Summer Pinwheels! June 18 2015

Oh my. When the sun came out in Salisbury this week I had the overwhelming urge to 'decorate' the garden (as you do!) and armed with a bundle of colourful felts and some cute paper straws I set upon the project pinwheel! Here is a little tutorial for pinwheels to make to use as decorations - these make great party decor! These are a great project to make with kiddos using craft card or printed papers and straws, you can also experiment with making them move with split pins etc, but these are sewn together with a button detail.

P I W H E E L S !

You will need: Felt, Paper Straws, needle and thread, buttons, scissors and ruler *

1//  Cut out a 10cm square from the felt. Place in front of you and make a approx 4cm cut diagonally from each of the corners into the middle. Fold alternate corners into the middle.

2// When you have all the corners folded into the middle and hold with you thumb. Sew in and out through the middle a few times to secure the corners.

3// With the thread coming up through the centre thread on a button and sew it in to the middle.

4// Bring your thread through the back and push the needle through the straw. Sew back into the felt and back through and around the straw until secure. All done!

I put some of mine in my plant pots - the felts really popped against the green of the garden. Fingers crossed that the nice weather keeps up! 

Happy Making!

Ruth x

*If you attended one of our workshops this week you will have received all the materials you need for this project in your goodie bag - share your makes when finished!

Dinky Felt Pots! June 02 2015

I have been going mad for storage and tidying at the moment - think these two things come together nicely and have been making fabric storage baskets for sewing and craft equipment. I discovered a new interfacing (more to come on that another day!) which is A-MA-ZING and when combined with fabric makes the most perfect baskets.

Whilst on the tidying mission I found some little bits of gorgeous wool felt so made a few mini pots to keep desk bits organised - these would be perfect for jewellery too. If you fancy having a go at a little mini make*... read on!

D I N K Y  Felt Storage Pots!

You will need: Thick Felt (100% wool is wonderfully thick, but a thick acrylic felt is fine too!), embroidery floss, needle, scissors, ruler.

1// Take your felt and cut it into a 10 x 12cm rectangle. Using your ruler cut a 2.5 x 2.5cm square from each of the corners.

2// Thread your needle, knot the end. Pinch one of the squares so that the opposite edges come together to create a corner. Push the needle through the inside edge so that the knot is on the inside of the pot.

3// Use little stitches to join the edges together. You could use a decorative blanket or cross stitch in a nice contrast thread maybe?

4// When you get to the edge do a couple of stitches over the top edge and tie off. Repeat for all corners.

Fill with all your bits and bobs! Check out these neon paperclips - yum!

*if you came to our 'Round Patchwork Cushion' workshop on 2nd June you will have the bits for this in your crafty goodie bag - enjoy your make!

Happy Making!

Ruth x

Make + Do! Pom Pom Pin Cushion! March 10 2015

My own personal sewing kit is such a mis-mash. Jars of threads, vintage sewing paraphernalia and pins and needles everywhere! I do love to make a pin cushion if it takes my fancy (we have a very fun watermelon kit in our shop!) and they are a great way of using up beautiful scraps and will organise those wayward pins! 

This is an easy peasy guide to making a Pom Pom Pin Cushion... read on!

You will need:

2 x squares of fabric (10cm x 10cm)

4 x Felt balls (ours are felt and you can get them from this great felt and craft ware supplier)

Needle and thread

Stuffing material (use a old fibre cushion or toy filling)

Scissors and Pins

optional: Sewing Machine

1. Pin your squares with their right sides together and sew (machine or hand) around the edge with a 1cm seam. You will need finish approx 4cm before where you started so that you leave a gap. Clip the corners off the square - carful not to cut through your stitching!

2. Turn the square inside out and push the corners out so that they are nice and pointing - a chopstick or knitting needle works perfectly. Take a needle and thread and stitch on your felt balls to each corner. Start from the inside so that the knot on your thread is inside the cushion.

.

3. Stuff the cushion full of stuffing until its nice and plump. Push it into the corners and give it a squish to make sure the stuffing is even. Using small stitches sew the gap shut.

One cute pin cushion. Why not make one and box it up with some pins and haberdashery bits for a sewing themed present!?

Happy Sewing!

Make + Do! Colour Block Brooches! February 26 2015

I love brooches. Any kind, fabric, vintage, sparkly - you name it and i've probably fashioned a brooch out of it. They are really great little makes, and make a quirky statement... Here is a little tutorial on how to use up scraps from your felt stash and make a textured, cute and colourful brooch.

You will need: 

Felt scraps - as many colours as you like, I like to use clashing ones

Wooden shape - I get mine from Ebay or sometimes here (this one is a 5cm heart)

Strong glue - I LOVE, love, love GemTac. You can get it from Fabricland or online. Its super strong and dries clear. I especially love that its designed to stick on rhinestones and diamante to dance wear(!)

Brooch pin - get from most haberdasheries 

Paintbrush or Glue spreader 

Scissors - small and sharp preferably!

1// Pick the colours of felt you would like to use. Cut into thin strips with nice straight cuts. Make sure when positioned together they have enough area to cover the wooden shape with an overlap.

2// Put glue all over one side of the brooch - don't be too generous as it can seep through the felt.

3// Lay the felt strips one by one over the glue, butting up the next colour against the piece you have stuck down. Make sure they overlap the edges of the wooden shape.

4// Turn the brooch over and trim off all the excess - get it nice and neat.

5// Put some glue on the brooch pin and stick it on the back, leave for a few hours to dry.

Put it on your coat and add a pop of colour on your Parka!!!

R x

P.S if you are in Salisbury on Sunday 1st March we will be making these on our stall at the Salisbury Artisan Market - stop by and make one for only £2!