Easy Cupcake Pincushion Tutorial

The Pincushion photo tutorial shows a pincushion that my 6 year old daughter made, so apologies for the fact the sewing may not appear neat! I actually decided to make a pincushion for a blogger friend of mine and as my children love to copy -my youngest also made a pincushion, it really is that easy!
These can also be used as a felt toy - not just as a pincushion!

I forgot to take step by step photographs of the pincushion that I made, so I have used the photographs from the one my daughter made. I have included a photograph of the actual pincushion I personally made at the bottom of this post.

Requirements:

• A paper cake case - to use as a template
• 2 or more contrasting pieces of felt.
• A variety of coloured embroidery thread
• Stuffing
• Needle / Scissors

Step 1: Using a paper cupcake - place on your felt upside down and cut out a circle piece of felt - so the circle will be the same shape as the widest part of the cupcake. You could make a paper template first as shown in the photograph. This circle will be the top part of the cupcake.
Step 2: Using scissors cut out down the side of the cupcake case and then cut out the small circle shaped base of the cupcake case.
Step 3: Then use the 2 cut pieces, circle and crescent shape as a template to cut out your felt. The small circle will be used for the base of the cupcake. The crescent shape will be the outside edge of the cupcake.
Step 4: Now cut out 2 different strips of felt - this will be used to decorate the top of the cupcake. The size I used was 2.5cm x 30cm (30cm as this was the width of my felt!)

Step 5: Take the large circle and a contrasting colour of rectangle shaped felt and place it around the centre of the circle (leaving a gap in the middle of the circle), folding it over and hand stitching it to the circle as you go along. Try to make sure that you make sure the end part is twisted under to make it look neater.
Step 6: Repeat the above step with the other piece of felt, this time make sure you place the felt into the very centre, so that you can see the different lengths of felt. You now have your icing finished.
Step 7: Using different coloured threads, make plenty of small straight stitches all over the icing you designed. These are meant to look like sprinkles and help secure the felt icing to the top of the cake.
Step 8: Now stitch the 2 short ends of the piece of felt that is for the side of the cupcake. Then using ordinary stitches secure the outside of the cake to the to top part you designed.
Step 9: Once you have attached the side, you then need to place your stuffing into the cupcake and then with hand stitches place the small circle (base of the cupcake) to the rest of the cupcake.
Step 10: Add extra decoration if you prefer - my daughter decided to add a bow!

You now have a cupcake that can be either used as a pincushion or as a felt toy!

I searched YouTube for a video tutorial of a felt cupcake tutorial and found this one, which is pretty similar in showing how to attach the pieces! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA8PcXbwG9U

Here is the photograph of the one I made using a very similar design, except I added an extra layer on top by making another long rectangle but this time with curves along one edge!

Eid Gift Swap 2013

 This year I participated in an Eid Gift Swap with another Blogger, Sheen from fabulositystudio. We originally planned to do this at Eid Al Fitr but we ended up both being too busy during Ramadan, so we decided that we would do this for Eid Al Adha instead.

We both decided that the theme would be 'handmade' and gave each other a budget limit as we would also be paying for postage costs! We had to prepare these early as Sheen was going away before Eid so we sent these to each other last week. I had a bit of a panic on though because I had left things a little too late and my grandmother took poorly unexpectedly. This meant I had to spend time at the hospital for a few days so couldn't do what I had originally planned!  This meant I had to compromise and send her some handmade gifts that my children had made as well as the gifts I personally made.

I designed an Eid Card and printed this off on the computer, I made a Felt Brooch and a Felt Cupcake Pincushion. My 11 year old made the Eid prayer beads and my 6 year old made the Felt Star Key Ring.

The photograph below shows the lovely gifts I received from Sheen.

I received a lovely Gold coloured Eid Card with a lovely personalised message inside. I also received a Pincushion Box (this is one thing we agreed to both make). She also sent her own Handmade Face Mask and Handmade Body Oil.  There were also 2 Handmade Brooches which she made from earrings! Also included were a couple of Headbands for my girls and 2 lovely scarves. I know the gifts are for Eid but my daughters have already been wearing the headbands! I will however wait until Eid before I use any of my gifts Insha'Allah.

My blog post this week was the tutorial for the felt brooch that I made for Sheen: easy-felt-flower-tutorial

I have also previously made a tutorial for the felt Key Rings during Ramadan, here is the link: felt-key-rings-30-days-of-ramadan

I will also be making a Tutorial post for the Felt Cupcake Pincushion that I made for Sheen very soon Insha'Allah.

Easy Felt Flower Tutorial

 

I recently made a lovely felt flower for a blogger friend of mine. We decided to do an Eid Gift Swap with a theme of 'handmade'. So I decided to make a felt flower brooch as one of the gifts. This is a really easy item to make and could be made from other fabrics not only felt!

 

I used the technique of hand sewing to make this, as this is the most easiest option for everyone to have a go.  You could also do the same design using a hot glue gun, but not everyone has one of them so I decided to do the hand sewing technique for my blog post.

 

Requirements:

• Felt (or other fabric) One colour or a mixture.
• Needle and Thread
• Metal Clip or fastener / safety pin
• (Glue Gun - optional)

 

Step 1: Using a lid (you can use any circle) draw 6 circles from your fabric - all the same size.

Step 2: Fold one circle in half and then in half again. Secure this to make sure it stays folded with a few stitches in the bottom corner. (If using glue gun, then secure the folds with glue at the bottom.

Step 3: Secure the folded circle onto another full circle of fabric.

Step 4: Repeat Step 2 and 3 another 3 times, so that you have 4 folded circles placed in the centre of one of the other circles.

Step 5: Repeat step 2 and 3 again with the last circle and place this into the very centre of the other folded circles. You now have 5 folded circles hand stitched securely onto one circle. (or glued on!)

Step 6: Now turn the flower over and secure, glue or hand stitch a  clip/fastener onto the back piece.

Step 7: You now have your felt flower brooch! You can now proudly wear this as an accessory.

 

PS: You could also use this as a hairband, by attaching a bobble onto the back instead of a clip. Or attach to some fabric and make a stylish bracelet or headband!

 

I will do a blog post shortly talking about the 'Eid Swap Gift', Insha'Allah.

 

 

 

Easy Lycra Leggings Tutorial

 

I wanted some more leggings for my eldest daughter, I can never buy the right size for her from the shops so I have started making my own leggings now. They are so easy to make, so I decided to share a quick tutorial for you to see for yourself!

If your body shape doesn't fit with the shop bought leggings then this is a brilliant way to get a pair that fits you perfectly!  My daughter is really thin and I am quite tall so it is great to have some that fit you exactly right! These leggings can also have many uses: I have used these style leggings as swimwear for my children and they are also great to wear to keep you warm under long skirts and dresses (and trousers) in the winter time! You can buy your Lycra online or from Fabric shops.

You could use this pattern for other types of fabric not just Lycra but you may need to add an elastic waist to them if they are not stretchy enough. If you do this then make sure to add extra inches above the waist line so you can fold it over to hide the elastic.

Requirements:

• Lycra
• Sewing machine and Matching Threads
• Scissors
• Elastic (optional) 
• An old pair of leggings

Step 1) Take an old pair of leggings to use as a template and measure to make sure you have enough fabric.
Step 2) Fold the leggings in half, and place onto the lycra (also folded in half!) See Pic. Make sure that the outside leg is the side that is along the folded edge!
Step 3) Cut around the leggings leaving extra space for hem. (if you are wanting leggings to be made longer then add extra inches at the bottom of the legs.
Step 4) You now have one piece of fabric, you then need to place this fabric back onto the lycra to make an exact copy, so you should have 2 pieces of lycra.
Step 5) Place the two pieces of fabric together (shiny/pattern sides touching) Pin the fabric along the top side edges (hip area). Sew (I use zig zag stitches for easy stretching) along the 2 pinned side edges. (not along the length of the leg!)
Step 6) Now you have a joined piece of fabric, you need to then open the leggings so that the sewed seems are now in the centre, so you can now see the trouser shape (see pic). Then pin along the trouser edges from the crotch area to the ankle. Sew along these edges. Make sure that you give extra stitches at the crotch area as this is the area the stitches can come away easier.
Step 7) Fold over the waist and sew along a hem. (you could add elastic if needed - depending on how stretchy your fabric is!)
Step 8) I don't normally add a hem to the ankle, as Lycra doesn't fray, but if you wish to make it look neater then you can add a hem at the bottom of the legs.

You now have your own pair of personalised fitted leggings. Here is a great YouTube Video I found which shows you how easy these are to make. The video actually sews the leggings at the leg first and then sews the hips second - it doesn't really matter which way you do it - you still end up with the same result! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvILgAiJzR4

If you don't already have a pair of leggings, here is a tutorial showing how to make some by using your own body measurements: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duyJ4ILQfxE

 
 

Easy Half Apron Tutorial

 

The photograph above shows an easy half apron I recently made for a good friend of mine. I needed a quick gift and this was what I produced. I also remembered to take some step by step photos so that I could make an easy blog tutorial too!

 

As usual I love making things from recycled fabric and this was from my fabric stash from an old curtain. The piece of fabric I cut out was from the bottom corner of the curtain so this made things even easier as I only had to sew up one hem on one side. The bottom hem and one of the side hems was already done for me! I already had some apron string which I purchased a while ago and used for the last aprons that I made. I made a gathered waist for this particular apron - this is the first time I have done this for an apron!

 

Requirements:

• One rectangle piece of fabric - The size can vary - just make sure it is long enough to fit around the front part of the waist and long enough to reach the knees.
• Apron String - Or make your own fabric waist ties.
• Sewing Machine

Step 1) Cut out your rectangle piece of fabric.
Step 2) Iron and sew hems on the bottom and the 2 sides of the apron. (As I was recycling - my hems were already done on 2 sides!)
Step 3) Machine stitch gathering stitches all along the top of the apron. Then pull the threads to gather the apron to the correct size (to fit across the front waist)
Step 4) Pin another piece of fabric (I used yellow fabric) to the new waist line and sew it into place (on the wrong side of fabric). I did this to keep the stitches in place and also as I only had a small piece of fabric. If I had had longer fabric, I may have made a neat hem at the top as an alternative.
Step 5) Then cut some apron string - enough to tie all the way around the waist and enough to tie into a bow! Alternatively if you made a nice top hem - you could add 2 separate strings to the end of each side of the Apron.
Step 6) Pin the Apron string to the Apron evenly (Front part of Fabric) then sew the String to the Apron.
Step 7) Fold the ends of the Apron Strings over and neatly secure with stitches.

You now have your Easy Half Apron.

 

Easy Headband Tutorial

My 6 year old daughter has just completed her first sewing project on the sewing machine - A Headband.  These are one of the easiest things to make and children love them! We just used some spare fabric she liked which was from an old top no longer needed. She decided to embellish it with buttons which she hand sewed onto the headband by herself too!

Unfortunately I don't have any step by step photographs as this was my child's project and I had to supervise her whilst using the sewing machine and hand sewing decorations onto it. I ironed the fabric for her as I wasn't ready for her to also use the iron quite yet!

If you want to make one of these easy headbands here is a photo and a link to a really good detailed tutorial: 3-days-of-free-easy-headband-tutorials

All you need for this project is a wide piece of rectangle shaped fabric - the size should be able to fit around the head. You also need a piece if elastic to attach to both ends of the rectangle. This enables the headband to stretch over the head and stay in place. If you look at the link I shared with the full tutorial you will be able to see for yourself how easy these are to make.

Reupholstered Dining Room Chairs Tutorial and More!

I recently bought some curtains from a Charity Shop / Thrift Store and the fabric was brilliant just what I needed for reupholstering my Dining Room Chairs.  I have never reupholstered dining room chairs before, but my friend did it recently and said how easy it is, and because my chairs were becoming very distressed that I thought I will give it a go!

My original chair fabric was blue but I really liked the rich colour of the curtains I found and thought the colour would match with some of the gold décor I have downstairs! Each curtain piece was 250cm drop and 450cm width! That is a lot of fabric!

I bought the fabric originally for my dining room chairs but had that much left I managed to also cover a living room chair and make 2 pairs of smaller curtains! I posted last week about the living room chair that I gave a makeover - photo is further below.

The photograph below shows the 6 chairs that I reupholstered and you can also see in the background one pair of the curtains that I made! I also bought a new wipe-down tablecloth with a similar colour in to make it more matching. I haven't got a photograph of the Living Room Curtains that I made, simply because every time I tried to take a photograph the sunlight ruins the photograph!

Below is the photograph of last weeks post - Chair Makeover using the same fabric: chair-makeover

Below is a short tutorial on this post, you can also find many online tutorials available on the internet. The only things that you require are a Staple Gun and a tool to remove old staples. Removing the old staples was the worst part and longest part of this project - everything else was so easy! There was a black cover on the bottom of each seat - which I then reused once I had recovered with the new fabric.

Requirements

• New Fabric
• Screwdriver
• Staple Gun
• A tool to remove the staples.
• Sewing machine (not always essential - if required for back!)

Easy Tutorial:

Step 1) Remove the seat and the back from the frame - most likely screwed together.
Step 2) Remove the old fabric from the seat of the chair and the back of the chair if it has fabric.
Step 3) Use this fabric as a template to cut out your new fabric
Step 4) Staple the seat fabric onto the seat in the same way as it was originally secured. You need to make sure you are stretching the fabric tight. The video link below shows you the best way to do this!
Step 5) Screw the seat back onto the frame.
Step 6) The seat back part involved sewing a slip on cover - which went over a piece of wood. A lot of seats don't have fabric on the back!
Step 7) Secure the back part fabric over the wood by stapling it tight. This was then secured to the chair using the original dowels and screws.

Here is a link to a brilliant video tutorial showing you how to do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtZdUeBzyqY

 Below are a few photographs I took whilst doing this project:

I am really pleased with the amount of projects I a managed to complete with just one pair of bargain find curtains!