SIMPLE PROJECTS Archives

Hexie Travel Kit Add On

December 13, 2015 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Some time ago I spotted a gorgeous travel kit for hexies in a wonderful series of tutorials on English Paper Piecing by Haley from The Zen of Making and quickly ‘pinned’ it to make ‘one day’. (I wanted to share my Hexie Travel Kit Add On so I contacted Hayley and she graciously permitted me to use her photos – thanks Haley!)

Imagine my surprise when soon after, I received a gift from an online friend that was exactly that kit! I couldn’t believe it and felt so special!

As some of you are aware, my Dad is in an Aged Care Facility and I visit with him most days. I take my kit with me, and if Dad is having a ‘quiet’ day , I will sit with him and sew.

It was during this time, concerned about roaming hands and the welfare of residents (some of them move very quickly when you are not looking), I decided to plan some additions to the kit to make it better suit my needs and make my sewing experience ‘safer’ for all.

My friend had included some of the fabric in the kit so I used it to make a needle keep. Of course it had to be a hexie with a hexie flower added!! This fits perfectly on the back of the hexie flower flap and was easily hand stitched to the backing fabric.

On the next section of the flap, I stitched a piece of cord to the flap using a button and added 2 jewellery 10mm Jump Rings – my thread is now secure but easy to change if I need another colour.

Then on the next section, I wanted to have a spot for some scissors or snips. An easy solution was to stitch two ponytail elastics to the flap. If you were doing this as part of the total construction, you could make a fabric scissor keep for here.

The changes I made were quick and easy and I now have a fully functional travel kit with a secure place for everything I need.

and it hasn’t changed the exterior of the original!

I love my Kit and if you like to carry stitching with you – on the train, waiting for children etc etc then I would say get over to The Zen of Making and do yourself a favour – make yourself a Travel Kit – you will not regret it and you might even like to try my Hexie Travel Kit Add On!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Pin Cushion Dish

November 4, 2015 by Nanny 6 Comments

Keeping on with the gift ideas, today I am sharing how to make a Pin Cushion Dish

I purchased these from the ‘cheap’ shop some time ago because they looked like something I could use! 🙂

They are dip bowls and as you can see, two for $5.99.

This is how I used them to make a Pin Cushion Dish!

What you need:

A dish

Scrap of fabric about 9″ square

Needle and thread

Filling

Glue (I used a glue gun)

Ribbon to trim

Let’s craft!

Trace around a bowl about 9′ or 23 cm in diameter

2. Run a row of stitches around 1/4″ in from the edge – I did this by hand using double thread and starting with a knot.

3. Gather it up

4. Stuff it with whatever you like in a pincushion – I used polyfill

5. Check to see if it looks puffy enough and then tie it off.

6. Using a glue gun, run glue over the base and around the upper edge of the dish and push the pin cushion into the glue. I held it till the glue cooled.

7. Trim with a ribbon scrap to cover the dish edge. I joined the ends on the side facing the empty dish.

Make it in a favourite colour, add some pins or threads and there you have it – a lovely, very useful (and very cheap) gift for the sewists in your life!

I hope this inspires you to look at simple objects in a different way – Take a dip bowl and make it into a Pin Cushion Dish – who’d have thought!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Spin the Pins – Make a Hexie Bag

August 3, 2015 by Nanny 13 Comments

As you would now be aware, I co-ordinate fabric swaps for Australian residents through my Facebook page ‘Nannyswapz’.

When planning a swap with hexies, I try to find a project by spinning the pins so that participants have a purpose in mind before the swap proceeds. On my Hexies board I found a hexie bag that used 16 hexagons and so built our swap around that. We swapped Rainbow Batik hexies and I am going to use them to make my hexie bag. So here is my Spin the Pins – Make a Hexie Bag!

I decided that rather than sewing the bag and then lining it, I would hand stitch each hexie and then join them. I also decided to make my own version re the shape and so made another 4 hexies to give me a total of 20.

What you need:

20 x 2.5″ (side) hexagons ( Hexie Bag Templates)

20 x 2.5″ (side) hexagons of Vilene

20 x hexagons (Hexie Bag Templates

Matching thread

Finished size: Approx 15″ x 13″ at the centre and 9″ at the sides plus handle

Let’s Sew!

1. Iron the vilene to the back of the hexies

2. I then machined around the outer edges

3. Centre that hexie , wrong side to wrong side on one of the larger hexies. I used a large needle through the centre to hold them together.

4. Fold the edge of the large hexie into the edge of the smaller hexie and finger press.

5. Fold over again and pin

6. Take a threaded needle and knot the end. Concealing the knot, start stitching about 1″ from the corner (or from my finger in the photo) and stitch to about where the stitching line will be on the next side.

7. Fold the next side the same way, making sure that the corner forms nicely.

8. Continue in this way until you are all the way around. Finish off and slip the needle through the border to finish.

9. Complete all 20 hexies in the same manner.

10. Play around with the hexies until you are happy with the setting out of 2 flower shapes (the front and back of the bag)

11. Take the centre hexie and one other.

12. With right sides together, stitch along one edge. (I used a whip stitch)

13. Take the next hexie (yellow) and join the edge to the centre hexie (aqua)

14. Continue joining all of the hexies to the centre and then join along the adjoining sides to complete the ‘flower

15. Repeat with the other ‘flower’

16. Now from the other 6 hexies, choose two to go on the end of the flowers:

Here

and here

17. Take the 4 and stitch the pairs together

and then join them to the ‘flowers’

Like this:

and this:

18. Now join the two ‘flowers’

and the complete the ‘circle’ by joining here

19. Now you get to make a choice – how do you want your bag to be finished?

With the handle coming from the centre? (from the yellow) If so, you will add the other two hexagons as shown.

On the other hand, you may prefer your bag handles to come from the sides like this. If so you will add the extra two hexagons as shown.

I am making my bag for a specific reason ie to hang on the arm rest in the motorhome to hold my knitting, (It really is time for that shopping bag to go), and so

I have decided to have my handle come from the centre of the bag. This will ensure that it hangs ‘flat’ and not protrude into the walkway.

One side

and the other

20. To make your handle, you will cut a strip 3″” x twice the length you want it to be plus 0.5″. I measured mine and will make it 16″. This will also be a good length to hang over my arm when taking it outside to crafting sessions.

21. Cut a piece of vilene 2.5″ x the length of your handle and iron it onto the wrong side

22. With right sides together, sew around the edges leaving a space to turn it through. Clip corners.

23. Turn to right side, roll seams between your fingers and thumbs and press. Stitch around the edge 1/4″ from the edge and then some rows of stitching the length of the handle.

24. Join handle to the bag. I’m using whip stitch again. You could, of course, stitch it to the top hexie using your machine if you prefer.

Now to load it up with my knitting needle roll, a pair of snips, a needle size gauge and a darning needle and my current project – all that I need, exactly where I need it!

Perfect!! Start the engines PJ – Nanny is ready to hit the road.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Spin the Pins – Kayarna’s Hand Sanitizer Holder

June 25, 2015 by Nanny 5 Comments

It has been a while since we have had a spin and I am very excited today to introduce my guest, Kayarna Pepper. Kayarna is a member of my Facebook group where we have all been sharing projects we have been working on. I asked if anyone would like to share a project on my blog and Kayarna volunteered to Spin the Pins and share her take on making a Hand Sanitizer Holder. Kayarna has never written a tutorial before, but has done a fantastic job. I’m sure you will enjoy this project – Spin the Pins – Kayarna’s Hand Sanitizer Holder!!

Hand Sanitizer Holder.

What you need:

2 x Coordinating fabrics of your choice. I used quilting cotton.
Depending on fabric choice, you may need fusible interfacing.
Elastic – approximately 1” wide
Coordinating thread
Rotary cutter or scissors
Ruler
Removable marker
Iron
Seam ripper
Button to match fabric
Sewing machine
Small bottle of hand sanitizer (mine was 50ml)

Cut 1 of each fabric and 1 of fusible interfacing to be 2 ½ “x 10 ”. Choose which one will be your outer and which one will be your lining. For mine, floral was outer and the polka dots is the lining.

Cut an extra piece of your outer fabric to 2 ½ “ x 6 “. This will become your handle.

Cut elastic to 3” long.

This is what you should end up with:

Iron interfacing to wrong side of outer fabric.

5. Take your liner piece and with your removable marker mark half way and then from that line, make another line 1 5/8” inch from the half way line. Draw an “X” at the end of the liner closest to your last line.

6. Pin elastic along the 1 5/8” line. Match up the cut ends of elastic with the raw edges. Pin excess elastic in the middle to keep it out of the seam allowance.

Press down ¼ “ of the “x” end of your lining towards the wrong side of the fabric and do the same with the outer fabric. If outer fabric is directional, make sure it’s the bottom of the fabric that you press under (my “x” has disappeared because my removable marker irons off)

Place liner and outer fabric right sides together, pin and then sew around all 3 sides, pivoting at corners using
¼ “ seam. Leave folded ends open. Trim all 4 corners

Turn right side out. Push corners out and press.

At this stage, I change the pin position. Pull elastic over so it is flush down the sides of the fabric. Set holder aside.

Take handle fabric. Fold one of the short ends over ¼ “ and press. Fold in half lengthways and press. Open it up to reveal a crease. Fold the 2 raw edges of the long sides to the middle fold line that you just created and press. Leave folded and then fold the whole piece in half lengthways, press and then topstitch down the 2 long sides and the short end that is tucked in pivoting at each corner.

Insert and pin raw edge of your handle piece about 3/8” into the open end of the holder. Make sure it is centered. Increase stitch length on your machine. Place holder under foot with the elastic side up and top stich around the whole holder ensuring to be careful going over the elastic as it can shift and won’t be level on both sides.

Put a button hole in the end of the handle piece running along the length of the handle. TIP: Put a pin in the end of your button hole before using your seam ripper to open it up. This will prevent you from cutting right through the end.

Working on the other end of the holder, insert a button hole about ¾ “ from the end of the holder. This button hole must be across the width.

Now insert a button hole on the halfway mark you made earlier across the width your holder. It needs to just fall short of the top stitching.

16. Fold in half and put removable marker through the center of your button hole at the end to mark where to sew your button on.

17. Sew button on.

Remove lid of sanitiser and insert bottle through the elastic and through the large button hole in the center. Replace lid. Attach handle to button and then fold the flap up and do up the last button.

Hang on the interior or exterior of your bag to save you scrounging around for it when it would normally be lost in the bottom your bag.

Fantastic Kayarna!! I for one, can’t wait to make one or two or three! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

If you make one of Kayarna’s Hand Sanitiser Holders please share a photo!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Linked to parties at Flamingo Toes , Lets Bee Social, Threading My Way

Make a lined,ruffle top, drawstring bag.

June 9, 2015 by Nanny 7 Comments

My grand daughter was coming to visit over the long weekend and she asked if I could make her a bag to keep her character dance shoes in, so I thought I would share how to make a lined, ruffle top, drawstring bag.

Finished size: Approx 9.5″ x 15″

What you need:

FQ Fabric for outside

FQ Fabric for lining

Ribbon

Cord

Beads

Let’s Sew!

1. Take the FQ’s , fold in half and cut 4.5″ from the length (Or adjust to fit)

2. Take the main fabric and with right sides together, sew down side and along the bottom. Repeat for the lining fabric.

Nanny note: I zigzagged the lining fabric because it frays so easily.

3. Turn the lining to the right side but leave the main fabric inside out.

4. Put the lining inside the bag (you will now have right sides together)

5. Starting by matching the side seams, pin the lining to the main and sew around the edge, leaving an opening for turning through.

6. Turn through

7. Push lining into the main bag and roll the seam between your thumbs and fingers to press.

8. Stitch around the top about 1 cm from the edge and again close to the edge.

9. Take your ribbon and cut it the width of the bag. You will need 2 pieces.

10. Take the ribbons and fold over 1cm on each end and then over again.

11. Stitch the ribbon ends

12. Centre the ribbon on the bag and decide how far down you want to put it – mine is 2″ to the bottom of the ribbon.

13. Stitch along the top and bottom of the ribbon, leaving the ends open.

14. Take your cord – I realised I did not have enough and when I went shopping decided on this Satin finish one and I even found some little beads to add as a trim!

15. Thread one ribbon through from the right, around and through the back .Thread the other from the left.

16. Thread the beads and tie off

Cut isn’t it!

This is such a versatile bag – it can be used for everything from a small gift bag to a large Santa Sack – just vary the size as necessary!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Linking up with Threading My Way SewCanDo

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