Sewing Book Series

As we slowly go the "sustainable household" route, I am enjoying finding new projects and ideas for reducing our consumption.

In Amanda Soule's new book The Rythym of Family, I found this idea, that to be truthful, not to long ago was the norm. The humble Hankerchief.

We go through a lot of tissues in our house (my husband is a constant, year round sneezer). Now, I know tissues aren't expensive, but, we still spend around $120 a year on them!!

 In comes the repurpose hero fabric (in my opinion anyway), the op-shopped pillowcase! I can get 4-5, double thickness hankies from one 30c pillowcase.

Then, using an old tablecloth, I whipped up a hankie holder (I used Amanda's idea and gave it my own twist, as I am not a zipper sewer!)

Hang it on the stair rail and voila, you have a hankie station that is accessible for everyone :)

I made about 30 hankies, but will make more, as we go through those quite quickly.

x Shara

Sewing Book Series

I'm always on the lookout at the op shops for pillow cases. They are usually the right amount of fabric to make something small, like baby pants or little bags etc.

When I spotted this brown one with a small fleur de lys print, I had to get it for myself. After looking through my sewing books I decided a hat for myself would make a nice change from all the little people sewing I seem to do!

Sun Hat from Simple Sewing by Lotta Jandsotter

At first I thought I might have been sewing a lampshade!

The finished hat.

This project required somewhat more sewing expertise than I possess, so I stumbled quite a bit. Particularly difficult was all the curved sewing. I was left with alot of puckering, but thankfully the dark colour and busy print cover most of it. The same can't be said for the inside. I used an unbleached canvas for the lining and with brown thread, every mistake is very visible!!

Regardless, I am super proud of this one. Even Kaleb was impressed :)

x Shara

Sewing Book Series

~Beautiful sewing books abound on my bookshelf. As a beginner sewer, I'll admit they scare me a little. I have a goal to learn to sew from patterns better and to finally make some of the projects I've had earmarked~

 

Quick Change Trousers from Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner

I have to be completely truthful with you. I love Anna Maria. She is beautiful, talented, funny and a mother of 6! Make sure to pop over to her blog and take a look.

I bought this book when pregnant with Leo, but never made anything from it for him. I have had my eye on these pants for some time and had the perfect fabric combo in mind. They were actually much easier and quicker than I thought, and I only stumbled in a few spots. These were really simple beginner mistakes and as soon as I realised, it was easily fixed.

I had bought some brown linen on sale some time ago, but only used the smallest amount, so I paired that with a thrifted flannelette pillow case in a brown cream design.

These pants will be for Winter, hopefully the flannelette will make them soft and warm. I made them in the 18-24 month size, even though Leo will only be 16 months when winter is in full swing. He is a bigger than average boy and I could always roll the cuffs up more if they are too long.

Brown Linen Front

Brown Linen Back

Flannelette Front

Flannelette Back

I'm already sorting through the fabric pile trying to find more combo's. A great way to double the wardrobe without taking up too much space!

x Shara

 

Sewing Book Series

~Beautiful sewing books abound on my bookshelf. As a beginner sewer, I'll admit they scare me a little. I have a goal to learn to sew from patterns better and to finally make some of the projects I've had earmarked~

 

A Birthday Crown

The Rhythm of Family by Amanda Blake Soule and Stephen Soule

 

As a continuation on my quest to start a few more family traditions, today I made a Birthday Crown for Roman. He will be 4 in March!

I handstitched the "R" and all the little stars.

In the coming weeks all my sewing projects will be for my special boy, as I attempt a mostly handmade celebration!

x Shara

 

Sewing Book Series

~Beautiful sewing books abound on my bookshelf. As a beginner sewer, I'll admit they scare me a little. I have a goal to learn to sew from patterns better and to finally make some of the projects I've had earmarked~

 

One of my favourite books is Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.....mostly I love it just for the eye-candy!!

 

 

 

I have been nursing a monster toothache (dentist is booked for Friday!) and thought I would go for small and simple today!

 

Bird Ornaments

 

 

 

Certainly small, not really simple...This is not the books fault of course,  I cannot pin or sew a curved seam to save myself, and the tooth issue really wasn't helping.

 

Anyway, they certainly delivered on the cute factor and I think I might gift them to my Mum for Mother's Day (it is the year of the Handmade Gift, afterall)

What have you been sewing lately?

x Shara

PS. Do you Instagram?? You can find me as "mamashara"

 

Sewing Book Series

~Beautiful sewing books abound on my bookshelf. As a beginner sewer, I'll admit they scare me a little. I have a goal to learn to sew from patterns better and to finally make some of the projects I've had earmarked~

Celebration Banner from The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule, (I have lent the book to a friend, so didn't snap a photo)

After 2 weeks with no sewing machine, I finally, last night, found my replacement needles!! I put them in this morning and got straight into my next project. I had already measured and cut everything last week, so today was really just about sewing it all together. All the material used was from my stash, so it felt good to put a big dent in my boxes of fabric.

Of course, my sewing days are never without hiccoughs, and today was no different. I was about 5 flags from the end and ran out of the bias tape. Off to the shops I went, bought 2 packs of tape, and when I got home realised I had bought a size too small. Oh well, just like always, I improvised and got the job done!! I just need to add some felt letters to the plain flags to spell out HAPPY BIRTHDAY and it will be ready to hang.

All ready to be sewn together.

I didn't follow any instructions in the book (suprise, suprise!), I had a good idea of what I wanted and just used her original idea as my inspiration...

The plain canvas flags will spell Happy Birthday

The reverse side. So colourful!

Over the past year, I have really been feeling the pull to start introducing some traditions into our little family. The sort of things that make people feel special, make time together memorable and really connect us to each other.

I loved the idea of a celebration banner, something to hang in honour of a family member's (or friend's) birthday.

Do you have any family traditions for birthdays?

x Shara

Sewing Book Series

~Beautiful sewing books abound on my bookshelf. As a beginner sewer, I'll admit they scare me a little. I have a goal to learn to sew from patterns better and to finally make some of the projects I've had earmarked~

I still have not located my machine needles (actually I haven't really got around to looking properly!) so this week is all about Hand Sewing. I used to always only hand sew, as I didn't have machine. There is something really therapeutic about sitting and taking time with your stitches, although I don't think I could do it all the time. I like the quick gratification of the machine.

Owie Puffs from Sewn By Hand by Susan Wasinger

By the way, an Owie Puff (shown here on the cover) is just a rice bag to keep in the freezer for putting on bumps and bruises. Whenever Roman hurts himself he wants the peas from the freezer. Now he has an Owie Puff!

I have made these before on the machine and we use them as heat packs, but I thought it would be an easy and useful hand sewing project for this week. I specifically made a small one especially for Roman.

Not much to report really. The instructions are quite self explanatory, but my fingers are sore from sewing through both layers of fabric. The top is quilting cotton and the back is thick brown corduroy.

Roman put it straight in the freezer ready for his next bump!

x Shara

Sewing Book Series

~Beautiful sewing books abound on my bookshelf. As a beginner sewer, I'll admit they scare me a little. I have a goal to learn to sew from patterns better and to finally make some of the projects I've had earmarked~

My sewing did not get off to a great start this morning. On my very first press of the foot, the needle jammed and snapped!! I have had my machine for 18 months and have never had anything go wrong, so of course I cannot find all the little bits and pieces for it including the replacement needles! The rest of my sewing time today will be spent searching for them and maybe organising my sewing things a bit better!

However, the main part of the project had already been finished, so I still have something to show today!!

PICNIC ROLL from The Rhythm of Family by Amanda Blake Soule with Steve Soule

I probably couldn't shout the praises of this book any louder if I tried. And if you haven't checked out Amanda's blog, Soulemama, then you must be living in outer space! Go on over there and have a look!

This picnic roll is perfect for keeping in your beach bag or with your picnic blanket, so you'll never be caught out without your utensils etc during impromtu picnics.

It was extremely easy to follow along with the instructions and took me about 45 min in total (inc cutting time). I used a thrifted floral tablecloth for the outer and the inside is some canvas that my dad found on the side of the road some years ago now (someone had thrown out metres and metres of the stuff during hard rubbish pick up!).

All rolled up and ready to go!

Inside is compartments for cutlery, rubbish bags, and napkins

I made up 4 rectangle napkins out of some leftover thrifted sheet and bought some cutlery from the op-shop, specifically to keep in here (so I don't lose the good op-shop cutlery in my kitchen). The napkins were the project that broke the needle this morning so I still need to sew them up.

Once it's all packed in, just fold down the top and roll it up!

 I think that it is a really pretty and functional project. Nothing better than pretty and functional in the same sentence!

What have you been sewing lately?

x Shara

Sewing Book Series

~Beautiful sewing books abound on my bookshelf. As a beginner sewer, I'll admit they scare me a little. I have a goal to learn to sew from patterns better and to finally make some of the projects I've had earmarked~

BABY SLING from The Crafty Minx by Kelly Doust

This was the first sewing book I ever owned. I chose it for the simplicity of the projects. Since having babies and enjoying babywearing, I decided to try the Baby Sling. I needed something that I could roll up into my bag, and could be used quickly, for carrying Leo into the supermarket or around the farmers market. Basically a quick trip sling that was quicker to use than my Ergo.

I chose a dark denim fabric (purchased with my Spotlight christmas voucher) for the outer and although the pattern didn't call for a lining, I thought it would be a good chance to use up some stashed thrifted material, in this case, an old duvet cover.

I moved through with relative ease, following the instructions thoroughly (something I struggle with) and found it quite easy. Up until the last step that is! I could not understand the directions at all, so i just winged it. I'm not sure if what I've done is correct, but the sling works!!

What have you been sewing lately?

x Shara