Fabric Basket

Part of my Christmas in July series on my YouTube channel: Sew-Learn-Create.  This series has some simple easy sewing projects that make great gifts.  Go on over to YouTube and subscribe to Sew-Learn-Create so you don't miss out on any upcoming projects and ideas.

Enjoy!
Danna

Flower Pin Tutorial

This project is quick and easy and makes a great gift.  It was the take home project for my Cross Body Bag class.  It only takes a small amount of fabric and a few other supplies.

You will need the following supplies:
     2 small pieces of coordinating fabric
     Button
     Needle and Thread
     The flower shape patterns -  Download them here Flower Pattern
     2 1/2" circle of felt
     Pin Back
     Glue

Start by selecting which fabric will be your large and small flowers and which fabric will be your medium flower.  Then trace around the patterns on the backside of the fabric and cut out the flowers.

The large and small flowers are cut from one fabric.
The medium flower is cut from the other fabric.

Then place your large flower face up on the counter.  Layer your medium flower next and then the small flower on top of the stack.

Large flower on bottom right side up.
Then layer the medium flower right side up on top of large flower

Finish stack by placing the small flower right side up on top of the others.

Next you will place your button in the center of the stack and sew it place through all the layers.

After your button is secure. Turn your flower over face down.  Place the felt circle in the middle of the back and glue in place.

Glue the felt piece in the center of the back of the flower stack.

Now you are ready to glue the pin back in place on top of the felt.  Be sure to put the pin back toward the top of the flower so it will hang better.

Glue your pin back toward the top of the flower.

Now your flower is complete and ready to add a fun embellishment to an outfit or the cross body bag.

Hope you enjoy making these flowers.  I would love to see your work, so post a picture of your flower in the comments for all to see.

Danna

Lunch Box Tag Tutorial

This project combines sewing and art and is a great for beginners.  I prepared a small kit for those attending my Lunch Box helpers sewing class in the summer.  We made reusable snack bags, small cloth napkins and lid grippers.  All great items to have in a lunch box for school or work.  If you would like to make those items go to my Etsy shop WebberWorks where I will have kits available with video instructions soon. 

Lunch Box Tag

Now on to the project.  You will need the following supplies:

2 pieces of muslin fabric 2.5" x 4"
1 piece of batting or felt 2.5" x 4"
1 piece of ribbon or fabric strip for loop - approximately 4" long
Crayons
Wax paper
Needle and Thread or a sewing machine

Follow these steps:

1.  Take 1 piece of muslin and lay out flat.
2.  Place the batting or felt piece on top of the muslin piece.
3.  Line up the edges so they are straight.

1 piece of muslin with batting on top

4.  Fold the ribbon or fabric strip in half and place on top of the muslin with the loop at the top above the pieces of fabric.

Be sure the loop is at the top and the ribbon sticks
 up above the fabric and batting.

5.  Place the other piece of muslin on top of the stack and line up the edges.  Clip or pin to secure for sewing.

Make sure you pin or clip your ribbon loop so it does not slip
while you are sewing.

6.  With either a needle and thread or a sewing machine sew all the way around the outside edge using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Back stitch the ribbon loop to secure.

7.  Now the fun begins.  Using the crayons color a design on the fabric.  You can color just one side or both sides.  I used the Neon crayons and a black Metalic crayon from Dollar Tree.

Color any design you want.  Have fun with it!

 8.  Once you are finished coloring your design you will use the wax paper and iron to "set" the colors.  I slipped my tag inside a folded piece of wax paper so it would set the front and back at the same time and not mess up my ironing board.

If you colored on the back be sure to put
wax paper on both the top and bottom.

9.  Iron the wax paper using a pressing motion not side to side.  If you move the iron around it may smear the crayon.  Use a medium setting on the iron.

Use a pressing motion not moving side to side.

10.  Let the tag cool and you are done!  Attach it to your lunch box and show off  your creative talents to your friends.

This is a great summer project for kids and grand kids.  They will have fun making these tags and putting on their new lunch boxes for school.  Remember if you want to make the reusable snack bags and other lunch box helpers check my Etsy page WebberWorks for kits.

Enjoy!
Danna

Quilted Heart Tutorial

Want to share a little joy and learn something new at the same time?  Then this project is perfect for you.  Learn how to make your own quilted heart using the strip piece method.  Then go to the I Found a Quilted Heart website and get the guidelines for hiding your heart in your town for someone to find.  PLEASE NOTE: The tag information has changed from what I show in the video.  Please follow the directions on the IFAQH website to attach the correct tag.

I love the idea of creating something for someone else to find and bring joy to both of us.  This is a great project to make with kids they really enjoy creating and then hiding the hearts.  Be sure to check back on the website often to see if your heart has been found.

I created the Quilted Heart Pattern an easy size to make and use up scraps.  You can stitch up a bunch of hearts and share them with family and friends to hide.

Enjoy the journey and spread a little joy - one quilted heart at a time!
Danna

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Coaster Kit Tutorial

This tutorial is for the Coaster Kit my students received in my July Sewing Class.  But, it can be made with your own supplies.

Front of the coaster

Back of the coaster

The kit contains: 1 - 5x5 piece of cotton batting, 5 - 5x5 pieces of cotton fabric
You will also need the following supplies: basic sewing supplies (needle and thread, scissors, and pins or clips).  The project can be either sewn by hand or done on the machine.

Kit contains: 1 piece of cotton batting & 5 different cotton fabrics

Now let's get started:

Step 1: Take the batting and place one of the cotton fabric pieces on top with the right side of the fabric facing up. (This will be the bottom of the coaster)
Be sure to line up the edges nice and straight.

Step 2: Fold the remaining fabrics in half on the diagonal.  Making a triangle with right sides facing out. Finger press the folded edge to make it lay down flat.

Fold the squares in half on the diagonal

Fold the and finger press the 4 squares

Step 3: Lay the first triangle fabric on top of the bottom fabric and batting. Line up the corner of the folded piece with the top right corner of the bottom fabric and batting. Be sure the folded edge is toward the middle.

Lay the first folded piece on top of the batting and bottom piece of fabric

Step 4: Lay the next piece of folded fabric on top of the stack. Lining up the corner of the folded fabric with the lower right hand corner.

Adding the second folded piece of fabric

Step 5: Lay the third piece of folded fabric on top of the stack. Lining up the corner of the folded fabric with the lower left hand corner.

The third piece of fabric on the stack.

Step 6: Pull back the edge of the first piece of folded fabric you put in place.

Lay the fourth piece of folded fabric on the stack tucking the edge under the first piece.  

Lining up the corner of the folded fabric with the top left corner of the stack.

Fold back the first piece you added and lay the fourth piece in place.

Step 7: Put the edge of the first piece of folded fabric back in place over the last piece you put in place.  You should now have a stack that looks like it is all intertwined.

All of the pieces in place.  Make sure they overlap to look like this.

Step 8: Clip or pin the edges on all four sides to prepare for sewing.

Secure with pins or clips for sewing

Take a peek inside the middle of the stacked fabrics.  You should see the bottom piece of fabric - not the batting.  If you see the batting you have stacked them wrong.

Be sure you see the bottom fabric in the middle of the stack.

Step 9: Stitch all the way around the stacked fabrics about 1/4" from the outside edge. This can be done by hand or machine.

This is the back inside after stitching

Stitch all the way around the stacked fabrics.

Step 10: Turn the coaster right side out using the opening in the middle of the stacked fabrics.  Be sure to push out the corners.  

Coaster turned right side out

If you peek in the middle of the turned out coaster you should see the batting.  Your bottom fabric will be on the outside bottom of the coaster.  You are finished! Now you have a place to put your favorite beverage.

When the coaster is turned right side out
you should see the batting in the middle.

Enjoy your new coaster and thanks to all who attended my July sewing class.

I teach sewing and quilting lessons in the Fort Worth, Texas area.  If you are interested in lessons please feel free to contact me at 2danna.webber@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Danna

Check out and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel - Sew-Learn-Create

They all said "I made this for you!"

As you may know I teach sewing and quilt camps each summer.  Last Fall I decided to try something new with my sewing classes.  In November and December I offered a Saturday class.

The purpose of the class was to provide the students an opportunity to make Christmas gifts for family and friends.  It was a huge success.  The girls had a great time and with each completed gift I would hear "My Mom is going to love this gift." or "I can't wait for Grandma to open this one."

 Here is the way the class worked.  I had 7 projects the girls could make.  We had 2 1/2 hours and they could make as many projects as they could complete in that time frame.  Every project was pre-cut so they could start sewing right away.  When they finished a project they had to gift wrap the item before moving to the next one.  The wrapping allowed for "no peeking" by parents when they picked up their child.  Some Moms really wanted to see what they made.  This only added to the excitement since they had to wait until Christmas.  

The key chain project.  This was
great for almost anyone.  It could be
used as a backpack tag also.

I kept the projects very simple and most required smaller pieces of fabric so I was able to use up some of my many scraps.  The projects are listed below.

1. Tissue package covers
2. Bookmark
3. Key Chain
4. Tic Tac Toe Game
5. Rice Hot/Cold Bag
6. Crayon Bag
7. Coasters

A few of the projects they could make more than one - tissue covers, bookmark and key chain.  The others they could only make one to make sure all of my classes had chance to make each project.

Key Chain supplies

Tissue covers, bookmarks and Tic Tac Toe Game supplies

For the gift wrapping I used brown lunch sacks, a simple tag and bakers twine for the closure. 

The wrapping station was a busy place.

Each class of 4-5 girls made a total of 40+ gifts since some projects could be done several times.  It was fun to watch the girls finish a project go to the wrapping station and then run find the next project to begin.

Working on a Tic Tac Toe game board.

Look at all of those gifts!  That smile says it all.

During these classes I was reminded of the true meaning of giving and receiving a gift.  It is not about the item it is about the love shared between two people.  Remember God loves us so much he gave the ultimate gift - His Son.  

I hope you will join me in encouraging young people to give of themselves and their talents each and every day.

Danna

Bandana Bibs x 3

I have am truly enjoying working with and learning new things about my embroidery machine.  I am the type of person who does not want my time to be wasted on practice pieces that wind up in the trash or the Goodwill box.  So I am constantly looking for a project that can be given as a gift or used in my own home.

My oldest nephew recently added twins to his family.  What a perfect opportunity to make some baby bibs and add a personal touch with embroidery.  I settled on the bandana style bib that is popular for boys.  Since the expected twins were boys it was the ideal choice.

I found the bandana bib pattern online at Simply Small Wonders. The pattern has several sizes and the instructions were easy to follow.  The twins have a brother that is just 12 months older so I made a bib for him to match.  I embroidered the fabric first and then cut out the pattern.  This made it easy to get the wording centered.

For the twins I embroidered Little Brother on each front
before I assembled the bib.

I added one for the big brother also.

The bibs were made from fat quarters of a soft grey with white polka dots.  Each bib is fastened by a pearl snap. 

I made a second set for the twins out of traditional bandana fabric in red.  One can never have too many bibs especially with twins. 

Second set for the twins in traditional bandana fabric.

Used a pearl snap on this set also.

This bib was quick and easy to assemble and provided another opportunity to practice my embroidery skills. The bibs turned out very cute and made a practical gift for these two special additions to our family.

Danna