Tutorials, How To's & Free downloads

Debra Collins over at Creative Ramblings has created a very clear tutorial on how to turn a Mason jar into a useful container for your sewing kit. This is a perfect idea for a gift, Christmas is just around the corner! You could fill it with a tape measure, embroidery scissors, a couple of sewing thread bobbins and maybe even make a case for needles. I think it's a really nice idea and not too difficult.

This week it feels like Autumn has finally arrived. Halloween merchandise is starting to appear in the shops so I thought it might be a good time to post my Halloween lanterns and bat and spider tutorials. With half term on the horizon these are perfect crafts to get children involved in.

The window display in Accessorize caught my eye this morning, it was the pom poms! I thought the pom poms were there for display, like bunting, but they are scarves. They are £20 online from Accessorize  but if you had the wool and the inclination you could make your own scarf/bunting by following the pom pom making tutorial here . Just remember to omit the face and wings!

How to make a Pom Pom Scarf tutorial 

I've been trying out different materials to make pom poms from. The ones in the photographs I made using thin torn strips of polyester lining. The material is light and shiny, reflective, giving the colour depth, it works well. Cotton strips are a little dull in comparison. Ones made from white fabric would make good snowball tree decorations for Christmas. pom pom tutorial 

Bib necklaces are really popular at the moment, but can be expensive so why not make your own.

This is my free pattern and tutorial so you can make one for yourself or to give as a present.

You will need:

FELT, for the base. I cut two bibs out from the pattern and machine stitched them together using a zig-zag stitch.

RIBBON, about 1 meter/1yard of ribbon 15 mm (1/2inch)wide, cut in two. Attach the ribbon when stitching the two pieces of the bib together.

'JEWELS', to bejewel the necklace I made Dorset buttons. There is a very nice tutorial for Dorset buttons by Diane Gilleland at Craft Stylish. Instead of the plastic rings, she suggests, I used brass curtain rings. The other technique I used was for Suffolk puffs or yo yos. You can find a tutorial for these at Whipup . I chose shiny luxury fabrics for my Suffolk puffs. I also used a mixture of buttons, sequins, beads and freestyle embroidery to encrust the necklace. My usual mantra is "less is more", but not in this case, MORE is MORE. Overlay and embellish as much as you like to achieve a very individual piece of jewellery

Or you could make a necklace just using buttons, pearly queen style! Make one incorporating brooches or broken pieces of jewellery.

If you make one send me a photo