from the blue shed

wrist warmers - tutorial

Our little Rowen sliced her hand open last week and needed stitches! The poor thing was very brave, A LOT braver than I was. We needed a little distraction from the large bandage around her hand she was just itching to take off. Some "dragon protector" wrist warmers did the trick. In the theme of sock transformation (leg warmer tutorial here) we sliced up a pair of socks, new socks, and made some dragons.

Step 1. Cut the tube of the sock away from the foot. 

Step 2. Cut along one side of the sock up to the band without cutting into the band.

Step 3. Turn the sock tube right side in. Cut a strip of felt approx. half an inch shorter than the length of the tube and 1.5 inches wide. Give the felt some jagged spikes. Lay the felt strip inside the tube, spikes pointing in and sew along the edge of the tube.

Step 4. Cut 2 inches off the top of the foot of the sock. Leaving this piece with the right side out, slip it into the tube just sewn, meeting up the raw edges. Sew along this edge.

Step 5. Turn the tube right side out. I left the raw edge as is. If you prefer to sew it, see here.

Step 6. They are pretty cute as is, but to turn them into a friendly creature, add some button eyes.

What sort of creatures can you come up with??

t-shirt necklace

My inbox has been overflowing this week with links from my girlfriend on how to make t-shirt necklaces. Why had I never seen this before?? It's just so brilliant! So yesterday afternoon I set out... alone (does this project get any better) to buy up old T's. Last night, armed with our supplies, a few beverages and a whole lot to talk about, we got slicing. End result - extremely satisfying. 

I am now completely obsessed. My husband is down a few shirts since last night, good thing he is away. Below are some links to some great tutorials.

ThreadBanger
a pretty penny
luv in the mommyhood

Get rippin'.

A-line pocket dress - tutorial

I was sent a link to rhythm of the home's dress full of pockets post. Just like the recipient of that gorgeous garment, my girls too needed a treasure collecting dress. They didn't have a dress suitable to add pockets to so I had a stab at copying an existing one.

Materials

1m of dress fabric (I used a light cord)
2 pieces of complimenting fabric 9 inch x 12 inch each
1 button
thread
sewing machine
pinking shears
1 piece of A4 paper
small side plate
pencil
1 large piece of butchers paper

I turned one of my girls a-line dresses inside out and traced it onto some paper, adding half an inch on all sides for the seam allowance and 1 1/2 inches to the hem along the bottom. I also added an inch to one of the two shoulder pieces. This became a button and button hole strap. 

Now that you have your pattern;

Fold the fabric in half, pin your pattern to it and cut using pinking shears.

Using a small pair of scissors, clip along the scoop of the neckline and the arm holes, only a few millimetres deep. Press these edges towards the wrong side of the fabric and sew into place. I did 2 rows of stitching to secure the edge down and to avoid future fraying. Finish off the longer shoulder piece by ironing a 1/4 of an inch hem and sew two rows of stitches.

Iron the hemline towards the wrong side of the fabric 1/2 an inch, repeat and then sew.

Repeat with the other piece of fabric. Line up both sides of the dress, right sides facing each other. Sew along each side of the dress and along the unfinished shoulder piece. Turn right side out. Oh la la! the wee dress is coming together!

To finish the second shoulder piece, overlap the two pieces until they are the same length as the other strap. Mark where your button will go. Now, I have never made a button hole before and seeing as I only had to make one, I thought I would attempt it. I made it up as I went along. It seems to work but I think I will leave this bit to the professionals. Hop on over to the Purl Bee for a buttonhole tutorial. Alternatively you could use velcro. 

To make 2 big wrap around pockets fold a piece of A4 paper in half. Using a plate, round one corner and cut. Chose 2 complimenting fabrics. Fold one of the fabrics in half. Pin the pocket pattern to the fabric and cut. Repeat with other fabric. Take one pocket piece of each fabric, line them up with the right sides facing each other. Sew around the out side leaving a small place to turn your fabric right side out. Clip along the curve of the pocket making sure not to cut the seam. Repeat with other pocket. Use a ruler or better yet, a point turner if you have one and gently push the edges out to create nice clean edges. Iron both pockets taking care to make the opening invisible by ironing the opening flat.

Fold your dress in half, lining up the two side seams. Position the centre of the pockets on each side of the dress along the seams and pin into place. Top stitch the pockets into place. 

 

Ta da! A cute little pocket dress. Thanks Jean for the inspiration. Filled with a note book, pen and a chocolate bunny, these dresses are perfect for an Easter morning discovery, ready for the hunt.

*Now, I have the inability to be short and concise, so this tutorial does look rather long and time consuming. It really is though a simple project that this amateur seamstress could tackle. I managed to make 2 of these dresses in one day. Ahhh, the sewing machine is out and it's staying out.

recycled men's shirt quilt

Upon completion of my quilt yesterday, I found this partially written post I started when I began this project;

This past year my mother was asked to make a quilt in memory of a man who had passed away. His family brought my mum bags of his dress shirts of which he had a huge collection. My mum got to work cutting up and piecing together a beautiful quilt of checks, plaids, stripes and squares with pockets. It turned out beautifully. The family was so moved it made them cry. They asked her to make another. 

My mum has given me a bag containing all sorts of shredded shirts, the remnants of these two quilts.

I spent yesterday afternoon cutting up all the shirts, removing hems and seams so I can see how much fabric I have to work with.


I have so many ideas. First one on the agenda is a patchwork picnic blanket for the girls.



This is what I love about recycling found things, broken things, things you love. It can give something a new purpose. You can hold onto something that you treasure. You can make new memories from old ones. 

It was so nice to find this post and look back at my Canadian summer, quilting with my mum. 8 months later the quilt is finally complete.

 

Although we never knew the man that once owned these shirts, I love knowing a little history about them and will look forward to making our own history with their new purpose.

first stitches

The season, and our holidays, are slowly coming to an end. Last week we were swimming, this week logs of wood have crept into the cottage and the fire is roaring. We are all rugged up in ugg boots and sweaters and finding cosy things to do. I kinda like it.

I have been waiting for the day when I could teach the girls how to sew. Piper has been asking to use my sewing machine for awhile now but I am not quite ready to share. This is the perfect place to learn how, by hand anyway. It reminds me of my summers on the screen porch at  our cottage. learning to sew and knit.
 



I gave Rowen a piece of plastic mesh so she could give it a go as well. I have to admit that there was more arguing than sewing, but in the end she was very happy with what she had accomplished.
 


I am going to miss lying around the place with my family, making and chatting. Did you know that it is bad luck to baste fabric with yellow or green thread? Just one of things I learnt yesterday along with the fact that my mum won an Oscar! Well, sort of. She worked on the movie The Young Winston in 1972 while working at Berman's as an apprentice seamstress. Among other costumes, she worked on this blue dress.

 It won that year for best costumes. How did I not know that?? She is full of surprises.

caravan no. 2

I was disappointed when the gypsy caravan refurb came to an end. I know that some of you really enjoyed watching the transformation as well. For those just tuning in, the first caravan was done up as a bedroom for two girls whose family is starting to renovate. Their parents will be camping out in the newly built shed for the duration, leaving only their son without a space of his own. That is until now... 

Mission 

Create an awesome dwelling deemed acceptable by a teenage boy that doesn't resemble a cave.
Reupholster bench cushions 
Make new curtains
Decorate with an automotive theme.....oooh have they got some goodies for that.
Limited budget as this second caravan was quite a bit more than the first (the first being a few hundred bucks I think) That just makes the challenge more fun!

So here is caravan no. 2...

Snuggled up next to caravan no. 1

 
Same fabulous interior but in much better shape.

 
Lovin' the green fridge. That is definitely staying.

 
Fabric chosen for upholstering benches and for curtains.

 
I am so excited to be doing this all over again. Will keep you posted on the progress. Start your engines.

felt flowers

Here is a quick little how to for the flowers I embellished the girls leg/arm warmers with.

1. Cut a circle out of felt.
2. Cut a spiral into the circle. Trim the outside of the circle to create a neat edge.
 
3. Start with the point of the spiral and roll tightly into the center.
  
Sew through the base of the flower a few times to hold together.
   
To create a more open poppy-like flower, start rolling from the center of the circle out.
   
Sew a few beads into the centre.
 
 Cute.

leg/arm warmers - tutorial

The only good thing, in my opinion, about fashion from the 80's is leg warmers, and oh how good they are. On any given winter day my children can be found still running around in their summer dresses. I have found the perfect solution that they will actually wear. Yes that's right, the mighty leg warmer!

 leg/arm warmers

mens or womens socks  
thread 
scissors 
sewing machine
iron
buttons and fabric (if you would like to embellish them)
 

Cut the foot off of the sock just above the heel. I used a rotary cutter but scissors, of course, are fine.
  
Lie the tube of the sock flat and measure the width of the frayed edge of the sock. Cut open the foot of the sock making sure you leave maximum fabric to work with.  Cut a piece of fabric from the foot of the sock measuring 3" wide by  2 x the width of the measured frayed edge.
 
Fold this piece of fabric in half. Right sides together. Sew along the 3" edge to make a short tube.
   
To finish the raw edge off with a cuff;
1.  Iron open the seam of the tube just sewn. Slip the frayed edge of the sock into the tube just sewn, right sides together. Pin and sew.
2. Fold the sock inside out. Fold the new seam towards the edge of the sock and iron. Fold the edge of the cuff towards the wrong side 1/4 " and iron.
3. Fold the cuff one more time over the stitching, iron and pin.
4. Fold right side out and top stitch along the top of the cuff.
  
All done! Embellish with buttons or fabric flowers if you wish.
 
 
 They make a great quick and easy gift for a little person in your life.
 

Get warmin' some legs.

reversible scrappy girls headscarf - tutorial

  Materials;

~ 20 x 25" of fabric
~ 20 x 25" in complementing fabric
~ thread
~ 4 x buttons
~ rotary cutting tool
~ cutting mat
~ iron
~ sewing machine

Step 1.
~ Cut 2 triangles (one from each fabric) measuring 17" x 16" x 16"
~ Cut 2 semi circles (one from each fabric) measuring 8" wide x 2.5" deep
   trace this shape on a piece of paper first to get the curve right. I used a plate    to help create the shape.
~ Cut 2 long strips of fabric measuring 18" x 2.5" (in either fabric)

  Step 2.
Make the ties.

    1. Iron 1/4 " of one end of the tie to the wrong side.
    2. Next fold the whole piece of fabric in half, long ways and iron.
    3. Open up the fabric and fold one side into the crease and iron, then repeat 
    on the other side.
    4. With the edges still folded into the center, fold the piece of fabric in half     again and iron.

Top stitch the folded fabric along the center. Repeat with the second tie. I tied a little knot in the hemmed edge to finish it off.

 Step 3.
Place the 2 semi circles on top of each other (let's call this the peak), right sides together. Sew only along the curved edge of the fabric. Clip along the sewn edge of the fabric being careful not to cut the stitching. Fold the fabric right side out and iron.
 
  Step 4.

Lay triangles on top of each other, right sides together. Fold the triangle in half along the 17" side. Cut the tip of the triangles off 1" from the edge. This is where the ties will be attached. Keeping the triangle together, right sides together, find center of the 17" edge, and the center of the peak, match up and pin. Make sure the fabric triangle on top is the same as the fabric semi circle. Sew along this edge.
   
 Step 5.
Using the same technique as attaching the peak, place the two ties inside the triangles with the raw edge of the ties lined up with the cut edge of the triangle (see below). Pin ties in place. Sew one tie in place and continue to the tip of triangle. Sew second tie in place and sew 3" from tip of triangle leaving enough room to turn the scarf right side out.
 
 Step 6.
Turn edge of opening to inside of scarf and iron. Top stitch entire scarf. Measure 4" along both short sides of the scarf. Fold under to create a pleat on each side. I would put the scarf on a little head at this point to get the pleat in the right place. Secure in place with a button on each side and underneath. Remember it is reversible!
    
After a few prototypes, I am very happy with how it turned out. Now I just have to get her to wear it. The photo shoot was a struggle. Perhaps if I led her to a meadow full of daisies and frolicking deer, she might be game?

twirly grafitti skirt

Over the years I have established myself as the hand-me-down queen. A position I love. This means that every few months a bag of clothes from one of my girlfriend's fabulous wardrobes arrives on my doorstop. Brilliant! I acquired this skirt from my dear friend Andrika ( visit her design blog and have a stroll through her beautiful gallery of rooms she has designed. Andrika has a wonderful gift for creating warm personal spaces)
   (I just love the filth in that photo, it just works don't you think?)

I love this skirt but it is time it changed it's form. I have made quite a few twirly skirts, found here at House on hill road. That is exactly where this skirt is headed. There is something so wicked and wonderful about a 2 year old wearing a print so rebellious. Probably something I shouldn't encourage with this particular child.
I have always loved graffiti (of the artistic variety) My brother recently introduced me to Anser's work which I love. His work is one continuous stroke. Take a look at his show here at the Funktion Gallery and this clip below;

Back to the skirt. After pulling the original skirt apart, the fabric I had left to work with was not quite wide enough for the pattern. I didn't have any other fabric that would suit. In the theme of re-purposing, I rummaged through my husband dress shirts and, with permission, chopped up his black shirt he wore to his best friends wedding.
    
A very simple pattern with a great impact. Who wouldn't want a twirly skirt? Here is another variation of the same skirt. We call this one the Dorothy skirt.

  

I find it heartbreaking sometimes making clothes for the girls only for them to grow out of them in 6 months. What I love about this pattern is that it can last for years. The elastic around the waist is easily replaceable when your child grows and it looks cute with leggings when it becomes a bit too short. 
  
They are even perfect for a spot of hockey.