Five varied and interesting tutorials at varying levels of difficulty
Hello sewists everywhere! We’ve got a very interesting array of goodies for you this time.
We appreciate that in the frantic run up to Christmas, you’ll have very few opportunities to indulge in your favourite hobby – but as the dust settles, the mince pies finally disappear and everything begins to calm down a bit, you may just get the opportunity to sneak away and spend some time with the real love of your life – your trusty sewing machine…
So here are some of our current favourites – guaranteed to break you out of the worst of any post festive period gloom, starting with,
How to make a fleece neck warmer
The perfect way to ease yourself into the new year – it’s incredibly easy, but it looks wonderful!
This is our first visit to the Apple Green Cottage website, but it certainly won’t be our last! This project is even more wonderful if you just happen to have some fleece leftovers from a previous sewing effort.
Perfect for: “…those who don’t like wearing (uncomfortable) traditional scarves.”
How to make the perfect pocket
Back to the marvellous So Sew Easy blog this time, for a how-to on the thorny subject of unlined patch pockets, or, as they are sometimes referred to, applied pockets.
This step by step guide by Mayra, defines a patch pocket as being “a separate piece of fabric that is applied to the right side of the fabric.” As well as being a practical addition to a garment it really gives you the chance to add some real creative touches to shirts, jeans and jackets.
We like: There’s even a free downloadable template!
Fat quarter tote bag
We just love this one from Lindsay Wilkes on The Cottage Mama website, which she describes as “an easy afternoon project “.
This is a fully lined bag made from six fat quarters (it make sense – really!) and some other bits and bobs: exterior, lining and top band fabrics, the strap elements and the “fusible interfacing” (just love that phrase – it breaks the ice at parties LOL).
This is a particularly well-presented tutorial – the photos and instructions are so detailed.
What’s really good about this: “Once you know how this sweet little bag goes together, you will be able to whip up several of them in no time.”
Fabric box tutorial
A new port of call for us here at GUR Sewing Machines – the website of the self-proclaimed “quilt whisperer”, Joey. This tutorial on her Joeys Quilting Co website is an easy thirty minute project.
Joey’s written instructions are straight to the point and really easy to understand – but for good measure she’s also added a step-by-step photo section as well.
We like: The first one really does take 30 minutes – and subsequent ones even less!
How to make a puffed quilt
We’ve not forgotten you quilters out there! Or rather those who are thinking of getting into quilting for the first time.
A huge thank you to Amanda on the A Crafted Passion website for this puff quilt (sometimes referred to as a biscuit quilt) how-to, which includes a printable pattern.
We love the purple and grey colour scheme by the way! This tutorial is “written for a non-sewer by a non sewer”, according to the accompanying video which really has a rocking soundtrack.
Look out for: “Once all your squares are sewn, take your batting and start stuffing all your squares. This is personal preference on how full you want the squares to be. I wanted them filled but not too full that they weren’t flexible.”
Have fun!
…and when you’re ready for a new machine in your life…
We’re not suggesting that you should be unfaithful to your old tried and trusted machine: but don’t you just sometimes yearn for something a little more… exciting?
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Telephone 0121 359 5335 or email GUR Sewing Machines now!