1/4 seam allowance, stopping just at the perpendicular stitch, made to create the space for the drawstring. This stitch will close the opening we used to the flip the fabric in Step Three. Flip.

Step Six: Run a safety pin through one end of the ribbon or string. Use the safety pin to guide the ribbon, push the ribbon through both sides of the top edge. 

Step Seven: Knot the ends of the ribbon or string. I decided to trim mine a bit at this stage. 

Add your items and enjoy!

Hope you give this tutorial a try and take it on your next trip! 

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It seems Valentine's Day is everywhere I turn. In order to join in on the Valentine's Day prep, I searched for some vintage embroidery patterns perfect for the day o' love and found some fantastic ones at French-Knots. 

Once I had decided on which pattern to stitch, I thought it would be cute for a Valentine's Day coffee/tea cup cozy. I used the lazy daisy pattern of the heart with an arrow through it, which is available here. I scaled the pattern down to 35% and printed it to fit the center front of the cozy.

In order to make a Valentine's Day coffee cup cozy of your own or to gift, you'll need the following supplies:

-fabric for front and back of the cozy (approximately 10x5 inches of each)

-embroidery hoop

-embroidery pattern of choice

-embroidery floss (I used DMC floss No.8 in red 666 and Perle Iris No.8 in 5064)

-batting

-2-inches of elastic 

-one button

-Coffee cup cozy template

-sewing machine

-scissors

-iron

Step One: Transfer and stitch your pattern onto your fabric of choice. I scaled down my pattern of choice to 35%, before printing and transferring it to the fabric. 

Step Two: Once your stitching is complete, take the template and place it over your stitches, making sure the stitching is centered. Using the template, cut one of each of the front, back, and batting.

 

Step Three: Layer the pieces so they can be sewn together starting with the batting, then fabric back right side up, and fabric front with right side down. Take the elastic and form a loop. Place the loop side between the front and back pieces on one of the shorter sides. Pin the three pieces together. Stitch around the edges with a 1/4-inch seam. Make sure to leave a 2-inch space open so you can turn the cozy. 

Step Four: Clip the corners, turn the cozy, and press. 

Step Five: Stitch around the edge of the cozy to finish off the edges and close the space used to turn it right side out. 

Step Six: Place the button on the short edge of the cozy, opposite the side with the elastic, and stitch in place. 

Step Seven: Wrap the cozy around your next coffee or tea cup, and you have instant Valentine's Day flavor.

Hope you enjoy and give this tutorial a try! Have a great day!