Banner Times

It's my birthday today. So this post is appropriate. 

 I saw a tutorial for this really cute birthday banner. I didn't really want to buy a pattern for it though since it seemed to be just U-shaped pieces and block letters. So I tried to make my own.

I started by cutting out my flags. I used my word processing program to print out a large flag in the shape I wanted. I could have also gone with a triangular shape or with the classic pennant or banner shape (straight top with two triangles hanging down) but I really liked the rounded bottom on this one and figured it would be easier to sew.

Then I printed out my letters and transferred them to the paper backing of some fusible web. The trick is to transfer them in reverse. The letter style I used only required a few of them to be reversed so that was handy.

Once I did that, it was a matter of ironing them on to the fabric I chose, cutting them out, and then ironing them on to the flags. I used a ruler to make sure they were all the same distance from the top (I think it was 2 1/2 inches) and centered them by eyeballing it.

After that, I sewed around the edge with a dark thread. I didn't really think this would help them stand out as much as it actually did.

I got this really cute, colorful donut fabric off the clearance at Hobby Lobby several weeks ago. It was so fun, and I thought it would make a great banner. The challenge was using fabrics for the letters that would show against it.

Once all those letters were done, I pinned backs on each flag (I used a solid color I had enough of but you could use the same fabric too if you have enough.

And sewed them all together.

Before I turned them, I used my pinking shears to clip around the curved part and reduce bulk.

I'm wondering now if I could just do that all the time. It always makes me nervous clipping curves 'to the stitching.' If so, I might just try that from now on.

Then, I turned them all and ironed them flat.

And, of course, lay them out in order making sure I was happy with it. I think I switched around a different color of the same letter here or there.

Next, I ran a basting stitch along the top of the whole thing after pinning them together with each flag overlapping the next a tiny bit.

Add a binding across the top and ties (I just tucked in more sewn together binding but she used rick rack strings or ribbon would have worked too).

And we now have a really cute banner that will last much longer than the cardboard or plastic ones from the store.

I think I ended up making both my flags and my letters larger than hers but I don't care because I loved how it turned out.

And I'm looking forward to being the first one to use it.

Make It Work

 One of the sewing series my favorite Youtuber does that I've been interested in is something she calls "What would make me wear this?"  

She basically takes things from her closet that she doesn't wear for some reason and figures out what the problem is then tries to fix it.

Some of them have been fairly simple fixes and some more complex but each becomes something wearable for her that is no longer just taking up space in her closet.

Recently, I have had some issues with some of my dresses. Specifically, it seems to be primarily ones with shirred elastic waistbands.

This dress is one of them. I think it's very pretty. The fabric is very soft and flowy. And it is long like I prefer. And not cut too low.

Although you can't really see it in this picture, though, it has a shirred elastic waistband. And while it isn't quite an empire waist, it's pretty high.

In case you didn't know, empire waists don't work with larger busted women. 

Particularly with shirred elastic waists which end up seeming to climb up the bottom of your bust because there's really no room for them.

It occurred to me that I should just chop off that top part that didn't really fit my top part and make it into a skirt.

So I did.

Not too shabby. I love it. And I'll get more wear out of it now.

My own little version of "What would make me wear this?"

At least on this one, I figured it out.

2026 Pass-It-Outs

 I mentioned that I had been working on my pass-it-outs for this year's Christmas. And I finally finished them. These were slightly more labor intensive than last year's.

I actually found this tutorial last Christmas but I had already done my pass-it-outs. Now I'm kind of wondering what I might find this Christmas for next year.

You have to start out by cutting out 4 trees for every 1 ornament you plan to make. That by itself can take a while, especially since I planned on making about 35 ornaments.

Then, of course, you have to sew them together in pairs. I messed up and put two of the same for each pair. It would have been cuter if I had used different fabrics for each pair but I didn't really stop to think it through.

Next was something that kept my tv time full. I had to trim all the curves and corners on each one.

And turn them right side out, being sure to poke out all the corners and curves very carefully. I wasn't careful enough and ended up with one casualty. Oh, well.

Then to iron them flat.

After that, I paired up two of each of the turned trees and pulled out my trusty iron-off pen to mark the center.

I connected them by sewing right down that line. And, with that, my work on the sewing machine for these was done. 

Now I had a 3D tree that had no body to it. 

So, guess what came next. Yep, more tv time.

The author's little tip about using hemostats to put stuffing into a small space are a keeper. They made this whole task SOOO much easier. And I've since used them for another project too.

Then it was simply a matter of hand sewing the bottoms closed.

And suddenly you're holding a tiny tree in your hand.

These little trees are pretty darn cute.

But they weren't done yet.

I actually had to order some red wooden beads. I didn't really expect Wal-mart to have any (they didn't) but I sure thought I'd be able to find some at Hobby Lobby. I know it's a little early for Christmas but I really thought they'd have some for Independence Day.

And that would have worked. I had plenty of Christmas sets online but I ended up liking the patriotic set I bought more. And they work just fine.

So, once the beads arrived, I coupled them with a thin red ribbon and VOILA!

Aren't they adorable? I think they'll be a hit. Just like last year's. And I hope to keep my Christmas in June vibe going next year too.

This was, as expected, from my current favorite Youtube channel -- Pin, Cut, Sew. You can find the tutorial here.

Let me know if you give them a try. Are you working on anything Christmas right now?

In the Garden

 Pretty sure our weather has been going through a bout of drunken reveling this spring. But, FINALLY, I'm seeing something happening. 

I made sure to tell them all how proud I am and to keep up the good work. Looking forward to some home growns.

Sneak Peek

A little sneak peek of my pass-it-outs for this Christmas. I'll share more about them later.

 

Pin Cushions

 I've been working hard on my 'pass-it-outs' for this Christmas since summer began. I'll share more later on those for this year.

But I realized there was something I needed. This is my pin cushion:

It's just the traditional little hand-sized tomato with a little strawberry attached for (supposedly) sharpening your pins.

Just look at how stuffed it is. It may be about to reach a saturation point. I'm not sure. 

Yep, it was that full all around. 

The tomatoes aren't terribly large. And, in recent years, I've realized that I really prefer longer pins (although, to be honest, I'm not sure I realized there were PURPOSEFULLY different lengths of pins).

Which also meant that, on occasion, I would grab it and get poked by the sharp end of a pin that stuck all the way through.

I hadn't really thought about it too much. Just figured that was the deal with pin cushions. Until I was watching one of the Youtube channels I follow and, as she was getting ready to cut out a pattern, she set on the table a pyramid shaped pin cushion.

And I thought to myself, "Eureka!" Okay, not really. But I did have some sort of  'a-ha' moment there because I realized that was what I needed.

Even better, it occurred to me that she had mentioned making them herself at some point in a previous video. So I looked it up.

It looked pretty perfect for scrap busting too. So I yanked out my scrap bin and got to work.

They turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Even if my "invisible" stitching wasn't that great.

I'm no longer worried about grabbing it and poking myself now.

What's more, as I was transferring the pins over, I gave myself permission to throw away any that were bent or rusted. 

Kind of sad that I had to give myself permission but I guess we sometimes get in the habit of  keeping things just because it seems wrong to throw them away.

Now, I just have to figure out where I can put the other two boxes of pins I just found while reorganizing my sewing stuff. 

Hmm. I might have to make another one. Gee, what a shame. 😊

Table Runners

I liked my nutcracker table runner across my breakfast table so much that I decided to try my hand at making a few for other times.  

We usually keep the little spinning basket on that table so I worry that it may scratch it at some point if someone is a little careless with it. Having a table runner on there takes care of that concern.

And it can make a pretty cute seasonal decoration that is fairly easy to make room for. Win win.

In February, I gave piecing these heart blocks a try.

The concept is easy if you've ever drawn a picture using graph paper (or cross stitched anything). You start with a bunch of rectangles and squares of different sizes.

Which you then sew on strategically.

And which will magically become a heart.

Then, if you're really good, you will sew all of them together in such a way that they still look like hearts. 

I'm not so good.

And you'll add some really cute Valentine's fabric on the back that would allow you to use whichever side suits your fancy. 

(And then, of course, you just bind the edges for your new table runner. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of the finished product before it made its way to the Valentine's bin in the attic.) I think this was a free project pattern from Dear Stella fabrics but can't seem to find the link. I'll update it if I find it again.

Also, you might purchase, at the same time, some really cute St. Patrick's day fabric to make a shamrock version and then not manage to get it made before St. Patrick's day is over.

Nevertheless, I carried on. I decided to make a spring version for April & May (although it occurs to me now that I could do a Star Wars theme for May 4th). 

So, I picked through my stash and found any fabric that was sort of bright with small flowers on it. Then I used a quilt-as-you-go tutorial I came across and made a basic quilted runner.

It wasn't as nice and neat as I hoped but I'm still getting the hang of it. My mom, who was visiting for Rugrat's spring piano recital, commented that it was pretty and seemed impressed that I had made it. So I'm gonna run with that. You can check out the tutorial for it here. I was pretty annoyed with my binding. I didn't take as much time as I should have and I feel like it shows. Other than that I'm happy enough with it.

Memorial day was coming up and Independence day will be here before we know it so I decided to go patriotic. Particularly after I came across this free tutorial. I'm really pleased with how it came out.

You start with the stars.

Then come the stripes.

Then you put them all together. This was the point at which I got concerned. I had just finished trying to make a prayer quilt for our congregation and I have such troubles getting the squares to meet up where they are supposed to. If you look too closely at this one, you can see that I had issues but it turned out better than the prayer quilt, so again, I'm gonna run with that.

Finally, I added a bright red binding (which I also had to fight with of course) and she's done.

I'm still pretty pleased with it and putting the basket on there kind of camouflages any flaws. I think anyway. If not, don't tell me.

Now, I have to figure out which one to do next. I guess the next season will be fall although I could probably do something summer like for kicks too. 

Feel free to comment any suggestions you have too.