Being bold

I really can't get enough of big, bold patterns.  There's something so scrumptious about them.

So when I spotted some gorgeous fabric in Ikea a couple of years ago I earmarked it for future reference.  And yesterday, I eventually decided to just go buy some LOL!

But then, what was I going to do with it?

Decisions, decisions...

I find it really exciting when I see fabric with potential.  It's sort of like a sheet of white paper - so many things you can possibly do with it; so little time.

But I decided on an A-line skirt (well, to begin with anyway!).

With a side zip and button fastening.

I get to road-test it tonight for the first time.  Can't wait!

I have enough fabric left over to make at least one bag.  A satchel maybe, or a rucksack...

Time will tell!

Next....

Felt bag - the creative process in action

I discovered a great way to make your own felt recently which I'll share in a future post.

I wanted to make a bag out of the felt I'd made.  The original idea was to make a completely vertical bag with a handle at the top.  But it was a little bit plain for my liking.

Because I didn't have a set idea of what the bag would look like, I thought I'd share the process that I went through to make the final bag.

So I tapered the sides and shaped the top.  But it looked too deep for me.

I added a lining of not-made-by-me contrasting felt which helped to strengthen the handles.

And then I thought, well, it's a bit plain, why not add a felt flower to the bag?

It was supposed to be a corsage that you could unpin and use separately.  But because the felt I'd made was so bloomin' thick, it just flopped and there was no way I would want to wear it like that on my coat!

 

I added a Sew Selena label, but because of the chunky felt it wouldn't stay straight so I removed it.  I had shortened the bag by that point though - it seems so much more proportionate now.

And then I wondered what the 'corsage' would look like on the front of the bag - not bad.  But not quite right.

But would it be better if it was on the side of the bag?  This didn't look quite right to me.

But when I added it to the other side I was happy.  That was it!

A close up picture of the extra-thick felted tweed - you can just see the original tweed in the middle of the felt.

It even has a straight label!



I'm happy now!

Next...

Tots fleece dress

Libraries.  Not somewhere I would normally associate with inspiration for making children's clothes.  But when I found one particular brand new book I was jumping up and down with excitement as I knew the perfect little girl I could make something for!

There were pattern pieces in the back but I had to tear them out to trace the one that I needed.  And as I was the first person to take the book out I thought it best to ask.  So off I go to the library again just to double-check that it was ok to tear something out of a book (sacrilege!) 

They were more than happy.

The pattern itself was for a girl's summer dress.  But I wanted something that she could wear this time of year when it's a little brrrrrrrrrrrrrr-y.

What better fabric than fleece?

I fell in love with the fleece hearts on this brand new blanket.  See, why should it be used as a blanket when there's a perfectly beautiful dress just waiting to get out?

It was lined with some fleece from the pyjama bottoms I made a while back to make it into a reversible dress.

Two looks for the price of one!

I cut out a flower and appliqued it to the front, added some satin bias binding to the bottom and it was done!

The ties do up at the top of the dress to keep it on.

I do hope it's long enough though!  But even if it isn't, I could probably convert the ties to either button holes or snap fasteners. 

I'll let you know!

Monday Make - easy fabric flower headband

Here's how I made the flower headband:

First, I cut out 6 circles of fabric (I used a glass as a template)

Then folded it in half

Then in quarters

Turn it around and hold the pointy end.  Then sew a couple of stitches in the bottom to secure it.



Make all six of them. 

Then stitch them to a headband (in this case a cuff from a pair of shorts)



Ta-dah!

Sunglasses cosy

You know the story - forever ferreting in my bag for a pair of glasses; getting sunglasses scratched - argh!!

So I decided to make a case/pouch for my glasses.  I had a quick look online and didn't find anything I liked.  Then I spotted a pattern in a magazine that looked promising.  I tried it and um, it wasn't to be.

So I set about creating a pattern for myself.  It had to be lined, it had to be padded and it had to be something that I was happy to pull out of my bag. 

Two teeny weeny prototypes later and here it is:

I love felt so it had to have a felt flower on it too!

How to... make a fabric flower

I've just made a fabric flower for a bag and thought I'd share how I did it -

1) Cut 6 circles of fabric approximately 7.5cm/3" in diameter (I used a glass to draw round - much easier!)

2) Fold one of the circles in half

3) then in half again

4) Then sew about 9 times in and out through the round part of the petal.  

5) Continue with the rest of the circles until you have a whole pretty line of them.  Make sure the circles are put on the right way round.  Or not.  It's your choice - you see, YOU get to play with this and make it your own!!

6) Then comes the fun part - pull the loose thread and see your flower magically appear...

7) Sew it together so it doesn't come adrift.  Add a button and ta-da - your very own fabric flower!!!

8) And then you can add it to your newly made bag...

or a hairslide...
or a brooch back...
or make some earrings...
or put a clip on it...
or...

Shorts refashioned into flower headband

Well, it's like this - it's all about the fabric. 

If you've ever been clothes shopping with me you'll know that I gravitate to the print, the texture and the 'feel' of clothing.  It doesn't matter if it fits me or not, if I love the fabric, I'll buy it and find a use for it!

So I bought a pair of shorts in the sale - I just loved the texture of them.  They are all soft and cwtchy (as my Welsh friend would say).  They had a turn-up on the hem which I thought would make a great headband.  So I cut off the hem and added a flower - ta-da - one flower headband.

Ooh, I can show you how to make the flower too - it's soooo easy!

 

 

 

Flower hairclip

Flowery hairclip - made from an old scarf that was never going to be worn but deserved to see the light of day one more time!

Easy peasy!