Fabric: Sleepy-time Baby

This adorable cuddly sleepy-time baby with its coordinated mini doll quilt will be loved by little girls. It’s easy to make and by adding some dried lavender to the stuffing you can help your little ones have sweet dreams.

The tutorial is prepared by kath_red in Whip Up, click here to view the tutorial.

Fabric: Christmas Socks

Traditional Christmas socks for present, see here for the quilt Christmas socks, tutorial posted at ny1988.com. The tutorial is in Chinese language.

Fabric: Tree Quilt

Little forest quilt as present during Christmas should be very nice and feel warm. Try the tutorial from Purl Bee.

Quilt: Placemat

Instructions from Pink Penguin.

Pet Pouch

Resource: The b-line

Shoulder bag

Resource: tinyhappy

Here's a rough pattern and guide for making a shoulder bag like one of these, as promised. These are really easy to make, and I always have so much fun choosing fabrics and buttons for them. I have to warn you however that i'm not very good at explaining things in words, so I hope you can understand my general meaning in these directions! Please email me if you need further instruction, and I'll be happy to help! I couldn't work out how to do a PDF file so this is a very basic and d-i-y version of a pattern! As you can see, I've drawn a tiny, rough and very much NOT-to-scale outline of the pattern which you will need to draw to the proper measurements yourself on some tracing paper or a piece of newspaper. It doesn't matter if it's not quite right, as long as it's symmetrical. The entire length of the pattern is 28 inches. This will make a bag that's a good size for your wallet, keys and a few books, but it's easy to make it a bit deeper or the strap a bit longer, if you wish. Just add a couple of extra inches. Umm, and that measurement on the strap should say 18". Sorry about that.

Once you've drawn and cut out your pattern, cut two from your chosen bag fabric, and two from your lining fabric. I usually use recycled fabrics- old curtains, blankets, vintage bits and pieces... but you could use anything that takes your fancy. Something fairly sturdy for the outside works best though. After cutting these out, I also cut a pocket for the inside, I use some of the outer fabric for this, cut into a rectangle about 8" X 6.5". Then I cut a strip measuring 5" X 1.5" to make a loop with which to fasten the bag to a button, if you choose to use this method. You could also make two ties to fasten, or use velcro or a snap fastener.

1. Start with your outer bag pieces. Place right sides together, and sew the seams at each edge, between the *s on the pattern, like this:

2. Then open out the piece so that the seams are at the front and back of the bag. Sew along the bottom seam.

3. Then square off the corners by pinching each one out, then sewing straight across about an inch from the corner's edge. Trim excess.

4. Repeat these steps with the lining pieces, but remember to leave a gap in the bottom seam, for turning inside-out later on.

5. Overlock or zig-zag the top edge of your pocket. Press the edge down about half an inch, and top-stitch. Then press your pocket half an inch all around. Pin to the outside of the lining where you would like it, and stitch it down.

6. Make your loop for the button. Press in both edges of the strip towards the centre, then fold in half and press again. Sew the edges together (this is just like a bias strip.)

7. Now sew the lining and outer pieces together. Place one inside the other, right sides together. Match centre seams, and pin. Insert your loop between the two layers on one side of the bag, so the ends of the loop are sticking out, and pin it securely.

8. Sew about 1/4" from the edge, all along both sides of the bag, right up to the top edges.

9. Now clip like mad around the curved edges, nearly to the seam.

10. Turn the bag right-way-out through the gap in the lining. Now press all around the edges of the bag where you have sewn, so that both layers 'sit' nicely. Trim the tops of the straps so they're even and of equal length.

11. Sew the top of the strap together- at just the outer pieces. Place right sides together, and sew a 1/4" seam. (This is a bit fiddly under the machine, but it's okay.) Press down. Then tuck in the lining pieces at this point and hand-stitch it closed.

9. Press the strap again and if you are happy with everything, top-stitch a 1/4" seam all around the edges of the bag. Hand-sew the gap in the lining closed. And hand-sew a big button on the front of the bag, in such a position so the loop will fit nicely around it.

10. Ta Da! Enjoy your new bag!

Fabric Box tutorial

by labelle

I didn’t forget about you ladies. We’ve just had a lot going on.

Added: info to step 3.

Disclaimer: I’m not the best at following directions, including patterns. I sort of just dig in and work it out as I’m going. I’m sure there is probably a more professional way to go about this style of box but this is how I made it. So forgive me, if it’s a little confusing. I will try my best to make some sense out of all this. If you have any questions just let me know. With that said, let’s do it. And please do share with me, if any of you craft up some of these cute containers.

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1) First decided what size of a container you want. This one will be 6″ X 9″. I went ahead an drew my pattern on the wrong side of the outside fabric. You can also just use a pattern you made out of paper. If your box is to be 6″ X 9″ make sure to add a 1/4″ to it. So my rectangle was 6 1/4″ by 9 1/4″. Then once you have the rectangle or square drew, then add the 4 side flaps. These will be your side walls. These are 3 1/4″ for a finished side of about 3″ tall. And when your done you will have a piece of outside fabric that looks similar to that in the above picture.

2) Now cut out your inside linning fabric. I use my first piece of fabric as a pattern. Trace it. Then add about a 1/4″ to a 1/2″ to the length of each of the 4 flaps. So it will make them a bit longer than the outside lining was. If you are wanting a larger amount of lining to over lap the edge of your finished box, then add more. This can be alter to what ever you want. More or Less over hang.

3) Now you need to cut another piece out of firm stabilizer. Use your first piece or paper pattern again. But this time cut about 1/2′ off of the 4 flaps. You don’t need the stabilizer to go all the way to the edges as you will be turning it down. Added: In the first fabric box I made I did not cut a 1/4″ off of the flaps sides (the V corners) but with this one I did. You can see in the picture of me sewing up the corners that the stabilizer is a little smaller than the inside lining fabric.  I’m not sure which is the best way if it matters. I will have to make a few more to see which way is the best way.

Confused yet? You should have 3 pieces now. The outside fabric that is close to your finished size. The inside lining fabric that has longer flaps than the outside fabric and stabilizer that has shorter flaps than the outside fabric.

4) Now take your inside lining fabric and attach the stabilizer to the wrong side of the lining fabric. If you have the iron on kind, do that. I didn’t so I had to sew it on as well as help make the shape of the box bottom. Sew along where the box bottom dimensions are. See the picture below. Leaving the 4 side flaps alone. Make sure to keep the fabric nice and tight or you will end up with loose and wavey fabric like I did. I had a good excuse as I was having a very import conversation with a toddler that just had to help. It’s ok as this box is staying her with a horse loving girl.

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On to the corners…..

5) Now start turning it into a box shape. You take your inside lining fabric that has the stabilizer attached to it and put right sides together on the corners and sew them together (pic below). Do this to all 4 corners.

You will end up with up this.

6) Now on to the ouside fabric. If you are wanting to embellish it or embroidery it, probably should do it now before sewing it up. Do the same thing with this piece of fabric as you just did with the lining. Corners Right sides together, sew them up. All 4 of them.When you are done. Turn it right sides out.Â

7) Take the lining box you made and place it inside the outside fabirc box that has the right sides out.  Work it around, there should be inside lining evenly sticking up above the outside fabric. Once you are happy with it. Pin it in place.

You can turn it down once and sew it.  I didn’t want to see 2 seams so I turned mine down about a 1/4″ and glued it, using Fabric-Tac.  If you didn’t want to use glue because you will be sewing through this, you could opt for the iron on fusible web.Â

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If you do use glue make sure it is completely dry before going on to the next step. And make sure to glue the corners nicely.

9)Turn it down on more time. How ever much you like. Sew it completely around like pictured below.

Now you have your box.

10)You can leave it like this or tighten up the sides, by sewing them like the picture below. Pinch the corners together to see where they meet and sew it up nice and tight. Using embroidery floss or a double thread is best.

And your finished and have a cute box to fill with goodies.

Resource: Imagine Fabric

Today we'll show you step-by-step on how to make a fabric coffee sleeve. It is a wonderful project that can be done in one afternoon and the fabric coffee sleeve makes a great gift. A fabric coffee sleeve is reusable, washable and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, you need only a little bit of scrap fabric. That's as good as it gets!


If you don't drink coffee, then use it as a tea sleeve. Who does not like to drink their tea without burning their hand?

First of all, save your next paper sleeve that you get with your daily morning coffee. Use the coffee paper sleeve as your "pattern".


Add 1/4 inch to your pattern for seam allowance.


Cut out your paper pattern. Use it to trace the coffee sleeve pattern on to your desired fabric and cut two fabric pieces. In this case, I used a beautiful Moda fabric polka dot design from the Bistro fabric collection (we are unfortunately sold out of this design and collection).


Place the two fabric pieces right side together. Start to sew along the top (long) edge of the sleeve leaving 1/4 inch at the front and back of the edge in addition to leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Then sew along the bottom / short edge of the sleeve leaving about 2 inches at the front and back of the edge in addition to leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. See below picture.


Now turn the fabric sleeve right side out.


Now sew the sides of the sleeve together leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.


Once you have stitch the sides together, you are almost done.


You just need to top stitch at the opening that we used to turn the sleeve inside out. Voila, another fabric project completed successfully.

How to make a fabric bowl

Resource: Imagine Fabric

Making a Fabric Bowl is as easy as ABC and it is a lot of fun. Just follow our step-by-step instructions and within an hour, you will be awarded with your very own Fabric Bowl. Let's get started.











Select your fabric of choice - I picked some beautiful Joel Dewberry Fabric for my Fabric Bowl project.

Used the size of your favorite bowl. Measure the bowl from side to side going underneath the bowl. That will give you the diameter of the circle you need to cut.

Cut two fabric circles , put the two fabric circles left side together and use a thick interfacing that has glue on both side to iron the two fabric circles together.












Now draw a circle in the center of one of your fabric circles. That will be your flat bottom. I used a small bowl to draw my circle - it should be at least 3 inches in diameter.

Now divide the fabric circle into eights. From the outside of the circle, measure 3 inches along the line you have drawn. Draw a triangle as show in the below picture - it is 3 inches long and 1 inch wide on the bottom.












Continue to do so all along the "eights" lines you have previous drawn.











You should end up with 8 triangles

Now choose a zig zag stitch of your liking and stitch all along the circle in the center of your fabric circle.












Now it is time to zig zag stitch the triangles you have cut.

Start to zig zag stitch from the inner circle. When you get to the triangle, pull the sides of your triangle together and stitch it together with a tight zig zag stitch.











Continue to do so with all the triangles you have cut. Once done, your fabric circles have now taken on the shape of a bowl.

The last step is to zig zag stitch all around the edge of your fabric bow. Voila, you are done with your very own Fabric Bowl.

Have you noticed that the Fabric Bowl is reversible? That is why I choose two different types of fabric.