Lined Serving Tray

The word on the street is that Flex-Foam™ is the ‘belle of the ball’! We’ve been having so much fun with this product. It’s sturdy yet pliable and so easy to sew! There are so many things to make with Flex-Foam — from handbags to pet mats, lunch bags to changing pads, nap mats to baskets… the sky is really the limit. What would you make?

Available varieties & put-ups:
Flex-Foam Sew-in
20″ x 10yd board (FF77), 60″ x 10yd roll (FF77R10), 20″ x 60″ package (FF776020P)

Flex-Foam 1-Sided Fusible
20″ x 10yd board (FF78F1), 60″ x 10yd roll (FF78F1R), 20″ x 60″ package (FF78F16020P)

Flex-Foam 2-Sided Fusible
20″ x 10yd board (FF79F2), 60″ x 10yd roll (FF79F2R), 20″ x 60″ package (FF79F26020P)

We’ve got another quickie project for you today — a little something to spice up that plain old serving tray you’ve been holding on to. Use our Flex-Foam 2-Sided Fusible and Vinyl Fuse to give it some pizzazz… some personality!

lined serving tray

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
— 2 coordinating fat quarters for top and bottom
— ¼ yard coordinating fabric for binding (or pre-packaged binding)
— 1 yard Pellon® FF79F2 Flex-Foam™ 2-Sided Fusible Interfacing
— 1 pkg  Pellon® 100R Vinyl-Fuse™
— Rotary cutter, sewing machine & related supplies
— Iron & ironing surface

DIRECTIONS:
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application of all interfacing. All seams ¼” unless otherwise indicated. RS = Right Side; WS = Wrong Side.

Step 1 – Measure the interior of the serving tray. Add a ½” to each measurement.

Step 2 – Use measurement to cut one piece each of top and bottom fabrics and Flex-Foam 2-Sided Fusible and two pieces of Vinyl-Fuse.

Step 3 – Place one fabric rectangle RS down on an ironing surface followed by the Flex-Foam 2-Sided Fusible. Place remaining fabric rectangle RS up on top. Fuse.

Step 4 – Remove paper backing from one piece of Vinyl-Fuse. Carefully place it on the RS of top fabric. Smooth to remove any bubbles or wrinkles. Fuse, taking extra care not to touch the iron to the Vinyl-Fuse.

Step 5 – Repeat with the remaining piece of Vinyl-Fuse on opposite side.

Step 6 – Bind insert.

Step 7 – Place inside serving tray.

Happy Sewing!

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pssssssst. Don’t forget about our Missing Market Giveaway! It runs through 3pmCST on Monday, October 26. Click here for more info.

 

Pellon® Batting for All!

Our big news for Market? Pellon Nature’s Touch® & Quilter’s Touch® Batting will now be available to all domestic distributors! It’s the same great Legacy by Pellon Batting you’re used to, but now under the Pellon name. Products will be available to ship on October 28! What does this mean for you? Quite simply, it means that you’ll now be able to grab Pellon batting at your local quilt shop, through your preferred distributor, or at your go-to online fabric shop. Pretty cool, right? 

We’ll be updating our website just after market with all of the details, but for now, here is a quick list of the varieties available:

• Nature’s Touch 100% Natural Cotton, w/Scrim
• Nature’s Touch 100% Natural Cotton, no Scrim
• Wrap-N-Zap
• Nature’s Touch 100% Bleached Cotton, w/Scrim
• Nature’s Touch Eco-Cotton Reprocessed 70/30, w/Scrim
• Nature’s Touch Natural Blend 80/20, w/Scrim
• Nature’s Touch Natural Blend 80/20, no Scrim
• Nature’s Touch 60/40 Polyester Blend, w/Scrim
• Nature’s Touch 50/50 Bamboo/Cotton Blend, w/Scrim
• Quilter’s Touch 100% Polyester-Thermal Bonded Fine Denier Siliconized Blend
• Quilter’s Touch 100% Polyester-Thermal Bonded: Low, Medium, & High Loft
• Nature’s Touch Wool – Thermal bonded & Super Washed

To get you in the mood for creating, we’ve got a very simple, but super cute little Holiday Table Runner Tutorial. This one is so easy that it could be quilted up on Christmas morning and ready by dinner. Not that we’re suggesting you do that, but still! 😉 Enjoy!

Holiday Table Runner

SUPPLIES & TOOLS
— 1/4 yard each of six different coordinating holiday fabrics
— 1/2 yard fabric for backing
— 1/4 yard fabric for binding
— One Throw-Sized package Pellon® N-60 Nature’s Touch® 100% All Natural Cotton Batting
— Thread
— Sewing Machine & Related Supplies
— Rotary Cutter & Related Supplies

DIRECTIONS
This project uses ¼” seams throughout unless otherwise indicated.

Step 1 – Cutting instructions:
Cut 14” long strips of varying widths from all six coordinating fabrics. The number of strips depends on desired finished table runner length.

Cut one rectangle of batting that is 14” x (desired table runner length + 2”)

Cut one rectangle of backing fabric that is 14” x (desired table runner length + 2”)

Step 2 – Press all fabrics to remove any creases.

Step 3 – Arrange strips as desired.

Step 4 – Place batting rectangle on a work surface. Place first strip of fabric at one end so that it extends beyond the batting on both sides. Quilt as desired.

Step 5 – Place a second strip of fabric on top with right sides together so that interior raw edges align. Sew, fold over so that second strip is right side up and press. Topstitch and quilt as desired.

Step 6 – Repeat Step 5 until all strips are quilted to the batting rectangle.

Step 7 – Place the quilted rectangle on a work surface, right side down. Square up edges.

Step 8 – Place quilted rectangle wrong sides together with backing fabric and cut backing fabric to size. Pin.

Step 9 – To secure backing to table runner top, stich-in-the-ditch along every third fabric strip. Remove pins.

Step 9 – To create binding, cut 3” x WOF (width of fabric) strips from binding fabric. Place ends of two strips so that right sides are together and strips are perpendicular to each other. Pin. Draw a line in the overlapped square from the lower left hand corner to the upper right hand corner as shown below. Sew along the drawn line. Trim seam allowance to ¼”, fold so that strip is continuous and press seam open. Repeat process to create binding that is at least 10” longer than the perimeter of the table runner.

Step 10 – Bind quilt to finish.

Tada!!

Happy Quilting!

——————-

pssssssst. Don’t forget about our Missing Market Giveaway! It runs through 3pmCST on Monday, October 26. Click here for more info.

Packaged Flex-Foam™!!

We’ve almost been having too much fun with Flex-Foam™. Is that possible? From the release of the sew-in earlier this year to the release of the Fusibles (both 1-Sided and 2-Sided) last month, to the addition of 60″ rolls… and now? Packaged Flex-Foam!! That’s right, we’ve now got a little something for everyone. Need a full 60″ roll for a plethora of projects? We’ve got that. Need a quick 20″ x 60″ package for a few weekend crafts? No problem.

Flex-Foam Sew-in
20″ x 10yd board (FF77), 60″ x 10yd roll (FF77R10), 20″ x 60″ package (FF776020P)

Flex-Foam 1-Sided Fusible
20″ x 10yd board (FF78F1), 60″ x 10yd roll (FF78F1R), 20″ x 60″ package (FF78F16020P)

Flex-Foam 2-Sided Fusible
20″ x 10yd board (FF79F2), 60″ x 10yd roll (FF79F2R), 20″ x 60″ package (FF79F26020P)

If you’re at International Quilt Market this weekend in Houston, TX, make sure to stop by our booth to get a closer look. We’ll have some samples on hand and are there to answer any questions you might have.

Oh — and just in case you needed a little extra inspiration, we’ve got a perfect weekend project all ready to go! The Succulent Wall Planter is quick, easy and a super cute way to put some of those mini-succulents on display. Scroll down for the full tutorial and drop us a line if you have any questions!

Succulent Wall PlanterS

SUPPLIES & TOOLS (makes three planters)
— Six 4-1/2” x 4” fabric rectangles for exterior
— Six 4-1/2” x 4” rectangle for interior
— Two 2” x 2-1/2” rectangle for hanging sleeve.
— Six 4” x 3-1/2” rectangle Pellon® FF78F1 Flex-Foam™ 1-Sided Fusible Interfacing
— Six 4-1/2” x 4” rectangles Pellon® 100 Vinyl-Fuse™
— Two 2” x 2-1/2” rectangle Pellon® SF101 Shape-Flex®
— 1 pkg Pellon® EZ2-40T EZ-Steam® II Tape (Optional)
— One stick or dowel
— Twine or Ribbon
— Rotary cutter, sewing machine & related supplies
— Iron & ironing surface

DIRECTIONS:
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application of all interfacing. All seams ¼” unless otherwise indicated. RS = Right Side; WS = Wrong Side.

Step 1 – Center one Flex-Foam 1-Sided Fusible rectangle on the WS of one exterior fabric rectangle and fuse. Repeat for remaining exterior fabric rectangle.

Step 2 – Remove the paper backing from one Vinyl-Fuse rectangle and carefully finger press the sticky side to the RS of the interior fabric rectangle. Fuse. Repeat for remaining interior fabric rectangle.

Step 3 – Place the Shape-Flex rectangle against the WS of the 2” x 2-1/2” fabric rectangle and fuse.

Step 4 – Place exterior rectangles RS together and pin. Place interior rectangles RS together and pin. Trace and cut a 1” notch in the lower left and right hand corners of both the exterior and interior units.

Step 5 – Sew along the sides and bottom of the units, locking stitches at each end, leaving one long end open.

Step 6 – Open the notched corners on each unit, pinch in to align raw edges and match seams. Pin and sew.

Step 7 – Turn exterior RS out, push out corners and straighten. Fold top edge in by ¼” and press.

Step 8 – Fold top edge of interior down to the outside by ¼” and finger press.

Step 9 – Place interior inside exterior and match top folded edges. Set aside.

Step 10 – Fold the long sides of the 2” x 2-1/2” rectangle in by ¼” and press to create a 1-1/2” x 2-1/2” rectangle. Topstitch along the folded edges.

Step 11 – Fold in half to create a 1-1/4” x 1-1/2” piece. Press fold.

Step 12 – Insert raw edges in between top long side of the exterior and interior pieces so that only ¾” is exposed. Pin.

Step 13 – Topstitch around entire top. Straighten and press. (Alternate method: Handstitch to finish or use EZ-Steam II Tape to secure pieces.)

Step 14 – Repeat full process to create remaining planters.

Step 15 – Insert stick or dowel through the hanging sleeves and arrange as desired.

Step 16 – Tie twine or ribbon to both ends of the stick or dowel to finish.

Happy Sewing!

——————-

pssssssst. Don’t forget about our Missing Market Giveaway! It runs through 3pmCST on Monday, October 26. Click here for more info.

Grab-N-Go Pouch Tutorial

We are having a full-fledged love affair with Flex-Foam™. We use it in structured handbags, totes, pouches, tablet cases, small accessories, and so much more. This stuff is so fabulous to work with and so versatile, the uses are really just endless! We know you’ve all been having a blast as well and we’ve LOVED seeing all of your creations on Instagram, you talented crew, you;).

Today, we’re excited to announce that Flex-Foam™ is reaching wider distribution and is now available in Hancock Fabric Stores as well as on their website! Woo hoo!

 

We’d suggest a weekend trip to your local store to grab a few yards. We’ve even got a fun little tutorial to help you get started! This one is super fast, super easy and incredibly handy. It’d make a great shower favor, teacher gift, or just something to let a friend know that you think she’s pretty cool;). Use a combo of your favorite fabrics, add some appliqué, show off your creativity… and don’t forget to show us what you make! We are inspired by YOU every day and that is the best kind of inspiration.

The Grab-N-Go Pouch is a simple little catch-all for all the essentials. It’ll fit your phone + some money, a few credit cards, some chapstick and any other small accessories needed. There’s even an external key ring to keep everything all in one place. I’ll be using this one all Summer. It’s so easy to fill up and pop into my daughter’s diaper bag and it will save me from having to lug around two bags everywhere we go. This would also be a great pouch for pool or beach trips. Make it with a laminated cotton or add our 100 Vinyl-Fuse™ to your favorite quilting cotton for extra protection. Seriously, this is one customizable little zippy!

Supplies & Tools
One 5″ x 8″ rectangle each of Exterior & Lining Fabric, SF101 Shape-Flex® & FF77 Flex-Foam™
Two 3″ x 8″ rectangles each of Exterior & Lining Fabric, SF101 Shape-Flex® & FF77 Flex-Foam™
One 2-1/2″ x 3″ rectangle each of Exterior Fabric & SF101 Shape-Flex® for key ring tab
Fabric Scraps for zipper tabs
One key ring
One 7″ of larger zipper (I used a 9″ and trimmed it down)
Rotary Cutter & Related Supplies
Iron & Ironing Surface
Sewing Machine & Related Supplies

** 1/4″ seam allowance unless otherwise noted. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application of all interfacing & fusible web.

Step 1 – Assemble supplies.

Step 2 – Place Shape-Flex® rectangles against wrong side of coordinating lining and key ring tab rectangles and fuse.

Step 3 – Place Flex-Foam™ rectangles against wrong wide of exterior fabric rectangles. Baste around all edges to secure or quilt as desired.

Step 4 – Trim zipper to 7″. To create zipper zabs, cut a small rectangle of exterior or coordinating fabric (sample used a scrap with a width of 2-1/2″). Fold in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold raw edges in to meet center fold. Press. Re-fold on center crease. Insert zipper ends into the fold and pin.

Step 5 – Topstitch to secure and trim edges to match raw edges of zipper tape.

Step 6 – Place exterior 3″ x 8″ rectangle right side up. Center the zipper on top, matching raw edges so that zipper pull is on the left and facing the right side of the exterior fabric. Place the lining 3″ x 8″ rectangle right sides together with the exterior rectangle. Pin and sew using a zipper foot.

Step 7 – Fold exterior and lining rectangles away from the zipper and press. Topstitch along folded edge to finish and secure. (Hopefully you’ll do a better job with your zipper than I did, but even wonky zippers are still fully pouch functional!)

Step 8 – Repeat Steps 6 & 7 using the remaining 3″ x 8″ rectangles. When placing the zipper unit, be sure that the exterior rectangles are right sides together and the lining rectangles are right sides together.

Step 9 – Place the exterior and lining 5″ x 8″ rectangles wrong sides together and pin.  Place the 5″ x 8″ unit right sides together with the zipper unit and pin. Make sure that zipper is at least halfway open. (I opened mine up all the way for easy turning later.) Square up all raw edges.

Step 10 – To create the key ring tab, fold the 2-1/2″ x 3″ rectangle in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold the raw edges in to meet the center crease. Press. Re-fold on the center crease and pin. Topstitch both folded edges.

Step 11 – Fold tab in half and place in between the front and back units in desired location. Make sure that folded edge is facing in and raw edges are out.

Step 12 – Sew around all four sides. Finish with a zig zag stitch, or trim with pinking shears to prevent fraying.

Step 13 – Turn pouch right side out through the open zipper and carefully push out all four corners. Press pouch for a nice clean finish.

Step 14 – Insert essentials and prepare for your next adventure!

See? SO easy!! We hope that you’ll have fun with this one. Don’t forget — you can now grab all the Flex-Foam™ that you need both in-stores and online at Hancock Fabrics! Did we mention that they sell by-the-yard online?? HUGE bonus!!

Happy sewing!

 

 

We love Flex-Foam™!!

We already introduced Flex-Foam™ once, but we’re just so darn excited, we had to do it again;). It is currently on display in our booth at Quilt Market in Minneapolis and it’s getting loads of attention. If you haven’t heard yet, here is a bit of background about this brand new Pellon® product:

Flex-Foam™ is a lightweight sew-in stabilizer consisting of a layer of foam sandwiched between two layers of soft fabric. It can be used in place of or in addition to other stabilizers, is an absolute breeze to sew through and will add a soft shape and body to any project.

It is excellent for use in crafts, accessories, and home décor projects. We particularly love it for

• handbags
• camera cases
• lunch totes
• eyeglass cases
• diaper bags
• & storage baskets

but have a feeling that you’ll come up with your own fabulous uses for this great new product.

Flex-Foam™ is currently available at your local Jo-Ann stores as well as on joann.com. (in fact, a 10-yard board is on sale for $49.99 NOW!) You can also find it on amazon.com and it will soon be available at your preferred distributor and other Craft & Hobby stores!

We’ve already seen some gorgeous examples of Flex-Foam in a variety of handbags, two of which are on display right now in our booth in Minneapolis.

 

L: Donna by Ann Daley – R: Evelyn by Crystal Chadwick
*both patterns by Swoon Sewing Pattern

This one recently popped up on Instagram as well — the Ex Libris Rockstar bag by Kristy Sachs of Rock Baby Scissors. Pattern by Sew Sweetness, fabric by Alison Glass. We are in LOVE!!!

Though the Flex-Foam™ is fabulous for handbags, it is also fantastic for a variety of other projects. We just used it for a super simple iPad case. The foam padding is the perfect protectant to keep your device safe. Easy-peasy tutorial is below!

Supplies & Tools
Two 8-3/4″ x 11″ rectangles each of Pellon® FF77 Flex-Foam™, Pellon® SF101 Shape-Flex®, Exterior Fabric & Lining Fabric
One 6″ x 11″ rectangle each of White Fabric and Exterior Fabric
One 2″ x 11″ strip of Exterior Fabric for binding
Fabric Scraps for appliqué
One sheet Pellon® EZ25S EZ-Steam® II
One 11″ or longer zipper in coordinating color
Rotary Cutter & Related Supplies
Iron & Ironing Surface
Sewing Machine & Related Supplies

** 1/4″ seam allowance unless otherwise noted. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application of all interfacing & fusible web.

Step 1 – Gather supplies and cut fabrics.

Step 2 – Fold 2″ x 11″ strip in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold raw edges in to meet the fold. Press. Re-fold on center crease and press. Pin on either end to secure and set aside.

Step 3 – Determine desired appliqué. Rough cut around design. Cut a coordinating piece of EZ-Steam® II. Remove white backing of EZ-Steam® II and finger press to wrong side of appliqué. Cut out appliqué, remove gridded backing of EZ-Steam® II and finger press to right side of white back ground fabric. Cover with a damp press cloth and fuse.

Step 4 – Place 6″ x 11″ rectangles wrong sides together. Insert top 11″ end inside the binding strip created in Step 2. Pin.

Step 5 – Topstitch binding to secure.

Step 6 – Place Shape-Flex® rectangles against wrong sides of lining rectangles and fuse. Place Flex-Foam™ rectangles against wrong sides of exterior rectangles and baste around all sides with an 1/8″ seam allowance.

Step 7 – Place 6″ x 10″ appliqué unit with binding on right side of one exterior rectangle, matching raw edges. Baste in place.

Step 8 – Cut zipper to 10″ in length, making sure that zipper pull is within the 10″ length. secure cut end with a few stitches.

Step 9 – Place one exterior rectangle with right side up. Place zipper right side down on top of exterior rectangle, with zipper pull toward the left side, matching raw edges. Place one lining rectangle on top with right side down, matching raw edges. Pin.

Step 10 – Using a zipper foot, sew all layers together. Fold exterior and lining over, exposing zipper. Press and topstitch.

Step 11 – Repeat Steps 9 & 10 using the remaining exterior and lining rectangles.

Step 12 – Unzip the zipper about 1/2 – 3/4 of the way. Place exterior and lining rectangles right sides together and pin. Sew around full exterior, leaving a 3″ gap in the bottom edge of the lining. Clip corners and trim seams as needed.

Step 13 – Turn case right side out through opening. Carefully push out corners. Sew gap closed and push lining down into exterior.

Step 14 – Straighten case and insert iPad!

We’d love to hear what you think of the Flex-Foam™! Have fun and happy sewing!!

 

 

Muslin Gift Bag

One of our brand new products being showcased at Market is our Muslin. This staple fabric is a must-have for every sewing room, whether you’re making apparel ‘Muslins’ prior to cutting into your favorite fabric, or working on a brand new craft project. Pellon® Muslin is a cool, comfortable, and naturally smooth fabric. Made with 100% high Quality Cotton, it is practical and versatile for a variety of projects. It can also be decorated or printed to add a textured look. It is available in three different varieties:

• Basic Muslin is 64×56 Thread Count using a 30 Thread
• Choice Muslin is 60×60 Thread Count using a 30 Thread
• Deluxe Muslin is 80×80 Thread Count using a 20 Thread

There are SO many things that you can do with Muslin, but to get you started, we thought we’d share a super simple, but super handy project… The Muslin Gift Bag. This one is SO incredibly easy, you could make a stack of them in under an hour. We chose to personalize ours with a bit of appliqué, but really, the type of decoration is up to you! Use your imagination;).

Supplies & Tools
Four 8″ x 10″ rectangles of Pellon® Muslin (any weight is fine!)
One Sheet of EZ-Steam® II
Scraps of a feature fabric for appliqué
Four 1/2″ wide fabric strips for closure
Rotary Cutter & Related Supplies
Iron & Ironing Surface
Sewing Machine & Related Supplies

Step 1 – Print out letters and shapes for appliqué. Trace onto the gridded side of the EZ-Steam® II. (If using letters, make sure to trace in reverse.)

Step 2 – Rough cut around shapes, remove white backing and finger press sticky side against wrong side of appliqué fabric.

Step 3 – Carefully cut each shape out, remove gridded backing and finger press into desired locations on one side of one 8″ x 10″ Muslin rectangle. Fuse.

Step 3 – Stack two 8″ x 10″ Muslin rectangles to create a more substantial bag. Fold one short edge in by 1/4″ inch and press. Fold in again by 1″ and press. Pin. Topstitch close to the fold. Repeat with remaining two Muslin rectangles.

Step 4 – Place the sets of Muslin rectangles right sides together, matching the folds that were created in Step 3. Trace a curved pattern on both bottom corners if so desired. Sew around the three raw edge sides, making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure.

Step 5 – Be sure not to stitch the open ends of the closure pockets.

 

Step 6 – Cut four 1/2″ strips of coordinating fabric. Stack two, place a pin on one end, and thread through one closure pocket. Repeat with remaining two strips and opposite closure pocket.

Step 7 – Tie both interior and exterior strips together on each end. Grab the knotted interior strips on one side and the knotted exterior strips on the other and pull to cinch bag closed.

Easy Peasy!!

———————————

Happy Sewing!

 

Valentine Doodle Pads

This is my daughter’s very first Valentine’s Day in a school-like setting. She is 16 months old and I’m lucky that her daycare only holds 6 kids. Keeping in mind the small class size and the fact that most of the kiddos are between the ages of 1 & 3, I wanted to create something personalized for all of her little buddies — something cute, fun, entertaining… and sugar-free;). Introducing the Valentine Doodle Pad!

This little notebook is based off of a Make-It Take-It project that we created for Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores in September of 2014. The Travel Crayon Holder was a no-sew project, large enough to hold 3 crayons and a mini paper pad, small enough to fit in a back pocket. The Valentine Doodle Pad has been size adjusted to fit 6 crayons and a larger pad. It’s a quick sew, which is especially handy if you’re creating more pads for a larger class size!

Valentine Doodle Pad
Materials List
One 7″ x 10″ rectangle of interior fabric
One 8″ x 10″ rectangle of exterior fabric
Coordinating fabric scraps for appliqué
One 7″ x 10″ rectangle of Pellon® 71F Peltex® I Ultra Firm 1-Sided Fusible
One sheet  of Pellon® EZ-Steam® II 
23″ length of coordinating decorative elastic
Thread

Tools List
Sewing machine & related supplies
Rotary cutter & related supplies
Binding clips
Appliqué Scissors (I use these from Fiskars)

INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1 – Gather your supplies.

Step 2 – Place the fusible side of the Peltex® I rectangle against the wrong side of the interior fabric and fuse following manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 3 – Cut 13″, 6″ and 4″ lengths of elastic.

Step 4 – Fold the Peltex® I rectangle in half lengthwise (so that the unit is 5″ x 7″) and finger press the fold to mark sides. Open the rectangle.

Step 5 – Position the 4″ length of elastic about 1″ in from the raw edge on the top right side of the rectangle. Pin in place. Center the 6″ length of elastic on the vertical of the left side. Mark the center with one pin. Place pins every 3/4″ on either side so that there are six 3/4″ sections.

Step 6 – Stitch the elastic down on each pinned mark to create the crayon and pad holders. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each to secure. Trim threads.

Step 7 – Cut one 7″ x 10″ rectangle of EZ-Steam® II. Remove the non-gridded paper backing and finger press the sticky side to the Peltex® I. Remove the gridded backing, center onto the wrong side of the exterior fabric rectangle and finger press in place. Fuse following manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 8 – Cut notches at a slight outward angle at each corner.

Step 9 – Fold the raw edge of one side in to meet the top of the Peltex® I unit and press. Fold in over the Peltex® I unit and secure with clips (or pins — whichever you prefer!) Repeat for all four sides. Topstitch around all four sides with a zig zag stitch. Trim threads.

Step 10 – Fold unit in half and press to create cover. Set aside.

Step 11 – To personalize the doodle pad with a child’s first name initial, print out desired letter in a bold font. Trace letter in reverse onto the gridded paper backing of the EZ-Steam® II (I mistakenly traced onto the non-gridded backing — either will work!) Remove opposite backing and finger press sticky side to the wrong side of the appliqué fabric.

Step 12 – Cut letter out along drawn lines. Remove remaining backing and finger press sticky side to the right side of the doodle pad cover. Fuse following manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 13 – Center the 13″ length of elastic on the doodle pad cover exterior as shown below. Stitch in place along the center fold, backstitching at the beginning and end to secure.

Step 14 – Tie ends in a knot to create the doodle pad closure as shown below.

Happy sewing and here’s hoping that your kiddos enjoy this one! I sent the whole set to daycare yesterday and they were a big hit!! Happy Valentine’s Day!

xo — Erin at Pellon

 

Ten Minute Holiday Crown

In the days before my daughter, creating the perfect New Year’s Eve look was never an issue. Though I may not have appreciated it then, I had oodles of time — for shopping, crafting, and planning. These days, time is limited and rather than involving Madison Square Garden concerts and posh NY bars, my typical New Year’s plans revolve around a small group of friends and a glass of champagne. Some years we make it until midnight, other years, well… you get the picture;).

This year, I’m working on a few festive New Year’s accessories to add a little extra cheer to the evening. Thanks to some spare pieces of Pellon® interfacing and a bit of leftover necklace chain, I came up with a snazzy and super-fast little crown.

If you’re only making one, this crown takes about 10 minutes… make them in multiples and they are still a quick afternoon project.

Materials & Tools List
— Main fabric
— Pellon® 72F Peltex® II Ultra-Firm 2-Sided Fusible
OR Pellon® 70 Peltex® Ultra-Firm Sew-In & Pellon® 805 Wonder-Under®
— Decorative elastic
— Embellishments (crown pictured uses necklace chain from Jo-Ann)
— Rotary cutter & related supplies
— Scissors
— Iron & ironing surface
— Sewing machine, hand sewing needle & related supplies

Step 1 — Print out the crown template and choose which height crown you plan to use. Cut out. (crown pictured uses the taller template)

Step 2 — Cut two rectangles of desired fabric & Peltex® II that are slightly larger than the selected template.

Step 3 — Place the two fabric rectangles wrong sides together with the Peltex® II in the middle. Fuse following manufacturer’s instructions. (If using Peltex® Sew-In + Wonder-Under®: Iron one rectangle of Wonder-Under® to the wrong side of each fabric rectangle. Let cool. Remove paper backing. Place the two rectangles wrong sides together with the Peltex® in the middle and fuse following manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 4 — Using the selected template as a guide, cut out the crown shape. Finish edges with a satin or zig zag stitch if desired.

Step 5 — Embellish and decorate as desired.

Step 6 — Cut desired length of decorative elastic (or ribbon) and sew ends to the sides of the crown to create a headband crown.

Happy New Year!! 

Houston Quilt Market 2014 — Insul-Film™

One of the things that we love most about Quilt Market is having the opportunity to introduce new products to the marketplace. This time around, we’re happy to introduce Insul-Film™!!

Insul-Film™ is a thin sheeting that provides insulation for hot and cold barrier projects. It is lightweight and flexible making it perfect for a variety of projects that need temperature control without the bulk of an insulative fleece. It is excellent for use in wine totes, ice pouches, window coverings, marathon blankets, jackets, and gloves. It is made of 100% Metalized Polypropylene and is completely sewing machine safe.

In honor of the introduction, we thought it fitting to share a quick-and-easy project that shows a perfect use for Insul-Film™… an Oven Mitt! Sure, you could use Insul-Fleece™, but for this particular project, we want to add a layer of batting on either side of the insulative layer. Using Insul-Fleece™ could be a bit too bulky, making Insul-Film™ the natural alternative.

Supplies & Tools
1 Fat Quarter each of 2 different patterned fabrics
1/4 yard Pellon® 940 Insul-Film™
1/2 yard Pellon® Nature’s Touch 100% Natural Cotton Batting
Paper for pattern tracing
Pencil
Scissors
Sewing Machine & Related Supplies

Step 1 — Place your hand or another oven mitt onto a blank piece of paper. Roughly trace  to create the mitt shape, making sure to leave lots of extra space. Make adjustments as needed. (We used craft paper, but would recommend using Pellon® 830 Easy-Pattern® if you plan to make multiple mitts.)

Step 2 — Cut mitt shape out, adding 1/2″ for seam allowance.

Step 3 — Assemble remaining materials. Cut two rectangles each from exterior fabric, lining fabric and Insul-Film™ and four rectangles from the batting. Rectangles should be larger than mitt template.

Step 5 — To create a fabric ‘sandwich’, place one exterior and one lining rectangle wrong sides together with two batting rectangles and one Insul-Film™ rectangle in between. The Insul-Film™ should be in the center.

Step 6 — Quilt as desired.

Step 7 — Trace the mitt template onto the lining side of one unit. Flip the template over and trace onto the lining side of the second unit. Cut both out. See above image for an example of how the edges sandwich looks once cut.

Step 8 — To create binding, cut two rectangles that are 2″ wide x (length of straight edge of mitt).

Step 9 — Place one rectangle right sides together with the lining of one mitt, so that raw edges are aligned. Stitch with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Fold binding down and press seam.

Step 10 — Fold raw edge of binding rectangle in by 1/2″. Pull folded edge around to the front  and pin. Zig Zag stitch to finish. Trim ends to match edges of each mitt.

Step 11 — Place mitts right sides together and pin.

Step 12 — Sew around the entire mitt shape, leaving the bound edge open. Clip curves as needed and zig zag stitch the raw edges to finish.

Step 13 — Turn mitt right side out and press.

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Free pdf downloads:
 

Clutch Purse

We’re so pleased to be joined today by Emma, the incredibly creative, super talented leader of the Fiskateers! We’re loving the clutch she’s created and hope you all do too. Happy sewing!

Hello Pellon® fans, my name is Emma and I write the Fiskateer blog, which is a blog dedicated to creative pursuits and artistic endeavors of all kinds. It’s my pleasure to join you here today and to share a tutorial for this simple but adorable clutch purse.

What you’ll need :

– 1/4 yard of two different fabrics. (I used a grey cotton canvas as the main body of my purse, and a cotton print for the flap and lining designed by Nadia Hassan and available through Spoonflower).
– Pellon® 808 Craft Fuse®
– Rotary cutter, ruler, cutting mat, scissors
– Sewing machine, pins, thread, iron etc

1. Start by cutting two pieces of fabric for the main body of the purse, measuring 12″ x 7″, and trim according to the dimensions in the photo below.

2. Round off the bottom corners along the 12″ edge. I simply used a (not very technical) jar lid to mark my curves and trimmed the fabric with shears. Be resourceful!

3. Your fabric should look like the photo below. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to create the purse lining in a contrasting print.

4. Now to make the flap. Cut two pieces of fabric measuring 10″ x 5″ and trim to the dimensions in the photo below. (I started making my flap completely in the grey canvas, but changed my mind and used my cotton print for the outside of the flap. I think the contrast between the flap and the body of the purse looks really nice, but it’s up to you to make your purse your own!)

5. Apply Pellon®’s 809 Craft Fuse® to the two flap pieces as well as the purse body outer pieces. This will give your purse strength and body and frankly, it will look and feel much more professionally finished.

6. Construct the purse flap by pinning the two flap pieces with right sides facing leaving the 10″ edge open, and sewing with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Clip the curves with scissors and turn the flap to the right side. Press with a hot iron and topstitch around the perimeter of the flap, again leaving the 10″ edge open.

7. Pin the flap to the top edge of one of the purse body pieces, with right sides facing, and sew. The flap will be about 1/2″ shorter than the body on both sides.

8. Place the second purse body piece on top of the piece with the flap sewn on, with right sides facing and sandwiching the flap between the layers. Sew the two purse body pieces together with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Do not sew along the top opening edge. Clip the curved corners.

9. Sew the two lining pieces together with right sides facing. Do not sew along the top opening edge, and leave a 3″ turning hole in the bottom.

10. Turn the outer body of the bag to the right side and keep the lining inside out. Place the outer purse inside the lining so that right sides are facing. Match up the side seams and keep the flap folded back against the back of the purse. Pin the top openings of the outer purse and the lining together and sew around the entire perimeter with a 1/2″ seam allowance.

11. Trim the seam allowance along the top edge to about 1/4″ to reduce bulk and then pull the entire outer purse and flap through the hole you left in the lining. Handstitch or machine stitch the hole closed.

12. To finish, add a button and buttonhole or magnetic snap to allow the flap to close.

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Thanks so much Emma!!

A little more about the Fiskateers:
Back in 2005, before the word “Fiskateer” became synonymous with crafting enthusiasm, Fiskars was looking for a way to connect and communicate with some pretty important people—the very crafters who used their products on a daily basis. With the help of Brains on Fire, Fiskars launched a four-city casting call for the loudest, proudest paper crafters across the country. Through road-trip conversations, scrapbooking website observations, and talks with industry insiders, Fiskars realized the need for a new type of crafting community. A community that was uplifting and encouraging, where members could feel safe to share about themselves, shine a spotlight on their handiwork, and talk openly about the tools they used to create it. (learn more here)

Find them online:
Fiskars Website & Instagram — Fiskateers Website, Facebook & Pinterest