Sewing Archives - Page 4 of 13

accessories, arts and craft, Crafts, Sewing

Summer Garden Flag from a Dollar Store Placemat

I have to admit, I’m a little addicted to making garden flags out of fabric placemats from the dollar store (The Dollar Tree to be exact.) In fact this flag was made using all materials from The Dollar Tree. I bought fake flowers, bar towels and a placemat to make this summery flag. Best of all, you could make this flag with or without a sewing machine.

If you missed my previous flags, this was our winter flag:

and our Fall flag.

And our Valentine’s Day flag (that I’m embarrassed to say hung until this week.):

Yup, they are all made with dollar store placemats!

I finally caught up to the correct season and made this cheery garden flag!. As I like to say, “Better late than never!” Read more

July 8, 2016/32 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

Sewing

Make Piping Out of Thrift Store Finds

I used to buy expensive piping from my local fabric store, until the day I learned how to make my own piping. When I saw how easy making custom piping is, I never bought another yard! More recently I found a way to make piping for even less! I frequent my local thrift stores in search of items that can yield thin strips of fabric to make my own piping.

Here are a few things you can buy at a thrift store to make piping:

Shirts
Pants
Ties
Fabric Belts
Scarves
Curtains
Linens
Tablecloths

Here are some tips for harvesting the material from your thrift store finds:

Old Shirts: Cut off the arms and remove the cuffs. Cut the front and back shirt panels out.

Pants:

Similar to the shirts, cut off the legs and remove the cuffs.

Have leftover pant material? Pant legs can also make cute bucket liners!

Ties and Fabric Belts:

Ties and fabric belts can be split open. If the fabric is at least 5″ wide, it can be cut in half.

Scarves:

Cut scarves into 2.5″ strips.

Now let’s use that fabric to Make Beautiful Piping Out of Thrift Store Finds.

How to Sew Piping: Read more

February 22, 2016/5 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, Birthday Gift, DIY, Do It Yourself, gifts, kids art, Sewing

Make a Boo-Boo Bear – A Rice Ice and Heat Pack

It's inevitable your little ones will get bump or bruise. Make them a Boo-Boo Bear to sweeten those tough times by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Hello PHG readers! I’m coming over from my blog, Prodigal Pieces, to share with you a sweet DIY that is easy to whip up and will make everyone smile (not to mention it makes a perfect last-minute gift!).

Do you remember the days as a child when you would stumble and hurt your knee or have some bump that required a little TLC? As a mom to 6 wonderful kids, I know how precious those times can be, and that’s where Boo-Boo Bear (a rice ice and heat pack) can sweeten those troubled times.

Boo-Boo Bear is sweet little friend who serves as a comforting ice pack that is the perfect temperature for those bumps and bruises that come along, AND he can also be lightly warmed in the microwave to soothe aches and pains. Want to make one for a special little person in your life? Read more

December 30, 2015/7 Comments/by Larissa Prodigal Pieces

Gift Ideas, gift wrapping, gifts, Sewing

21 Sew Special Gifts (You Can Make)

21 Sew Easy Gift Ideas You Can Make Yourself | PrettyHandyGirl

Hello again, it’s Colleen from Just Paint It! I love making gifts for the holidays, and receiving them too. There’s something so meaningful when you know someone has invested their precious time in a gift.

Today I have 21 Sew Special Gifts. Even if sewing isn’t your specialty, you’ll find a wide assortment of projects here for many on your list . . . including yourself!

Coffee Lover’s Snowflake Gift Set

DIY Pouf Ottoman

Sew a 10 Minute Tooth Fairy Pouch

Placemat Turned into a Snowman Flag

Sew Mini Gift Pouches from Napkins Read more

November 9, 2015/6 Comments/by Colleen Jorgensen

art, decor, Decorating, fabric, Sewing

Framed Wall Quilt

Today on the Rockstar DIY stage is Jaime, with the tutorial to make this drop dead gorgeous Framed Wall Quilt.

If you can sew a straight line I promise you can make this framed wall quilt. You all are familiar with Jaime from That’s My Letter, I’m sure! She’s one of the regular band members here on PrettyHandyGirl.com. I can honestly say that she is one of the most gifted and talented DIY rockstars I know. She can build, she can fix, she can craft and she can sew. She also balances a job blogging and being a mother. Enough said.

With that, I turn the stage over to Jaime and her tutorial for creating a Wall Frame Quilt!

Gather up your favorite fabrics and we will make this statement wall art that would be great hanging nearly anywhere. And, it makes a wonderful gift idea.

Although the pattern looks to be a little tricky, it’s actually four of the same pieces sewn together in an X format.

Materials:

1/4 yard each of 4 cotton fabrics
Basic sewing supplies: sewing machine, thread, pins, scissors, pencil, iron & ironing board
rotary cutter, clear quilting ruler and self-healing mat
24″ x 24″ cotton fabric (for backing)
24″ x 24″ batting
safety pins
1/2″ plywood @ 21″ x 21″
1x2x8 pine board
staple gun
wood glue
miter saw
nailer & 1 1/4″ brad nails
clamps

Instructions:

Step 1: Begin cutting the fabric into 2″ wide strips. Looking at the diagram below, you will need multiple lengths of each fabric. I suggest cutting very long 2″ strips which you can cut down later. I like to fold the fabric in quarters then cut off a 2″ wide strip using a rotary cutter and clear quilting ruler.

Step 2: Sew strips together using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Determine your pattern, start from the middle longest piece (bright green) then add strips on either side. With each additional strip, line up the strip with a ‘step down’. Press. Eventually you will trim edges with a 45 degree angle which is marked on the quilting ruler.

Step 3: Make 4 identical pieces. Sew the top square to the bottom squares. Press. Then sew the middle seam together to make one piece. Press. Be sure to line up the seams. Read more

September 16, 2015/2 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio