Hot Pad Tutorial

These are simple and easy to make. I would expect that a novice sewer would be able to do these without too much trouble. If you want the original version from the Long Thread, click here.

Supply List:
cotton fabric
sweatshirt material (you could also use terrycloth)
polyester batting
contrasting thread
fabric chalk or fabric marker

Directions:
1. cut the cotton into 7" squares, two per hot pad. I like to make sets of three, so I cut 6 squares.
2. cut the sweatshirt/terrycloth material into 6.25" squares, one per hot pad. I had some old sweatshirts from freecycle that I used.
3. cut the batting into 6" squares, one per hot pad.3. Put two of your cotton squares right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam all the way around, leaving most of one side open. You can see on the picture below how much of the right hand seam I left open. Then trim the corners.Here's a closer picture, just in case. Pardon the weird stain on the cutting mat.4. Turn the hot pad right side out and gently poke the corners right side out. Then iron it flat. Admire.....so pretty. 5. Fold your sweatshirt material into thirds and gently insert it into the hot pad. Manipulate it into each corner until it lays flat. 6. Then do the same thing with the batting. If you are using sweatshirt material, put the inner fuzzy side towards the batting. You can see my layers in the picture below. 7. Press the whole "sandwich" for a few seconds. Remember that pressing means that you do not move the iron...pick it up and set it down.
8. pin the opening shut carefully. Then sew a 1/2" seam all the way around all four sides.
9. Then repeat that by sewing a seam as close to the edge as you can, making sure to catch both sides of the cotton where the hole is.
10. Sew a third seam down the center between the two previous seams...see the picture below.
11. It should look like this. You can leave it as is, or you can add a little something. 12. Draw a design on one side of your hot pad using the chalk. Make your design simple with not too many curves.
13. Sew along the lines. You can sew once or more than that...I like the random look myself. 14. Repeat for each hot pad...then use and enjoy!

Diapers and Delicacy with a Request at the End

I am FINALLY on spring break, so I am hoping to have a chance to sew later this week. My friend B would like some cloth diapers, so I am expanding my repertoire slightly...we'll see how it goes. I'll keep you updated.

HOWEVER, if you are a cloth diaper person, I did find this site, with a bunch of free cloth diaper patterns on it. I plan on making good use of it. And, if you are a mom who uses or used cloth diapers, let me know what you liked or disliked about them. I have learned a few things....apparently, pins are O.U.T. and velcro or snaps are IN. =) I love me some snaps, so am looking forward to installing some! Also, apparently fleece diapers are the coolest, because fleece is NOT absorbent. So....when you have to clean a dirty diaper, the "deposits" therein just roll right off! I did not know that! Again, let me know if you have some input on things you liked or disliked. She likes pocket diapers (see here or here or here for examples) so I am going to work on those.

And a few weeks back, I made these for a friend going through a rough time....well, actually, they were for her two sons.

They were designed so that her husband would be able to write messages to their two sons on the blank squares using permanent markers.

I used some more printable iron-on transfer paper (I love that stuff! Wish I could find it cheaper...) to do the photos and I really like how they came out. In fact, I like the blankets a lot overall. The background and the blank squares are made out of unbleached muslin and I used some fleece I had on hand for the backing. In fact, the only thing I bought was the black fabric for the picture outlines. I had everything else on hand.

Which I choose to see as a BONUS, not an ADDICTION.

I've heard she liked them a lot too, and that's all it takes to make me happy.

I also suddenly realized that it is April, and I didn't do a tutorial. Any requests? I need to do two, one for this month and one for last month. I was considering doing a sashing tutorial (the strips between the squares in the blankets) but wasn't sure if anyone would be interested. So, any requests?

Minilicious Pouch Tutorial

This is very easy, even if you don't know how to sew very well! So don't be afraid, I'll walk you through this step by step!

Materials needed:
outer fabric (can be scraps, at least two 8"x6" pieces)
lining fabric (same size as outer)
craft felt
7" zipper
cardboard (I used an empty cereal box)
printable iron-on transfer sheets
iron-on letters
First of all, make a pattern. Find some random cardboard and cut out a 7.5"x5.5" rectangle. You can leave it as is, or you can trim down the two shorter sides by measuring in 1/2" at the top and drawing a line down to the bottom corner on each side. See the picture below. Then cut out 2 of the outer shell fabrics, 2 of the lining and 2 from the felt.

On your computer, find a picture you like. I took a picture of a mini Cooper, played with it for a while in photoshop express, and saved it. Then print it out on your iron-on transfer paper. Don't make it too detailed. Then cut it out and iron it on one of your outer fabric pieces.
Find your iron-on letters. Here's a trick - I have a hard time lining up the letters while the backing is on them, so I usually peel the letters off the sheet and then put them glue side down on the fabric, then put a piece of computer paper on them and iron them on for a few seconds (follow the directions on the package). Now your pieces should look like this:
Do NOT, under ANY circumstances, iron the transfer side again as it will RUIN IT. Now put your shell piece on top of the felt, with the right side OUT.
Sew them together, about 1/8" from the edge. Do this to both sides. Now, the zipper. But DON'T BE FRIGHTENED!!!!! Zippers are easier than you think! Put your zipper FACE DOWN on one of your outer pieces. See below.Now, find your zipper foot. It will look something like the foot on the left. Do not try to sew the zipper on with the regular foot, it will make you throw things violently against the wall.Hold up the zipper to the fabric so you know where to line it up. You will most likely have overhangs on each end so try to sew it on so that the actual teeth of the zipper are centered on the fabric. Line up the outer zipper edge (not the edge with the teeth) with the edge of your fabric and sew the zipper down one side. As you can see, unzip the zipper before sewing it on.When you get about an inch or so from the end, stop with the needle IN the fabric. Lift the foot up and gently slide the zipper partly closed past the foot. Put the foot down and finish sewing down that side of the zipper. Now you will be sewing the other side of the zipper. Take the other side of the shell, and line it up with the side with the zipper already sewn on. Mark where you want to stop sewing on each end with a pin.
Then open up the zipper again and sew on the other side just like you did the first side. Unzip the zipper, and put the top together like the picture below. Make sure that the metal piece of the zipper will not be where you sew. You don't want to break the needle and blind yourself with a piece of flying metal. You should have the zipper half open so that the zipper foot is in the middle of the zipper when you sew it. Sew the other three sides with a 1/4" seam.In order to box the bottom corners, flatten the seam together like in the picture below. You should be able to line it up using your fingers to match the seam together.

Then use your ruler and lay it across the corner like in the picture below. If you can see, it is one inch across. In order to make sure it is straight, I used the half inch mark to line up with the seam line. Then draw a line across there and sew across the end. Then do the same thing with the other corner. Now trim off the excess (there won't be much). Leave about 1/4". Your pouch should look pretty good at this point, you just need to line it! Take your two lining pieces, put them right sides together, and sew around the sides and bottom with a 1/4" seam. Leave the top open!Box the corners exactly the same way you did with the shell. Then fold down the top about 1/4" or a little bit more. Because I am using batik, you can't tell which is the right and wrong sides of the fabric, but I folded the wrong sides together. Then turn it right side out.Push the bottom of the shell up into itself to give yourself a little more roomPut the lining on the outside of the pouch so that the wrong sides are together. Match up the end seams. I had a hard time pinning it, so I didn't pin it. If you were careful cutting it out and careful with your seam allowances, you should be able to match it up without pinning it. Take some thread and a needle and whipstitch the lining to the pouch. Put the edge of the lining at the edge of the stitching and take small stitches, but make sure to catch enough of the pouch that the lining is securely attached. It can get a bit tricky around the zipper pull end, but just take your time, you'll get it!! If you have a hard time, just knot the thread, then go back to the other end and start again and go up the other side.

Dude, you're done! Turn it right side out and admire your handiwork! I like to add some ribbon to the zipper pull as I think it makes them easier to open, but that's all!Please remember - DO NOT iron the transfer side because it WILL ruin it! And if you have ANY questions, please email me - columbialilydesigns@yahoo.com

Birthday Week Day Three

Today is my birthday! I am turning 30 today....I've heard good and bad things about this age...we'll see. This is a two part post, giveaway AND tutorial, so just keep scrolling down!

First, the giveaway: Up for grabs today is a scarf (scarflette) upcycled from a vintage men's tie (circa 1970s...). The tie is gold with very narrow brown stripes in different shades. It is backed with gold silk and lined with thin batting. It is warm, but feels very cool and silky against your skin. It is designed to be buttoned closed across your upper chest, but can also just be hung around your neck. I seriously will probably not ever wear a regular scarf again, this is so comfortable. To win, just leave me a comment sometime today.....

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And in case you don't win, here are the directions to make your own. I would guess this is a beginner to intermediate level pattern. Please make this only for your personal use, not for sale. Thanks!

Step 1 - find a tie, and take out the stitches in the back (it's usually one handsewn piece of thread that can be pulled out all at once if you're careful). Also carefully remove the stitches from the lining on the ends ONLY DOWN TO THE CORNER (the stitches on the triangular piece at the bottom should be left intact). Do NOT remove the original silky lining that is attached at both ends.

Step 2 - remove the inner stiffener and iron the tie flat. Make sure your iron is set to the correct temperature. Step 3 - lay the tie on your fabric backing with right sides together and pin well, then cut it out. If you would like, cut the triangular piece at either end 1/4" longer than your tie.

Step 4 - lay the tie and backing down on batting, pin, and cut it out. You should have three identically shaped layers pinned together at this point.

Step 5 - unpin just the ends of the tie and do a rolled hem on the lining piece on both ends. Sew this neatly.

Step 6 - move your pins to the other side one at a time so that the batting is now the top layer. It is MUCH easier to sew this way.

Step 7 - sew two seams, one up each long side of the batting/lining/tie sandwich. Leave both ends open. Go slowly and keep your stitch lines smooth.

Step 8 - trim the batting on the ends down so it is the same size as the lining. Also trim the batting off the seam allowances so your seams aren't as bulky.

Step 9 - Turn your tie right side out carefully and iron flat.

Step 10 - pin and handstitch the lining to the tie, being careful to just catch the original lining and not go through to the front of the tie.

Step 11 - Choose three buttons and sew them onto the wide part of the tie and put a buttonhole in the narrow end.

Step 12 - make your husband or boyfriend take you out to show it off.....but don't tell them you stole their tie.