I love thrift store shopping, and crafting. The two go hand in hand, quite often.
I am an elementary reading teacher, and right now I have 50 students. I always put up a small Christmas tree in my classroom, and usually have ornaments on the tree that students can choose to keep.
I found a bag full of small round “gold” rings, and my thought was that they were snap-together frames for a craft project. Knowing there were plenty in the bag for one per student, I bought it. Little did I know, they were actually curtain rings. No snap together parts.
No worries. I got them home, fiddled around a little, and decided there was plenty of gluing surface to cut paper in a circle and glue to the back. I got out my new crafty circle cutter and found 1 5/8″ is the right measurement.
I plan to print a photo of each student to put in the center of 50 of the rings.
I counted out 50, and found at least that many remaining in the bag, so I found some scraps and this is what I did. Simple, cute, and I may revise it at some point.
I had a small scrap of pine tree fabric and it covered the backs of three of the rings. A little bit of ribbon, and it’s a simple ornament. I will probably work up a small tribute on the back saying it’s a gift from Mrs. M.
I needed a new eyeglass case, and I thought I would write the tutorial as I’m making it. It’s pretty simple and very fast to make!
First, I needed a scrap of cotton fabric for the outside, some fusible interfacing, and soft flannel for the lining.
Shown above is the old eyeglass case I had been using. It fit some previous smaller glasses I carried, but I needed something a little larger. I cut all three pieces of fabric 6 inches long and 5 5/8 inches wide. Fuse the interfacing to the back side of the outer fabric. I had to piece the fabric I chose because it was very long and not very wide.
Place the wrong sides of the flannel and the outer fabric together and pin.
Choose something large and round, about the size of a dinner plate, to make a curved corner. You are looking at the inside of the case, and the curved edge will be the upper left. Trim where you mark.
Use a short, narrow zigzag to finish the edges. On my machine, the settings were 3.0 wide and 1.0 long. Stitch only the curve first.
Fold in half, left over right, so that the edges meet. Starting at either the top or bottom edge, stitch around 3 sides. You are finished!
If you find this is too large for your glasses, it’s easy to cut at the right edge and stitch again.
I love making these. I’ve made two for myself, one for my mom, and put several in my Etsy store. Lined with soft flannel, they will keep the screen free from scratches and the interfacing makes the whole thing hold its shape.
Now it’s your turn to make your own. Put your personality into it! There are so many novelty fabrics that in a very short time you will find several you can’t live without. My solution? Make them all! Also a great way to use an orphan quilt block from a previous project.
Start by measuring your device. Smartphone, slider, clamshell, iPod, iPad, anything. Measure the longer side, shorter side, and depth. For instance, my ancient iPhone is approximately 4.5 x 2.5 x .5. Approximate is close enough.Add shorter side twice plus the depth. For mine, that would be 2. 5 + 2.5 + .5, or 5.5. There will be bulk from the seam on the inside, so add a little, plus the fold takes up some bulk, and the seam at the top edge.
I’ve been using a 6 inch square, which works just fine, and you can see that the length will fit inside, as long as I take scant 1/4″ seams. You will cut a square of outer fabric, one of fusible interfacing, and one of flannel.
Note: if you have fabric with a one-way design, cut it 1/2″ longer than you need, cut the length in half, lay right sides together and stitch a 1/4″ seam. This will be the bottom of the cell phone case and the bottom of the one-way design should be at this seam. Now your design will be right side up on both sides of your cell phone case.
In this photo, I have highlighted the seam and the direction of the print in green.
Lay the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the outer fabric and press with your iron. Layer the wrong side of your flannel (if there is one) to the wrong side of the fused outer fabric and interfacing.
Use a strip of coordinating fabric or binding and bind opposite edges of the fabrics.
Fold so that the flannel is to the outside and the outer fabric to the inside. Stitch with a narrow seam at the sides.
Turn.
It’s that easy!
Alternate method: no binding.
For this one I used two smaller pieces of flannel so there is a pieced seam.
Lay fabrics with right sides together and stitch at opposite ends.
Turn and press.
If desired, topstitch at the seams.
Turn outer fabric to the inside and stitch the side seams.
I’ve had a bit of fun working up some adorable and fast iPhone cases. I carry my phone in one, recently gave one to my mom after she bought an iPhone, and decided to make some from stash to sell in my Etsy store.
I’m the kind of person who would rather make something (if possible) than buy it. Once I saw a dashboard mount for a GPS in the store, I knew I could figure out how to make something that would work.
I started twice, and there may still be some revising to do for looks, but I’m pleased with the results.
Materials:
scrap vinyl (I used a banner)
rubber non-skid fabric
plastic disc from the GPS
cotton fabric, approximately 4″ by 12″
weight (sand, rice, beans, seed, etc)
Start with a circle on the scrap vinyl, approximately 5-6 inches in diameter. Cut around that circle. In the center, place your disc that came with the GPS and draw around it. You have to be sure not to sew within that circle later.
Fold the white cotton fabric in half and press. Sew the raw edge to the outer edge of the circle using a zigzag stitch.The raw edge will be hidden in the middle of the weight tube.
Fold the other edge of the cotton fabric and pin to the outside of the circle drawn earlier. You will be taking darts and inserting many pins.
The end of the fabric will overlap the start. Stitch down with a zigzag. Leave the end open for pouring in the weight, but stitch down where it began.
Using a funnel, pour your choice of weighty material inside the tube. You may have to work it around to where it was stitched down. Keep pouring until it is quite full, then stitch down the end.
Remove the paper from the adhesive on the disc and stick it down to the vinyl in the center. On the bottom side, glue the non-skid rubber fabric. Your dash mount is ready to use.
I was pondering the making of a small book purse, of the style that opens at the top. It has always been awkward to me to glue the side pieces in and glue the straight piece into the book cover. I wondered if I could figure out how to sew it all together as one piece, then glue. I think I hit on how to do it.
Since I am using quilting cotton, I used two layers and even decided to have the outer layer a sky blue blender, and the inner layer as a lining, in white on white. For the main straight piece of the lining, I added interfacing to the middle. I’ve found that the craft glue tends to bleed through thinner fabrics. Layer the fabric in this order: interfacing on the bottom, outer fabric facing up, lining fabric facing down. The right sides are together.
For the side pieces, shaped like triangles, I omitted the interfacing because I want them to easily fold together inside the purse when in use. I sewed a straight seam where the top of the piece is, turned and pressed, and then topstitched with a decorative stitch that coordinates with the book cover.
I marked the outer edges of the book cover when open as far as I want the purse to open. To mark the second piece, I stacked the pieces, poked pins through at the points of the line drawn, and turned it over to draw the same on the other piece.
Mark on the straight piece the straight edge of the two long sides of the book cover, with marks for the edges of the cover and the spine portion.
Trim the triangle piece close to the stitching lines marked. Insert it lining side up between the lining and outer fabrics. Line up the marks for the spine on both white fabrics. Sew only that portion of the line.
Make a diagonal clip at the corners, on the side piece only. Pull one side of the side piece so that the stitching lines are lined up and pin like crazy. I was afraid this part would shift on me, but it didn’t. Then stitch just that portion.
Do the same for the other side of the same piece.
Of course, you would repeat for the side piece that goes on the opposite side of the purse. You may need to carefully maneuver the pieces as you sew. This part doesn’t show in the pictures, but trim the fabric close to where you stitched.
Reach inside and pull the side pieces out, turning the white lining fabric to the other side of the whole piece.
Now you have one piece, a complete purse liner! Time to finish the two upper edges.
I took short lengths of bias binding. Line up the stitching line on the binding with the edge where the side piece ends. Do the same on the other side, and pin between, making sure not to stretch the bias binding. Repeat for the other side.
After stitching, trim the excess fabric.
Pull the binding to the inside, pin in place, and stitch.
I chose to use a webbed belt for the handle of this purse. You would attach handles in the manner you choose. When I glue, I glue beneath the purse portion.
Use plenty of craft glue on the spine portion, carefully place your purse lining, and press into place. When it dries, you can glue the rest of the purse into place.
I’m posting this before the glue is dry enough to finish gluing, so I plan to update this post with the finished picture of the purse.
If I can make something, I don’t see the sense in buying it. I needed a business card holder, and so I set about figuring out how to make one of fabric. The shape is like a folded strip, with a front lip that holds the cards in, a bottom edge that determines how many cards fit, a backrest for the cards to lean against, and a support leg to hold it upright.
First, I looked through my stash. I would need a fabric that says “quilt” to people, and I found this cute heart blocks fabric in really bright colors. I found a scrap of fusible stiff interfacing, and my ribbons.
Measure two pieces of fabric approximately 5 inches wide by at least 8 inches long.
Fuse each on the back side with interfacing.
I wanted the front lip of the business card holder to have the design facing upward, so the fabric for the back side of the item has the design upside down. You’ll understand why as we go, and if it doesn’t matter with your pattern, disregard this.
Place the two pieces of fabric with right sides together. Measure and mark your sewing lines on the back. You will basically sew a square with two openings. The shorter sides are 4 inches in this sample, and the longer sides are 7 3/4 inches. I determined this because I wanted the front lip and the bottom edge to each end up at 1 inch, and the backrest and support portions each should be 2 1/2 inches finished. I added 1/4 inch three times for topstitching.
Cut two lengths of ribbon to 2 inches, and two lengths of ribbon to 3 inches. These will help support the framework and keep the business cards from sliding off the side. Place them in the seam lines so the shorter lengths are on the left and right sides of the very front portion. Caution: Don’t sew them to the outside as shown! I did this and had to clip threads and do it correctly! You need to have them sandwiched between the right sides of the fabric. Use this photo as *placement* only. Place your longer ribbon lengths so they come out at the back edge, which is the support of the card holder.
Sew around the edges, leaving an opening on both sides where the section is next to the support section. (the second of the two larger sections)
Trim seams, clip corners, turn right side out.
From the front edge where the shorter ribbons are, fold up 1 inch and topstitch.
From the back edge where the longer ribbons are, fold back 2 1/2 inches, topstitch.
There is one more topstitching seam, 1 inch from the front topstitched seam, and 2 1/2 inches from the back topstitched seam. Fold up and topstitch.
You have the basic shape made. Tuck the ribbon ends into the opening and pin. Both the front ribbons and the back ribbons will go into the same opening.
I used quilting thread and a sharp needle, and stitched the opening closed on both sides, taking care to catch the ribbon for the full length.
Press to shape with your iron, and fill with business cards.
It always does, I can’t help it. Well, of course I can help it, but when it’s so darn cheap at the thrift stores, I don’t want to stop myself.
Yesterday, Monday, I had plenty of errands to run for the camping trailer. I was able to squeeze in visits to two thrift stores that are favorites of mine. Here’s part of the haul:
This was the contents of a bag for $1.99. There are scraps of corduroy in 5 different colors, a bit of velour, and a heavy fabric print, all of which can go to make great book purses.
I found two Halloween prints (one is Debbie Mumm, though I don’t pay much attention to the names in the selvages), one tiny gingerbread men print, a crackle paint texture print, and a great floral. All were $1/yard and I’m sure at that price I can find plenty of uses for them.
Shopping also means books! These are the books I picked up to make purses out of. The two in the foreground were irresistible! The exotic print was what I found after taking off the dust cover, and the ideas for the purse are already swimming in my head. the small photo album with shells on the cover will make a great evening bag, and I’ve already started working on it. I added a length of chain with seaside charms, and started choosing fabrics.
It was my intention to take enough photos of the process to do a tutorial here on book purses, but I ran into some difficulty with the materials I chose. Hence, no tutorial today. I will soon, though. I love the concept of sharing my abilities with others that appreciate and want to do their own.
Normally, this means I do plenty of quilting, but not this time. I did some shopping (thrift store) and reading, and catching up on other things.
Yesterday I shopped, read, and napped. I needed the nap. The sun was so gorgeous. I started out reading in a chair in my yard, and closed my eyes. I woke with a headache and a sunburn.
Today I relented and shopped again. How can you pass up a bargain like 5 for $1? One of my favorite thrift stores does this every Sunday. One color tag is $.25 each or 5/$1. Another color tag is half off. I filled a basket with 11 items for myself, mostly knit tops but also one silk and one linen, and two for my husband. Then I found 3 children’s books that I can take to school for my students to check out, and a hardcover novel for myself. The total was just over $16. I felt great! The most expensive item was my hardcover book at $2.98.
So, when I got home I had to try on all my goodies. I have 3 piles: one for later, when I lose about 10 pounds; one for “fits right now”; and one to alter in some way. I took the alterations pile to my sewing room and got to work. I took out shoulder pads, sewed down facings that flopped out into the open, trimmed the underarm and inner seam of a knit top, and took off cuffs and hemmed the sleeves of the linen shirt so that it now has 3/4 sleeves with a small V placket. This is the back view of the linen shirt, where all the embroidery is.
Next, I remembered a book I had set aside for making a book purse from, and realized how perfect it would be for a graduation gift. My niece (by marriage) just graduated from college as a veterinary tech. The book is Merck’s Veterinary Manual. What I liked about the book when I found it (at a thrift store, of course!) was how thick it was. That would make a decent sized purse.
I shopped my stash, first, and found some fabric that is a knit-backed faux suede. I also had an adjustable webbing strap. I started measuring and cutting, sewing and gluing, and I have a gift all made now.
Just a couple of hours of work, and she is going to love it, I can almost guarantee it.
Quilt in Progress 