Star Trek Craft Book

I bought this book close to Christmas, planning to make some things for my brother. For those of you who don't know, I love Star Trek! When I came across this book [ by Angie Pederson ], I HAD to buy it.

There are so many great ideas in here. Medical Tricorder Purse, Padd Case, Spock Monkey, Tribbles... I'm getting carried away.

If you are a Star Trek lover, YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK!

Below are some pictures of some things you can learn to make.

Google Images

Stray Sock Sewing, Too!

Hello Everyone! I know I have not done a post in a long time, my apologies. I have been very busy with
school work lately.

I have had this book for quite a while, it was a gift from my aunt. The ideas in this book are excellent! This book is all about how to make sock toys. So many creative and fun projects! When I get round to it I will definitely do a post on these.

I'm not sure if you can buy it now, but it was purchased at DYMOCKS for $24.99, a great buy.


Below are some sock toys you can learn to make in Stray Sock Sewing, too.






Google Images

Felt

Today I am going to talk about FELT. Felt is used in sewing for all different projects. It can be used to make a hair tie, a toy, a pocket book, a feltie, etc.

There are different types of felt, such as described in the image below. Here are some: Hand dyed wool, recycled eco felt, 3mm Wool felt, tough felts, soft felts, craft felt, blended wool felt, 100% wool felt.

What type of felt should I get?

That is absolutely up to you. I suggest getting eco friendly felt to be a friend to the environment.
However some projects may require a specific type of felt, so I will let you know when that requirement must be in place for projects.

If you have not purchased felt before or would like some for an upcoming celebration of yours, buy or ask someone to buy a felt pack. They are good to start with and come with the basic colours. I have
one that is similar to the image below.

Where do I purchase felt?

Felt is available at craft shops and sewing shops.

Celebration Season!

           
Cel-e-brate, good times come on! That is such a daggy song, but it's true!            

Thread Thrills is beginning it's celebration season. We are coming up for:

- 2000 page views
- 6 month anniversary [ tomorrow! ]
- and 50 post anniversary! [ already had ]

This calls for a major celebration. Some of my posts will reflect on how far I have come with making my blog and how far your sewing skills have improved during this time period.

I would just like to say thanks to all my followers and subscribers for reading my posts. It has given me great pleasure when I see people have commented, or participated in the polls. Most of all to hear your feedback on my posts.

Thanks again. I hope you have a fantastic year in 2014 and keep those sewing skills going!


Note: I promise the posts on how to make a skirt and how to make an apron are coming really soon, I am just having a small delay!

Lincraft Sale!

Attention Everyone!                                                    
There is a Lincraft sale on all fabric from Thursday the 6th of February to Sunday the 16th of February!

I am definitely going to go, this is an awesome sale!

To find out where your nearest Lincraft store is go to http://www.lincraft.com.au/storelocator/ .

Please note: The sale is only for fabric sold by the metre.

I will show you what I've bought on the ' Fabrics' page.

Elastic

Elastic is used in sewing mainly for making clothes. You usually find it in the waistband of a garment. To make a waistband tighter, you put more elastic in. This is usually how elastic is used for hand sewing.

I recommend that you have elastic in your sewing tool box. It will come in handy and especially has I put more posts up on how to make clothes.

What type and size of elastic should I get?

It doesn't really matter what brand or type your elastic is. but it is best to purchase it at a proper craft store, however you can but elastic at a discount store as well.

The size of your elastic depends on what you are going to make. Obviously your elastic length will be long as it comes in rolls, but it depends on the width of your elastic.

I find it best to use wide, woven elastic for garments like skirts and leggings. It would be a tad stronger than a thin strip and would be less likely to fray.

Basically, you can use a thin strip of elastic for all other projects.

If you are having trouble deciding what width you should get, just tell me your project and where you plan to buy your elastic from and I will tell give you the answer.

Note: Quality of elastic may vary between stores. Choose a brand that you trust and think is good quality.

Woven or Braided Elastic

Strongly woven or braided elastic is the strongest type, I recommend you choose this. Look on the package label to be sure.

Note; Always check how long the elastic is before you buy some! This is critical to your sewing!

Up Coming Post: How to make a Waistband Tighter using Elastic

 

 

Courtesy of Google Images

Cutting Fabric

Cutting fabric is really important [ then again, most things in sewing are! ]. It can seriously affect your work, and if you do it incorrectly, you will waste fabric.

How to Cut Fabric-Rules

1. Always cut a shape from the edge of the fabric. If you cut it from the centre, you will waste fabric and when you want to do other projects with the same fabric, that require lots of the same material, you will have to buy more because your other shape will not fit in the space left.
2. When you have a shape like a pony, for example, there are some parts of its shape that need to be rounded, such as a neck. What you do is you snip a few small triangles from the edge of the fabric to the stitches. However you should only do this if instructed.
3. Cut slowly. If you cut your fabric really fast you can make a mistake, so it's best to cut slowly and steadily.
4. Make sure your fabric is straight, not crumpled! This rule is very important. Your fabric MUST be straight and flat before you begin cutting. If it is crumpled, your shape will go all wrong and you would've wasted fabric.
5. Cut your fabric on a flat surface. Never cut your fabric in your lap or on an unsteady surface. Cut on a table or a tray, or anywhere else that is flat, not a bed!

How to find Fabric Catalogues Online

Sometimes you want to know the price of fabric before you buy it. Check an online catalougue. Sometimes you want to know how much it will cost per meter. Check an online catalougue. Sometimes you will want to know what colours are available. Check an online catalougue.

I found this catalougue online, for the Spotlight shop. Most other craft stores will have this available to you so I suggest you check it out, especially before going shopping, so you know exactly what you want, how much it costs, etc.

Below is the Spotlight catalougue and what materials are on sale.

http://salefinder.com.au/Spotlight-AU-catalogue?gclid=CMeI9pLxp7wCFVJxvAodNg0A3A

Embroidery Hoop/Frame

A few days ago I bought an embroidery hoop/frame. They are used to keep the fabric straight and in place while you do embroidery.

In my opinion it is essential to have one in your sewing tool box.

There will be a post coming later on how to use one.

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.

Felties

For Christmas I got the Felties book which I had told you about earlier.  As you may know already, this is
where the idea for the Polar Bear feltie originally comes from.

Felties: How to make 18 Cute and Fuzzy Friends by Nelly Pailloux is a really cute book. Some of the ideas require fine, small stitching so I recommend having those skills before you begin.

Also make sure you have plenty of felt as all of these projects are made from this material.

Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull

Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull is a great sewing book  for kids. Jane Bull has thought of many fun projects such as;

- How to make a Pony                                          

- How to make a Giraffe                                              
- How to make an Elephant

And more projects that I will write about soon.

I recommend you buy this book, it is a must-have in a sewing book collection.
   

Slip stitch

Slip stitch is used to join 2 fabrics together but makes the stitches almost invisible. It is most commonly used by me and others to stitch a gap closed. The slip stitch is a great stitch for discreet sewing.

How to do slip stitch

Note: Make sure you do this stitch only when joining 2 fabrics together. If you do it on one fabric it will pretty much be useless. Also try to use matching thread to the fabric so your stitches are more discreet.

1. Bring your needle up through Fabric 1. Secure thread.
2. Insert your needle through a tiny weave in the same fabric. Do not pull thread through.
3. Insert your needle through a tiny weave in Fabric 2. Do not pull thread through.
4. Insert your needle through a tiny weave in Fabric 1. You stitches should be forming a zig zag pattern. Do not pull thread through.
5. Insert your needle through a tiny weave in Fabric 2. Pull your thread through tightly. The stitches should be hard to see.
6. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5.

All stitches should be parallel to the opposite stitch eg; Fabric 1 stitch is opposite to Fabric 2 stitch.

How to make Bunting

Bunting is a display of colourful flags hung up on string. Usually the flags have an appliqued letter on each one, to spell out a sentence or message, such as 'Happy Birthday!' or a person's name.

Here you can learn how to make your very own bunting. Enjoy!                    

Please note: I do not recommend making bunting if you are unfamiliar with a sewing machine or plan to make it by hand. Only make it by hand if you are doing a few flags, otherwise it will take a while.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: Depends on how many flags you are making but 1 flag takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes [ approximately ]

What you need:

- Fabric of your choice [ lots ]                                    
- Sewing tool box
- Iron
- Different fabric for letters
- String
- Sewing machine [ recommended if doing many flags ]

How big should the flags be?

The flags can be any size you want but the standard size is 25cm long and quite wide at the top.

What shape should the flags be?

You can choose any shape you want, but most bunting shapes are a triangle, like the one I have done or the one on the right. Be creative!

To make the flags:

1. Iron both your fabrics, if you haven't done so already.
2. Trace the templates below and cut.

3. Pin the template to your flag fabric and cut. Repeat step for all flags.

4. Fold back half a centimetre on the two edges on the side. Pin in place. Repeat step for all flags.

5. On the top edge, fold back half a centimetre. Repeat step. Pin in place at the bottom of the fold. This is where your string will go. Repeat step for all flags.

6. On the two side edges, sew a stitch of your choice along the fold [back stitch is the most common] Repeat step for all flags.

7. Poke a thin object, such as a pencil, through the top edge fold. Repeat step for all flags.

8. Sew a stitch of your choice along the bottom of your fold. Repeat step for all flags.

How to make the letters

1. Cut out the letters of your choice, and sew onto each flag with a stitch of your choice.   

Make sure your letters are a good visual size. I also recommend a blanket stitch for attaching the letters to the flags. Or, if your fabric is non-frayable, you can do a neat running stitch, back stitch or chain stitch.

To finish

1. Put your flags in order according to letter. Thread your string through the top edge of the flags. Tie a knot at both ends onto where you will hang it from.

You can also do some embroidery onto your flag and create images, such as a cake to go with the message ‘Happy Birthday!’

Some people make a bunting collection of 26 letters for the alphabet, and then sell them in a pack. Others make several copies of each letter in the alphabet and let people choose

Either way, bunting is fun to make and an awesome decoration.

Techniques: Starting and Stopping Sewing

Tying a knot is not always necessary when you begin or finish sewing. This technique is stonger than doing a knot, as the knot will, when you pull it hard, rip apart and undo your stitches.

How to do the new technique

I can't think of any name for this technique so if you have an idea please tell me in the comments.

What you need:

- your fabric
- needle
- thread

1. Position your fabric in your hands.
2. Come up through the back of the fabric with your needle and thread. Stop when your thread is nearly all the way through, leaving a centimetre of thread on the other side.
3. Go back down through the fabric in the same spot. Make sure you do not pull the thread to much as this will take out the previous 'stitch'.
4. Bring the needle up through the fabric again, in the same spot.
5. Repeat steps until thread is secure. However, 3 or 4 of these 'mini stitches' are usually sufficient.

Please note that when I say, bring the thread down in the same spot, I mean bring the thread down very close to your previous ' stitch' .

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.