Minecraft Creeper Plushie

 

Spark is an avid Minecraft player and when he saw this creeper at Instructables.com he just had to have one.  We made it pretty much to the instructions except that I sewed it on the sewing machine and Spark made a face out of black fleece instead of embroidering it on.

 

This gives an idea of how big it is.

Sewn Kitty Earbud Pouch

 

This is so cute!  The well written step by step directions and pattern can be found at dog under my desk.  Isn't that a great blog name?  Dancer picked this kitty fabric -

 

 

to hold her new One Direction earbuds she got from Spark for her birthday.  Wouldn't want anything to happen to them so that is why they needed a pouch. 

 

 

This is the back. 

 

I have enough fabric to open a small fabric store but, if you don't, two fat quarters, or one if you use the same fabric for the outside as the inside, would make several of these.  We cut this out of a two yard piece and I would still consider it a two yard piece as whatever, if ever, I make something else out of it I should be able to adjust the pattern pieces to have enough fabric.  Dancer also wanted the cats centered on her pouch so we used more fabric than if it were just a print. Also needed it a tiny bit of quilt batting but if you don't have any on hand so fleece would work just as well.  The only thing we had to buy was the zipper and if my sewing stuff wasn't such a mess I probably have one somewhere.

Sockapalooza

Dancer and I took a couple of days and made a whole slew of slipper socks. 

 

 

We sewed them much like an assembly line.  First, we cut them all out and then sewed one seam on all of them before moving on to the next seam.  One of us would pin and one would sew and then we would switch.  We got a lot of chatting in too! 

 

 

We made 12 pairs for babies, which is great way to use up otherwise unusable pieces of fleece because of their tiny size.  By trying to use every scrap I had, many of them got fun little soles on them like the pair in the front.  I am not sure why I kept all those little pieces but I guess it was for just this project.  We also made 12 pair for kiddos with preschool sized feet.  What did we make all these for?  We sent them to Mexico to missionaries who can use them to open doors to share the good news of Jesus or for anyone in their own church family with cold toes.

Angry Bird Plushies

These are cute, except for the pig, the pig has some issues.  I made one out of felt, don't recommend that, they are much easier to make using polar fleece.

I made these in the first place because some kids from 4-H wanted to learn how to sew and they chose this as their project.  Out of the three kids, two of them had never sewn before and they were very successful in making the birds.
 
The patterns and detail instructions can be found at Obsessively Stitching.   I made the patterns bigger on my copier so they would be easier to sew.

4-H Clothing Camp

Spark made a pair of unmatching mittens.  I was a helper and had a few other kids to help so I wasn't able to help him cut his out etc.  It started last night and after I got home he decided he wanted to go this year.  A little last minute or we would have had it more organized for him. 

He did confess though that he only wanted to go for the lunch.  I can't blame him, it is excellent every year.  He also had a couple friends from our club that were there and he wanted to spend some time with them.  All around a fun two days, but I am happy to be home with my feet up.

Quilted Pillowcases

I usually make our pillowcases just because it is fun to have something seasonal or festive on our beds since we spend so much time with our pillows.  I made these quilted embellished cases for Christmas gifts.  I bought plain cream colored cases, although matching the case to the edge would be cute.

The reason I bought cases is because I used scraps from other projects and took a few pieces out of my fabric stash for the edges.  I think I am using some of that fabric up but who am I kidding, there isn' t enough craft projects in the world to use up that stash.  I can't help it everything is so tempting in the store.  I use three fat quarters for the blue, yellow, bird house one and there is probably enough fabric left to make another set.  I made these with three complementry colors but if I did them again I would choose four or five fabrics just so that the squares got more mixed up and didn't create a pattern.  

I cut the strips in 2 1/2 inch lengths and then cut the strips into uneven lengths of squares, the larges being about 3 inches and the smallest about 1 1/2 inches.  Any smaller than 1 1/2 inches you really only get a little sliver after the seam allowance.  Then just start sewing the squares together to make two long strips the length of the circumfence of the pillowcase including seam allowances.  Sew the two strips together in two rows and iron flat.

Cut the end off the pillowcase and rip the end seam open so you now have a flat piece of fabric.    

Iron flat and sew the quilted piece on to it right sides together. 

Iron so that the wrong sides are together, this makes the seam for the end of the pillowcase.  Trim off the extra fabric from the orginal pillowcase edge so that there an even strip to sew onto the pillowcase.

Open back up and sew ends together to make a loop.  Fold fabric so that it looks like the end of the pillowcase.

With the right side of the pillowcase and the right side of the edge, sew pillowcase edge to the pillowcase.

Iron flat and run a stitch right next to the edging so that enforces the seam and helps the edge to lie flat.

To make a complete sheet set the top of the flat sheet could be quilted.  I just figured everyone has cream or some other solid colored sheets.  It would make a nice wedding or shower gift.

Recycled Sweater Mittens

I made several pairs of these mittens for us and for Christmas gifts.  These sell by crafters around here for about $20 per pair.  With hand-me-down sweaters and one that I bought at the Goodwill, plus the fleece linings, six pair cost me about six dollars and I still have lots of materials left over but my Christmas list is complete for mittens.

The pattern I used was from Five Green Acres.  The largest pattern was the perfect size for Dancer but a bit too short for the rest of us.  I made the mitten about an inch and a half longer splitting the increase between the finger portion and the bottom wrist part.  I also made the thumbs a wee bit longer and found they fit the best of I trimmed them as close to the seam as possible.

These are really simple and would make a great first sewing project.  Super soft and warm!

Dancer showing off her pair. 

Alice In Wonderland Halloween Costume

Yes, Halloween costume in November.  Dancer didn't get hers done in time for Halloween, but she is really early for next year.   She made it from Simplicity pattern 2325.   She didn't get to wear it this year but will put it in the fair for her 4-H sewing project.  This dress has an insane amount of fabric in it which makes it quite heavy and the gathering was intense.  It took well over an hour just to pin the ruffle on the bottom of the skirt.

Last year the 4-H judge said she should try something harder and this was something harder.  I told Dancer this is a more complex pattern than my wedding dress was.  She did a great job and the pattern went together really nicely, she can be proud of herself!

Recycled Blue Jean Storage Pots

Easy peasy and if you have an old pair of jeans and some scrap material they are free!  The instructions called for quilt batting (expensive) but I used polar fleece for the lining so that was free too.  It didn't take more that 45 minutes to make and that included rounding up all the materials and figuring out the size of the bottom circle using pi. 

I found the directions at this web site.  Funny thing about that was it was by the same person, Betz White, who wrote the "Sewing Green" book that I made the sweater puppy and the placemat tote bag out of.  I should google her and see what other projects she has.

Stupid Sock Creatures

Using this book....

a couple of years ago I made Spark this Stupid Sock Creature.  He is pretty cute but mostly he lives under Spark's bed.  I had Spark drag him out for this post.  Now that he has surfaced he has become one of the favorites again.  If he is lucky he won't fall behind Spark's bed for a while and will enjoy a little sunshine.

Here is his close up. 

The whole reason this fellow came to be was because Dancer was cleaning her room.  He was started way back when I made Spark's creature.  This one has been living who knows where in her room in several pieces.  She brought him out and we finished him up since we have the sewing machine out.  These creatures aren't hard to make they are just tedious. 

There are a few things you can learn from this one.  First watch the pattern on the ears so that the design on each one is sewn on in the same direction.  I sewed the ears on all the way and then looked at them.  At that point I thought they looked great because I hate to rip out seams.  Second thing, I realized this when I went to sew the mouth, choose socks with a colored heel.  This one has the same mouth as the one on top even though it really isn't visible.  

Aggravating Placemat Tote Bag

This is another project from the "Sewing Green" book.  It is suppose to be a simple, simple project.  It was anything but.  It is made out of four placemats, two for the sides, half of one for the bottom and two 1/3 pieces for the sides. 

This project turned into a disaster for me.  The problem was that the placemats I had were way to thick to sew with any kind of ease, especially the bottom corners.   The reason I chose them, besides I loved the color,  was because they were heavier and therefore would make a more sturdy bag.  During the course of sewing it I broke three, count them three, needles.  I can go months without breaking a needle and in one night broke three. 

Now that it is done I am going to make sure we use that bag until it wears out.

Recycled Sweater Puppy

I saw this little guy in a library book "Sewing Green" by Betz White and just had to give him a try.  He is suppose to be a baby toy but, since our baby is 11 years old, it will just be a decoration at our house either on the couch or someones bed.  Now that I look at him again he would be nice on a bed with some lavender in his stuffing.  He is made from the sleeves of a really nice cotton sweater.  His tail and the tops of his ears are from a pair of Dancer's pajama pants that the elastic had gone bad in.  His back spot, nose and eyes are felt scraps and the stitching around his spot and eye are yarn.  You really wouldn't need the pattern for him.  Just draw his shape, tail and ears out in a size you like.  The nose and eye can be cut free hand.  He is sewn together in standard stuffed animal style with the tail and ears tucked in before sewing around the body.  I left the part under his spot open for turning and stuffing but with the sweater I used you really couldn't tell it had been hand stitched closed so anywhere on his body would have been fine. 

A close up mugshot to show off his floppy ears.

Jungle Jacket

I made Spark this jacket.  He picked the fabric from the basement stash and loved the green jungle, that is what he calls it, fabric on the top.  There wasn't enough for the whole jacket so he got part green sleeves and bottom front.  The back is the jungle fabric.  This was very frugal.  The fabric and thread I already had and the zipper I ripped out of an old coat of Dad's that he throwing away.   All I had to buy was one yard of interfacing.

The pattern was McCall's M5538.  The jacket went together neatly but the directions as written were a disaster.  I don't know if they were written in another language and translated to English or if there was a intern writing them or what.  I sewed my own wedding dress that wasn't as confusing as these directions.  I finally ended up just looking at all the pieces and figured out the best way to put them together. 

Split Rail Fence Quilt

This quilt was a long time in the making.  Two years ago Dancer got excited about a quilt during the fair.  So in August of 2009 we bought the fabric, cut out the strips and started sewing.  When seeing how much work this quilt is for a 12 year old she quickly fizzled.  Last year she was going to try again to get it done for the fair.  Start out strong again and quickly fizzled.  This year I told her she was going to get it done, there would be no fizzling.  It took us a couple months but it is done and ready for the fair next week. 

The quilt done and on her bed.  She said that she is never going to make another one, which I can't argue with, but she is happy that she made this one now that it is done.

Close up of the fabrics.  When she first picked these out I didn't like them or think they went together at all but now that I see them all together they work wonderfully.  She has a much better sense of what colors go together and decorating that I do so I should just listen to her.

The back of the quilt.  I finished it for her which is okay in the 4-H rules.  We got a regular size sheet and a put polar fleece on the inside.  Quilting fabric is insanely expensive for a piece the size of the back which is why we went with the sheet.  Quilt batting is also expensive and we have bins and bins of polar fleece so the choice was expensive batting or fleece we already owned.  The decision wasn't hard to make.

To finish the quilt I sewed about three full side and then both corners on the fourth.  With pink thread I sewed on each side of the pink fabric as it went across the quilt.  Then I hand sewed the rest of the fourth side by hand. 

Veggie Tales Apron

Made with pattern Simplicity 2319 and Bob and Larry Veggie Tale fabric.  I smile just looking at those little guys.  We have such good memories of watching the videos and sing silly songs in the car when the kids were little.   Actually we still watch them once in a while, Spark just had one out of the library last week.  The silly song on the new one wasn't as good as the old ones but it is hard to beat the Cheeseburger song, Cebu or Everybodies Got a Water Buffalo. 

This pattern has the adjustable straps where the neck strap is connected to the back ties and can be made longer or shorter.  I always think aprons have too long neck straps on them and end up putting a knot in the strap to make it shorter.  Also, since I am wearing shorts in the picture it looks like a jumper.  But we homeschool and isn't that the stereotype for homeschool moms, that we are jumper wearers?  For the record, none of my friends or I wear jumpers. 

I am going to put it in the fair next week so hope it wins a prize!  

Purse From a Tank Top

The girls made these at 4-H.  First take a tank top and fold it in half from the middle of the front to the middle of the back, it is turned sideways.  Turn it inside out and serge the bottom closed.  Turn it right side out and the bag is done.  Embellish with buttons, ribbons, sequence, or any other fancy bling.

Super cute, simple bag that can be made in a matter of minutes. 

Sewing a Snuggly Pillowcase

Spark got to pick a door prize at sewing camp yesterday and he chose a kit to make a troll pillowcase.  The dimensions of the fabric are 28" X 41" for the case and 9" X 41" for the contrasting band.  

First he folded to band piece in half and pinned it to the larger piece of fabric. 

Then he sewed the band on the pillowcase fabric and sewed around the sides.

Turned it inside out.

Put his pillow in it and he is really to go to bed.

4-H Sewing Camp Day 2

Our second day of Sewing Camp.  We started out good, making steady progress.  I helped Dancer and one of her friends cut out their project, a messenger bag.  We had a break for breakfast and  a safety meeting on being careful with the machines and the rotary cutters.  Right after that I was helping Spark cut some quilt squares and he some how put his finger on the top the cutter while he was cutting and sliced his finger.  Oh, for the blood, and the crying, and people coming to see what had happened.  Thankfully they had a huge first aid kit there so was able to get it bandaged well.  He said that it was stinging and it did bleed for quite some time.  Not a good start to his morning but we were still doing okay.  I cut the rest of his squares and he did a great job sewing the pieces together. 

Spark's cute little pillow.

 I

He was done about three hours before the end of camp and went on to make the hat he is wearing in this picture.

Dancer made this cuter than cute messenger bag.

It is lined with bring pink fabric with an inside pocket.

This is another pocket on the back. 

Spark sewing, he is really good at this.  I think I will see if he is interested in doing any other projects.

Later in the afternoon he started saying he didn't feel well and could he go sit in the car.  He has been coughing but they didn't sleep as long as usual with the friend over so I thought he was just tired and bored so didn't let him go out.  We got all done, packed up and went out to the car, even stopping to chat with our club's leader.  I put the car in gear and drive a little ways around the building and he starts to cough and throw up.  I don't do well with throw up, that is Dad's department.  I always did the poop and Dad did the throw up.  Our leader runs over and asks if everything is alright, her day job is a nurse thankfully, because she says I was making a bad face.  She has a bag with her and Spark doesn't get sick all over the car.  Poor kid, he said except for all the fun parts he wished he hadn't gone.  When we got home he lay down on the couch and slept for a few hours and now he asleep again so hopefully he is better for tomorrow.  We just can not get rid of this sickness at our house.  Hurry Spring.

Fiesta Lounge Pants

Spark wanted a pair of lounge pants, however, no matter how hard we searched we could not find a suitable pair for him.  The only option was to make him a pair.  We headed to the fabric store and found pattern Simplicity 9499 and headed to the fabric racks.  After a few minutes he choose this fabric.  I thought it was a little wild but I told him he could pick out fabric and so we bought it.

Now that they are all done they don't look near as crazy although they are much brighter than this photo shows.  He calls them his Mexican Fiesta pants.  The pattern went together really easy, cutting them out and sewing them took about an hour and half and that was with flat felled seams.