• How to use fabric dye on wool
    A Monthly Make 2011 - crafts - Crafts for adults - handmade - reviews - tutorial - vintage

    How to use fabric dye on wool

    July 28, 2011 - By 

    I was recently asked if I would like to try some DYLON fabric dyes and I umm-ed and ahh-ed for a few minutes, quickly racking my brain just how I could use them. I soon remembered that I had always wanted to dye a woollen blanket so purchased a beautiful vintage cream blanket with a Snugdown label (which shows it was produced by the Co-operative Wholesale Society). How to use fabric dye on wool You will need a wool blanket and some Dylon fabric dye (for hand use rather than machine) The blanket I bought was huge so I cut…

  • A Monthly Make 2011 - crafts - handmade - Patchwork & Quilting - sewing - swap

    Birds mini art quilt

    June 30, 2011 - By 

    I signed up to the Summer 2011 Handmade Gift Exchange and exchanged a couple of emails with my partner who seems to have similar interests to me. I’ve been meaning to make something from Scandinavian Stitches for a while, the book is full of amazing projects, and I put my own spin on the birds mini art quilt. I got to use my favourite bondaweb for the bird applique (which I finally feel I’ve mastered) although missed out the quilting as I didn’t want to ruin the quilt top! I also got to try some freehand machine stitching on my…

  • A Monthly Make 2011 - Christmas - crafts - gingerbread - handmade

    Monthly Make – May

    May 26, 2011 - By 

    I had a whopping 107 entries to my Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway. I loved reading everyone’s comments on what they would make with the Royal Wedding fabric and I am pleased to announce the winner is Sallie. Congrats, Sallie! Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas? One of my favourite sewing books is Fa La La Felt and I can’t resist working my way through all the projects. I’ve made a lot of the patterns from it but these little felt gingerbread people really took my fancy! They were quick to make although I need to perfect the…

  • A Monthly Make 2011 - clothing - handmade

    Monthly Make – April

    April 14, 2011 - By 

    Longer, warmer days make me want to get on with my long list of sewing projects. This month I’ve made a cute tshirt for Edward from a paper doll set which I picked up at the Spring Country Living Fair. Do you remember the paper dolls you had as a child? The clothes never seemed to fit or stay on my paper dolls which is why I was happy to see one which could be used as appliques with a bit of help from bondaweb. I ironed the little boy onto the front of a plain white tshirt and put…

  • A Monthly Make 2011 - handmade - sewing

    A Monthly Make – March

    March 30, 2011 - By 

    This months’ effort was made for a swap to make a Mug Rug. If you haven’t heard of these before they’re basically a small quilt which you can use for your tea and biscuits. They’re a great project if you’re new to quilting and can be completed in under an hour. I used this great tutorial from Contented and love my little mug rug. I was very sad to send it on it’s way across the Atlantic. I have to admit I struggled with the binding but it was a lovely little project to make.

  • #WWback2best - A Monthly Make 2011 - baby - Crafts for adults - handmade - sewing

    A monthly make – february

    March 2, 2011 - By 

    How is it March already? I’m slightly late in posting my February monthly make but it is something rather special: a lovely dinosaur blanket for Edward’s first birthday. I found the pattern in an old issue of Sew Hip magazine and used a vintage blanket and Amy Butler fabric. The finished blanket is slightly smaller than the original pattern as I wanted to make it for his cot. I’ve embroidered the bottom edge with his name and the date of his first birthday and hopefully he’ll treasure it.

  • A Monthly Make 2011 - handmade - sewing

    A monthly make – January

    January 31, 2011 - By 

    This year I wanted to try something different for my Valentine’s Day card and I decided to make an early start on something handmade.   The envelope is made from felt but lined with cotton and holds a special Valentine message from Edward to his daddy.     I’ve signed up to The Felt Fairy’s A Monthly Make 2011 challenge – this is for January.