90% Faster Than Rotary Cutters
Showing posts with label teaching sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching sewing. Show all posts

Friday, August 2, 2024

Handstitching Project: Sew an Easy Felt Doughnut Pincushion

 This is a fun and satisfying project for all skill levels. From beginner to experienced. It is also useful! I usually do this project early in the school year along with a felt needle book and its fun to see them being used all year.

Supplies needed 2) 5 inch felt circles for the doughnuts, 1) 5 inch felt circle for the frosting. Cut 1 inch diameter holes in all three circles. Cut around the edge of the frosting decoratively. I have templates.  It is important for the center holes to be pretty close in size and position.


I made a video. I stitch in real time. Time will tell if this is the best way to do a video. Unfortunately, I had background music playing. There were a couple copyrighted songs. I opted to have those sections muted, I may re do the video in the future. So there are quiet parts. If you have something I need to add clarity to, please ask in the comments here or on youtube.  


First add the center doughnut holes in the doughnut and the frosting.




Then stitch the frosting to one of the doughnut pieces. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. I use a heavier thread or embroidery thread. I think I'm using a crochet thread, but I do a lot of second hand shopping and work with donations. So it works! I like to add sprinkles. This time I added an "x" for the sprinkles.



Next, right sides together stitch around the doughnut with regular thread. A running stitch works, but I ended up doing a backstitch.



Leave an opening. Do not stitch the doughnut hole yet!

Turn right sides out. Now it is time to sew the middle. I use an overcast stitch. Make sure to catch all the layers and stitch close together so the stuffing will not show.

Stuffing time!



I closed up the opening with a ladder stitch. I didn't get a photo! Please look near the end of the video.

Success!!












Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Easy Sewing Project: Make a Small Drawstring Bag

Supplies needed:
tee shirt knit 
(2) 1 3/4" x 21" 
cotton or cotton/polyester
(2) 3" x 10" for casing
(2) 10" x 10" for lining
(2) 10" x 10" for outside

I used my AccuQuilt cutter.

Hem the ends of the casing, double fold 3/8" wide.


Make a sandwich with the outer and lining, with the casing folded in-between.  Right sides together. 
Stitch all the way across. Backstitch at start and stop. About 3/8" seam allowance.

Match seams. Stitch all the way around, leaving a space in the lining to turn the bag right side out.
Watch for casing. You do not want to catch it in the side seam.

Turn right side out.

Stitch closed the hole in the lining.

Tuck lining in. Prepare to thread ties into casing.


Yay! Finished!

How many bags were completed in making of this video?
(Actually 6, my son confiscated one!)

Craft Haul! Fabric, Felt , and Fleece.

 Its time to start preparing for co op sewing classes. I picked up some fabric from a Facebook fabric swap group, some buy nothing local groups and Facebook Marketplace.




I use fabric cutters from AccuQuilt  it makes class prep go faster and lets the kids have more time for sewing. 

I plan to share some of my go to projects here and on youtube so be sure to follow if you'd like to inspire sewing in the next generation, or if you are just looking for some fun hand sewing projects for yourself!