Version: Quick Fabric Covered Magnets

Talk about a super quick, really rewarding craft project!!  Today I'm going to show you how to make these Quick Fabric Covered Magnets in under 5 minutes!!

When using another blog's tutorial as inspiration, I always want to take a moment to tell you about that blog and the original tutorial. I just think that's the right thing to do, don't you?

Today's project was created based on the

Fabric Magnet Tutorial over at The Life of Jennifer Dawn.

Jennifer is a super sweet woman whose blog, The Life of Jennifer Dawn, is super family friendly!!  She has a bunch of great tutorials and inspirational projects for you to browse through.

If you don' t have time to make many crafts, you should check out her Etsy shop, Bluebird Cottage Designs.  

I thought that Jennifer's Fabric Magnet Tutorial was such a great idea, I just had to come up with my own version!!  The two biggest changes you'll see in my version is that I sewed my fabric around the wooden shapes, rather than glue them.  Also, I used super cheap wooden shapes that I purchased at Michael's in a bag of a few hundred pieces for just $5!!

At the end of the tutorial, I will explain the adjustments you'll need to make in order to cover square/rectangle and heart shapes with fabric.  They can be a bit tricky so be sure to read these "adjustments".

Here's the Quick Fabric Covered Magnets Tutorial...

SUPPLIES

Wood Shapes

Fabric

Felt

Magnets

Glue

Hot glue & glue gun

Step 1: PREP FABRICS

Cut Fabric: Cut pieces of  fabric about 1/2"-3/4" larger than the wooden shape.

Cut Felt Backing: Trace your wooden shape onto felt in coordinating colors and cut out.

Step 2: COVER WOODEN SHAPE

Stitch Edges: Sew a loose running stitch around the edge of the shape.

Cinch Fabric:  Place the wooden shape in the center of the fabric and cinch the fabric around the shape.

Tie a knot to hold the fabric tight around the wooden shape.

Step 3: GLUE FELT BACKING

Using tacky glue, attach the felt to the back of the fabric-covered wood piece.

Step 4: ADD MAGNETS

With a hot glue gun, attach a magnet to the felt side of the shape.

FINISHED!!

SQUARE SHAPE ADJUSTMENTS

Trim the corners of the fabric squares so that they are a bit rounded.

Follow the rest of the steps described above.

HEART SHAPE ADJUSTMENTS

Trim the bottom point of the fabric heart so that it is rounded.

Sew a running stitch around the edge of the fabric and then cinch it around the wooden heart.

Add a stitch from the bottom of the heart to the top indent and back to the bottom; pull the thread tight so the fabric fits tightly into the top indent.

Follow the rest of the steps described above.

Be sure to check out Jennifer's original Fabric Magnet Tutorial too for more great ideas!!

Thanks for reading!!  Until next time...

Version: Cell Phone Pocket

I have a fun and easy Cell Phone Pocket tutorial for you today that I think you're going to enjoy!!

When using another blog's tutorial, I always want to take a moment to tell you about that blog and the original tutorial.  I just think that's the right thing to do, don't you?

Today's project was created based on the original

Cell Phone Pocket Tutorial over at Fireflies and Jellybeans.

I must say that I have a great respect for Fawnda and Jeannine, the bloggers behind Fireflies and Jellybeans.   They've put together such a great craft blog that's packed full of great crafty ideas!!  I love to browse their collection over 140 tutorials!!

If you're addicted to linky parties like me, you need to add Show Off Your Stuff to your list of parties to link up to on Wednesdays!!  Each week, there are 3 categories to add your post links to - Sewing & Crafts, DIY & Home Decor, and Recipes.


When  I first saw the Cell Phone Pocket Tutorial on Fireflies and Jellybeans, I knew I had to make one!!  I just loved the simplicity of the project and the different ways you could "wear" it.  I mean, seriously, take a look at the image below and tell me that doesn't inspire you to make one!!

The original tutorial calls for a sewing machine and pinking sheers, which meant it was a no-go for me.  Then I thought of different ways I could tweak the project into a hand-sewn version that didn't require the pinking sheers!!  Here's the tutorial for my hand-sewn version...

SUPPLIES

Felt in desired colors

Velcro

Lace fabric

Lace Trim

Button

Embroidery floss

Fabric glue

Step 1: PREP POCKET FORM

Here are the original instructions on the dimensions for your felt pocket pieces:

1 rectangle of main color (about an inch wider and longer than your cell phone or Ipod)

1 rectangle + strap of main color (the rectangle is the same size as the other one - the strap is 1.5 inches by 5 inches - it should be all one piece)

Sew or stick-on your Velcro pieces to the top of both pieces (as shown above).

Step 2: CUT OUT APPLIQUE PIECES

Trace and cut out your pattern in both felt and the lace fabric.

Note: I used the template found HERE.

 Step 3: SEW APPLIQUE

Cut a 3rd piece of felt in your main color that is about 1" shorter and narrower than the smaller pocket form felt piece.

Place your lace piece on top of the felt applique and then using a blanket stitch, sew both pieces at once onto the center of the 3rd piece of felt.

Step 4: ADD LACE TRIM

Using your fabric glue, attach your lace trim under the entire edge of the appliqued felt piece.

Step 5: ATTACH TO POCKET FRONT 

Using a back-stitch, sew the lace-trimmed, appliqued piece to the front of the pocket form (smaller felt pocket piece).

Step 6: BLANKET STITCH POCKET

Blanket stitch around the bottom and two sides of your pocket form.  Do not sew the top, because you won't be able to put your cell phone in it!!

Step 7: ADD BUTTON (optional)

If you want disguise your Velcro closure to look like a button one, just sew a button on the front of the strap.

 FINISHED!!

Be sure to check out the Cell Phone Pocket tutorial over at Fireflies and Jellybeans so you can see how they made the original!!

Thanks for reading!! Until next time...

Tutorial: Big Zakka Owl Stuffie

Back in May I posted a tutorial on how to make the little Zakka Owls, and today I'll show you how to make a BIG, 1-foot Zakka Owl stuffie like the giant one above!!  How fun!!

SUPPLIES

1/2 yard - Soft fabric for body

1/3 yard - Coordinating soft fabric for belly

1 sheet - White felt

2 sheets - Felt for eye patches and bottom

2 - 1"+ Black buttons

Embroidery floss

Large-hole sewing needle

Step 1: CUT FABRIC

This is the trickiest part of this project because you're going to have to free-hand this pattern onto your fabric.  Then again, you could take the pattern to a professional printer to have it enlarged if you really wanted to. 

The pattern can be downloaded HERE.

Free-hand the patterns onto your fabrics.

The Owl Body should be about 18" tall and the Owl Belly should be about 10"-12"" tall.

Note: When free-handing the pattern, it doesn't have to be exactly like the pattern.  The most important thing to is that Owl Belly piece is about 2/3 as tall as the Owl Body piece.

 Step 2: BEGIN TO SEW BODY

I like to use 3 of the 6 threads in embroidery floss and I use a back-stitch for this step, but you’re welcome to use a sewing machine instead.
With the wrong sides of the fabric facing each other, sew the edge of the Owl Belly (B) to the right edge of the Owl Body (A) starting at the bottom corner.  
Tie a knot when you reach the upper point of the Owl Belly (B) and cut your string. 

Step 3: CONTINUE TO SEW BODY

Repeat Step 2 on the left side of the Owl Body (A), just as you did on the right side, but do not tie a knot or cut your string.

Fold your fabric down the center as in the image above and continue sewing up to the top of the Owl Body (A).

Tie a knot and cut your string.

When finished with this step, unfold your piece and it should look similar to the second sketch in the image above

. 

Step 3: CREATE HEAD

Turn fabric right side out.

Fold just below the red line and stitch the top point (red dot) to the owl’s belly. 

Note: When sewing the point to the belly, make sure it is centered, left-to-right, otherwise your owl will have a crooked beak!

Step 4: ADD EYES

EYE PATCHES

Prior to sewing on the eye patches, pin them in place so they will be level and equally apart.

Use 6 threads of coordinating embroidery floss and sew a blanket stitch around the eye patches. 

EYE WHITES

Pin the whites of the eyes close to the inside edge of the eye patches, but don’t cover your nifty blanket stitch.

Use 6 threads of white embroidery floss and sew a blanket stitch around the eye whites, just as you did the eye patches.

EYE PUPILS

Sew the black buttons in the center of the eye whites (for a wide-eyed look).

You can also sew the buttons toward the inside (for a bit of a cross-eyed or confused look), or even out to the sides (for a crazy look).

Step 5: ADD BEAK

Cut a piece of orange/brown felt to cover the folded down point.

Pin it in place and blanket stitch around the entire beak using 6 strands of coordinating embroidery floss.

Note: I rounded the top of the beak for this owl, but you could always experiment with different looks too.

Step 6: SEW BOTTOM

Sew a running stitch around the base of the owl, about 1/4"-1/2" away from the bottom edge. 

Pull the thread in order to create a hole that's about 4"-5" in diameter. 

Tie a knot, but don’t cut the thread.

Stuff with PolyFill.

Using a running stitch, sew the Owl Bottom to the base of the owl making sure to cover the cinched stitches.

FINISHED!!  

Thanks for reading!!  Until next time...

I've submitted this tutorial to the...

Tutorial: Zakka Owl

My best friend, Brook, originally sent me the tutorial that this is based on probably over a year ago. I've made well over 10 owls since then and will be making many,

many more!

I want to thank Christina from Italy for posting the original tutorial on CO&K. I've used some of her sketches in the tutorial of my version below. I must say that her original pattern for the owls was the best available online!

NOTE: Be sure to read through the entire tutorial before beginning. This will help you understand how the owl is put together and finished.

IN ORDER TO MAKE A ZAKKA OWL, YOU WILL NEED THE PATTERN.

PRINT THIS PATTERN AT 100%.

Step 1: Gather supplies.

You will need the following materials:

• Two (2) square pieces of coordinating cotton fabric measuring about 13cm each (for the Owl’s Body and Belly)
• 3x7cm of white felt (for the Eye Whites)
• 6x12cm of felt in a color that matches the 2 cotton fabrics (for the Owl Bottom and Eye Patches)
• 2x2cm of orange felt (for the beak)
• Two (2) small black buttons that measure 7mm or less.
• Embroidery floss (or thread) in black, white, orange, and a color that goes with the fabrics and other felt color
• Poly-Fil or some kind of stuffing

Step 2: Cut fabrics and felt.

Trace and cut the Owl Body out of the simpler fabric and the Owl Belly out of the more decorative fabric. Trace and cut out two (2) Eye Whites, two (2) Eye Patches, and one (1) Owl Bottom.

Step 3: Begin sewing the body.

With the wrong sides of the fabric facing each other, sew the edge of the Owl Belly (B) to the

right edge of the Owl Body (A) starting at the bottom corner (see image to the right). Tie a knot when you reach the upper point of the Owl Belly (B) and cut your string. I like to use 3 of the 6 threads in embroidery floss and I use a backstitch for this step, but you’re welcome to use a sewing machine instead.

Step 4: Continue sewing the body.

Repeat Step 3 on the left side of the Owl Body (A), just as you did on the right side, but do not tie a knot or cut your string. Fold your fabric down the center as in the "fold/sew" image and continue sewing up to the top of the Owl Body (A). Tie a knot and cut your string. When finished with this step, unfold your piece and it should look similar to the second image to the right.

Step 5: Creating the owl’s head.

Turn fabric right side out. Fold near the red line and stitch the top point (red dot) to the owl’s belly. When sewing the point to the belly, make sure it is centered, left-to-right, otherwise your owl will have a crooked beak!

Step 6: Sewing on the eyes.

• Prior to sewing on the eye patches, pin them in place so they will be level and equally apart. When sewing on the felt eye patches, I prefer to use 3 or more of the 6 threads of embroidery floss to do a blanket stitch around them. This gives the owl a really wide-eyed look as shown in the picture to the right.
• Place the whites of the eyes close to the inside edge of the eye patches, but don’t cover your nifty blanket stitch. When sewing them on, I just use a really rough running stitch around the edges with white thread.
• Depending on the look you’re going for, you can sew the black buttons in the center of the eye whites (for a wide-eyed look), towards the inside (for a bit of a cross-eyed or confused look), or even out to the sides (for a crazy look).

Step 7: The beak.

If you like the way your owl’s face looks without a felt beak, leave it just the way it is! If you prefer to have a traditional beak, you can sew on a felt one. The easiest way I’ve found to get the perfect beak shape, is to take the corner of a piece of orange-colored felt and cut the corner as

shown in the image to the right. Once you have your triangle cut out, place it on your owl and trim any excess felt.

Sewing the beak on is super easy! Just put a single stitch in each of the three corners going from the point towards the center of the triangle.

Step 8: The bottom.

• Sew a running stitch around the base of the owl, about 4mm away from the bottom edge. Pull the thread in order to create a hole that's only about 10mm across. Tie a knot, but don’t cut the thread.
• Using a rough running stitch, sew the Owl Bottom to the base of the owl making sure to cover the cinched stitches (see the photo to the right).

ALL FINISHED!!

Enjoy your owl!!

Tutorial: Flannel Eye Glass Case

Yesterday, I posted a link to a tutorial for the Flannel Eye Glass Case, but afterwards I realized that the way I made the case and the way the About.com tutorial instructs you to make one is totally different! Here's the case I made along with the tutorial and basic illustration:

Step 1: Gather supplies.

- 9"x18" piece of flannel fabric

- Embroidery floss

- Large eye needle

- Optional: 9"x9" piece of interfacing

- Optional: Sewing machine

Step 2: Ironing & interfacing.

Iron the flannel fabric flat. Fold it in half (right sides together) and add a crease along the fold. You will end up with a 9"x9" square of folded fabric.

If you wish to add interfacing to create a stiffer case, attach the interfacing to one of the halves of the fabric. Be sure to attach the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric.

Step 3: Trim fabric to size.

Temporarily fold your fabric in half again. Taking into consideration you will need 1/2" seam allowance on all sides, cut your square to the appropriate size based on the eye glasses this case will eventually hold.

Find the center line, as shown in the image at the left. Using this image as a reference, cut a straight line from the center point from the top edge of the fabric to the right side edge, approximately 2" down from the top corner.

Step 4: Sew first edge.

With a 1/4" seam allowance, sew almost entirely around the fabric (including the creased side), leaving a 2" opening.

When hand-sewing this part of the project, I used a basic backstitch and only 3-strands of embroidery floss. If you choose to use a sewing machine for this part, the project will go much faster.

Step 5: Turn RS out & iron.

Pushing the fabric through the opening, turn the fabric right-side-out. Use a chopstick or something similar to press into the corners to make them as "sharp" as possible. Sew the opening closed using a hidden slip stitch.

Iron the fabric again to make the seams lie flat. Fold in half along the center line (found earlier) and press a crease into the fold.

Step 6: Finish edges.

Using all 6-strands of embroidery floss, sew a blanket stitch around all visible edges.

That's all there is to it! You're done!

Options

1) If you'd like to use a different fabric on the outside of the case such as a decorative cotton fabric, simply use a 9"x9" piece of your selected fabric in addition to a 9"x9" piece of matching flannel fabric for the inside.

2) You can even quilt together some fabric scraps you have around for the outside of your case.

3) Personalize the case by embroidering a name, initials, or image to the front of the case.

I must apologize because I usually include many more images in my tutorials than I did in this one. I actually forgot to take pictures while I made this case. This project is so easy, I don't think you'll need any more images to figure it out.

Have fun with this super easy project! Thanks for reading!