Friday, October 30, 2009

Scrappy Patchwork Flower

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

Fabric scraps. What to do with all of those fabric scraps. I am willing to bet that most of you have them, and lots of them too. It is very fulfilling when a project can be put together using scrap pieces of fabric. This would mean that it would cost you next to nothing to make, and who could argue with that these days.

I needed a package topper for a small gift and decided to create a simple flower in lieu of a bow. The first place that I look for small pieces of fabric is in my scrap drawer. What a wonderful assortment of prints awaited me.


For this flower, I used nine, 1-3/4-inch square pieces of fabric. With a scissor, round both corners on one side of each square.


With needle and thread, take a running stitch along the square edge of each petal. After all petals are on the thread, tie both ends of the thread together to form a circle of petals.


Take another scrap piece measuring approximately 3/4" x 7". This will act as the flower center. Remove threads from one of the 7-inch sides until you have 1/4-inch of fray. With needle and thread, take a running stitch to the non-frayed edge. Gather and tie both ends of the thread together to form a circle. Sew a button or two to the center, and sew the piece onto the center of the circle of petals.


It is pretty just as is...


...or add velvet leaves for an extra special touch. Add a pinback to the back of the flower if you wish. Voila! A very pretty and very easy package topper/flower pin.


Make a bunch of these to coordinate with the wrapping paper you intend on using this holiday season. Modify the size of the petals to make it larger if you would like to have something more dramatic. You can also make a couple of petal rounds, one about an inch in diameter smaller than the other and layer it for a fuller effect. Wouldn't they be gorgeous done up in red and green or burgundy and gold? Hang them on the Christmas tree or on a holiday wreath. Whatever makes you happy. A fabulous something for almost nothing, and that has to be a good thing!

Take care!

Aloha!


P. S. Hint of the day: Never stand on a swivel chair when tending to a paper jam in your printer high up on your computer desk. You risk falling and breaking something, such as the tip of your baby finger. Ask me how I know.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Take-Me-Along Tabbie Blanket

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

I know a cute little baby girl who is just learning to grasp items with her hands. I am sure that she is going to love this Take-Me-Along Tabbie Blanket. It is small and can easily be taken with her wherever she goes.


For the body of the blanket, I used two pieces of 11" x 11" fabric, a decorative fabric for the front and a soft flannel for the back. I cut twenty-four tabbies from scrap pieces of coordinating fabric, each initially measuring 1-1/2" x 4". Each tabbie was folded and sewn before being attached to the body of the take-me-along.


The tabbies were evenly spaced and pinned around all 4 sides of the take-me-along. Each piece was then sewn securely to the body of the blanket for a total of 6 times so as not to become loose and pose a choking hazard.


A sweet Take-Me-Along Tabbie Blanket for a sweet little girl.


Have a wonderful day.

Aloha!

Friday, October 9, 2009

CRAZY BUSY

Time has been flying by here in the land of Polka Dot Pineapple. Tired, weary, sore fingers, but still pushing ahead. Barely.


I have been making these contrasting fabric yo-yo posie key chains for more than a decade and I can almost do these with my eyes closed. Thank goodness. Now, if I could only sew in my sleep, I'd have it made in the shade.


So much to do, so little time. Planning to spend long hours at the sewing machine this weekend and play catch-up. I hope you have a fabulous and productive weekend too.

Aloha!