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How to Fold A Fitted Sheet (For Jules)

April 21, 2013 by Nanny 2 Comments

Today I am going to show you how to fold a fitted sheet so that you can take your bed linen from this

to this!

I normally fold as soon as I take from the line, but because I know that many of you are not able to do that I have left it sitting in the basket crumpled to make it ‘real’.

Take the fitted sheet and place it on the table with a short end running the length of the table on the left. Make sure that your sheet has the’right side’ down on the table.

I know you are looking at that thinking “She has got to be kidding!” but stay with me…..

Find the stitched corner on the left

Then on the right

I have put my hand into the sheet and up to the corner so that I can turn it inside out (my right hand is now inside!)

Now take that right hand over to the corner we sorted on the left and push it into the corner,

and holding all of those corners in your left hand,

stretch the sheet out across the table with your right hand.

Do the same at the other end and you end up with this:

Fold the elastic edge in so that you end up with a fairly good rectangle

Now fold the left hand side over (about where the elastic is) smoothing with your hand (this is the ironing lol)

Then fold the other side in as well

Fold up a third of the way

Then the other.

Now that wasn’t so hard was it!!! BUT we still have more in the basket!

Fold the straight sheet in half lengthwise and then in half and half again width wise.

Don’t forget the ironing! 😉 Fold in half again

Now take your folded fitted sheet and place it on the straight sheet, leaving enough to fold down over at the top

We mustn’t forget the pillow cases! Fold them in half both ways and sit them on top

Fold the top over

Fold the bottom up

And again and there you have it – when you go to make the bed there will be no more searching through the linen looking for matching pillow cases! Doesn’t it look neat!

The back

and the side

and best of all, the front! Won’t that look lovely in the linen cupboard!!

I hope that helps you get those fitted sheets under control.

A couple of Nanny tips: If you hang your sheets on the line, fold the straight sheet in half across so that the folding is already started when you take it off. Hang the fitted sheet by the corners on the short side with the other end the same one line away and then as you take the pegs out you have it half folded! (It all helps)

Until next time

Nanny xx

Curtain Tie Backs

April 19, 2013 by Nanny 6 Comments

Some time ago I made some curtain tie backs for my grand daughters’ room to match her cushion and I had some requests for a tutorial so here we go!

What you need:

Pattern – available here

Fabric

Iron on Pellon/Vilene

Let’s Sew!

1. Take the fabric and pattern and cut

– 4 tie back shapes and

– 4 strap pieces 1.5″ x 5″

(if you find it easier than placing the pattern on the fold, copy the pattern twice and join.)

2. If you are using a stripe like me, make sure that you match the stripes with the fabric right side to right side.

2. From the Vilene, cut 2 pattern shapes and iron it to the wrong side of two of the fabric pieces.

4. Sew the straps, right sides together and then turn through to the right side and press.

5. Fold the strap pieces in half and place at each end of the tie back so that raw edges are together and the seam on the strap faces the curved seam (so it will face the bottom when hanging)

6. Matching your stripes, right sides together, sew around the edges leaving an opening to turn through (I left mine open, near to but not at, the end on the curved side)

7. Clip the curves

8. Turn through to right side and top stitch all round the tie back about 1cm from the edge. (This will close the openings)

9. Well done! Now go and tie back those curtains!!

Until next time
Nanny xx

Let’s Sew 22 – Valentines Message Cushion

January 25, 2013 by Nanny 6 Comments

Good evening!Today we are going to make a gorgeous heart cushion for Valentines Day (or in my case, a heart cushion for my grand daughter’s bed). It will give you the chance to use some scraps and try your embroidery!

What you need:

Choose the colour for your cushion and find some other fabric pieces to match in.
A 16.5″ square of plain light weight cotton for backing – can be a light calico, poplin etc
Heart Pattern download here.
Lace, ribbon, embroidery threads, ricrac, etc

Let’s Sew!

Join the pattern pages and trace off the sections.

Take the sections of the heart and select your fabric for each one. Make sure you have a plain fabric if you are going to write a message on the cushion itself.

NOTE: If you are going to make the pocket, you need to fold the fabric so that there is a fold on the Number 4 edge and another at the bottom.
There is a fold under my thumb so it is like a back to front S

Place the pocket pattern so that the number 4 edge is above the top fold

Cut each section out allowing a 1/4″ seam and 1/2″ allowance around any of the heart line (the cushion shape) like on section 8 for example

Starting with the centre piece, place it near the centre of the backing fabric – don’t be exact as this method is supposed to look ‘crazy’!
Take number 1 and place it over the Centre till you have the sides even. Stitch. Flip open and press.

Trim away any excess as you go. Take number 2 and place it right way up , in place to check you have it facing in the right direction, then flip it to sew.

Flip open and press

It was at this stage that I had planned to use some ric-rac so I am going to sew it on now. (That way, the ends will be enclosed) – You can sew ric-rac on by sewing down through the centre of the ric rac. Some prefer to sew it on with a zigzag.

Continue adding the next piece and trimming with lace and ric rac if that is what you have planned.

Notice how I turned the same fabric to get different effect – stripe and floral stripe

Trim the shape to the pattern plus seam allowances.

Now comes the fun part!! You can finish embellishing the heart with whatever you like. I am going to do some embroidery stitches and use an iron on applique. You can use any of the decorative stitches on your machine for a quick solution.

I collected a few sequins, beads,bits of lace and my embroidery threads and went to work!

I had to make myself stop! It really is fun and relaxing.

Now for the heart insert. You may prefer to place a paper note in the pocket – the choice is yours!

Cut 2 small hearts from the pattern adding a 1/4″ for seam.

I now used my erasable pen to write my message and using 2 strands of embroidery thread, I backstitched around the name.

With right sides together, sew around the heart, leaving a gap to turn through on the straight edge at the side.

Clip curves – use pinking shears if you have them.

Turn through, roll seams between fingers and thumbs and press.

Stuff well and close with Ladder Stitch.

Pop your ‘message’ in the pocket and have a lovely Valentines Day!

Until next time
Nanny xx

Let’s Sew Part 12 – Sewing Room Project 5 – Mug mat

November 16, 2012 by Nanny 2 Comments

Today we are going to make a mug-mat. We don’t need wet cup marks on our sewing tables!
The finished size is approx 12.5″ x 9.5″ . If you want to make a larger one you will need to vary these measurements. The finished mat looks like a little quilt with binding but it doesn’t have binding at all!! This method is fine for small projects like this, doll quilts, pot holders etc but I wouldn’t recommend it for finishing a quilt. (That’s another lesson!!)

We will need:

Strips of fabric Three 9.5″ x 1.5″, two 9.5″ x 1.75″ (or any combination you like)

feature fabric rectangle 9.5″ x 7.5″

Backing /binding fabric 13.5″ x 10.5″

Pellon

Today we will be using any of the following feet:

It’s important that you try your different attachments, get a feel for how they work and then decide which is the best for your job. You can do all of the project using just your All purpose foot so don’t worry if you don’t have the others.

1/4″ foot

Walking foot

Sitch in the Ditch foot All Purpose foot

Select your ‘foot’ – I used my 1/4″ foot.

Arrange the strips in an order pleasing to your eye and then join the first two, then the last 2. Then join them to the centre strip. Press.

Join to Feature fabric . Press

Take the pellon rectangle and with the bubbly side facing the WRONG side of your mat, press. (You may like to cover with cloth or baking paper so your iron doesn’t stick!)

Take your stitch in the Ditch Foot or your All Purpose Foot and stitch in the ditch along the strips.

Square the mat off – ie check and trim. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bit smaller, the important thing is that it is squared up!!

Place the backing fabric, wrong side up onto the table and centre the mat right side up on top of it. You should have 3/4″ all around.

Pin the mat to secure it to the backing:

Fold the edges of the backing to the edge of the mat and press.

Now I want you to remove some of the bulk from the corner. If you look at the diagram, the dotted line is the crease from folding edges over over. Cut across the corner where the creases meet.

Your mat will now look like this:

Now we are going to fold the edges again and this time it will fold over onto the mat (and look like binding). Pin.
When you get to a corner:

Take that corner and fold across to touch the mat – like covering a book.

Then take this and fold over on your crease

Then fold over again to form a lovely, mitred corner!!

TIP: If you don’t feel confident, you could do a little hand stitch through the mitre to hold it while you sew.

I will now show you me stitching with each of the feet – you choose whichever one you like!!

Using the Stitch in the Ditch foot, adjust your needle position so that when the blade is to the left of the binding, the needle will enter very close to the edge of the binding. ( Please note that if you are using this foot, you cannot ‘see’ the corner so a little hand stitch would help)

Using the All Purpose foot, I lined the edge of the foot with the edge of the binding:

If you have a Walking Foot, you might like to try it. Make sure when you attach the walking foot that the long arm on the walking foot is sitting on the needle clamp screw and you are set!

Stitch down the side and at the corner make sure you get the last stitch on this side so that it is the first stitch on the next side. ( The corners can be a bit fiddly but the rest has been so fast that you can take a little more time here to get them just so ….)

Leaving your needle down, lift the pressure foot and turn your mat. Continue.