Sew & Tell Week 2

Congratulations to Joe from Bibbles Dribble Bibs, who was randomly selected as our winner of 500 reward points this week. I am very pleased Random.org chose her as she is such a special person!

Not only does she support NZ fabric shops like us, but  she loves NZ handmade and is so supportive of others businesses and charities galore!

And lets face it her bib's are just fantastic! They have a towl back so are perfect if you have one of those dribbly babies like I did but the best part is they look so fashionable!

Now here are my favourites! From this weeks selections! Gotta start with these amazing crocheted slippers using our 100% wool in Eggplant! Totally awesome Treena! You can find Treena's blog here

Bike Bags from Baby Bird

Made using this fabric

And check out this very clever sewing room wall clock from The Sewing Fairy

Made using these fabrics

Happy Sewing! Don't forget this weekend is the local Encraftment market if you are in Christchurch come along to meet us! 

Sew & Tell

Well done to Katherine for sharing the love with this gorgeous taggy made using the Michael Miller Forest Life in Watermelon. The colours in this fabric are so soft and pastel but somehow have a brightness about them!

We have a new function online that let's you upload your images of something you have made with our fabrics. Simply go to the fabric you used and you will find a link which was "Upload your handmade image here"

Each week we randomly select one of the images and you win 500 reward points which is worth a free Fat Quarter.

You also get to link your business name onto the image. Here is Katherines Felt Shop some very cute things in there! http://felt.co.nz/profile/stitchaholic

Thank you for all the lovely images you have been sending! It really gives you perspective of how the fabric looks once sewn and is an inspiration for others!

Some of my favourites this week are these

Sheree Brown

      Using Sunny Happy Skies

Eli and Belle's 

Using Birds in Bermuda

Scarf Tutorial

Time to wrap up.. bbrrrr

We opted to stay indoors last Saturday so it was the perfect time to sew something warm and cozy! 

Now I have to admit sewing for boys is quite tricky, not only is fabric selection often an issue, but to find something to sew that they will  proudly wear is another story all together!

Here at Sew Pretty we love boy fabrics! So much that we have an entire category devoted to it! And sub categories of Transport & Dinosaurs just in case you need specifics!

For these scarves the boys and I decided monsters where a great choice and I love the navy colouring! 

This is a really simple sewing tutorial, if you can sew straight lines then you can make this! It is also fabulous to use up leftovers of fabric especially if you love quilting.

To start you will need:

25cm x 112cm of fabric

12.5cm x 112cm of batting/wadding ( I created a listing enough for 4 scarves)

Button (or a fabric button kit)

Sewing machine & thread!

Step 1: Cut out your fabric (Because I was making 2 scarfs I just used a half meter ($10) and cut it in half) fold it in half  (right side to right side) so you have a 12.5cm x 112cm strip and pin your batting right through all layers.

Step 2: Sew all the way around using 1/2 inch seam allowance and leaving a gap large enough to fit your  hand through. Make the gap in the middle of the long side it is easier to reach each end for turning later. I also sewed right down the other side (that was folded) to secure the batting.

Step 3: Turn inside out and push out the corners (also a fun time to make a sock monster with your hand to scare your children ;))

Step 4: Now that your scarf is complete it is time to make a self cover button 

Place fabric face down on top of red tool

Place silver top on top of fabric, place yellow tool on top 

                             

Push down the silver top until the fabric starts to curl tuck excess fabric in 

Place clear bottom on top of fabric, using yellow tool push down quite hard

Fold the red tool backwards to pop out the button

Step 5: Sewing a button hole using your button hole foot:

Now all machines are different but this is how my button hole foot works on the Singer Futura CE 250 model. It is worth getting to know how yours works as it saves a stack of time!

Mark the space on your fabric with an  "I" shape (mine was 30cm from the bottom)

 

Pop your button in the space provided at the back of the foot and make sure it is nice and snug. Attach your foot to your machine. Pull down the button hole tab (seen on the left photo 2) and push the foot as far back as you can so that the orange maker is next to middle of your foot. (where the hole is)

Make sure the red mark on the foot is at the bottom of your "I" mark on your fabric. My machine sews backwards from that mark. Select your button hole stitch and watch as it sews the perfect hole for you!

Make a small hole in the middle of the button hole with your seam ripper and cut the rest with a small sharp scissors

Step 6: Sew your button into place (my button & hole were 30cm from the bottom of the scarf) If in doubt put it around your own neck, it is surprising how similar everyone's necks are! 

And there you have it, two warm boys! 

I would love to see how yours turn out! Please share on Facbeook or against the fabric you use from our store by uploading your images. I would especially like to see come girly ones with ribbons & lace!

  

Tutorial Tuesday

Get your twirl on!
I have left this tutorial (seen left )open on my pc all week long not to just share it here but because I am longing to make it! If I had a little girl she would be wearing it already I bet!

Why do I love it?
1. It sets a bit of a challenge with those pleats!
2. It uses plain cottons! I am tempted to try it in a         print but the plains looks so good!
3. Plain cottons are really well priced at just $4 a half meter making this a very affordable project!

The tutorial can be found here on Sew Kate Sew's blog and it is guest posted by Jess from Craftiness is not Optional

My second favourite has been this one from Moda. Oh my gosh wearable bunting who would have thought! I wonder if this would work for an Adult size skirt! What do you reckon? ;)

This tutorial can be found here and is made by Ellen Baker from The Long Thread

And last but by no means least the Twirly Skirt! Cannot post a skirt link party without a twirly one! I love the colours in this skirt and that the casing at the top is in a co-ordinate, making it a feature rather than trying to hide it!

This tutorial can be found here from Erin Harris and this is her blog House on Hill Road . You have got to read her About me page! ♥ it!

If anyone beats me to that pleat skirt and pops a photo up on Facebook, I will send you 2 colours of homespun 1/2 meter each!

Please note the images in this post belong to the owners of the tutorials and blogs, please do not copy them without their permission. 

Happy Sewing!

Tutorial Tuesday

Chalk cloth

What is it? Chalkcloth is a vinyl that is just like a chalk board - meaning you can write on it with chalk, wipe it clean over and over again!


We sell chalk cloth in two sizes small (24cm x 50cm) and Large which is 50cm x 120cm. We sell it like this because of the postage costs really. Chalk cloth has to be handled carefully as if it is folded it will leave a permanent crease and be ruined.

Do you need any special equipment to sew it? Chalk cloth is a vinyl, so it is quite slippery. If you have a walking foot this is useful but not essential. I have used my regular sewing foot and needle with no issue.

What can I make with it?
1. My favourite by far, these gorgeous Chalkboard embroidery hoops!

 

Tutorial can be found here from Linda at  burlap + blue  

2. A perfect way to use up sraps of fabric & chalk cloth  the Mini Message Bunting & Eraser tutorial

Tutorial can be found here from Sara at The Split stitch

3. Starting to make appearances everywhere is the Chalk Mat, but I like these ones as they are oilcloth ones. We have lots of new laminated fabrics coming in, including the Birds in Spring by Robert Kaufman.

Tutorial can be found here from Jessica and Little Pumpkin Grace

4. Going to a party? Make a personal gift tag for your present that can be reused! 

Tutorial from Susan over at Momtastic

5. The chalk cloth cushion, be creative as you wan to be with this tutorial!

Kathy from Merrimentdesign's tutorial can be found here

Our chalkcloth can be found here, happy sewing & crafting!

Wheel love

I think it started with this:

the Riley Blake Cruiser with the gorgeous fabric tree at the Quilt market last year

Then I spotted this last week:

The new shop window display at the Holland Road Yarn company

Then I received this today:

Thank you to Songbird Designs for the amazing gift that you gave away, totally made my day! Look how thoughtful the magnets are with haberdashery scissors on them! Definitely going on the Sew Pretty noticeboard! 

Sun Flowers

So today I have opted to write a rather personal post on Sew Pretty's blog, but I feel it is necessary considering today's remembrance of events in the last year or so.

Sew Pretty went live online at the beginning of September 2010, a few days later we experienced something that would over time become normality but at that point brought terror to our lives and selling fabric online and packing orders did not seem that important any longer!

But we got through that and then of course February came along and 8 more seconds of shaking in Justin's building would have very likely meant that our Family would have not been the same again. Missing a booked swimming lesson would have meant being in the city with my kids. Roadworks meant being on a quite residential road instead of a 80km one.

There are many stories like this and to be honest I struggle with the idea of a day of remembrance and  found myself extra nervous today, moving things aside so we have a clear path to the dining room table; jumping at the sound of the neighbours starting their car. Which is strange after a good long period of non paranoia!

But what caught by attention today is this: The start of a Sunflower, what could be more inspiring that watching flowers which turn their heads to the sun to help them grow? Keep reading :)

This is the pot they are growing in - yes the yoghurt pot that Matthew brought home from from kindy 6 months ago with little sprouting seeds.

Every time I water them I look out the kitchen window at the spot where I would like to plant them but what I cannot believe is that they have stood firm even with very little foundations. Next to it I just noticed today is a picture of Justin and I in Italy many years ago. This was my only broken item from February, however we have not glued it - it somehow is just sticking together. Justin says this is like us, a few cracks showing but we are still together!


So these are my thoughts:

• Blossom even when it is tough.

• Turn your head to the one who can give you warmth and sustain you.

• Use what you have (even if it is very little) to make the best of your situation.

 My thoughts are with all those who are missing a loved one today - even those not effected by the earthquakes.

Noho ora mai rā
Kirsty