Made Monday

(is back!!)

and the very first thing we had to feature is this supper, upper dooopper cute cloud pillow! Made by Ananda Sasikirana (who is a blogger here and also teaches sewing here)! 

His little face is just perfect!

Springy Stash Buster

Sewn or not.. pennants are a super simple and springy stash buster. Inspired by a lovely customer and fellow blogger, Erin, I first made this small one for our front window and then set out to make another for above the fireplace. They go together quickly and are just so cheerful that I really want to sew some more! I think it'd be fun to string them around Aelyn's bunk bed, above the kitchen sink or across the front porch...  I wonder how many I could complete before the baby comes??

For more bunting/pennant inspiration and tutorials check out these blogs:

Bloom - No-Sew Pennant Banner Tutorial

Joyful Abode - how to make a Bunting

The Mother Huddle - No sew bunting using vintage handkerchiefs

April's Mini Matryoshkas

Little two and a half inch dolls, made to spread 

joy and cheer. 

These tiny girls love to be hung alongside the glowing lights of a tree or just carried in your pocket

strung amongst your keys. 

They're happy to be anywhere that they'll be smiled upon and praised. 

So sew some up for yourself and friends, and have 

Happy Holidays!

What you'll need: 

printed pdf pattern for Mini Matryoshkas

several colors of felt including skin toned felt for the doll's faces (I like to use 2 shades of the same color for the body of my dolls)

fabric marker or chalk pencil

pink (rosy) colored pencil

hand sewing and embroidery needles

applique pins - optional

fabric scissors (a small sharp pair helps greatly with the detailed cutting of little things)

paper scissors

clear, fast drying fabric glue like "Unique Stitch"

thread to match felt for doll body

black pearl cotton or floss

hair colored pearl cotton or floss

other bits of pearl cotton/floss to sew on flower embellishments

6 inches of complimentary yarn (or floss) for hanging

fiberfill/stuffing

How to make one:

First print and cut out all pattern pieces.

Choose the colors for your Matryoshka's hood, back and tummy. 

Next, you can either trace your pattern pieces onto the felt with a fabric marker or pencil, or you may opt to use itty bitty applique pins to pin the pieces down and cut around them. I use both methods depending on the pattern piece's shape and size.

Cut out you doll's face, hood, tummy and back of body. Be sure to mark where her hood overlaps her tummy piece.

Apply a tiny amount of glue around face and top edge of tummy. 

  Front view        -       Back view

Glue her face behind her hoods opening and then line hood up with the top of her tummy (along overlap line).

While the glue is drying choose and cut out your flower design. Feel free to play around and come up with your own flower and leaf combinations.

Click on photos for a larger view ;)

Attach your flower design to your doll's tummy. I use a single straight stitch to attach my leaves and either a french knot or cross stitch in the center of my flowers.

After the glue has dried, using a single strand of coordinating thread, take some small stitches around the base and opening of the hood, to secure your gals face and tummy.  

Next using a double strand of hair colored pearl cotton or floss, satin stitch her hair. Use the pattern as a guide for placement and stitch slightly under the hood as you go, so as to avoid any bald spots.

Now mark eyes, lashes and mouth placement and stitch with a single strand of black pearl cotton/floss. Use a twice wrapped french knot for the center of her eyes and straight stitches for her lashes and mouth. Draw on your doll's blushing cheeks with your pink colored pencil.  

On the back body piece, using a large needle, pass the 6" of yarn, knotted at the end, through center of felts loft and come up at the top of your dolls head, this will secure your dolls hanging loop, but you should not be able to see the stitch from the doll's back side (see photo bellow).

Wrong side/ inside doll    -     Right side/back of doll

Draw needle back through the center of the felt and out next to your original knot. It helps to hold the felt at the doll's head secure between two fingers as you do this, and you may need to reshape the felt a bit at the needles entry point. Knot the yarn an inch from the end, trim off excess and pull loop taut.  

Sandwich the two body pieces together.

Starting at the bottom right corner of your little lady's body, blanket stitch her front and back pieces together using a single strand of coordinating thread. Stop at the opposite corner, leaving the bottom open.

Stuff firmly. Use the end of your pencil to help push stuffing into her head and body.

Finish by closing her up with blanket stitch across the bottom.

Yay!! 

You've made a sweet little dolly to hang from your tree or anywhere that brings you joy.

Now make some more and give them to your friends. Everyone is sure to delight in their delicate cuteness!

Happy crafting! 

Lots of love, 

♥

April

Made Monday

A precious Oliver + S ruffle halter in crisp japanese linen gingham. Made by Amanda Sasikirana.

A Turtle and his Grassland

We just received these precious new mini patterns from Heather Bailey and as soon as I saw them I knew I had to make one.

I've decided to call him Carl.

I originally set out to make a girl turtle, complete with corsage, but when I finished the body and set the shell on top, I knew it was a gentleman turtle I had made. So now I'll have to make Carl a lady friend to keep him company. Then she can sport the pretty corsage on her girly tortoise shell.

As far as using Carl as a pin cushion... I just couldn't bring myself to stick him. I believe that if he could talk, he'd tell me that he much rather be a toddler's toy.

For extra kicks I whipped up this little grassland habitat so that Aelyn could set out with her new turtle friend, graze and explore. Yes, it's silly and a perhaps a bit pointless but for a 5 minute project I think it's sorta humorous and whimsical. Plus Aelyn thinks it's fun.

A few tips if you set out to make a turtle too: Cut all pieces as precisely as possible. I prefer to iron my interfacing onto the wrong side of my fabrics before cutting. This cuts down on time and eliminates any discrepancies between your fabric and interfacing pieces. Also, be certain to transfer all pattern markings, dark and precise.

As for the stuffing, a chopstick helped but for the next one I intend get one of these "Stuffing Forks" she refers to. I have a feeling it will make the job much easier.

Finally, as a famous tortoise might say... slow and steady wins the race!

To Make a Grassland

You'll need:

one 12"x 18" piece or two 12"x9" pieces of green felt

matching thread

scissors

sewing machine (you could also hand-sew)

and a dry iron

First cut the large piece of felt in half so that you have two 12x9 inch pieces.

One of these will be the base of the grass land.

From the other you will free hand cut the grass. I saved some of my larger triangular clippings to use as free standing grass blades. Cut your grass any way you like. Note: it stands best if it is no taller than 3" tall. Also for stability, try not to cut past the bottom inch.

After cutting all your grass play around with the layout. Keep in mind your grass will be about 1/4" shorter and standup relatively straight.

Once you have all your blades where you want then, flip over and pin.

Sew to base using a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim all threads.

Using a dry iron, lightly press blades upward from base.

If grass flops over, it may be too heavy. Try trimming it down and finessing it upward a bit. This should help it stand for you (the grass will naturally be a little floppy but shouldn't flop completely over).

Finally introduce your herbivore to it's new home!

Have a happy weekend.

'Til next time,

April

Softie Contest

Make a Mouse!

Some of you may remember last years Sew a Sheep, Holiday Softie Contest... it was such a fun event that we've decided to do it again. Yet this year we're asking you to Make a Mouse! or you can make many mice if you like.

So here's the deal:

Make a Mouse and bring him or her in to Sew To Speak by December 5th. We will have customers, including you, judge the mice. On December 19th, from 2-5pm we will host a holiday party, the votes will be tallied, winners will be announced and prizes given.

Here's the official Contest Rules:

1. Mice must be sewn. They can have other embellishments (embroidery, crochet, and etc.) but the body must be sewn.

2. Mice can be as small as you like but no bigger than 30 inches long.

3. You can use a pattern, book or create your own softy.

4. Mice must stay at the store until January 9th and then they are yours to take home.

5. Your Mouse or Mice must be given a names, so we know what to call them.

6. All entries must be in by close (5pm) Saturday, December 5th.

Prizes: We've upped the ante this year!

1st place will take home a $50 gift certificate

2nd place a $25 gift certificate

3rd place a $25 gift certificate

The winner's will also be photographed and published here for everyones blog viewing pleasure!

We can't wait to meet your mice, so get to making and bring them in as soon as you like, but no later than Dec. 5th :)

Divided Envelope Clutch

*the divided envelope clutch pattern has been fixed, sorry to anyone who was unable to download it previously*

***the new PDF pattern***

Hello blog friends...

Happy first day of Fall.

I thought I'd send a little project your way in case your looking for something quick, simple and satisfying to sew.

This is my Divided Envelope Clutch.

I designed this simple clutch some time ago and the first one I made was used for housing a few diapers and a small case of wipes for short outings/errand running with little one in tow. It's my strong belief that stylish accessories make all chores more fun. The size is just right to be carried alone or slipped into a larger purse while running out the door.

Recently, I shared this project with a clever friend who adapted it to fit her own needs by simply changing the scale of my pattern. "Ahhhha" I thought.  The possibilities of this silly little diaper clutch suddenly became endless.  Its design would be great for all kinds of uses. Shrink it way down for a cute little wallet, or enlarge it for a laptop sleeve.  I made the one in this post to carry coupons and a grocery list. And I have another in pieces on my sewing table,  sized it specifically to hold scissors and combs. It's to be a gift for my hairdressing sister in-law.

The size is easily rescaled to suit whatever your use may be.

Here's what you'll need:

1/3 yard* of fabric for exterior - I used Alexander Henry's Apples & Pears in Brown

1/3 yard* of fabric for interior - I used Kaffe Fassett's Spots in Red

1/3 yard* decor bond

spool of coordinating thread

fabric marker on chalk pencil

*you will need more if you decide to enlarge your clutch.

Here's how it's made:

First open, download and print the pattern (and if you wish to rescale simply print or copy at whatever percent you like i.e. 50%, 75%, 150%...)

Next Cut all pieces.

First cut your 3 full pieces on the fold; one from exterior fabric, one from interior fabric and one from decor bond. Using a fabric chalk or marker, transfer dots onto large exterior piece.

Then fold pattern at dash-line and place on fold and cut one from exterior fabric, 3 from interior fabric and two from decor bond.

Iron decor bond onto wrong-side of both exterior pieces and one small interior piece.

Next with right-sides facing attach the small exterior piece to one of the small lining pieces (without decor-bond) by sewing across the top with a 1/4 seam-allowance. Press seam open, fold right-sides out and press flat.

Do the same with the small lining piece w/decor bond and remaining small lining pieces. This will be your interior divider.

Now with right-sides facing attach the two larger pieces. Sew across rounded top from one dot to the other with a 1/4" seam-allowance. Clip along this top seam-allowance every few inches, being sure not to cut into your stitches.

Turn right-sides out and press well. 

Lay out pieces (as shown bellow). Start with largest piece first, lay exterior side up, next lay smaller exterior piece, exterior fabric facing down, finally place interior dividing piece on top.

Pin together and sew around all three sides with a 1/4" seam-allowance. Carefully trim seam-allowance to 1/8th inch.

Turn exterior sides facing out. Press neatly.

Have fun choosing a button.  I couldn't choose so I combined two :)

 Finally, stitch your buttonhole and sew on your button.

Now go out and enjoy. 

Till next time - ;) April 

Party Preparations and New Goodies too!

Hello shoppe blog sewer friends,
It has been nearly a month since my last post. I haven't meant to be neglectful, I've just been busy busy busy. Between trying to help out around the shoppe while simultaneously chasing baby, sewing feverishly through nap time, enjoying time outdoors, and trying not to be too neglectful of my housework and sweet husband, the blog just slipped onto the back burner for a bit.
But now I'm here, excitedly typing, because there are such wonderful things to announce.

First PARTY time is less than four days away!
Our Birthday Celebration is this Saturday, March 14th, from 11-5! Stop in to put your name in the jar for our "every half hour" prize drawing. Your name will stay in the jar all day so you don't have to be present to win! The prizes are awesome and I must say I'm almost jealous because being the daughter of the shoppe owner renders me disqualified to win (but don't worry about me, I get my perks too:} ).

Second, yesterday we received a wonderful shipment of NEW goods.

Two beautiful New books, hot off the press...
Heather Ross' new book "Weekend Sewing". Gorgeous, fresh and inspirational with stunning photography. This book is filled with great projects including many lovely dresses! and comes with patterns!

Sewing Green by Betz White is all about inspiring us to reduce our waste and reuse what we have. Amazingly creative, with diverse projects, her book includes templets and patterns. This lady breathes new life into ideas that have been around for decades. She shares ways to save money while not sacrificing a bit of style.

Several fun New Japanese treasures. Fabric from Kokka as well as some beautifully made Japanese trims...

This kitty print has the sweetest salvage edge I've ever seen!

Japanese trims are in limited quantities so get them while they're here:)








and New Oliver&S patterns...

adorable spring looks for both boys and girls, more designs not pictured.

Also, we have some new Alexander Henry fabrics recently , a couple lovely new patterns for little girl attire by an awesome indie designer called Sugar City and tons of fun new shoppe samples as well as gift ideas for all ages.
So come party with us, bring your friends and your little ones, it's gonna be fun fun fun and the weather should be nice too... We can't wait to see all of you!
Until next time-
April.