SIMPLE PROJECTS Archives - Page 3 of 10

Make an Easter Bunny Basket

March 27, 2015 by Nanny 9 Comments

Today I am going to show you how to make an Easter Bunny Basket! It uses the same basic idea that we used in the Card Holder and Xmas Treat Dish.

Finished size: Basket 3″ x 2.5″, Rabbit: 8″ tall + handle

What you need:

The pattern – available here

Two pieces of fabric – outside and inside

Iron on vilene

Scraps of white and black felt

Matching embroidery floss or fabric markers

A white pompom

Let’s Sew!

1. Fold your fabric pieces in half and place the pattern on the fold.

2. Cut out the Easter Bunny Basket, leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.

3. Cut around the pattern on the vilene (no seam allowance)

4. Iron the vilene to the back of the main fabric

5. Trace the the dotted and filled lines from the pattern to the outside of the lining fabric. (I use my Frixion pen that disappears with ironing)

Nanny edit: Please find new, detailed info re these pens here and make your own decisions re their use!

6. Create the face (or draw it on with fabric pens). I used small pieces of felt for the eyes and nose and backstitched the mouth.

7. Cut the pads from the white felt and sew in place in the front corners – I used the machine.

8. Put right sides together and starting at the top of a handle piece, stitch down that side to the end of the other handle piece. Repeat on the other side, leaving a space to turn through to the right side.

9. Clip into corners taking care not to cut stitching, turn it through to the right side. Push corners out carefully (I use the blunt end of a wooden skewer)

10. Ladder Stitch the opening closed and press well.

11. Stitch around the filled lines to form the base of the basket.

12. Turn in the edge of one end of the handle. Insert the end of the other handle piece and stitch.

13. Turn to the inside and fold the back corners along the dotted lines and stitch.

14. Now turn to right side, fold the front corners and stitch.

15. Press the foot flat.

16. Stitch a pom pom to the back for the tail

Now isn’t that just the cutest!!

All we need now is a egg hunt!

Nanny note: Not one chocolate egg was devoured during the making of this tutorial!!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Hexie Keyring

March 23, 2015 by Nanny 8 Comments

Hi! Today I am going to show you how to make a Hexie Keychain like this one that I made for my friend, Sue.

What you need:

1 Key ring

A feature fabric for the front

A co-ordinating fabric for the back and border

A scrap of firm, iron on wadding the size of the small hexagon – I used Vilene H640 because I had small scraps but would like something firmer

1″ and 1.75″ Templates for Hexagons – get them here

A fine needle and thread to match the fabric

Let’s Sew!

1. Print the templates

2. Using the templates, cut 1 small hexie from each of the Main Fabric and the Vilene and 1 large hexie from the Coordinating fabric. Notice how the small hexie is placed to make the top of the picture at a point.

3. Iron the Vilene to the back of the feature hexie

4. Place the hexies, wrong side together, centering the small one.

Nanny note: I am using a Pilot Frixion pen – if you don’t have one, do yourself a favour! They are available at supermarkets in Australia and the beauty of them is they disappear when you press!

Nanny Edit: New, detailed info on Frixion pens here – please read and decide for yourself if you want to use them

5. Trace around the small hexie.

6. Press the edge of the large hexagon to the traced line all the way around. I used my fingers.

7. Place the small hexie back onto the large one and pin.

8. Fold the edge of one side into the line and press and then fold over to the front of the feature hexie and pin .

9. Take a needle and thread to match and start hand stitching (I used a slip stitch) about half way along that side.

10. Before you get to the corner, fold over the next side and continue around the corner making sure to catch both sides to form a neat corner.

11. Continue folding and stitching until all sides are done .

12. Take the keyring and, using a matching thread (I doubled the thread) stitch it to the top corner of the Hexie.

Taa daa – there you have it! You can stitch the corners if you like, I didn’t worry because they are all folded and stitched well.

Now I just need an owl lover! Don’t forget to share a photo if you make one – I love to see!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Scrappy Xmas Decorations

November 18, 2014 by Nanny 7 Comments

I was looking through my Xmas scraps today and thinking “What can I do with this?”

Answer: Make some Scrappy Xmas Decorations!

What you need:

Some Xmas scraps with small pictures – these ones vary in size
Some fabric scraps to use as backing – think about using Xmas fabric if you will see it
Some scraps of Vilene or wadding
Imagination!

Let’s sew!

1. Cut out your pictures – if you have borders like mine it is easy – you could use a rule and rotary cutter if you preferred.

DSC05176_renamed_27926 - Copy

I had enough to get 2 of each and you can see that I rough cut them only.

2. Cut Vilene and backing for each one – once again – rough cut.

3. Press the Vilene to the back of the front picture.

4. I needed something to make some loops and I found this cord. I decided to unwind the beaded strand to use as loops.

5. I cut my loops to 2.5″

6. With all layers facing the way you want them to finish ie front, wadding, backing, use pinking shears to cut along the top. I have skewed mine a little so you can see. Then fold a loop in half and place between the wadding and the backing.

DSC05181_renamed_8361 - Copy

7. Sew around the picture about 1/4″ from the edge. I have used white to show you on the back.

DSC05182_renamed_28355 - Copy 8. Using the pinking shears, cut around the other 3 sides.

DSC05183_renamed_31255

9. There you have it! Continue with your other pictures. These can be tree decorations or you might like to make a mini garland. I threaded them onto the rest of the cord.

DSC05186 (1) (600 x 153)

DSC05186_renamed_3883

How cute is that? I love it! Look through your scraps and see what you can make. I would love to see a photo!

Until next time
Nanny xx

Make a Xmas Treat Dish

November 17, 2014 by Nanny 7 Comments

Today while thinking of what I could make to put under Clare’s Xmas Tree, I remembered our first Let’s Sew Project and decided that I would make a larger container to use at Xmas!

I have chosen some real Aussie fabric with Santa Koalas (just to remind all readers that Nanny is a true blue Aussie!!)

This is really simple to sew but if you need more detailed instructions, you will find them in the Let’s Sew Tutorials

What you need:

1 x 10″ square of main fabric
1 x 10″ square of co-ordinating fabric
1 x 9.5″ Vilene H640 or similar
Thread

Finished size: 4.5″ x 4.5″ x approx 2and3/8″ (You can vary the size to meet your needs – or fabric)

Let’s Sew!

1. Centre your Vilene square on the back of the main fabric and press (make sure you have the Vilene dots facing the fabric)

2. Sew around the edge, leaving a space for turning. Trim corners.

3. Push corners out, roll between finger and thumb and press.

4. Topstitch – I sewed about 1/8″ from the edge.

5. I am using my 4.5″ rule – centre it on the square and trace.

Nanny note: I am using a Pilot Frixion pen – if you don’t have one, do yourself a favour! They are available at supermarkets in Australia and the beauty of them is they disappear when you press!

Nanny edit: Please see new, detailed info re these pens here and decide for yourself whether you want to use them

6. Stitch around the traced line.

7. Fold each corner and stitch from the corner of the stitched square straight out to the edge.

8. Press around the stitching to form a ‘base’ for your container.

9. Fold corners back.

10. Fill with Xmas goodies – Yummmy!

Please share a photo if you make a dish! What will you put in yours?

Until next time
Nanny xx

Make a Fabric Origami Xmas Tree

November 12, 2014 by Nanny 22 Comments

I promised the swapz group that I would share a tutorial on how to make a Fabric Origami Xmas Tree. I have searched for an original of this design but have had no luck, so if you know the designer, please notify me. There are a couple of versions on Pinterest, but neither appear to be by the original designer. I firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due and will always credit the designer if I am able.

I was shown how to make this by a friend and I made my adaptation to the method.

I like to hang mine in a doorway!

Finished Size: Approx 12″ x 10″

What you need:

A 5 and 1/4 ” strip of 2 contrasting fabrics ( I used a Xmas fabric and a plain)- WOF (width of fabric)

A rule with 60 degree marking (to make equilateral triangles) OR a 60 degree rule

Thread

Bells, beads, buttons etc for embellishment

Let’s Sew!

1. Take the strips of fabric (I leave them doubled). You will be able to cut all triangles from one strip – the 11th will be formed with the folded cut off which is the left side in the photos.

Using a rule: Find the 60 degree mark and put that along the long edge of the fabric. You will need to turn the rule to continue completing the triangle (check next photos)

Using a 60 degree rule: Place the 5 and 1/4 line along the edge.

You can see how you continue cutting – one up – one down (not leaving spaces that I have left to show you). You can see that the 11th is formed when you start from the folded edge.

2. Take one of each fabric and with RST (right sides together), starting about 1.5″ from the corner with a double stitch, sew to the corner and with needle down turn and continue up the other side, next corner, side and corner, finishing about 1.5″ after the corner with a double stitch.

3. Trim the corners and turn to the right side. Push the corners out (carefully – I use the blunt end of a wooden skewer). Press

4. Using ladder stitch, close the opening. Press

5. Repeat this with all 11 triangles.

6. Using a matching thread and tie a knot in the end.

Take one of the triangles and fold in half along one side and pinch – then repeat on another side.

Where they cross, put the needle through and pull thread through to the knot.

Fold each side and pinch to get the centre point. Catch that point with the needle and bring it to the centre point. Take a small stitch to secure and continue with the other sides.

Push the needle back through the centre and out at the knot.

Fold a corner back to this side and stitch.

Continue to each of the other corners.

Finish off. I like to take the needle through to one of the edges and cut it off there.

That is the unit completed. When you make the next one, make it the other way ie start on the other side. This will help you decide which way you want your tree to look and the other one will be the trunk!

When you have decided, continue making the other 9 units.

Press the units and place in order.

I am missing the top unit in this photo, but it will give you the idea!

You are going to join the units using a simple whip stitch – try to keep your stitches small.

Now it is time to embellish: Use bells, beads, buttons – whatever you like!

Attach a little loop at the top for hanging and there you are – all done!

I have also made these for people in Aged Care – let’s them have their own little bit of Xmas decoration!

Please show me if you make one!

Until next time
Nanny xx

I will link up with Under The Xmas Tree at Clare’s Craftroom

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