Easter is coming!

Hey Guys! Easter is coming and Easter is a festive theme for Thread Thrills! Over the next few weeks, even after Easter has ended, I will be posting some Easter related projects eg bunnies, etc.

So get out those cotton wool balls and all Easter related sewing items!

I invite you to post your favourite Easter projects in the comments below! Here are a few ideas to get you thinking!

How to make an Apron- Part 1

It is completely necessary to make an apron at least once in your sewing years. They are really basic to make and are cute when cooking. Speaking of cooking, go visit my friend, who is a fabulous sewer, Suzzy!
http://suzzy-craftandcooking.blogspot.com.au/

What you need:

- Sewing machine [ must-have ]
- Sewing tool box, must include many, many pins!
- Fabric of your choice for the apron. Make sure it covers your front and is the length from about your collarbone to your thighs.
- Iron
- Thread that blends in well with your fabric [ for mine I used a type of yellow] and a relatively similar bobbin.
                                                                                                      Steps 2-3 below

How to make an apron- Cutting out the pattern

1. Iron your fabric if you haven't done so already.
2. Fold your fabric in half. Your fold should be facing towards you.
3. At the top right hand corner, NOT the fold, cut a round shape [ picture shown on the right ]. This is where your arm will come out, just beneath the shoulder. If you want, you can hold the fabric up against your body, in place, and trace the round part so it secures the best result. Make sure you cut through both sides of the fabric.
4. Unfold your apron. It should look like picture
3. Hold it up against you again and inspect the round sides. Should you make any adjustments?
5. Fold back half a centimeter from every outskirt, including the round parts. Repeat step. You may like to iron the folds down. This will make your apron smart and look very classy! In other words, you won't be able to see the frayed edges.
6. Pin together the folded edges.

Sewing your apron                                                                            Steps 1 to 4 below

 1. Set your stitch length dial to 2 and your stitch width dial to 0. This guide may vary on different sewing machine brands so just make sure you are using a small straight stitch.
2. Thread up your sewing machine [ see tutorial video ]
3. All your fabric should be on the left side of the machine. Also consistently through the whole sewing process, your stitches should be quite close to the inner edge of the fold.
4. Begin sewing at the bottom of your apron. It is best to start somewhere that is less visible because if you make an error, it will not draw attention. Make sure you do a reverse stitch.

Remember to stop sewing about half a centimeter [or wherever you are comfortable with] before your foot reaches your pins so you can take them out. Don't push too hard on the pedal, this will make you go fast and you could injure yourself and damage your apron. Slow and steady does it.

When you reach an edge where 2 folds meet, stop pushing on the pedal, and, using the flywheel, which is the large circle located on the right hand side of your machine and sew manually.This would consist of you bringing the flywheel towards you. Further directions are below if you have trouble with this .

How to manually sew the edge where 2 folds meet


1. Turn your flywheel in a forward motion, towards you. Release your hand.
2. Repeat step until you have reached the end of your fold.

During this time, your needle and presser foot should be down as usual. Please note I mean, foot, not pedal!

When it comes to sewing around the round parts, go slowly and on a slight angle, making sure your stitches match the roundness, not just a wonky line. When you do this you will have to rotate your fabric a lot.

Make sure when you start sewing and finis sewing, you do a reverse stitch a few time so that your stitches are secure.

At the end, this is what your apron should look like. All sewn around the edges.

This is the major part of how to make an apron. Part 2 is coming soon!

How to make a Pin Cushion 2

As you will know, I have already done a post on how to make a pin cushion. But this is not the only way.

The other day in textiles class we made a pin cushion ( pictured ) using the sewing machine. I am not sure how familiar you all are with the sewing machine, but making something using it is more quicker and secures the best result possible.

So I decided to do a post on how to make a pin cushion 2 to show you the other way and to hopefully make you more confident with your machine, if you have already done your driving test.

What you need:

- A long ribbon
- A large button
- Sewing tool box
- Fabric of your choice [ roughly 24cm by 14cm ]
- Sewing machine
- Lots of stuffing

How to make the pillow

1. Iron your fabric and cut out to correct sizing [ if you have not already done so ]
2. Fold in half, making sure the wrong side is facing out, so you can see it. You should not be able to see the right side
3. Pin in place, making sure your pins are 1.5 cms away from the edge [ seam allowance ]
4. If your machine is similar to the brand, JANOME, set your stitch to A and your stitch length to your choice, but make sure the stitches are small.
5. Line your edge up with the 1.5 mark This will ensure you have a 1.5 cm seam allowance.
6. Begin sewing on the side next to your fold, and go all the way around until you reach the last side, a few centimeters before the fold.
7. Turn your pillow right side out.
8. Stuff very carefully through the hole. Make sure you make your pillow very compact and tightly full with stuffing.
9. Stitch the gap closed with a ladder stitch or slip stitch.

How to do the finishing touches

1. Cut a long length of ribbon of choice.
2. With one end, place in the center of the pillow. This will be your right side.
3. In a clockwise direction, wrap your ribbon around the pillow. Stop once you get back to where you have started. Make sure your ribbon is wrapped tightly for the best effect.
4. You can stop here if you would like. If yes, go to step 6.
5. Fold the edge of the ribbon upwards and wrap around once more. Stop at the middle and pin the ribbon in place. Make sure your ribbon is wrapped tightly.
6. Place button in the center of the pillow, where your ribbons should meet. Hold down tightly.
7. Come up through the back of your pillow with needle and thread. The thread can be a contrasting colour.
8. Pull thread gently through one of the button holes. Go back down through the other one. Repeat step 6-7 times.
9. Remove pin.
10. Finished!

Please note: Your ribbon may come undone if you do not wrap it tightly enough or hold in place. If you want, at the end of step 5, sew the ribbon together with a slip stitch for more secure results.

Bean Bag Buddies

This book ' Bean Bag Buddies ' is an awesome book by Nicki Wheeler. It features over 50 fun designs of soft and cuddly toys that are creative and fun to make. I recommend only Intermediate sewers for this as some of the designs may require a machine and are quite tricky.

One of my personal favourite projects in this book is the Alien, it is so adorable!

Also I recommend this book only if you are willing to buy lots of polar fleece and other expensive materials.

This book is available at DYMOCKS for around $24.99.

Alien pictured below.

How to make a pony

I was reading Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull, and came across this super cute pony. I decided to make it and it was surprisingly easy, and I received lots of positive feedback.

Difficulty Rating: Easy-Medium

Time: 2-3 hours approx hand sewn

What you need:

- Sewing tool box ( includes tapestry needle, black embroidery floss, 2 buttons )

- Lots of wool/yarn

- Scraps of felt

- Thread that matches your fabric

- Thread that matches your pony's ears
- Thread that matches your pony's tail and mane
- Fabric of your choice
- Matching felt scrap
- Template ( shown below )
- Lots of longs strands of wool
- Stuffing

How to make the body

1. Trace the template below and pin onto your fabric. Cut.
2. Turn both your pony shapes to the wrong side of the fabric. Pin together.
3. Sew a back stitch around the edge. Leave a gap for stuffing.
4. At the neck of the pony, snip 3 small triangles from the edge of the fabric to the seam. This will help shape the pony. Make sure your triangles do not interfere with your stitches.
5. Turn your pony right side out.
6. Stuff through the gap. Stitch it closed with a slip stitch.

How to make the tail and attach it

1. Get about 20 long strands of wool and tie in a knot at the top. If you wish, you can do less strands.
2. Cut the tail to the length you are satisfied with.
3. Place the knotted end of the tail onto the body at the rear end [ see template below ] .
4. Sew onto the body with a tapestry needle [ optional ] with strong stitches from the base of the knot to the body.
5. Tug to make sure it is sturdy. If not, repeat step 4.

How to make the mane and attach it

1. Get a strand of wool and tie a knot at the top. Tie another knot in the same place.
2. Sew the strand onto the beginning of the mane with matching thread. Use strong stitches from the base of the knot to the body.
3. Repeat step for all of mane. Place each strand next to each other until you reach your satisfied point.
4. Cut the length to your satisfaction.

How to do the finishing touches

1. Cut out the ears.
2. Position the ears in place at the top of the head.
3. Sew a small over stitch that attaches the ear to the body. Make sure it is strong and that the thread matches the ears.
4. Repeat step with other ear.
5. Sew the eye onto the correct position on the face with black embroidery floss.
6. Repeat with other eye.

You are finished!

Template:

Increase size by a few centimeters.

How to make a Lucy's Monster

This little monster is so cute and great for kids. It has a soft body [ made out of polar fleece ] and an adorable expression. A Lucy's Monster is simple to make and is a must have in your toy collection.

Difficulty rating: Easy
Time: 2-2 and a half hours hand sewn approximately.

What you need:

- Template
- Sewing tool box [ includes 2 large black buttons, black embroidery floss, and red thread ]
- Stuffing
- Polar fleece [ colour of your choice ]
- White felt for the eyes

How to make the face

1. Cut out the template below and pin onto the polar fleece. Cut the fabric.
2. Attach the eyes to the head with a blanket stitch, using the black embroidery floss.
3. Position the buttons onto the center of each eye and sew down with the black embroidery floss.
4. Sew a stitch for the mouth with the black embroidery floss. Try to make it into a small dot.

How to make the body

1. Turn the body right side out so the face  is facing down.
2. Pin the body together.
3. Sew a back stitch around the body with a seam allowance of half a centimeter. Start just below one of the arms and finish at the top of the leg, so you have a gap of a few centimeters.
4. Turn the body inside out.
5. Stuff the body. Make sure you stuff the body tightly, especially the arms and legs.
6. Stitch the gap closed with a slip stitch of hemming stitch.

Your Lucy's Monster is finished!

Template: Shown below

140% may be a size to big for your Lucy's Monster so you might want to only increase the size by 60% or so.

How to make an Arno Cat

Arno cats are soft toys that are easy to make. They make good gifts, as well as having your own.

Difficulty rating: Easy
Time: 1 hour to 2 hours hand sewn

What you need:

- 2 black buttons
- Lots of stuffing
- Black embroidery thread
- Sewing tool box
- Polar fleece for the body
- Contrast polar fleece or felt for the face
- Scrap of white felt for the eyes
- Template [ shown below ]

How to make the face

1. Cut out your arno cat template and place it onto your fabric. Cut around the template.

Note: Be careful when cutting your arno cat's shape. Polar fleece is a rather expensive material so you don't want to be making any mistakes;

2. Sew your white felt onto the face with a small blanket stitch.
3. Sew your two black buttons onto the center of each eye with a cross stitch using black embroidery thread.
4. Sew a small triangle, made up of small straight stitches, onto the center of the face, below the eyes.
5. Sew a smiling mouth with a back stitch that connects to the bottom corner of the triangle.
6. Position the face to the top of the arno cat's body, near the ears. Make sure it is straight.
7. Sew a blanket stitch around the face onto the body.

How to make the body

1. Turn your body right side out. Make sure your face is facing down.
2. Pin around the edges.
3. Sew a back stitch around the edges. Leave a gap.
4. Turn you body right side out and stuff through the gap.
5. Stitch the gap closed with a hemming stitch.

Your Arno Cat is finished!

Template: You may want to adjust the sizing.

How to make a Polar Bear Feltie

This polar bear is so cute! Felties are really easy to make and can be made into brooches, key rings, or just little toys.


Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 and a half hours approximately                      
                                                                             
What you need:

- White felt
- Black embroidery floss
- Pink pencil
- Black pencil
- White embroidery floss
- Template [ shown below ]
- A small amount of stuffing
- Sewing tool box

How to make the face:

1. Trace the template below and pin onto felt. Cut.
2. Separate the black embroidery floss into strands of 3.
3. Using 3 strands, sew the polar bear's eyes on with a french knot onto the face/head. If you can not do this stitch, sew a small dot and go over it a few times to make it thick. Make sure each eye is close to the edge of the face.
4. Add some eyelashes by doing a straight stitch on top of the eye.
5. Repeat step for other eye.
6. With 3 strands of black embroidery thread, sew a nose by doing a straight stitch. Repeat step but with each stitch getting smaller than the other.
7. Add a mouth by sewing 2 straight stitches that are slightly curved.

How to make the ears:

1. Sew the ears onto the face with a straight stitch.

How to make the head:

1.Align both head pieces together.
2. Using 2 strands of white embroidery floss, sew a small over stitch or blanket stitch over the 2 head pieces. Leave room at the bottom for the width of the body.
3. Stuff carefully with tiny pieces of stuffing.

How to make the body:

1. Attach the arms to the back of the body, with 1 strand of white embroidery floss.
2. Sew the pouch on to the front of the body with 1 strand of embroidery floss. Make sure the thread goes through both layers of felt.
3. Stick your finger in the pouch to make space for the baby.
4. Align both body pieces and sew with a blanket stitch or over stitch. Do not sew the top of the body.
5. Carefully stuff the body through the top of the head.

How to attach the body to the head:

1. Insert the top of the body into the gap of the head. Pin in place.
2. Use a small over stitch to attach the body to the head, going through the front of the head and the front of the body.
3. Repeat step on opposite side, going through the back of the head and the back of the body.

How to make the baby:

1. Sew on the baby's eyes and mouth with 3 strands of black embroidery thread. Create a french knot for the eyes and a tiny X for the mouth.
2. Sew around the baby's body with 1 strand of white embroidery floss.
3. Place him/her into the pouch.

Finishing touches:

1. Add some cheek colour by gently using the pink pencil onto the polar bear's cheeks.
2. Add some claws with the black pencil onto the arms.
3. Colour in the most of the polar bear's ears.

Your Polar Bear is now finished!

You can make your feltie in a brooch, by attaching a safety pin or brooch back.

Or you can make it into a key ring, by leaving a gap at the top of the head, threading a key ring through some strong ribbon, folding the ribbon in half and inserting it into the gap at the top of the head. Stitch the gap closed with an over stitch or blanket stitch.

Template [ sizes are roughly to scale ]

You may want to increase the sizing by a few milimeters or to your satisfaction ]