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 Pillow

I have been meaning to write a post on how to make a pillow for a long time but I have never gotten round to it. A pillow is a necessary thing to have and it is great if you can make your own. Try making pillows with a friend's name on it or embroider a picture to experiment.

Difficulty Rating: Easy
Time: A few hours                            

What you need:

- Sewing tool box
- Iron
- Fabric of your choice
                                            
- Matching thread
- Pillow fill or stuffing
- Velcro strips [ optional ]

Sizes:

These are sizes I recommend, however feel free to make your pillow whatever size you wish.

37cms by 50cms   Small
45cms by 65cms  Medium
55cms by 80cms  Large

How to make a Pillow

1. Iron your fabric according to material instructions. If unsure, put the iron settings to warm.
2. At the top of your fabric, on the wrong side, fold down a centimeter. Pin in place. You may want to fold it again for a neater look.
3. Sew a neat stitch of your choice across the fabric on the fold. Chain stitch looks really good. Make sure the wrong side of the stitching is on the wrong side of the fabric.
4. Flip your pillow to the right side. If you are on the right side already, skip this step.
5. Bring the bottom of the pillow forward and stop a few centimeters below your sewn fold. This will be the size of your pillow.
6. Pin the 2 edges on the side of the pillow in place and sew with a neat back stitch. Leave a centimeter at the top.
7. Fold down the top and pin in place. Sew a neat stitch of your choice with the right side of your stitch shown on the right side of the pillow.
8. Turn the pillow inside out.
9. On the two edges between the flap and the seams of the pillow, you may need to do a whip stitch there to prevent fraying. Instructions on how to do a whip stitch are available at the 'Stitches' page.
10. Stuff your pillow through the opening.
11. Turn your flap to the back of the pillow.
12. Finished!

To embroider or attach a sewn image or word:

Embroider your image or word just before you stuff your pillow. Use a blanket stitch to attach it to the front of the pillow, making sure your stitches go through both fabrics. To embroider, use your stitch of choice with embroidery floss/thread onto the front of the pillow.

To attach Velcro strips:

Adding Velcro strips or some other type of thing will make your pillow more secure. Velcro strips are good because they are easy to sew on. Attach them with a whip stitch to the fold at step 7. Above that on the wrong side of the flap also attach them. Make sure they are in line with the bottom ones.

  Photos are in order according to steps.

Step 2

Step 2

Step 3

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5-6

Step 7

Step 10, 11 and 12

 

How to make a Bag of Ribbons

This bag looks really cute and can carry lots of things. It is easy to make and you can experiment with different sizes, shapes and colours.

Difficulty Rating: Easy
Time: 2-2 and a half hours hand sewn                                        
What you need:

- Tons of ribbons
- Lightweight cotton
- Heavier cotton for the back
- Sewing toolbox [ includes fabric scissors,
   needle, sewing scissors, pins etc ]
- Thread
- 2 buttons
- Embroidery floss that matches the buttons

You may want to use thread that matches each ribbon, so the stitching is less visible. However, the coloured thread will show on the inside of the bag, so be wary of that.

How to make a Bag of Ribbons:

1. Fold down the top of your lightweight cotton, about 2 or 3 centimeters, and pin it down.
2. Pin your first ribbon to the bottom of the lightweight cotton, which will be the front of the bag.
3. With your needle and thread, sew a running stitch at the top of the ribbon. Secure end and cut.
4. Pin your next ribbon to the fabric so it overlaps the stitching of the first ribbon.
5. Repeat steps 2-3 until the last ribbon has reached the top of the bag.
6. With thread that matches the top ribbon, repeat step 3.

The fold at the top of the bag should be secure by now, but if it isn't, secure at the base of the fold with a slip stitch.

7. Put the heavy weight cotton right side down so it faces the right side of the front of the bag.
8. Sew a back stitch around the 3 edges of the bag. Leave the top open. Secure end and cut.
9. Turn bag right side out.
10. Attach a long ribbon [ or size of your choice ] to the top 2 edges of the bag with two matching buttons.

Your bag of ribbons is finished! You may want to trim the edges of the hem inside your bag if they look scruffy, for a neater look.

Christmas Gift Bags

I am about to begin my sewing for Christmas. There are so many things you can make that will be fabulous gift ideas.

But what do you wrap your present in? Wrapping paper, obviously. But there are some other ways to decorate your gift...

Basically, you make a large pouch that your gift can fit into. Make sure you use Christmas themed fabric and a matching ribbon.

Your recipient will get to keep the gift and the gift bag, which is a bonus.

Merry Christmas!

Sewing Rule #1- Instructions

There are many rules in the sewing world. A very important one is:

Read through all the instructions before you do a project

This can be crucial to your project. You don't want finish your project and realise you misunderstood the instructions, so that your piece is lopsided and ruined forever. The end.

But when you read through the instructions before commencing your project, your piece will be marvellous and sell for $200.

So, once again, always read the instructions before sewing.

By the way, this is how you will feel when you have read through the instructions: