Little House Lavender Bags

Use an old sweater and a little embroidery to make pretty little house lavender bags.

With autumn well and truly on us, we've been looking out our warm cosy clothes. Several wool jumpers had got past the repair stage and so I've been experimenting doing a little felting. One cream coloured jumper was a pretty small size to start with but after a hot wash in the machine it shrunk up to next to nothing. This jumper needed to be made into some thing small!

I almost forgot to take a before photo, it did have 2 sleeves! The original jumper was quite fine so the felted material was not especially thick. I had so much fun making some little house shaped scented sachets filled with lavender.

To make your own you will need:

Felt, an old felted jumper/cardigan or shop bought
Scraps of fabric - something with small patterns work best
A length of ribbon about 5.5"/14cm
Embroidery thread and needle
A sewing machine and thread
Scrap paper

First you need to make a house shaped pattern and a roof pattern.

Cut 2 houses from felt and 1 or 2 roofs from patterned fabric. Originally I wanted to have the patterned roof front and back, it's possible but it is tricky to stop the fabric on the back puckering and catching when you stitch. It's your choice, but having tried both ways I'd recommend only putting a fancy roof on the front.
Cut a tiny door from patterned fabric about 3cm x 2cm

Pin the fabric pieces in place then machine stitch the roof onto one felt house piece just along the bottom, and stitch round the door on 3 sides as shown.

Using 2 strands of embroidery thread, stitch a little window and some plant life. I used simple straight stitches, lazy daisy stitches and french knots.

When you are happy with your embroidery, layer the 2 felt house pieces wrong sides facing and pop the ribbon in the top folded in half to form a hanging loop. Pin it all carefully as the felt has a tendency to move once you start stitching. Stitch round all the sides apart from the bottom. Go slow and take care as you sew through the fabric roof, I found it liked crease a little bit and catch on the stitches.

Make a funnel with a piece of scrap paper and use to fill the house with lavender. I found 3 good pinches was about right.

Stitch the bottom of your house closed.

Tidy up the threads, I am a bit obsessive and like to sew the top thread through to the back, knot them and then sew them into the bag. you could just risk it a snip them off. 

Now make loads more!! 

If you don't want to make your own, these little lavender bag houses are now listed in my brand new Etsy shop.

Polka Dot Embroidered Tote Bag

Some simple embroidery on bright polka dot fabric turned into a sweet little tote bag.

Red and white polka dot is a favourite pattern of mine, and last November the lovely Caroline from CJ Made had a sewing supplies giveaway that I was lucky enough to win which contained a load of red and white polka dot fabric. I made a top for myself and with some of the left overs I thought I'd try a little embroidery inspired something that I'd seen on pinterest.

source: Harujion Design

To make an embroidered polka dot tote bag you will need:

1 x piece of polka dot fabric 36cm(14") x 77cm(30") for the main body of the bag

2 x pieces of polka dot fabric 10cm(4") x 61cm(24") for the handles

Embroidery thread in your choice of colours, mine are DMC 3824, 3753, 3819 and 973

A sharp needle, scissors, sewing machine, sewing thread

First you need to decide on a design and where you want it. I did a band of flowers to run across the top of the bag. The rest is a centralised band of running stitch. This is a gift for my niece so I added her name to the back too just as an added extra. Just make sure any fancy design element is at least 3" away from the short edge of the fabric or it will get in the way of the top hem later.

The embroidery is worked with 3 strands of thread throughout.

Starting roughly in the centre, stitch about 5" (12cm) of running stitch then lazy daisy flowers on 3 dots in a row, then continue with running stitch the full length of the fabric.

Then pick another colour and repeat the process, doing the same number of rows each side of your original central one.

I did 3 lines of each of my 4 colours so 12 lines in total. To add the name on the back I used a water-soluble marker to write in a fancy font where the last line of stitching was due to go, then worked it in backstitch.

I then waited about for nearly 3 months and this birthday was imminent to make it up into a bag. You don't have to wait this long! Originally this was going to be a cushion but my brother and his family are moving overseas later this year and I suddenly realised that a cushion would just be an extra bulky thing to pack. A bag can roll up to nearly nothing and just tuck in a case so a much better present under the circumstances. Maybe it was just as well I didn't rush to make the cushion cover after all!

So, now it's time to turn your embroidered piece into a tote. Start by pressing everything with the iron, then fold the main piece in half WRONG SIDES TOGETHER and using a small seam allowance (1/4" or 1/2 cm ish) sew up either side. Now turn the bag inside out, press the edges flat and then stitch these seams again, this time with a 1/2" or 1.25cm seam allowance.

This makes a french seam which just makes the inside a bit tidier, especially for people like me who don't have an overlocker (serger). Turn the bag back out the right way and admire your lovely neat seams. 

Fold and press a narrow hem at the top open edge then fold over again an inch (2.5cm) Pin but don't sew yet.

Now make the handles, make both the same. Fold and press a narrow hem on both long sides of your handle pieces, then fold in half again, lining up the edges.

Top stitch down both sides.

Tuck one end of one handle under the hem you made on the front of the main bag piece, about 5cm (2") from the side seam.

Fold it back up on itself and secure with a pin. Repeat for the other end of the handle on the other side of the bag, making sure your handle is smooth and not twisted.

Now repeat on the back half of the bag with the other handle. 

Top stitch round the top of the bag, just away for the hem edge. Repeat another line of top stitching around the top edge of the bag.

See how nice and neat that french seam makes the inside - makes me so happy!

Embroidered Sampler Bag

Give an inexpensive pre made bag a pretty traditional sampler effect.

Way back in February I visited the CHSI stitches show at the NEC near Birmingham and had a fab time seeing lots of lovely new trends and products in the craft world. One of my favourite bits of the day was the bloggers brunch where I got to meet some of my blogging friends in real life, made some new blogging friends and had a lovely workshop and goody bag from DMC. 

At the show, whilst we chatted, we all started a little embroidery on the pre made drawstring bags using some printed Magic Sheet and Coloris thread from DMC. Most people cut out letters to make a phrase or name but I stuck the whole alphabet to my bag with the idea to make a sampler style embroidery. I did share the beginnings of this project on Instagram at the time.

You just peel the backing from the Magic sheet and press it firmly to your fabric and start stitching. I used a simple backstitch with 2 strands of the Coloris thread. I dotted the i & j with french knots. Once the alphabet was completed I just rinsed it under the tap and the magic sheet turned to jelly then vanished.

Once it dried I used a washable pen to draw a wavy border.

I worked the embroidery on the border in the same way as the alphabet, 2 strands of Coloris thread with backstitch and lazy daisy stitches for the flowers and leaves.

The blue washable pen just washes out as easily as the magic sheet did. After a good ironing I was happy with the look but I was a bit disappointed that the darker pieces of the thread showed through where I had dragged them across the back between letters. It doesn't really show in the photos but in real life it was enough to annoy me! 

This is what slowed me down and made this take 2 months to finish. after leaving it on one side for a while the solution was a quick simple lining. 

I used a little bit of floral fabric from my stash. I just made a bag the same size as the drawstring bag, then wrong side out, popped it inside the embroidered bag. Then I turned the top edge under and top stitched round just under the drawstring casing.

I am happy now! A lovely new project bag to keep my next little make all together.

A Craftiosity Craft Kit Review, a Cork Passport Holder

A review of April's Craftiosity craft kit subscription box to make a cork passport holder.

I was given one of the Craftiosity April craft kit boxes in return for an honest review.  I love the idea of subscription boxes, a present that drops through the letter box regularly with surprise goodies - what's not to like. The box from Craftiosity arrived last week and I saved it for the bank holiday weekend so I could enjoy playing with it's contents. First thing to say is how beautifully the box was packaged. I know it should be what's on the inside that counts but pretty packaging makes it all feel like a real treat.

This April box contains everything needed to make a cork passport holder, not just materials either, a couple of tools are in there too. My Craftiosity box contained: Cork Fabric Bright Blue Felt Bondaweb Linen Thread An Awl An Overstitch wheel Needle & Thimble Fabric Clips A Template Full Instructions
As well as the printed instructions in the box, Craftiosity also have a blog where they publish a video tutorial for the projects in case you need extra help with any of the instructions.
I did wander slightly from the instructions in the kit, I just can't help myself - sorry not sorry! The lovely folks at Craftiosity do say "make it your own way" and give some ideas for personalisation so I feel it is not only allowed but encouraged! I used a water soluble pen to draw a paper aeroplane on the front piece of my passport holder before I attached the felt so back was hidden by the felt later.

The kit had more than enough of the linen thread to add this extra embroidery.

I also switched the stitching round the edge from a backstitch to a simple running stitch. I found the thread was pretty tough to pull through the holes I'd made in the cork even though I'd used the awl to make them, and with the thimble to protect my poor fingers!  Inside, I did the first lines of decorative stitching as backstitch as per the instructions but going through the holes that second time was tricky.

The finished passport holder is sturdy enough with just a running stitch so I'm happy. My passport fits in perfectly too!

I love the look and feel of this cork fabric, I've seen a few ideas of things other people have made with it but I'm not sure it is something I would have gone out and bought just to experiment with. And THAT is the beauty of a kit like this, everything you need to try something new is included.

To be completely honest I'm not sure I would treat myself to a box subscription like this, but only because I have a ridiculously large stash of craft materials as it is. I think they make the most brilliant gifts though, especially if you know someone who is new to crafting and who doesn't have a lot of equipment or a big stash of materials.

The Craftiosity boxes are £20 each if you buy them individually, or at a discount if you buy more or subscribe - all the details of the different options are on the Craftiosity website here.

I had a little bit of the cork fabric left over so I was able to make a keyring too.

I'll share the tutorial for that tomorrow. The tutorial is here if you fancy a peek.