marie-madeline studio

festive posies

 

Now really, does it get any cuter than this?!  We don't think so.  That's why we want to show you all how to make these sweet & festive fabric posies, too!

Festive Posies...

Here's what you'll need to get started:

~fabric scraps from the Darla collection (find the exact pieces here)

~scissors (for cutting out circles)

~a yo-yo template (or a regular old drinking glass... something with a perfectly circular shape, about 3 1/2" in diameter)

~a needle and matching thread (a thimble, too!)

~some fun, sparkly buttons (we found these faux rhinestones at JoAnn Fabrics)

1.  Using your yo-yo template or glass, trace circles onto the back of your fabric scraps using a soft pencil; cut the shapes out.  You'll need exactly 5 fabric circles per posy.  (We like to make our posies all from one fabric... but be creative!  These would be really cute with multiple monochromatic fabrics as well.)

 

2.  Fold your first petal (one fabric circle) into quarters.  Repeat for four more petals.

 

3.  Thread your needle and tie a knot, knotting both thread ends together.  Using a running stitch (a rather long one), start sewing along the raw edge of each petal, through all layers.  Thread on petal after petal until all five are on your thread.

  

4.  Now, pull 'em up tight!  Attach the first and last petals with a few hand stitches, and knot off your thread.

  

 

5.  Position your flowers on the shirt you're embellishing.  (And we'd just like to add that these little posies would look equally adorable on your own cardigan.  Or jacket, or tee, or bag, or... well, you get the idea.  They'd make cute bows, and would look smashing on a headband!)

 

Tack them on by hand, stitching down through the petals and up through the center of each flower securely.  Place your button in the center of the "hole", and stitch that onto your shirt as well.  For extra button stability, add a tiny piece of interfacing behind your shirt and sew through it too.

Ta-Da!

 

Oh, and we put a posy on the back of Ellie's little shirt, too!  These are so fun and easy to make... once you start, it's almost impossible to stop.  As always, we'd love to see pictures of your creativity!  So send us some shots of your own festive fabric posies, okay?

More on that sale soon, Lord willing!

xo~ the Long ladies   

Special thanks for the lovely pictures of Ellie go to our friends the Pearlstein family.  Visit Clay's blog for other examples of his excellent work!      

simple gift wrap~

Abiah had a lovely birthday!  We wanted to share this little idea with you... we used some of our "leftover" yarn to decorate her presents.  The colorful threads coupled with some small squares of scrapbook paper made creative-looking (and inexpensive) gift wrap!  And she loved it all. 

  

Rag-eddy Rug-eddy

We are so glad you all liked our bathroom re-do!  That rag rug is the recipient of so many comments... and it's such an easy peasy project.  But we're warning you-- making only one is virtually impossible. 

Find instructions here!

  

Oh yes, and we'll add a link to the tutorial list in our sidebar!

pillowcase pizazz!

Well!  Here's that new project we were talking about the other day.  Pillowcases... aren't they too cute?  We like to sleep on pretty pillowcases, especially colored ones, embroidered ones, vintage ones, polka dot ones... you know?  Now you can make some, too, because they are very fast and easy.

a regular old pillowcase...

This tutorial is for a standard size pillow.  All seam allowances are 1/2".  You will need two different fabrics and matching thread.

cutting out...

For your pillowcase:: first, cut your 45" wide fabric into a piece that's 21 1/2" long.  Then cut from the fold to 22".  (You will pretty much be shaving off the selvage edge.)  You should end up with a piece of fabric that is 21 1/2" wide by 44" tall.

For the band:: cut a strip of fabric 14" wide by 21" from the fold out.  That's 14" by 42".

1. Open out your piece of pillowcase fabric and re-fold it with the wrong side out.  Stitch along the two long edges.  This will form the main body of your pillowcase.  Finish your seams using a zigzag or serge stitch.

 

2. Turn your pillowcase right side out and press thoroughly, fully extending the corners.

   

3. With right sides together, stitch the two short ends of your band piece together to form a "necklace".  Press seams open.

 

4.  Fold your necklace in half longways, with the wrong sides together.  Slide the "necklace" over the end of your pillowcase, raw edges together.  Pin and stitch.  Finish seams.

    

5.  Press the seam toward the pillowcase.  Topstitch at 1/4" along the edge of the pillowcase, right above the band.

   

Ta-da!

 

  

(Pop Garden fabrics by Heather Bailey) 

Sew Simply: coaster cuteness!

And here is the second project we had in mind!  So get ready, because these handy little coasters make lovely and frugal gifts.

the square coaster...

you will need::

--fabric scraps (at least 5" x 5")

--thin batting (we used warm & natural cotton batting, but less expensive polyester batting works just as well-- you can find it in your local large-chain craft store.)

--matching thread

--embroidery floss (in a complimentary color) & sharp needle with a large eye-- optional

***All seam allowances are 1/4"!

1. Start by creating your pattern, using a piece of cardboard (from a cereal box, the back of a notebook, or whatever).  We made our pattern 4 1/2" square, so our coasters would finish at 4".  Using your pattern and a pencil, trace a square onto the wrong side of your fabric.  For each coaster, cut out 2 fabric squares and 1 batting square.  (Round coaster tutorial coming soon!)

    

2.  Layer your three pieces (front, back, & batting) in this order (very important!)

~back, with right side up

~front, with right side down

~batting

So it should look like this (left picture shows layers-- right picture is the "finished" stack)...

     

3.  Pin through all three layers.  Stitch around all edges, leaving a gap of about 2" in one side.  Clip corners.

    

4.  Turn your coaster right side out, fully extending the corners.  Press carefully.

    

5.  Slipstitch gap closed.  Use your embroidery floss to make a decorative running stitch around the edges of your coaster, if desired.  Or topstitch around the edge at 1/4", using your sewing machine.

    

Wrap them up smartly, and give them away.  Or pour yourself a Coke, and enjoy using your new coaster!

We would love to see pictures of your finished projects!   

cast your vote (just for fun...)

We've been making quilt tops lately!  It's really a good lesson in different personalities, you know?  It is pretty amazing to see what all of us pick out.  

And truthfully, we've made dozens and dozens of quilts, but we've never used one single quilt pattern-- they've always been "made up" patterns.  So, for something really "different" we decided to use a free quilt pattern of Amy Butler's (the Mid Mod one).  We chose to alter it slightly so that it would turn out bigger (and the borders are different sizes). 

Now, for fun, we want you to all leave a comment and "cast your vote" for your favorite quilt top!  What do you think?

   

                                                        quilt top #1 ~Swell

 

                                                   quilt top #2 ~ Ava Rose

   

                                                 quilt top #3 ~ Pop Garden

PS  These quilt tops are Kristie's, Apphia's, and Achaia's... can you guess whose is who's?

Sew Simply: basic stitches and a fabric flower!

Yay!  Here we are to our first project!  Yes, it is very simple, and it is all hand-sewn.  But it's also a very cute fabric flower.  And it's so quick to whip up that you can make one for each of your friends.

First, a look at the slipstitch... this is the stitch commonly used to whip gaps in lining closed, or wherever you want to patch something without your stitches showing.  We've used very bright un-matching thread, so you'll be able to see more clearly.

   

The running stitch... (good for gathering or embellishment-- also the stitch used for quilting)

 

See how nicely it gathers up?  That's why the running stitch is what we'll use to make our fabric flower.

the fun fabric flower...

you will need::

--1 strip of fabric, approximately 4" to 5" wide

--matching thread

--one big button

--medium sized safety pin

1. Press your strip of fabric in half, wrong sides together, to form one long, thin strip.  Using your scissors, round off the edges of your fabric strip.

   

2. Start your running stitch at one end of your strip (along the raw edge-- not the pressed edge), and continue all the way down until you reach the other end.  Pull up tightly, and knot off your thread.

     

3. Wrap your gathered strip around itself to form your "petals".  Stitch securely together in the center, going all the way through the back of the flower.

     

4. Stitch your button center on tightly.  Knot securely.  Using a safety pin, attach the flower to the outside of your jacket or bag...

  

So very simple, with lots of room for creative embellishments!  We've beaded our flowers, or added yo-yo centers.  You can even stack flowers of different fabrics and sizes on top of one another, attach them through the center with a button, and have a really cute double-petaled bloom!   

we have a winner!!

 

The winner of the pincushion party! sewing kit giveaway is......

DEB   (heartfelt)

Congratulations, Deb!!  Please let us know your mailing address so we can ship your sweet little pincushion kit out to you ASAP.  Now, to answer your question::

    We like to use red dot tracer to transfer our patterns on to.  It's thin enough to see through, easy to trace on, and you can write on it. (We always do that so that we keep track of all of our patterns ~believe us, we have plenty of those!)   You can find a bolt of red dot tracer here  or a small amount here.  This is one thing we never have regretted using!

 

A BIG thank-you to all you ladies who entered!!  We plan to answer all your kind and thoughtful questions in the next day or two, so stay tuned!

a giveaway... pincushion party! sewing kit

One of our newest products!  Each of our pincushion party sewing kits are stuffed with all of the materials that you need to create your own lavender sachet pincushion.  We've even included illustrated instructions!

  

So... to kick off our new series of posts on sewing for beginners (inspired by our dear friend Jasmine), we would like to give all of you an opportunity to win your own kit! 

Here's how to enter--

::Leave a comment with your name and email address

::If you are a aspiring seamstress, please ask us a question about sewing!

...and that's it.  We hope to hear from you all soon!

~the Long ladies

pretty.

 

Pincushion Party! sewing kits... coming soon from marie-madeline studio!