One Stitch Two Stitch

The (hand) Making of a Nursery

When I thought about setting up the nursery for my little one, I knew two things going in: 1) I was on a budget and 2) I wanted to make the room as personalized as possible. Ikea was, of course, my best option for nursery furniture while Pinterest was, of course, a wonderful source for handmade inspiration. I preferred to go with a medley of pastels -aquas, yellows, and pinks- rather than a specific theme. I decided to recycle the poms poms I made from my baby shower and hang them over the crib and changing table.

This quilt I had sewn several years back with the hopes to have it ready for a little one. I had come close to giving it away a couple of times but just didn't have the heart to part with it (glad I didn't). I made the banner using muslin and calico fabrics and was a last minute project for my shower and later for the nursery.  Although I loved this idea of a ruffled bedskirt, I really didn't want to spend too much time on this sewing project, so I found a printed fabric and cut and sewed on rectangular sheets; I added a crochet edging to finish the bedskirt.

I really love whimsical prints and had collected some over the years, but hadn't found a place for them. Finally they have a home! Woodland creature prints from papersparrow, daisy painting made by my bf, woodblock prints by danita art, embroidery made by me using Cathy Gaubert pattern, and Red Fox by berkley illustration.

Without planning it, the birdhouses I painted seem to be a focal point for my newborn every time I change her, but it also might be that she just likes staring off to the right (she constantly does that) .

Love this little shelf, it showcases another painting made especially by my bf for our little girl, my bf's beloved knitted bunny from his childhood, the decorative letter I made, and the garland I crocheted using the rosettes from my shower. One last thing, the picture book Extra Yarn is pretty amazing. I fell in love with the story and the illustrations are really adorable.

I'm really happy with how the room came together. I feel like the little handmade details and keepsakes really make the room feel cozy and special! Sue

Nursery Handmade Projects

During my summer vacation, I've been slowly working on some handmade decor for the baby's room. I really wanted to make a decorative letter for her room and as always Pinterest is a great resource. I decided to give it a weathered look and used what I had in my stash.

Here's how I made mine: 1) I first painted a base coat of wicker white (2 coats) and then hand-stamped "Homemade with Love" with black ink over the dried base coat. 2) Once the stamping is completely dry, I brushed a heavy layer of crackle medium over the letter (let it dry 'til it has a tacky consistency). 3) I evenly painted one top coat* of Martha Stewart's "Beach Glass" (love this color!). * Note: do not re-paint or try to go over certain areas, you'll end up smudging the crackle medium and undoing the crackling effect. 4) For the border of the letter I inversed the colors - Beach Glass base coat, crackle layer, white top coat  5) To help prevent chipping and yellowing, I sealed the paint using Liquidex Satin Varnish (3 thin coats).   On the inside of the "P" I cut and glued a strip of pink gingham fabric as a contrasting accent to the seafoam color. I also recycled a crochet rosette I had leftover from my baby shower (I had made them as brooches for my guests). I'm so happy with the result, the crackling effect came out great . . .
So great, I wanted to replicate the same weathered look on my birdhouses. I followed the same painting process and covered the roof tops with calico fabric. I highly recommend using Martha Stewart acrylics for this project (other brands did not work as well with the crackle medium). My color palette was Beach Glass, Raspberry Ice, and Chamomile.  

 I really loved working on these projects; they were fairly easy to do, came out so cute and were affordable to make. This a testament that decorating a room doesn't always require you to go out and spend tons of money. Being resourceful can go along way, don't ya think?   Sue

How Pinteresting! Paint Chip Coasters

I've accumulated a lot diys on my Pinterest boards and thought that as I try out some of the projects, I could also provide some insight on how well the diy came out here. Whenever I work on a diy, I've noticed that there are always things I'd want to do differently the next time around. There are many Paint Chip Coasters diys circulating the internet, but the crafty cpa has a very easy to follow tutorial. Here are some notes I jotted down . .

I made a big mistake by not allowing the acrylic spray to dry completely, so one of my tiles has a round indentation on its surface from the glass I propped on it. Note to self: diys are more successful when you're patient!

Another thing I noticed is that the acrylic coating does crack once it dries, so it's important to add several coats so your coasters can withstand the perspiration from your glasses. PS. the cracks will show even after several coats, so just roll with the punches! One more thing to consider, the lighter the paint chip color the more debris and stains show up on its surface, so you may want to consider picking darker hues for this project.

Overall, this project was easy to follow, budget-friendly and quick to make (all done in one afternoon). Hope these tips helped and have fun creating! Sue

Anatomy of An Apron

Earlier this week I was organizing my craft room and came across my overstuffed bag of fabric scraps. I was surprised to see how much scraps had accumulated. It was clear I had to find a way to make use of them, so I decided to make an apron. 

The anatomy of an apron is very basic. You have a skirt, a waistband, and straps, and if you keep it simple by cutting rectangular pieces of fabric, its construction is quick and easy. Now the waistband was made from joining my scraps into a quilt-like pattern. The straps were made from some leftover raw muslin (looks like linen) I had in my stash.

For the skirt I used a tea towel folded over a quarter of the section.  These tea towels you can find at any Target or Walmart (a 5 pack for $5). They're oversized, so I usually cut them in half to make smaller tea towels, but for this project the original size was perfect. I used this tutorial to crochet my trim and made bias tape using more scraps.
I was pleasantly surprised with the end result. I'm not sure whether to gift it or keep it for myself (I'm leaning more to the latter), either way I'm sure it'll get plenty of use.

Want to learn great techniques on apron making? Try the book A Is for Apron. It has an endless amount of ideas and easy instructions to follow.

Want to find a simple tutorial for a basic apron? Try this Lined Apron Tutorial or this Simple Little Apron Tutorial

Making Scrap Bias Tape

I love adding pretty trims to my sewing projects. I quickly realized that even though store-bought bias tape is convenient, the color choices are a bit limited. By making my own bias tape, I could give a very personalized style to my projects. Don't get me wrong, I still buy ready-made tape, but when I want something extra special I make my own!  Let me give you a rundown on how I recently made bias tape using my fabric scraps. This trim is part of a bigger sewing project that I'm finishing up that also involves fabric leftovers. Now with scraps the conventional way of making bias tape doesn't apply (at least for me). What I mean by this is that I can't cut the fabric at a diagonal since I'm using small odds and ends rather than a yard of fabric. To make my trim, I gathered up scraps that were approx. 2" wide (the length of the scraps doesn't matter). Some of the scraps were cut to 2" so they'd fit evenly.
Once I gathered enough 2" scraps/strips, I joined them right sides together until I had a 70" long strip. My scraps are all connected in this pic. Now comes the fun part: ironing! All seams were ironed opened before folding my long fabric strip. The easiest way is using a bias tape maker. However, I did it by folding the strip length-wise, ironing to fix the crease, folding in the unfinished ends (1/2" on each side) and ironing again. I only use this method when I'm in a rush. Unfolded, the strip is 2" wide. Once you fold in the unfinished ends, the tape should measure 1" wide, and after it's folded over again, the tape goes down to 1/2" in width.
Here's my scrappy tape on a tea towel. Cute right?  Here are some past sewing projects using handmade bias tape:

I do want to say that this is far from a tutorial, so if you're up to learning the ins and outs of bias-tape making, I highly recommended this site. It's extremely informative and uses lots of photographs with it's step-by-step instructions.  

Adventures in Slouchiness!

I had always wanted to make a slouchy hat, so I decided to take the plunge and make one as a Christmas gift for my niece. After doing much research on the internet and several disappointing attempts, I felt a bit flustered. How difficult is it to find a free pattern for a slouchy hat? It turned out harder than I thought, until I stumbled upon this site (thank you Pinterest!) and I was  hooked . . . literally! The pattern was very easy to follow and the end result was awesome! Not only did I make two for my niece (she loved them), but I also made one for myself.

I used worsted yarn from KnitPicks in Cobblestone Heather and Calypso Heather

Two things that I did change from the original pattern was instead of working only 2 rounds in Rounds 9-10, I worked 5 to 6 rounds so my hat would come out slouchier, and the final 4 rounds which make the band I didn't work just 4 rounds but 6 rounds. Other than that, it's a great pattern, so try it out!

Tree Ornament Round up!

I made it a goal for all of my tree ornaments to be handmade by me and be sure to share the tutorials with you . . . after all, this is the "giving" season! With that in mind, I've gathered up all the links here in one post for easier access. Enjoy!

I made these crochet tree ornaments as a gift for a friend several years ago. They're easy, fun, and fast to make.

    These holly embellishments are made in a flash and are very versatile. Use them for your tree, as a garland, or to pretty up a gift.

These glittery candle pins are made from clothespins and will "light" up your tree!

I take pride in having made my snowman ornaments . They take a bit of time to make but your tree will be oh so happy!

DIY Klippan Footstool Cover

The last time I shopped at Ikea, I was disappointed to discover that the Klippan footstool had been discontinued, which in turn meant no more change covers! I decided then and there, I'd sew up a new cover myself. Guess what? It was very easy to make, even for a first timer like me(I'd never done a project like this). If you're a Klippan footstool owner and have a sewing machine, here are some quick steps & tips to making your own cover.

* This projects only requires 1 yard of fabric. Suggested fabric: outdoor/ home decor fabric or canvas fabric. Total cost to make my cover - $7.98 (cost of fabric)

Step 1 - Unstitch your original change cover. Make sure to remove the velcro strips attached the original cover as well and save for later.

Step 2 - You should have 3 pieces - the middle piece (largest piece, rectangular in size) and 2 side panels (smaller pieces). Arrange the pieces so they fit on your new fabric. Wherever there are seam allowances, make sure to unfold them. Pin the pieces to the fabric, then trace each piece (with the seam allowances unfolded) onto your new fabric.

Step 3 - Cut out each piece. Using your old change cover pieces as a model, fold in the seam allowances in the same manner (1/2" approx.) and steam iron the seams. Pin the velcro strips onto the ends of each new piece (the same way there were on the original cover).

Step 4 - Using a needle for denim-weight fabrics, attach the velcro strips. Once all strips have been sewn on, assemble the cover by pining each panel to the largest piece and sewing together (make sure to give a 1/2" seam allowance!).

Step 5 - Cover your footstool with your new change slip and enjoy!

If you have any questions, please let me know! Sue

Tree Ornament Idea #3: Glittery Candle Pins

 These candles were a bit of a fluke . . . I had bought some doll pins with the purpose of making some angel ornaments, but I wasn't really convinced with the idea. My thoughts kept going back to those Victorian Christmas trees with real candles. I know, a total fire hazard but so pretty! That's when it dawned on me to make faux candles with the pins! Because they're pins, they easily attach to any tree stem and they give the tree a retro spin plus there's no worries of burning down your tree!

Supplies:  1- fine point paintbrush and large paintbrush  2- doll pins  3- acrylic paint in assorted colors 4- metallic or glittered acrylic paint  5- assortment of thin ribbon (ric rac, tiny pom pom trim, glitter ribbon)  6- flame template       7-  white and light orange felt pieces  8- needle/ white and light orange embroidery floss/ white twine  9- course crystal glitter  10- decoupage glue     11- glue gun   12- gloss varnish

Step 1 -3: Create the illusion of wax drippings by drawing right below the pin's neck irregular waves. Use white acrylic paint and your fine tip brush to fill in the top part of the pin and pick a metallic or glitter acrylic for the base or bottom part of the pin. I chose silver metallic and red matte colors which worked really well. Make sure to apply at least 3 coats of paint to both top and bottom areas. Let dry 10 minutes in between coats.  

Steps 4-6: Apply a medium layer of decoupage glue to the white part of your candle and sprinkle a generous amount of glitter. Since this glue tends to dry quickly, it's best to glue and glitter in parts rather than all at once. Let dry for at least 20 min. and shake off any excess glitter. To seal and protect the bottom color of your candles, apply at least 2 coats of gloss varnish and let dry for 15 min. Time to trim your candles! Cut assorted ribbon pieces (contrasting colors work best!) that wind completely around the candle's base. I used two strips of trim per candle. Glue gun into place. 

Step 7-8: Now to make the wick and flame of your candle! For the candle wicks, cut small bits of twine. In order for these twine wicks to hold up the flame, reinforce the wicks by coating them with tacky glue and let dry. Now whip up your flames. Draw a flame on cardstock to make a template, then trace and  2 flames from white felt and cut free-hand two tear drop shapes from the orange felt (2 flames/ 2 orange droplets per candle). Assemble your flame: using orange embroidery thread, stitch the droplet to the felt flame (see pic), glue gun the wick's tip to the inside of the flame (the wrong side). Attach both flame felt pieces together with a blanket stitch. Finally, glue the flames to the top your candles. 

Yay, you're done! Now it's time to pin your candles to the tree and admire they're glittery goodness, well that's what I normally do! Hope you've enjoyed these ornament tutorial posts. I had loads of fun making them for you! Now on to bigger things . . . holiday shopping, eeek! Sue

Tree Ornament Idea #2 – A Happy Snowman!

While decorating my tree, I knew I had to make some snowmen, but I had no idea how to go about making them. After much thought, I took out an unopened block of paperclay which I had bought a while back and got to work. I absolutely love how they came out and thought it would be nice to share these ornaments with you!

Supplies 1- large paint brush   2- white and orange acrylic paint   3- wire tinsel ribbon   4- embroidery thread in red and black and needle  5- white glitter pom poms, miniature black pom poms or tiny black buttons, and small red sequins   6- black felt/ red crushed velvet fabric   7- white coarse glitter           8- decoupage glue  9- gloss sealer  10- glue gun  11- paper clay   12- scissors

Step 1 - A block of paper clay will yield 6 snowman heads including their noses. Cut the block into 6 even pieces (separating a small piece for the nose). Wet your hands and knead the clay first, then mold into balls. Wet your hands as much as you need to achieve smooth and well-rounded balls(*).  Mold your smaller pieces into cones (your carrots!) and attach them to the heads. It's important that both pieces are wet, especially the base of your cone since the moisture will help glue both pieces together. Add texture to your carrot by etching lines on its surface with a needle. Set your heads aside and let them air dry for a full day. *Note: Make sure that you knead your clay with enough water, if not the clay will tend to crack upon drying.

Step 2 - Once your snomen heads are completely dry, apply at least 2-3 coats of white acrylic to each head and orange acrylic to each nose (let dry 15 min. between each coat). Now comes the fun part, apply a thin layer of glue to your snowman's head only (not the nose) and sprinkle a generous amount of glitter. Do the same with the rest and shake off the excess glitter; set your snowman aside to dry for at least 30 min. To avoid chipping from the snowman's nose, I sealed the color using a gloss varnish.  For the eyes I used mini black pom poms (tiny buttons work great too), and then attach them with a glue gun. Finally, create a happy smile for your snowman by cutting about .5" piece of black embroidery floss, cover the thread entirely with decoupage glue and shape it into a smile directly on the face. Let dry. 

Step 3 - To make a top hat, cut two circles (1.5" wide and 3/4" wide) and  1" h x 2.25" l rectangle. Assemble the hat (you can use felt glue or stitch it together). Grab a bit of green felt and create holly leaves using pinking shears. Add a red sequin to the leaves and glue gun it to the hat.   

Step 4 - To make a santa hat, cut out a triangle (sides are approx. 3.5" while base is 4" long) from some red velvet fabric. Sew, stitch or glue the right sides together.

Step 5 - Turn the santa hat inside out and cut about 3.75" of tinsel wire ribbon. Starting from the back of the hat (where the seam is), glue-gun the ribbon to the outer edge of the hat, then glue a glitter pom pom to the hat's tip. 

Step 6 - Still with me? Good, because that means you're almost done! The last thing you need to do is add a hanging string to your snowman. Cut some red embroidery floss (7" long),  and thread your needle with it (do not knot!). Create a loop that emerges from the outside of your snowman hat by taking your needle to the seam at the back of your santa hat(*), bring it through the inside of the hat and then rethread the needle with the other end of the thread and do the same. Both thread ends will now be inside the hat. Tie the ends together into a tight knot. Glue the knot to the top of the snowman's head, along with the hat. *For the top hat, take the needle through the top!

Pull the loop of the string and your snowman is ready hang on your tree! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and give it a go with your own cute snowmen ornaments. If you have any questions about this tute, please don't hesitate to ask! Talk soon, Sue