Fabric Storage Bin

I went to a ladies bric-a-brac sale at the weekend and the stall at the entrance was doing a very brisk trade soI decided to have a look. Basically the were selling fabric Storage Bins of off sizes, I thought they were fun but, expensive. I was sure that they couldn't be that difficult to make and that I had all I needed already and I was right.

This storage bin took about 3 hours to make from working out how to do it and finishing it and was made from scraps and leftover material I already had. It's measures 25cm across, just right for keeping my knitting in - a felted bag which I'll share with you at a later date.

You can make them any size so I'm not going to put the measurements in but how to work out the sizes of the 2 pattern pieces you'll need:

Pattern Pieces

The Base: a circle, measuring Xcm across (in this case 25cm)

The Side: a rectangle: side 1, measuring the desired height including (in this case 30cm) turnover. Side 2, measuring the diameter of the base x 3.14 (25 x 3.14=78.50cm)

Material

Exterior material, cut 1 x base, 1 x the side rectangle
Interior material, cut 1 x base, 1 x the side rectangle
Interfacing, cut 2 of each. - I used a fairly heavy weight interfacing, to help stabilise the sides

Instructions:

Cut out all the pieces and iron on the interfacing on the wrong side of all the pieces. Starting with the exterior material, with right sides facing sew down the side seam and clip back the interfacing. If you don't it might get a bit lumpy and thick.

Carefully pin the base to the tube, again right sides together, you might find it easier to tack (loosely sew) them together before slowly and carefully sewing the pieces. Clip back the interfacing and snip small v's into the edge of the circle being careful not to cut into the stitching.

Repeat with the interior pieces.

No put the 2 pieces inside each other, right sides together, lining up the seams and sew the top of the storage bin together leaving a gap so that you can turn it the right way round.

Don't forget to clip the interfacing back before you turn it the right way round, once you've done that top-stitch the top edge. This also closes the gap in the top seam. Don't be tempted to miss the top-stitching, it really makes a difference to the finish of the whole thing.


Enjoy.

Amy Butler Bag

So I've had a lovely book sitting on my shelf for weeks, a book of Amy Butler bags with patterns and instructions and everything. The thing is it scared me, I love sewing, knitting and craft in general but, AB bags are soooo gorgeous I daren't even open it. Trouble is I also love bags, indeed I have a bit of an obsession with bags, don't care any kind. I have a draw overflowing with shopping bags, and a whole side of a double Ikea wardrobe full of them. So of course, I want an Amy Butler.

So I opened the book, beautiful the layout, the colours, the art-work and all the pattern pieces you don't even have to scale them up. Great, I spent hours looking longingly at the bags and flicking through the instructions before I decided on one, I found just the right fabric, agonised over what colour liner to put in it.

Decisions all made I opened the envelope in the back of the book and sorted the  pattern pieces and off I went. From start to finish I'd say it took about 5 hours, I've only made a couple of bags before so considering the finish you get it's not bad.

At the moment I enjoy carpet bags or tapestry bags so that's what I did and I'm very please with the results. But, I have a couple of comments about the instructions, make sure you read them all the way through before starting and that you understand exactly what to do. I found myself unpicking several times because I misunderstood the instructions. Also, make sure you check the pieces you need I found that one piece of the bag was just measurements in the book no pattern piece.










Despite the couple of reservations I am please with my cosmo bag, the finish is lovely and the inside has a couple of pockets in it.

Cute knitted Owl Hat

I haven't knitted anything for years, so I thought I'd give it a go again. Here's the result a really cute knitted hat.

Now I must admit it's not my own pattern I found it on Pinterest and loved it. It only took me 2 evening to knit and it was really relaxing chatting and knitting.... knit and bitch...such a good idea.

Anyway here's a link to the pattern, enjoy knitting it, I've certainly re-found a passion :)... Here's a close up of the motive for good measure.

Curtain Skirt

I haven't posted for a while so I thought it was time to get posting. My daughter is an avid leader of fashion for her peers and as such can soak up a large amount of time shopping and searching for style on the internet. Having said that once something is in her wardrobe it stays there and is usually combinable  with everything there, one of her favorite pieces at the moment is a picture skirt, it's a good shape fits perfectly and looks good. So as she didn't want to pay for another one, or wait for it to arrive from the States, she asked me to copy it. Link to my daughters blog: BATTAB

In the end the skirt cost me EUR5 to copy!! We found the bottom of some Ikea curtains that I'd taken up and I must admit the result is lovely :).

So here goes:

First thing to do is make a pattern, get a big sheet of paper, I used a newspaper - my favorite go to for pattern drawing, you can buy special paper but why bother. As the skirt fits perfectly and is only 2 panels (back and front) just lay it down and draw round it, adjust any measurements it need be, add 1.5cm all round for the seams and 5 cm for the hem, mark where the zip goes. Now you need to cut a piece for the waist band and interfacing, take the paper pattern lay it on a fresh sheet of paper and make a strip by copying the top 5 to 10cm this will give you an internal waistband.

Cut:

2x skirt panel

1x waistband in skirt fabric (on fold)

1x waistband in interfacing (on fold) without seam allowance

• Iron the interfacing onto the wrong side of the material waistband.
• zigzag round the cut out pieces.
• Lay the 2 panels together, right sides facing.
• Pin and sew together along the non-zip side.
• Open the seam and pin the interfacing on to the waist edge of the skirt, - again right side to right side.
• Sew along the top edge and trim the seam if necessary.
• Turn in the waistband and iron down.
• Sew the other seam to where the zip goes.
• Iron open the seam and carefully iron the rest of the 2 sides over.
• Pin and then tack (loosely sew) the zip into the skirt.
• Carefully machine sew the zip in - I find it easiest to adjust the needle to the side and do it slowly - to strengthen it machine over the bottom a couple of times.
• Turn up and sew the hem and tie the loose ends.

Where I've said iron, it is only a tip - but it does really make it easier. You can do this with any item og clothing!

ENJOY

Eco friendly Shopping-Bag

Like a lot of people I don't accepting plastic bags in shops and try and avoid them at all costs, I have dozens of those fold away bags but find them too small especially when I go to local the Saturday morning, so I made this bag. It can be stored flat so it doesn't take up too much space and can be made with spare material or less than a meter of fabric.

First, we need to make a pattern, get an old new paper, take out the middle page leave it folded and draw a line about a third of the way in and and a third of the way down the page and then the cut out for the handle, you can adjust the size to suit yourself, you also need an oval for the bottom, make sure the circumference of the bottom is the same as the bottom edge of the sides of the bag (all the way round).

Once that's done time to cut out the pieces, cut;

• 2x sides in main fabric
• 2x sides in lining
• 2x sides in interfacing (fairly stiff if you have it)
• 1x bottom in main fabric
• 1x bottom in lining
• 1x bottom in cardboard

Now lets put it together:

• Iron on the interfacing to the main fabric
• Sew the 2 sides of the outside of the bag together and do the same with the handle.
• pin and sew in the bottom - I used the lining fabric for the bottom of the outside - your choice.
• Do the same with the lining.

Now you have 2 'bags'.

• Cover the cardboard bottom of the bag with cling film. (to stop it getting wet and ruining).
• Turn the outside of the bag the right way round and put the cardboard in the bottom.
• Put the lining inside the bag, so now you can't see the seams.
• Turn in and pin the top of the bag and sew around the edge about half a centimeter from the top edge.

Now you have a strong cotton bag ready to use, to make it a little more durable I sprayed mine with water resistant spray. ENJOY.

Black Cat Birthday Cake

So, I made the cat cake and here's the result, my daughter loved it.

If you're going to make any 3-D it's best to make a sketch  of it first and work out how many cakes and what shapes you need to make for the cat I used a one pound pudding bowl and a large long tin. The other thing to be aware of is that you need a cake mix with a fairly dense, using a simple sponge mix will make it difficult to model. I used maderia cakes. Before making the cakes you need to work out how many and what shape cake tins you need to use, for my cat I sketched it first (see my previous post) and then I worked out I needed one long tin for the body and back legs and a 1lb puddling basin for the head.

 my recipe (enough for a 15cm cake tin), I used double the quantity :

• 180g  Butter
• 180g  Sugar
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 3 eggs
• 220g plain flour
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• a little milk

Turn the oven on to 160 degrees, prepare the tins, an easy way to line a tin is to screw up  piece of baking paper and then straighten it out again and then pop it in the tin.
Cream the butter and sugar so that the mixture is light and smooth in texture, then add the grated lemon zest.
Beat the eggs and add them little bit at the time making sure the mixture re,ains smooth.
Now stir the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, adding milk as the mixture becomes too stiff.
Finally add the lemon juice.
Turn the mixture into the tin make a hollow in the mixture so that when done the top will be flat.
Put in the middle of the oven for 1.5 hours. To test if done press a knife into the cake, if it comes out clean it's done.

Now the fun begins, once the cakes have cooled down you can start carefully shaping the cake. First, I cut a slice off the end of the long tin to make the legs out of. Slowly and carefully sculpt your cat making sure the pieces fit together properly.

Once you are happy with the shape stick it together with either a little bit of icing or jam. To make things a little easier at this stage I cheat, I use ready rolled marzipan and ready made fondant icing. Now, position the cake on your base again using jam or icing and lightly spread apricot jam all over the cake and gently postion the ready rolled marzipan over the cake and press it onto the cat and cut away any that's unwanted. Roll out the icing on greaseproof paper, it won't stick and you can pick it straight up without worrying about it breaking once rolled. Again carefully, place the icing on the cat, don't worry about folds or joins you can sort them out later.

All done? OK, let's sort out those creases and cracks. Get a mug of hoz water and dip a round ended knife or spatular in the water and run it over the creases and joins, kind of spreading i the icing - don't worry the cracks will go and the icing will dry off.

Cut out the ears and stick them on and cut out the eyes using a little green and black icing and use chocolate matchsticks for the whiskers. I had enough cake left over to make a food bowl as well which I covered with and filled with smarties (every cake needs Smarties).

FINISHED.

Birthday cake on paper

So my eldest daughter is 20 on Monday and she has decided she wants a cake for her birthday, not unusual you say? and I quote ' Mum you know those cakes you used to make for us when we were small, fairy castles, trains, whales? I like one of those' .....

Well, here is the plan on paper, we have a cat Carl Pilkington, so this is going to be him. I'll keep you posted

Cute Pink Candles

One of the things I love doing is going round junk shops to see what I can find, there's always something that can be repurposed, mended or just given a bit of TLC. This morning was no exception I found these two really pretty bone china expresso cups and saucers.

Get some composite wax, or bits of old used candles and measure enough to fill the cup, if you're using fresh composite wax add about 10 - 20% extra. You can get it at craft shops or even Amazon together with a pack of wicks shouldn't cost you more than €8,-.

Before you start melting the wax prepare the wicks for each cup, I attached them to a disposable chop-stick but, you can use a pencil, knitting needle or anything you have handy.

Now melt the wax, the easiest way is to use a saucepan of hot water and a plastic container, I added some orange essence before melting to make it smelly.

Once it's melted carefully and quickly pour it into the espresso cups and put the wicks in.

Now all you have to do is wait for the wax to harden and you have a couple of very pretty candles. You can turn almost any container into a candle in te same way. Enjoy! :)

Piano Stool

My daughter has been playing the piano for years, her stool was in desperate need of an overhaul.

First, take off the cushion, in this case I gave it a good push from the underneath. Take off the material making sure that you keep it in one piece, here I had to remove what felt like hundreds of staples. Oh and remember the order they came off in.

Use the pieces as a pattern and pin them to the material you're going to use to cover the stool and cut out. It's easier without the cat!

Start putting the new pieces on starting with the last piece that came off, I used a staple gun, staple down one side and then pull taught and do the other side fold in the corners cutting away excess material.

When you've replaced all the pieces, pop in back into the chair, tighten the screws on the legs and hey presto new piano stool.