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13 posts categorized “sewing for house”

March 10, 2013

The time I made “lapkins”

I needed to make napkins for an upcoming dinner and found myself only liking one fabric out of my stash for the job. This is remarkable for two reasons. First, I have a million fabrics. Second, I have a million fabrics. Though, in my defense, most of them are knit or bottom weight so they aren't exactly napkin material. But the bummer was that this particular fabric was only 1 yard. And I needed to make six napkins.

So I cut my yard into 6 equal pieces. 12"x22". That's a pretty long rectangle. I considered cutting the yard into 9 pieces. 12"x14.66". That's a small napkin. Perhaps more of a cocktail napkin? But I didn't do it. I made the long rectangles. I used my mitered corner cloth napkin tutorial.

That's when the Lapkin was born.

It's perfect for little laps (bigger ones too). And it can fold nicely for dinner or substitute as a placemat, if you're desperate.

Continue reading “The time I made “lapkins” ” »

March 10, 2013 in 30 Minute Projects, DIY, Sewing , sewing for house, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

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December 12, 2012

DIY chair back covers: a how-to tutorial

Today is a fun DIY chair back cover tutorial from Sarah of Sewing Parts Online. These are so great! I love the reverse appliqúe and the great nametag holder! What a fun idea for holiday parties. If you skip the tree they make great year round chair back covers. 

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah from Sewing Parts Online and I'm so happy to be sharing with The Train to Crazy! Make your holiday dinner even more festive with these christmas tree Chair Back Covers! These are much easier to make than full chair covers and much less expensive. If you have a big family dinner, you'll really enjoy the name card holders! Make your own name cards with decorative paper and rub-on calligraphy. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did! 



Continue reading “DIY chair back covers: a how-to tutorial” »

December 12, 2012 in Christmas, DIY, Sewing , sewing for house | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

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November 01, 2012

12 Days of Christmas Sewing: Easy Merry Pillow

It's November and I'm kicking off the 12 Days of Christmas Sewing series with an easy DIY merry pillow cover tutorial! This cute christmas tree pillow tutorial is so quick you can have one of your own in 30 minutes.

Merry-pillow-cover

This simple merry christmas pillow will look great anywhere!

Merry-pillow-5

Continue reading “12 Days of Christmas Sewing: Easy Merry Pillow” »

November 01, 2012 in 12 Days of Christmas Sewing, 30 Minute Projects, Christmas, DIY, Sewing , sewing for house | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBack (0)

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July 18, 2012

Ruffled Sheets Tutorial

Sometimes a simple bed just needs a little something to make it go from boring to fabulous. I bet you can guess that involves a ruffle, of course. Friends, adding a ruffle to a sheet is probably the easiest project you can ever do. This tutorial seems almost unneccessary but here it is!


Seriously, this so easy you'll wonder why you didn't do it earlier.

Continue reading “Ruffled Sheets Tutorial” »

July 18, 2012 in Sewing , sewing for house | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

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April 06, 2012

Ruffled Sheets Tutorial

Sometimes a simple bed just needs a little something to make it go from boring to fabulous. I bet you can guess that involves a ruffle, of course. Friends, adding a ruffle to a sheet is probably the easiest project you can ever do. 

I've posted the full tutotial over at See Kate Sew for her Ruffles 2012 series. Go check it out and see all the other fabulous tutorials!

April 06, 2012 in DIY, Sewing , sewing for house, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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April 02, 2012

Gathered Quilt or Duvet Cover Tutorial

I spent a lot of time on Pinterest and google images looking for inspiration for my daughter's quilt. I never really found what I was envisioning so I created this Gathered Quilt or Duvet Cover. I'll show you how to make this top with a tutorial and you can quilt it or turn it into a duvet cover if you choose. I actually made it a duvet cover because I thought my daughter would prefer that but I might quilt it down the road.  All you need is the ability to sew a straight line and you can make this cover yourself!

I chose some bright quilting cotton fabrics but you could go monochromatic or even use sheets for this. An all white cover would be really cute as well. My daughter just loves, loves color so that is exactly what she got!

Gather your supplies for the top:

  • neutral or white thread
  • 63– 21" x 10.5" fabric pieces for top (more if you are making this larger than twin)
  • 63– 10.5" x 10.5" fabric squares in white or unbleached woven fabric for a "backing" piece. I used muslin.

UPDATED: For 63 squares like this one you'll need 9.25 yards of fabric for the top (assuming 44" wide fabric). You'll get 6 cut pieces per yard if you want to think of it that way. I think I used 9 different fabrics. The squares are 10" square when finished which should help with your math if you are making a different size quilt.

For the backing fabric you'll need 4.6 yards of 44" fabric or a full sized flat sheet.

Step 1– Gather long sides of fabric pieces. Use a long stitch or a ruffler foot to make the gathered side 10.5" long just as the short side. It will be a square.

Step 2– Sew gathered piece to a backing piece to stabilize.

Gathered-duvet-tutorial-5


Step 3– Sew squares together! I recommend laying them all out to decide how you want them arranged. I chose to alternate the direction of the gathers to create the look I was going for. Then sew one row together at a time with a 1/4" seam allowance. After the rows are sewn you can finish the edges. I serged mine but you can use a zig zag stitch or pinking sheers if you'd like. This will prevent fraying. 

After you have all your rows sewn, sew the rows together. Make sure to pin well and match the corners. Then finish the remaining edges.


Step 4– Make your cover into a Duvet or Quilt! I used a flat sheet and stacked the cover, right sides together and sewed around the edges leaving a 4 foot opening on one end to stuff the duvet inside. Design Sponge has a tutorial for making a duvet cover if you want more instructions. To make a quilt you'll sandwich the backing piece (the same size as the top), top and cotton quilt batting. Stitch in the ditch (the seam) in a grid to sew the whole thing together. Sew on a binding around the edge. There are tons of quilt tutorials and you tube videos if you need help!


Be warned, this is not a super quick project. It is very easy but takes time!

***Edited: You will save a LOT of time buying a ruffler foot for your sewing machine but if you don't have one you could also save time doing the basting (long) stitch and then pin the top piece to the backing piece THEN pull the thread to gather. I actually don't love this method but a few people have mentioned they like it.

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April 02, 2012 in DIY, Home & Fashion, Sewing , Sewing for Girls, sewing for house, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (72) | TrackBack (0)

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December 05, 2011

Tutorial: Travel Toothbrush Holder

Browsing Pinterest last week I saw something that was so simple it was brilliant. A travel toothbrush holder made from a wash cloth. It was great, but not exactly what I need. My problem is electric toothbrushes are hard to pack. They are big and bulky.

Most commercial options aren't adequate. I hate those plastic cases that go around the bristles. They get nasty and they are hard to clean. That's how this "On The Go" toothbrush holder was born. 

Want to know how to pack 4 toothbrushes? Here's the full travel toothbrush holder tutorial. In all of it's simple glory. Now you can sew a toothbrush case for yourself in about 10 minutes!

On the go toothbrush holder

Supplies:

  • 2 wash cloths
  • ribbon

Travel toothbrush holder-4966

Sew the ribbon about 2/3 of the way up the wash cloth. Center it so there is enough ribbon hanging off each end to tie a bow.

Travel toothbrush holder-4969

Turn that wash cloth over so the ribbon is facing down. 

Fold the second wash cloth so it is the length of your toothbrush and place it on top of the first wash cloth. Pin.

Travel toothbrush holder-4971

Sew 3 verticle lines to make seperate compartments for each toothbrush.

Travel toothbrush holder-4976

Fold the 1st wash cloth down over the 2nd. Pin the sides. Sew along both sides and bottom. 

Travel toothbrush holder-4977

Travel toothbrush holder-4978

Fill with toothbrushes.

Travel toothbrush holder-4979

Travel toothbrush holder-4980

There you have it! Your very own, throw in the washing machine, toothbrush holder.

How do you pack your toothbrushes?

December 05, 2011 in 30 Minute Projects, Sewing , sewing for house, Sewing for kids, Sewing gifts, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack (0)

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October 02, 2011

How to sew leather straps for handbags and purses: Guest Post by Paradiso Designs

Today we're taking a break from the Handmade Dress Up Series to show you a tutorial for making your own leather purse straps! Cheryl from Paradiso Designs sells PDF purse patterns and knows her stuff about making bags! I hope you enjoy this tutorial!

My name is Cheryl Kuczek, and I have my very own sewing pattern company called Paradiso Designs

_MG_6680 bio photo
I have to thank the very generous Andrea for allowing me to show her audience something fun, and maybe new for all you lovely sewists out there!!

1a
I have a lot of bag patterns that I started my company with.  Some of the bags have straps that look like leather, but they are not!  You may have seen another one of my creations gracing the pages of the last issue of Stitch…the Slouch Bag.  Here is a picture of the very first Slouch Bag that I made with Italian pleather and Italian laminated cotton.  This is a free downloadable pattern at Stitch Magazine on line….click here to get it!  You can see the strap that I made using my Paradiso Designs technique!

1aa
And now I am going to show you the step-by step tutorial for you!

A)    Here are the straps that I make for my bags.  The look like leather, they feel like leather, and they act like leather, but they are pleather/vinyl (pv). 

You can buy pleather and vinyl at many fabric stores, and it is not too expensive, plus you can then give your bags that designer lok to them.  The Slouch Bag looks kinda like a Marc Jacobs bag, but his bags can cost you $1200.00 or more.  I think it is dandy to make your own, and look like a million bucks with your own two hands.

13a
B)     You need the proper tools….

TO SEW Pleather…you will want 110 OR 100 needles…they can be just regular, denim, leather or topstitch needles.  The topstitch are great because they have a bit bigger eye of the needle, which is nice if you are sewing using one of the newer 40 weight threads which can give the appearance of a thicker thread, therefore stitch.

1

You will need a telfon foot or put a piece of scotch tale on your regular foot.  These are Viking feet.  The Telfon works great on most pleathers. Patent like leathers may work better with the scotch tape.  I know that these machines have these feet;

  • Viking has the H foot
  • Bernina has the 52c or d foot that is Teflon, and the same number foot in green (non-stick) and will work on the patent like pleathers.
  • Pfaff has a Telfon foot
  • Brother/Babylock/White/Janome have a white plastic foot that does work on most pleathers.  This foot appears to be interchangeable between Brother, Babylock, White, and Janome.

You really need to cut pleather/vinyl (p/v) with a rotary cutter and not scissors because it is very important to have a smooth straight line!  I always cut my strap the entire width of the p/v.   2
That would be around 54- 60".  Just a regular strap starts at about 42".

I have two of the kinds of p/v to use for straps.  The brown p/v has a woven backing on it, and the black has a "felted" backing.  These are perfect for being very durable and sturdy, exactly what I strap needs to last through wear and tear!


The strap starts out be 3 times its finished size!  So for a 1" strap, you would start with a 3" piece wide p/v, for 1.5" a 4.5"piece would be used, etc.

Next, a line is drawn 1/3 of the way across, as you can see in this picture the back side of the 3" pleather is marked with a line 1" from one edge.  Use a sharpie only in the same color as the pleather, I have seen sharpie bleed through.  On the felted back, I use a roller chalk, to make the line, this one is by Clover.  I love it as I cut A LOT of p/v all the time!

3
Finally it is now time to sew!! 

4
As you can see here, this is the start,  fold in the edge to the drawn line, I use these nifty "Get a Grip" Clips to hold the p/v folded into place as the first row if stitching is sewn.  I like to start 1/16" from the folded edge, and sew the entire length of pleather, 1/8" will work too.  Here are more tips…

  • Only sew in one direction, otherwise the p/v will twist.
  • I leave my threads long at the beginning, and cut them at the end so I do not forget which direction I need to sew.
  • Use a 3.5-5.5 stitch length as you will be going through thick stuff here…using a bigger needle and stitch will be easier to sew and will look better
  • you do not need to backstitch.

This picture gives you a look at what you will have after that first row of stitching, and look at the stitching…you DO NOT want little stitches.

6
The second row of stitches will "catch" the other end of the pleather…as the other side is folded toward the first row of stitches.  As you can see they edge is right next to the stitches, and this is what makes the edge disappear, and sew the 2nd row of stitching 1/8" away from the 1st row of stitches.  9
Do not pull the p/v down, or the strap will start to twist, just "fold" to the line of stitching. 

If you do not have these measurement marks on your machine, you could make marks of where you must sew to get this configuration.

It is possible that you can get the line you need by moving your needle.

Ok…now turn the strap over to sew the 2 rows of stitching on the other side in exactly the same way as the first 2 rows of stitching.  11

This is really pretty…think about your thread too…this thread matched with the appliqué' on this bag, and made it pop!!

And here is the finished bag…check out the end of the straps…I like to use the same color of thread as the strap for the satin stitching of strap edge and button holes…yes they really work.  13a

Here is another shot of the Urbanista HoBo Bag by Paradiso Designs…this pattern will be out in late November/December.  Old jeans were used upcycled to create the bag outer material.  Check out the p/v edging….I will do a tutorial about that next week, the cool bound like strap slot will be the week after that!!

And here is the full view of the bag!!  14

Cupcake appliqué pattern by Paradiso Designs, out in late October!!

Thank-you again  Andrea for this opportunity!!

October 02, 2011 in Sewing , sewing for house, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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March 09, 2011

Book sling. A good idea. Kind of.

Ever since Penny Carnival posted her Hanging Book Display tutorial I've wanted one. I finally got one. My mom made it for my toddler for Christmas and she loves it. Having books right next to her in bed has encouraged a love of books.

Book sling 125

However… I wouldn't put it right next to a bed if I did it again. She kicks it constantly. It is off the wall more than it is on the wall.

I put them on the wall for my other girls. Even anchored in the wall they still got ripped out. No matter how many times mom says not to hang on them it is hard to remember in the moment. Apparently. 

Book sling 126

  • Book Sling: by Grandma (tutorial by Penny Carnival)
  • Crocheted Doll: by Great Grandma (find good patterns here)
  • Elephant: by Mom (pattern from Sew Everything Workshop)
  • Quilt: by Mom (pattern based on pattern in Bend-the-Rules Sewing)
  • Wall letters: by Land of Nod

Do your kids get surrounded by handmade?

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March 09, 2011 in Sewing , sewing for house, Sewing for kids | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

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January 31, 2011

The ever useful drawstring bag

Having two babes in diapers means that leaving the house takes a bit of preparation. Well, more than a bit! In my effort to keep things quick I've managed to create a solution that works for me.

Drawstring bag 113
We always have a "Jack bag" and a "Maggie bag" ready to go. A couple diapers and wipes. An extra outfit for Jack, bandaids for Maggie. This works perfectly, especially if I'm taking one kid one place and my husband is taking another kid a different place. No need to worry about diaper bags, they each have their own! They are small enough they tuck right into my handbag with no trouble. Such a time & mind saver!

Just a simple drawstring bag. There are tutorials all over for them. The fabric I bought at Ikea a couple years ago. I used printable fabric to print their names and sew it on the bag. I've had a roll of printable fabric for a few years and it comes in handy for all sorts of projects. 

UPDATE: This is a very good tutorial from Purl Bee for an easy drawstring bag. Mine is similar except I didn't make boxy corners on the bottom.

So, how do you manage to get out of the house?

January 31, 2011 in Sewing , Sewing for baby, sewing for house | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

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September 20, 2010

Sew an odd sized sheet: Quick & Easy Sheet Tutorial

There are so many crib sheet tutorials available. But what if you have an odd sized crib, pack and play, or basinet? What if you just want a quick method?

I have this great portable crib that I've used with babies 2 through 4. It allows the current occupant of the regular crib to take her time outgrowing it while the baby gets a cozy sleeping spot in mom and dad's room. The problem is, it is difficult to find sheets for this size of crib, let alone cute sheets. 

Crib sheet 1
What if you just want the quickest method and don't care to spend time making a casing for the elastic that won't be seen anyway? Well, look no further. This is your quick and easy tutorial.

I've made this easy sheet tutorial for all your different sized crib needs! It is attached it as a PDF. Go ahead and download it so you'll have it when you need it.

Download Easy Crib Sheet Instructions

Please keep in mind that this tutorial was intended for thinner mattresses. If your mattress is thicker than 2 or 3 inches, please add to the length and width accordingly.

Any questions?

Linking HERE

September 20, 2010 in Sewing , Sewing for baby, Sewing for Baby Month, sewing for house, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

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September 06, 2010

Guest Post: Moses basket bedding tutorial

Sewing for baby 425
Welcome to week 2 of Sewing for BABY month! Today we have a fabulous guest poster. I hope you get a chance to check out the tutorial she prepared and see all the wonderful things she does on her blog! Thanks for stopping by Cheryl! 

Hi Everyone!  I'm Cheryl from:

I'm a homeschooling mom of 3 who started sewing & crafting two years ago and hasn't looked back since!  My blog is all about my adventures in making fun stuff on a little budget and what I've learned along the way.  Here are just a few things: Shop Around Felt Playhouse

Fabric Garden

Pretty Plaits & Leia Hairdo Hats

Today I'm sharing my tutorial for making your own Moses Basket Bedding.

The baskets themselves are pretty inexpensive, but if you want some pretty bedding, whoa Nelly, are they pricey!  So I've got a quick & easy way to make your own so you can have the designer look without the designer price tag.  And using less than 2 yards of fabric!!

Just click here to get the full step-by-step tutorial.  Thanks so much for letting me stop by Andrea!!

September 06, 2010 in Sewing , Sewing for baby, Sewing for Baby Month, sewing for house, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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April 20, 2010

A lunch bag

Three weeks without a computer but now I can finally upload pictures to my NEW computer!! It is very exciting. 

Last year I made my husband a lunch bag. It looked like mine, only black. It lasted about a week before he busted the zipper by over stuffing the bag. I had thought about taking the bag apart and and putting in a new zipper but I knew the same thing would happen. 

It has taken me quite a while to finish another one. I started one at Christmas that was to be his present but it turned out too small for a big lunch. I am happy to say that I finally completed this one for him about a month ago. It fits the bill perfectly.

IMG_4642
No zippers, just a roll down top that can accommodate a large lunch. It is lined with canvas as well and there is a layer of heavy stabilizer in between layers. The inside pocket has a special purpose. 

IMG_4645
It says "from our hands to your heart." This is where the girls put their artwork to send with daddy to work. His office wall is covered with it. 

I didn't post about how to make this bag but if there is enough interest I will. Just let me know!

There are going to be some changes around here as I rework the look of the blog. So if you stop by regularly you might notice things changing until I figure out what I like. 

Make It Wear It will be back on Thursday! Stop by and link up the things you've been making to wear!

Linked to: Talented Tuesday, DIY Day, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Show & Tell, Make it Yours Day

April 20, 2010 in Sewing , sewing for house, Sewing for men | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

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