Today I am super excited to share a project from the newly released book Sew Adorkable: 15 DIY Projects to Keep You Out of Trouble by my friend Samarra Khaja. When she contacted me asking if I would like to review the book, my response was “I’m not great at reviewing things. I don’t hate enough. So how about I make something?” She went for it, and here we are!
To make this post even more awesome, there is a giveaway involved! You just have to read on a little more for all of the details.
Pin ItWere back on for the weekly Book-A-Holic Posts! The holidays set me back a bit, but I’m all ready to go again and have a list of things waiting to be made.
Today’s project is from a Martha Stewart book. oooooh, aaahhhh. It’s a fabric covered bulletin board from Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts.
In the book she talks about covering an entire top half of a room with a bulletin board and frames the top and bottom in molding. That’s not something I have a huge use for. Maybe it would be neat in CT’s room one day? Maybe.
I just wanted a HUGE inspiration board, something that would cover an entire wall in my sewing room, a wall that really doesn’t have much use otherwise.
I looked at buying a commercial cork board, but the prices just weren’t for me.
The way that Martha Stewart says to do it only cost me $25! and I ended up with a 4ft tall by 6ft long board! Super Awesome.
If you would like to learn more, continue reading.
Pin ItSo I’m accidentally already onto my second Book-A-Holic project. Accidentally? Well, I was planing on making an ottoman or log pillow from Kid Made Modern, but last minute I had a need for a handmade gift.
I was invited to a Pie Potluck at my friend Heidi’s house, and I wanted to make her a hostess gift. What do you make a girl who can make anything? Apparently a potholder.
I guess I’m kinda lazy, because my second project is also from the Spring 2010 issue of Stitch Magazine. This time its the Wraparound Pie Holder by Rashida Coleman-Hale. I figured it matched the whole pie theme.
Normally I would stay away from a project like this. I have never quilted more than two layers, I have never made my own binding/bias tape and I have never bound anything (the correct way at least). I was determined!
First things first, I had to figure out how to use my walking foot. My husband bought it for me two years ago, while I pregnant, in hopes I’d actually finish the quilt I’d been working on for weeks. I never did. I was too scared by all the quilt layers!
Turns out it’s not as scary as it looks, plus it comes with a nice guide to make all the quilting look even. It’s my new favorite gadget.
I chose fabric I already had on hand for the front and the binding. I did have to go out and purchase some Insul-Bright insulated batting and Linen. I had never worked with either of those. It’s was almost an entire project of “firsts”.
Cutting the linen was not fun, its very squirmy. Anyone have any tips on making that part easier?
The quilting part was a lot of fun, and I loved that walking foot. It really helped to keep all the layers even and there wasn’t any bunching on the backside. Awesome!
I couldn’t find the little bias tape maker I had purchased, so I just made it the long way where you fold the fabric in half and then fold the sides in, etc etc etc. There are instructions all over the Internet to explain it better than I ever could. I attached the binding and for the first time ever hand stitched it to the front side. I actually enjoyed doing that part, which completely surprised me.
I’m so happy with how the pot holder came out, and the instructions were super simple and easy to understand. Plus now I have a nice long list of new skills. Who knows, I might even try and finish up that quilt from two years ago.
I went through all my books and magazines and decided to do a useful project.
a Flight Cap by Betz White from Stitch Magazine Spring 2010. One of my favorite magazines!
CT really needed a new hat, sorta. She won’t keep hats on for more than 6 seconds, so I figured that I would make her one. If she wore it then “awesome” and if she didn’t then no loss, I made a lined hat for the first time and had an example to go with my fabric. win win.
I used fabric I already had on hand. The pattern called for sherpa, terry or velour for the interior, I only had fleece. The whole project used less than a fat quarter of each, super awesome.
It only took me about an hour and a half to cut, piece and sew together. That doesn’t mean it was super simple. I had to read the instructions numerous times before starting since there were no step by step photos and I didn’t quite understand how to attach the side flaps.
Apparently I picked up on something because the hat came out perfectly. I was so happy I actually finished a project, and in ONE DAY! (a new record for me)
Now if only I could get CT to wear it.
**Edit: I have emailed Betz White asking about where this pattern can be found. She was very nice and replied back saying that anyone who is interested in the pattern should email her. If enough people are interested she will make the pattern available online!Her email can be found on her website – www.betzwhite.com
… well, truthfully, I have many obsessions, but today we’ll talk about just one…
I LOVE to buy books! more specifically, I LOVE to buy DIY books. Books on Sewing, Crafting, Building and more. Anything with pictures and directions on how to make the things in the pictures.
I have accumulated many of these books over the years. I buy each one with the intent on trying one of the projects… but to be honest, I think out of the dozens of books i own I have only made maybe 4 projects total.
I started this blog to force myself to make things and show them to the world, even if they suck. So why not combine my obsession with my purpose?
Here’s my plan…
Starting this week I will try at least one project, from a book or magazine I already own. Maybe I’ll even make this a weekly thing. I don’t plan on going out shopping, so my first project will have to be something I can make with supplies I already have on hand. Lucky for me, one of my other obsessions is craft supplies.
