Don't stop me knooow - Tutorial for cubic door stop

I’m testing the benefits of time pressure on craft projects. There is a time to be leisurely crafting and there is a time for action.

I find I perform at my best when a very tight deadline is what is needed. It might also be linked to poor concentration skills, thinking of it.

In my case, since I do not have a dedicated room to contain a creative explosion, I need to manage time and space. If I want to take a break, I cannot close the door and forget about that niggling silk bias that doesn’t want to behave. If I used my floor space, one cannot access to the kitchen without tiptoeing around fabric.

How do you do?

 

This door stop is another time-bound project. I had this idea of doing a door stop in a shape of a cube with a big handle to carry it around and wedge it against doors.

I used the fabric samples I was given by a friend and some wadding to stiffen each face. I thought that given the quantity of fabric and the shape, the cube could sag and loose its recognisable shape.

Each face measure 13cm x 13cm. I cut a piece of paper to use as a pattern and then cut 6 squares in red-themed fabric and 6 squares of wadding. I knew wadding gives a lovely finished but has a habit to slide. Since this wadding is fibrous, it needs to be stitched wadding up and fabric down against the feed dogs. The other way round will mean fibres get caught in the dogs and life is hell.

 

I also made an inner bag of the same dimensions to contain the rice to weight down the fabric. This means that if the door stop needs washing, one can pop one of the side seam and get the rice out in one go.

Something I forgot to do is to fill the part above the rice bag with either wadding or polystyrene filling. This was to give more consistence to the shape. I guess that I must have been happy with the end result if I forgot. That is my excuse at least.

 

 

 

Tutorial 

You’ll need:

-          750g of rice sand or pulses

-          Pattern (square measuring 13cm x 13cm)

-          Wadding (26cm x 39cm)

-          Outer bag fabric, either one piece (26cm x 39cm), or 6 pieces (each 13cm x 13cm)

-          Inner bag fabric (any remnant will do) (26cm x 39cm)

-          2 strip of fabric 25cm x 8cm

1. Cut the fabric squares using the pattern.

2. Cut the wadding using the pattern

3. Place the two strips of fabric on top of each other with wrong side facing up stitch on either side.

 

4. Turn the strip inside out, iron flat, stitch on either side at 0.7 mm from the edge.

5. Place each square of fabric against a square of wadding. The right side of the fabric should be visible. Put a couple of pin in the centre of each square to secure the wadding.

 

6. Stitch the strip on one of the newly formed square. Aim for the centre of the square.

7. Start making your cube by stitching the squares together the wrong way round.

 

Spot the handle protruding from the top arête

8. At the last square, leave a 5cm opening to turn around the cube the right way round.

9. Make the inner bag following step 7 and 8.

 

10. Insert the inner bag in the outer bag through the opening

11. Fill the inner bag using a funnel.

 

12. Stitch the inner bag close

13. Stitch the outer bag closed

14. Test against a door and feel the feeling of pride and achievement.



 

It's all puff - Chalk Bag with borrowed tutorial link

My giant friend has started to come more regularly at the climbing wall wit me. It is very motivating to have a climbing buddy, it becomes a bit of a climb and natter session with the added competitive streak.

The less positive side is that buddy might not be properly kitted off. You don't need much for climbing boulders indoor, just comfortable clothing, climbing shoes and maybe a chalk bag. Well my buddy has barefoot shoes and keep using my chalk bag.
I usually share, but the timing is not working well (we cannot climb at the same time and both use the bag) and as most beginners do, he uses chalk like there is no tomorrow. Chalk dries your hand, it doesn't make you stick to holds, honest. No need to chalk yourself up to your elbows. Just sayin...

A few month ago, I stumbled upon chalk bag patterns. This was the perfect opportunity to try that pattern!!!
Now I hear you, one doesn't just stumble on chalk bag patterns. I might have happen to do a more aimed Google search...

This is the Handy Hippy site and this is their tutorial.

It is a great little project. Not only you get to use fabric and your sewing machine, but tools too! My Leatherman multi-tool has been very handy for this project.

For this project I used 3 different types of fabric:

- Fleece for the inside

- Thick printed cotton for the outside

- Stretchy polyester for the chalk cover and the two belt loops.

I also used some cord to close the inner pocket. A little bit of thick round elastic to attach the toothbrush (To clean holds. No, you don't brush your teeth whilst bouldering).

The tutorial talks about using cable tie to rigidify the opening of the bag. Before reading properly the tutorial, I thought about using net curtain flexy wire. I tried both, the next curtain wire wins hands off. And it means I could use my Leatherman to cut it to size as an added bonus.
I used Elephant tape to close the loop.

Instead of using a grommet (mine were too small), I made opening in the side seams and reinforced the opening by triple-stitching above and below the opening.

When attaching the chalk cover to the inner fleecy bag, I couldn't understand the tutorial. So I freestyled. I fitted the chalk cover (wrong side) around the fleecy bag (right side out), and slid it down by 4cm (1.5"), stitched them together.
Then I turned over the chalk cover to its right side and stitched 1 cm above the previous row. I created a little tunnel.
I then opened one of the seam in between the two rows of stitches on the outer side of the fleecy bag. This is the opening I used to thread the cord in.
Once that was done I then threaded in the cord into a similar opening at a similar height I did on the outer bag.

The belt loops are made with the same fabric than the chalk cover. I cut an 18cm strip in 4cm wide, fold it like bias. Then folded it in two and titch it closed. I stitched it again on the other opposite side to ensure they wouldn't loose their shape and too restore some symmetry.

The belt loops and toothbrush holders were positioned and stitched onto the outer pocket prior finishing the bag. It means I didn't have to fight with them to keep them in place whilst doing a good job at closing the bag. I triple-stitched them in.

It is all black and clean. Give it a climbing session and it will be powdery-white.

Instead of using nylon to close the bag, I use the chalk cover instead, folded it onto the opening and set the overlap at 2cm. I pinned it then stitched it closed.

To complete the bag. I'll need a chalk ball and a belt for the bag to be carried whilst climbing. Hopefully, I'll find it all tonight in Go Outdoors, to be ready for Friday's climbing session.

The Kelly bag

My crafty friend Kelly was having a mid-week birthday dinner and I happened to be really itching to do some more lingerie bags using the pattern on Jeni's blog.

These bags are particularly useful as a frequent travel with cabin luggage only, customs have a habbit to search many bags bags. Underwear will usually find a way to sneak out of the suitcase at the most inopportune moment. I don't like displaying my undies to fellow travelers...or to most people come to that actually. With this bag, they're safely herded together and managed!

The pictures are not that good, it took them too quickly as I was already late for Kelly's party. And yes I decided on that day to make the bag for the evening whilst being at work all day.

The fabric comes from a swap meet and happens to coordinate pretty well.

The two shapes have been cut by hand, ironed onto some interfacing and then stitched onto the bag.  You could really do any shape you want, the sky and the bag's size the limit. 

Well, do think that you'll have to stitch it on afterwards. So maybe avoid to thin and intricate designs for a quick project.

The dimensions are 24cm wide onto 31cm high. I'm thinking about making more for Christmas. 

Hang on to your knickers, the lingerie bags are arriving!

Finished, with no minutes to spare...Well, 15 min. late.

Cute, isn't?

Underside of the stitched undies with a funky stitch

Happy birthday Kellyyyyyyyy!

I got 4 brand new chairs...well...I made them brand new!

I never had an unfurnished place prior to my current flat. It is exciting to move into an empty place, there is so much room for creativity.

However the price tag of some “creativity” can be daunting.
I have wonderful friends and many helped me in many ways. Today I’ll describe mostly the story of these 4 dining chairs.

The chairs were bought at a charity sale in Nettlebed. Nettlebed is on the way to Reading in the UK and is a lovely place tucked away in the Berkshire forest. This charity sale if for the profit of the Sue Ryder hospice and actually happens on the hospice grounds. It buzzes with volunteers and shoppers. You’ll need to pay a very small fee of 50p to get to the ground, then the sky’s the limit. There is everything. I am not kidding, from tools to clothes to crockery to books to furniture… And so many opportunities to use objects differently that what they were initially intended for (honestly sometimes it is not always clear what was the initial use, yeah to creativity).

The intention for this visit was to buy chairs, 4 wooden dining chairs. I was lucky enough to be with a cabinet maker friend of mine to help me making sure I was purchasing sturdy chairs.

I fell in love with the one I bought for the wrong reasons: I really like the upholstery fabric.
It is the wrong reason since I know that fabric was likely to be close to its past date and fabric can be easily purchased at a low price, compared to the chairs. These also have a panel of marquetry.
A few repairs were needed which my friend Chris completed. Do have a look at his blog, he does wonderful things with wood.

The idea behind buying these sturdy chairs was to paint them a cream colour. I have to admit I was keen on a non-distressed shabby chic look.

These chairs have a removable sitting cushion. This meant sanding and reupholstering could happen the other way round. That was important since I didn't fancy sanding outside in the cold winter. Instead I could have fun with the electric staple gun, nice and warm.

Choose a good film, get the right pliers and take all those pesky staples out! Each chair had about 150. I thought I could do the same job with 50 only.
Once the fabric was removed, I washed it twice to remove all the stains. 

 

This is how it looks once the fabric is removed. I bought some wadding-like foam and re-padded some of the chairs.

Aligning the fabric and the padding to create that extra layer.

Ta daaaaaaaam. 4 chairs cleaned and reupholstered. 

Now that the summer had arrived, the sanding can commence. 

I first started by hand. Why bother? The varnish was so thick it bloated the paper within 3 strokes. I took the rotary sander out and borrowed a garden. 

I always wear a mask and clothes that I can trash for jobs like that. As much as possible with long sleeves and long legs. Next time I'll wear protective goggles too and I'm tempted to get a proper face mask. That fine sanded powder goes absolutely everywhere, I guess it goes also in my lungs.

One only really needs to create a rough surface to get the primer to stick. So no need to be perfect, my paint would cover it all after.

Before

After

Now the priming can commence. I always winge before and during priming, however it is worth the time and effort. The final coats will go on so much better and cover up the whole object instead of darker patches showing through. This time I nailed in a long nail under each leg to prime also the feet.

Back to the borrowed garden a few weeks later for the painting.

Choosing the right paint was not easy. I wanted gloss and knew for a fact that applying gloss with a brush without creating streaks is extremely difficult. A chair is made of a lot of panels of woods and managing the corners of each of these panels would be hit and miss.

I went for spray paint in the end. Less choice but sooooooooo much easier to apply. I had a lot of fun.

Smack bang in the middle, to avoid spraying random stuff.

So much fun!

 The chairs needed a good 3 days to air after this. Unfortunately I had to move them back to mine and the drive with the chairs (18 hours after painting) was not great.  The fumes are really tenacious as my headache for the next two days.
Really, do let them breathe.

The gloss spray paint was more expensive however really worth it in the end. The result is really good. It took about 1.5 cans to achieve this. It took me less than 2 hours to paint well 4 chairs with gloss. Unbeatable.

Chairs having a bit of a natter after their makeover

 This is the final result. I kept the marquetry strip unpainted and the stripy seat still go well. I'm a happy bunny.

Keep it warm! Kindle pouch

I am a very lucky person.
When I left my previous employment my colleagues got together and gifted me lovely things. One of them was a Kindle.

I had never used on beforehand, however I had toyed with the idea to try one at some point. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it to them. Somebody must have been mind-reading! That or with my constant traveling they thought it would be really handy.
They’re a fantastic bunch.

A new gizmo in a crafty house means something will be put together for its day-to-day handling. It has to, I HAD to.

I really wanted to have a go at quilting. Note, not by hand but with the sewing machine. I’m still too slow and not patient enough by hand.

This also meant drafting a pattern (oh joy!) to make something to my own specifications, which were:
- padded pouch to protect kindle from daily abuse
- closable and cute flap to protect pouch from handbag intruder abuse (namely: pens, crumbs, random bits)
- funky lining, because anything that can be lined should be and with an outrageous colour (this is akin wearing the most scandalous underwear with a casual outfit)

For this project I needed an outer fabric – preferably with a pattern to help with quilting, an inner lining, wading for quilting, a tie and a button of some sort

I diligently traced a line around my Kindle, added 2 cm, added a flap, created an inner flap. Since it had a flap, I drawn the outer front bit without a flap too. This seemed rather simple (the last famous words).

The other requirement I had was to re-use.  This is a big theme in my house: To reduce waste. Recycling is great. However it goes hand in hand with either not to use in the first place, or re-use. No energy is wasted to produce and acquire what you’re using again.

Outer Fabric: I have been given by an ex-colleague many upholstery fabric samples that would have gone to the bin otherwise (so good for my new fabric ban resolution). Many sample would fit the bill and I wasn’t feeling guilty of not making the most of the fabric. I actually went sideways to get the most of the pattern.

Amazing quilting material. No practical for such a small project (the Kindle is only 6 inches/15.24 cm)

Inner fabric: I have numerous scraps of lining or assimilated fabric. I choose a petrol green I previously used for a skirt. Great fabric, however a little on the fragile side. The skirt has many stitched folds and the fabric is looking more and more distressed after a year of use. Using it as a lining for such a light item is perfect.

Badly cut lining, mesmerizing colour.

Wading: I bought wading for making hot water bottle holders a few Christmas ago. They did a great job. However this wading was a little too fluffy and didn’t have the hold I wanted for this quilting. Since I’d just pimped up my partner’s ironing table with a new layer of wading and cover (as one do...), I had some scraps of that. The hold is wonderful. And the best part of it, it comes from Wilkinson just round the corner.

Tie and button: There are two boxes at mine that contains wonders. I just need to trifle through them. I keep a lot of little things: take the little ribbons on dresses, tops and skirts that once were used to hold the garment on the hanger. How often are they useful v. coming out at the most inopportune moment? I cut them and keep them for future use.  I do the same with the mini safety pins, they’re great to thread little ribbons through hand-made pouches.

My first attempt started very well. Until I finished quilting and stitching together the outer layer. I had also decided to use my overlocker to manage the thickness better. Well… the back of the pouch (with the flap) was about 2cm too short. This meant the kindle had to be really pushed in for the flap to sort of close…not.
I had also padded the flap which meant I was losing precious millimeters there too.

The inner pouch was a tad on the narrow side compared to the outer pouch and stitching the think lining on an overly thick outer pouch would be a nightmare. This is one of the limitation of my machine, you can't force it to stitch very thick fabrics. It bips at you and refuses to stitch. It considers the presser foot to be lifted. It is annoying, however I broke very few needles since I started to use this machine…The Husqvarna engineers had a point (safe but not practical, what were they thinking?).

Winge, winge, winge. Burry half-made pouch under a pile on the table the table and sulk.

***** A week later *****

I left this project untouched for a week. Then a few things happened: first a weekend on my own and a call with my mum. This is when my flat looks like it has just been burgled, bits everywhere due to an hyperactive creative brain. The kitchen was lucky, I decided not to bake as well. Then I had a long Skype call with my mum, and amongst many things we discussed I shared my frustration with such a simple project. I wanted to dump everything. My mum initially thought about salvaging the initial pouch and making it work. I wasn’t happy with this. However she made me consider my project through another angle and had a wonderful idea about the closure (adding bias). I had done this pouch once, I could do it again and correct the initial mistakes.

So I set off again but with a different fabric this time, a light and colourful cotton I used to do a puff-ball skirt. An added bonus about this fabric is that being thinner and more tightly woven, it doesn’t fray half as much as the previous one. I skipped the overlocking stage.

I set off again to draw a pattern: front, back (with flap) and inner flap adding 2 cm between the top and flap.
Choose some good music.
Cut the fabric.
Cut the wading minus the flap.
Pin the inner flap onto the outer back and stitch.

Make sure all the corners are nicely turned out. Once the lining is in, you won't be able to reach them.

Top stitch the inner flap for a smooth finish.

Interface flap (should have been done before however I didn't anticipate the need to interface the flap)

Spot the grey interfacing

Pin the wadding to the outer front and back and make the quilting.

Quilting in progress, ssshhh

View from the back

Nibble and drink (now is not the time to get the Whisky out ladies!)
Stitch outer layers together, trim the edge.
Slipped Kindle in and close the flap, do a little dance as it fits
Fiddle with attaching the lining.

View of the pinned bias and inner lining

I know there is a way to stitch it all together in one go by turning over the outer pouch on the wrong side, slipping it in the lining and then turning it all on the right side. The thing is…with such stiff and thick wading, there is no way you can accomplish this.
So instead I used this method to stitch the lining to the flap. Then I created a length of bias to stitch together nicely the front part. I also made the effort to make the stitching invisible from the front.

Found a button, stitched it making sure the stitches where in the wading and wouldn’t poke through the lining.

Found a ribbon, actually it is a bit of elastic with a colour that fit the fabric and button. I think initially that elastic was part of a box that contained a present (re-use, re-use, re-use). I used a little bit of bias to conceal the unsightly stitching of the elastic. I found they are usually an eye sore.

Et voilà, a protected and funky Kindle. 

Kindle and pouch fit nicely in my handbag and have been a constant companion since.

Thank you Tangoe guys!

Tutorial: Snuggly apples

I love sewing. It is creative, fabrics provide an unlimited play-field and one can make a whole outfit in a matter of hours.
However, I've always been very impressed by knitters. The agility and dexterity it takes to knit is amazing.
Next to this comes crochet. My mum is an avid "crochet-ress" and finds it very easy.

I stumble upon pictures of apples snuggled into crocheted cozies. One might thought "why would you do that?" or "what is it for?" I'd answer because I can and because it is fun.

The aim is not to make thousands of cosies, even if a late night discussion with a friend when onto hypothesising making cosies for bananas, which really need protection, with pon-pons.

This apple cosy project is very easy and can uses up yarn left-overs. It

• chain 6
• close the loop
• do a single crochet until you've covered up your loop. The place where you end your loop and where the tail of the start of your work can be seen is the mark for the start of each row.
• Let's start increasing the width of your spiral: do two single crochet into each space created by the previous row
• do a row of single crochet
• Now depending on the curvature of your apple, you might only want to only increase 1 out of 3 single crochets
• do a row of single crochet
• to create the opening, instead of keeping the spiral going, stop at the marker of the start of the next row and turnaround
• to create the button hole, chain to cover the width of the button you'd like to use
• secure the yarn
• stitch the button

Enjoy!

Celebration flags or just an expression of joy? Bunting!

There are some days where the phrase "just because I can" is just what is needed.

Bunting is used to celebrate. In the UK, bunting was everywhere for the Queen's Jubilee, for the birth of Prince Georges, it's even used for football matches.

This bunting stemmed from a long-thought project and because the right material happen to cross my path.

I happen to put my hands on my dad's old shirts from when he was a young man (ssssshhhhhh!). They are a lovely light cotton with stripes - striiiipes, you hear me squeal. I did my best to pass them on to equally worthy men, however the sheerness of the fabric is a little dated.

So, out of pure selflessness and to follow my own values of re-using whenever I can, I took the executive decision to transform them into bunting. Obviously my dad knows nothing of what has happened to his shirts and will never know about, right?!

Bunting is real simple, you need:

- fabric cut into triangles

- some sort of tape to pin those triangle onto

Since the fabric is a very light cotton, I decided to stitch two triangle together to avoid fraying and give each triangle more firmness.

I used a fairly thick cotton tape. I love it.

Felicity proudly displaying the yards and yards of bunting.

`

Once the triangles were cut, the longest two bits where stitching them together, there were more than 20. And then ironing them flat. This is where the BBC iPlayer comes into play, although only available to this with a UK IP address.

Are we done? How many more of these evil triangles to stitch?

I had 4 different patterns and laid them out on the floor to pin them in the correct order.

Flower power

Pinned, ready to be stitched.

The last touch: stitching

To the question "What are you celebrating with this bunting?" I answer "Striiiipes".