Christmas Fabric Bundles

So you're thinking about making an apron, or a quilt, or a bunting, or place mats or a tablecloth and you just can't seem to find the right combination of fabrics.  Here are some beautiful fabrics in lovely combinations.  These bundles are all available in my Christmas Jul shop.

Put a Pocket on It

I made this apron to sell in my Etsy shop, Christmas Jul.  I used a pattern, fabric and trim from my shop to create this apron.  It is awfully adorable.

You can see the fabrics I used.  The  pattern I used is this one....

The directions are very easy to follow and the aprons are fun! to make.

I used the pocket pattern for this apron but I made mine a little different.  Here are my directions.

1.  I cut one pocket piece out of the peppermint fabric using the pocket pattern.  

2.  I made about a 2" fold in the pattern, to make a shorter pattern.  I pinned this shorter pattern to the nutcracker fabric and cut around it.

3.  With right sides together, pin the top edge of the small and the large pocket together.

4.  Sew, using a 1/4" seam

5.  Press the seam toward the nutcracker side of the pocket.  

6.  With right sides together, match the bottom of both pocket pieces and align pieces so side edges come together.  Pin.

7.  Using a 1/4" seam, sew around the pocket.  Be sure to leave a small opening to turn the pocket right side out.  You can see my opening is on the right hand side of this pocket.  I back stitch at the beginning and end of each line of stitching to hold the thread securely in place. 

8.  Turn the pocket right side out and press it into shape.  I use a pin to help me ease the fabric curves into place.  

9.  Pin the pocket onto the apron.  Sew it in place.  Using the needle adjustment feature on my machine, I move my needle two clicks to the right of center.  You can see in this picture that my foot has a line in the center   This helps to keep the seam line straight.  

This is one of a bazillion pocket patterns I use for my aprons.  

New Amy Butler Fabric

These new yummy Amy Butler fabrics have just arrived.  You can find these fabrics in my Faborama shop.

This is my delivery transportation.  I took this picture when I was on my way to the Post Office with my bag of goodies from Christmas Jul and Faborama.  You can see my red carrier is full of interesting packages to be sent far and wide. The trail to the Post Office in Autumn is full of color and the wonderful smells of the muskeg.  I love this time of year!

The Best Pillow Case Pattern Ever!

This is the best pillow case pattern ever.  You can choose your fabric and then whip this baby together in a few minutes.     

Standard Pillow Case

For each pillow case you will need:

1/4 Yard Cuff Fabric

3/4 Yard Pillow Body Fabric

2” Strip (optional) Cut WOF.  Iron the trim, lengthwise, wrong sides together.  You should have a 1”X 42” strip.

Place the cuff fabric on a hard surface, right side up.

Place the trim on top of the cuff, matching raw edges at the top end of the cuff.  Note, your salvage edges will be on each side of the cuff and the raw edges will be at the top and bottom.

Lay the pillow body fabric on top of the cuff and the trim, right side down, matching the raw edges.  PIN, PIN, PIN.... be sure to pin the three sections together securely.

Roll the pillow body up toward the pinned edge. Be sure to leave room for a seam.

Wrap the unpinned edge of the cuff fabric around the body fabric roll.  RE-PIN securely in place. 

Sew a 1/4” seam across the pinned edge, removing pins as you go.  Press the seam to set it.  Pull the pillow case body roll out of the sleeve case.  

Pull the pillow body from the center of the roll.

Press your seams flat.

Fold your pillowcase in half, right sides together.  Pin the trim of the pillow so it stays together when you cut.   Line your ruler up with the cuff of the pillowcase so your cut will be straight.  Then, trim the salvage edges off of your pillowcase.  

Cut the bottom of the pillow case to square it up.

 After your case is trimmed nice and straight, with fabric wrong sides together, pin the raw edges and sew them together using a 1/8" seam.

Trim the corners.

Turn the pillowcase inside out and pin the top and trim pieces in place.  Sew a 1/4” seam on the inside of the pillowcase, along the seam edges. This seam will encase the raw edge on first seam.

 Turn the pillowcase right side out and press the pillowcase one last time.

Happy Halloween

Today is the day I will begin to learn how to blog.