The star of Thanksgiving is the food! . If you have a large family and group of friends, everyone will bring a dish. You are already ahead. You are halfway to being successful!
The # 1 tip is to eliminate all clutter. This will give you a clean palette to work with. Thoroughly dust everywhere and give the bathrooms a guest fresh look. This is all free!
Consider using white dishes to set the table. It does not have to be expensive China. White dishes with the right accessories can be used for almost every holiday! For Thanksgiving, combine white with autumnal colors- pumpkin orange, amber, gold, maple reds. Go through your fabric stash for autumn fabrics. If you do not have time to sew a table runner, layer the fabrics one over the other hiding the raw edges and tie ends with jute or twine tucking raw edges under. Go to the backyard and pick up pinecones, acorns and berries. Scatter them across your runner.You get the idea! For Christmas, combine white dishes with red and green accessories. For a different Christmas look- combine aqua, teal and natural elements. For New Year's- white, blue and silver. See how easy this is!
Lighting- to create a holiday mood turn down the lights and bring out the candles. For Thanksgiving, gold/brass colored candlesticks are perfect. Don't have anything but white candles? Do not despair. Wrap them with cinnamon sticks and pretty ribbons.
For holidays smells, let your cooking speak for you. Nothing smells better than a roast turkey and pumpkin pie.
I bet when you figure the cost for decorating, you will find you have spent almost nothing!
Last week I showed you the various looks of the Cool, Calm and Cowl-Neck top, a free pattern from the fabulous folks at Hot Patterns. This week I tackled the Nomad Hobo Bag. While I can't show you 3 different looks to dress this bag up or down, I can tell you that it is fantastically stylish and fantastically easy to make. I already have at least 5 people who have either laid claim to it or have hinted that it would match their new pair of shoes...
This pattern wasn't quite as simple as the cowl-neck top, but it was still a breeze. From print to final stitch, it took me about 4 hours, but I included the optional pockets and did some extras that I wanted for myself (an extra pocket and some top-stitching). Now that I have the pattern printed and cut and know how the bag is assembled, I could probably make it in 3 hours or less.
For the outside of the back I used the Premium Faux Suede in Merlot for the outside and Alexander Henry's Nicoles Prints No Guts, No Glory Grey. When I pick bag lining, I like to use cotton prints that are wild and fun but not something I would use everyday.
If you are considering making this pattern but aren't quite sure what fabrics to use, I have a couple suggestions to get you started. Don't forget, we've also created a section in Creativity Headquarters witheven more fabric suggestions for the outside of bag. Please note, the first fabric pictured in the pair is the suggested outside, and the second is the lining. The linings are all cotton prints.
Lastly, I would go so far as to suggest that this pattern would be perfect for gifts. The Nomad Hobo Bag is stylish and easily customized for each recipient but won't take you ages to make. As I mentioned earlier, many people have hinted that they would like the one I made, and my mom seems to think she's getting it for Christmas. Looks like I have some sewing to do...
Thanks to Jenny in Merchandising for modeling for me!
If you have ever attended one of the travelling Sewing Expo's, you have had the opportunity to see that years Hoffman Challenge competition.
Started in 1988, the Hoffman Challenge has grown to be a premiere traveling quilt, clothing, and doll collection. The quality of entries and a growing number of exhibit requests have led Hoffman to establish additional traveling collections. Currently, twelve collections travel coast-to-coast within the USA and to several Canadian locations.
This year the Hoffman Challenge is celebrating its 23rd Anniversary. In 1987 the Challenge started with 94 enthusiastic quilters, and some years the number of entries has grown to more than 700. In addition to the three quilt categories (pieced, appliqué and mixed technique), new categories include clothing (wearable art), accessories, and dolls. While the majority of the entries come from the United States a wide variety of international entries are received. Each year, the top entries are grouped into traveling collections and visit quilt and fiber shows, seminars, quilt shops and quilt- and doll-makers guilds nationwide and in Canada.
This year Sulky is a co-sponsor of the Hoffman Challenge. In addition to the other prizes, Sulky is offering a $1000.00 prize for the "Best Use of Sulky".
The competition is open to quilters, apparel makers and doll makers. This is a wonderful opportunity to show your style and creative ability. For more information and an application, click on Hoffman Challenge.
Fabric. com is excited that we have an opportunity to offer our customers the Hoffman Challenge collection: Treasures of the East. This is a beautiful collection of oriental fabrics in cool, tranquil colors of blue, turquoise and green accented throughout with gold metallic accents. Fabric.com wishes you "Good Luck" in your pursuit of sewing excellence! Maybe we will see your creative entry in the next travelling show.
Now is when many grocery stores have great sales on holiday products such as cream cheese, butter, pumpkin, etc. It would be wise to stock up on items you will be using over the next 7 weeks. If you are baking a lot, you will need flour, sugar and butter for sure. Chocolate was on sale this weekend at my local store. I go through a lot of chocolate during the holidays,
If you are making gifts, look for sales on the fabrics you will need. Fabric.com is having a great sale on minky which ends today. If you are making blankets, robes and stuffed anumals, minky is perfect.So soft and cuddly. The sale also includes the wonderfully soft Minkee from Benartex that just came in last week. Minky/Minkee is also a wonderful backing for baby quilts.
I don't know about you but I use a lot of 3M Command hanging strips during the holdiay. 3M is advertising a $2.00 off coupon for their Command products. Clink on 3M for the coupon. This is one coupon I know I will use. Thank you, 3M.
If you plan on doing some internet shopping during the holidays, pick those websites that offer free shipping. After all, this leaves a little extra money to pamper yourself. Don't you deserve it?
During a recent fabric-related meeting (why yes, we sometimes have meetings where we discuss nothing but fabric) the topic of holiday fashion came up. This led to a conversation about the free Cool, Calm and Cowl-Necked Top pattern the by lovely folks at Hot Patterns. This top is perfect for you holiday and every day wardrobe for a number of reason, the first being that it is extremely versatile. The second reason I happen to love this pattern is that it's very easy to make. Also, did I mention it's free? To prove that the above reasons are true, I made the shirt and asked Crystal in marketing to play dress-up.
First, let me reiterate that this pattern is very easy to make. From the time I hit the print button to the last snip of the scissors, it only took me roughly 40 minutes to put the pattern together, which isn't significantly more than what it takes me to comprehend, cut out and press pieces from one of the "big three" pattern companies. From there, I was able to cut my fabric and sew the shirt together in one evening in less than two hours after putting my toddler to bed, and I still managed to get a full night's sleep. 
The fabrics I used are our Bamboo/Cotton Jersey Knit and the Bamboo Cotton Baby Rib Knit in lovely Lavender. I chose this fabric because it's super soft and can be used in both a casual and dressy styles. Plus, the various bamboo cotton knits are all coordinates which took the guess work out of picking a fabric for the waist band. It's light enough to wear in Spring or Summer, but can also be easily layered to wear in cooler climates.
The first look we went for was business casual. Crystal wore the top with a nice pair of black slacks and a black suit jacket. We added some simple jewelry, and her look was complete. We all noted that the shirt is a lot more comfy than some of the fussier dress shirts you see in stores.
Next, we took the look from day to "night out with the girls" by switching the black suit jacket for a fitted denim dacket, replacing the necklace with scarf and swapping her black pumps for ankle boots. Easy and fab.
Lastly, while playing dress-up, we remembered that Fabric.com just got in a shipment of some absolutely gorgeous Silk Velvet Burnouts that would be perfect for a shawl. After some hunting, I was able to borrow two pieces from Jennifer in customer care (Thank you again!) that coordinated wonderfully with the purple top. We used the burnout velvet as a shawl and paired it with a long skirt, nice jewelry and nice shoes to give Crystal a dressier look. Not only did our last-minute creativity work out, I think I might have to divert some of my own fabric funds for enough fabric for a couple shawls...
To summarize, this pattern really is easy, fantastic and versatile. Plus, it's free. As usual, I would strongly advise you to make a muslin prior to chopping into your nicer fabric. We found that the top part wasn't as full as we thought it would be, which was fine, but you may want to play with various levels of room in the top and fit in the band. Also, if the jersey isn't dressy enough for what you need, this pattern could easily be made with another knit with a bit of shimmer to it. Either way, have fun with it and get the pattern soon - it's only available until November 12!
I hate to break this to you but I did the math this morning. It is only 8 weeks until Christmas! We are now in the official holiday preseason! Don't panic!
First of all, think about what you want to do this season. Check your craft supplies and fill in the gaps. Make sure your sewing machine is in perfect order. There is nothing worse than your machine breaking down in the middle of a project.
Start making lists:
1 Dinner menu lists for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
2. Gift lists- set a budget -stick to it
3. If you are having any special parties such as a cookie swap party now is the time to send out invitations before all the days are taken. Here is a website to get you started: C & H Sugar.
4. Now would be a good time to think about projects you might be doing with the children.
5. Are you making decorations, gifts or table linen?. Now is the time to prepare a timeline so you will have time to complete the projects and still enjoy the holidays.
Whatever you do, do not stress out. This is probably not the time to start a Christmas quilt but you still have time to do pajamas for cousin Joe. Be realistic about your time and money. No one can do everything.
Stay tuned over the next 8 weeks, we will be doing projects and giving tips to make this a fun holiday season.
The time has finally arrived for one of the most fun times of the year- Halloween. The air is starting to turn crisp and cold. The leaves are beginning to fall to make a crunchy noise under the feet. I must tell you that I grew up in a very small town in a household full of children. We ruled the neighborhood. When Halloween came around, we trooped the street in a group collecting our treats in costumes made up from anything and everything at home. No store bought costumes for us! It was a night of adventures. I might add that we never caused any harm to any property or person. Everyone in the neighborhood knew us and would report us to Mom if we did do somthing wrong. Next door there lived the two sisters, Ms. Spain. These two maiden ladies were as excited as we were on Halloween. They outdid themselves creating homemade delights such as caramel apples, popcorn balls, brownies and cookies! Oh, my! Never did we have to worry that someone would poison us or slip harmful things into the treats. Unfortunately, no longer can we trust that people will not do harm to our children on this holdiay.
Here are some tips to make your children's Halloween more enjoyable:
1. If it is possible, try to make sure the costume fabric is flame retardant.
2. Make sure the costume is not so long that the child will trip over it.
3. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure that they can see properly. You may need to enlarge the eye holes for proper vision.
4. Your child should never "trick or treat" alone. They should go with several friends; There should be a definite time to be home.
5. Young children should be accompanied by parents.
6. Only go to houses that you can trust. Do not go to homes that do not welcome children at this time of the year..
7. Many neighborhoods have Halloween parties. You might want to skip going door-to-door in favor of the neighborhood party.
8. Homeowners should keep their house well lit. Any loose steps should be repaired. If you have jack-o-lanterns, use the new LED lighting instead of candles. A child's costume might accidentally be set on fire if it is blown across a candle.
9. Make sure that children carry flashlights to light their way
10. After the children have returned from their adventure, look the candy over carefully to see if it looks tampered with. Discard any dubious treats. Only accept homemade treats from wonderful grandmothers like me!
I don't know about you but I suddenly feel the urge for a homemade popcorn ball. Happy Halloween! Be Safe!
My 16-month old has developed an obsession with Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Also known as "bo-bah" in our house). For Halloween this year I will be making him a brown bear costume using Kwik Sew's baby and toddler pattern KP-3099, and to pull it all together I have made him a "Brown Bear" trick-or-treat bag.
Bags are surprisingly simple to make. There are a couple different ways that you can construct a bag from practically scraps. I picked two methods to show here. The first style, for the outside of the bag, has a front and back panel and a long strip for the gusset (3 total pieces). The second style I used for the lining, and has only two pieces with boxed corners to create the bottom and sides shape. While I label the parts of this bag as "inside" and "outside", in reality the bag is actually reversible.
QUICK NOTE - This tutorial is geared more towards someone who is still fairly beginner level, but basically knows their way around a sewing machine. Those with more experience will probably already know everything below, plus better ways to do it (Please feel free to leave a comment and share any nifty variations and tips!).
DOUBLE NOTE - There will be math. I promise I will try to keep it simple, and I will also give definite measurements. However, my goal is to give you the basic principles for how to construct a bag no matter what size you want it. The bag I made is child-sized, but once you know the basics of construction you can scale yours up, down and everything in between.
Brown Bear Bag
Measurments: 11.5" x 11.5" x 4"
3/8" seam allowance
Materials:
1 Brown Bear panel (BV-907)
1/2 yd coordinating cotton print (I used BV-951)
1 yd light or medium weight fusible interfacing (optional)
If you do not want to use the panel you can just find another 1/2 yd coordinate. The panel fabric was a little more transparent than I would have liked, so I used the interfacing to make it less see through and give it body without being too stiff. You may exclude this step if your fabric is dark or if you do not care if your bag is floppy.
Creating the outside:
- Cut out two 12.25"x"12.25" squares consisting of 4 panel motifs. Each square should be 2 smaller squares across and 2 down. The easiest way to cut it without measuring is to just cut around the outer edge of the green border surrounding the four small squares. The green border will essentially be the seam allowance.
- Cut the striped strip of fabric from the edge of the panel, trimming the selvage. This will become the bag handles.
- From the coordinating fabric, cut a 36"x4.75" strip of fabric for the gusset.
- If you are using interfacing, cut two 12.25"x12.25" squares and a 36"x4.75" strip.
- Apply the interfacing to the panels and gusset strip according to the instructions.
- For the top two squares on each of the right sides of the front panels, measure and mark the middle of top of each square (roughly 2.75" from the begining of the white space). This is where you will line up the handles.
- To create the handles, fold the striped fabric in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press. Fold the raw edges in toward the middle crease, leaving you with 4 layers of fabric (see image). Press. Cut two 9" pieces from this strip and edge stitch the long, open side (you can leave the ends open).
- To assemble the outside, lay the gusset piece on top of one of the panels, right sides together, with the short edge of the gusset lined up with the top l and the long side lined up with the right side of the panel. Pin in place. Bring the gusset side up and and around the corner, and continue pinning it to the bottom of the panel, then back up the left hand side (Hint - to make going around the corners easier, try making a tiny snip in the seam allowance of the gusset right at the corners). Once it's all pinned, you should have the basic shape of the two sides and bottom of the bag, with the ends of the gusset lining up with the top of the panel (if not, try repinning it). Stitch in place.
- Pin the second panel to the other side of the gusset. Stitch. You should now be able to tell it's a bag (yay!). Press the seams.
- Position the straps inside the two markings you made earlier, lining up the outer edge of the strap with the mark. The raw edges of the straps should be in line with the top of the panel, so that the strap is upside down. Pin in place.
To create the lining:
- From the coordinating fabric, cut two 14.25"x16.25" squares.
- Sew together along sides and bottom, leaving the top open. Press seam allowances open.
- At the bottom corners, measure 3" up and 3" over from corner. Draw a square. Using the square as a guide, bring the side and bottom seams together and box the corners (See Moda Bake Shop for better instructions). Trim 1/4" from the seams.
To bring it all together:
- Line the two bag pieces up with right sides together. The Side seams of the lining should be in the middle of the gusset sides. Pin in place.
- Stitch around the top of the bag, stopping a few inches short to leave an opening to turn. Press the seams.
- Turn the bag right side out and top stitch to finish the top edge of the bag and to reinforce the handles.
- Voila! All done! Your bag is now ready for whatever your little one might put in it. Plus, it's reversible!
Let's say you don't want to make a Brown Bear, Brown Bear bag. How do you go about figuring out how much to cut? Math time!
To make a gusseted bag:
For the front and back panels -
Length = Finished length + 2xSeam Allowances
Width = Finished width = 2xSeam Allowances
For the Gusset -
Gusset Length = Panel side Length + Panel side length + Panel Width
Gusset Width = Finished width + 2xSeam Allowance
YIKES! Here's an easy example. You want a bag that is 14"x12"x5" with a 1/2" seam allowance
Length = 14+.5+.5 = 15"
Width = 12+.5+.5 = 13"
Gusset Length = 15+13+15 = 43"
Gusset Width = 5+.5+.5 = 6"
Easy!
To make the boxed-corner bag:
Length = Finished length + 1xSeam Allowance + 1/2 Finished Depth
Width = Finished width + 2xSeam Allowance + 1x Finished Depth
Example: You want a bag that is 14"x12"x5" with a 1/2" Seam allowance.
Length = 14+.5+2.5 = 17"
Width = 12+1+5 = 18"
To make the guide for the boxed corners, mark ad 5"x5" square at the bottom corners.
Halloween is right around the corner. Instead of sending the kids out with boring pillow cases or generic, store-bought containers, make them a trick-or-treat bag that goes with their costume!
Happy stitching!
Sweetest Day is always the 3rd Saturday in October, and is a sort of Valentine's Day for everyone else in your life. Started in the early 1920's by candy companies (of course), Sweetest Day is mainly celebrated in the northern part of the United States and is a great day to do something special of the sweet people in your life.
In honor of Sweetest Day, I am going to share some of the sweetest blogs and websites I know with our sweet readers.
This awesome blog from Moda features all sorts of simply decadent projects using Moda assortments. From quilts to handbags to gift bags, you can spend hours scrolling through this scrumptious assortment of how-to's and crafts. Make sure you check out our Moda fabric and Moda assortments so you can "bake" your own goods.
Bakerella
This fun blog is full of sweet treats, ideas and inspiration of the confectionary kind.
Whether you need to make a
special cake or adorable cookies, this blog has a wide variety of recipes that range from super simple to "who do you thin I am? Martha?" complicated. There are plenty of ideas that would be great to do with kids, including Bakerella's signature recipe - the ever-so-versatile Cake Pop!
All Things Cupcake
As this title implies, this blog celebrates everything and anything cupcake related. If you need a good source for vegan cupcakes, you've struck gold. For those of us trying to cut down on our sugar intake, this blog also features various handmade, cupcake-shaped goods, including jewelry, soaps, bath fizzies and knitted/crochetted figurines. I was surprised to see how popular cupcake tattoos are.
Cake Wrecks
Okay, so this blog is the darker side of the confectionary world, but it is also one of my favorite blogs ever. Cake Wrecks is dedicated to professional cakes that have gone "horribly, hillariously wrong." Readers send in pictures of cakes from professional bakeries (home made decorators are off-limits) that are horribly designed. Some cakes are the kind that you just pick up off the shelf, but some the best entries are from where a customer's request is interperreted in an unfortunate manner. Every Sunday Cake Wrecks takes a breather from the very bad and spotlights the very good in their "Sunday Sweets" posts.
Before I leave you to this Sweetest Day, don't forget to check out some sweets we have at Fabric.com:
Sweets and Treats by Timeless Treasures
Not only does Ro Gregg design fabrics, she is also a great cook. She has shared one of her favorite recipes with us.
Rigatoni Pasta w/ Bolognese Sauce
Ingredients:
1 medium Vidallia onion finely chopped Salt and Pepper to taste
1 medium carrot finely chopped Tubular pasta - follow instructions on box.
6 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 Tri-pack of veal, pork and hamburger
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 cup red wine
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Italian seasonings : Your choice to taste
Optional : A tad of cognac
Instructions:
1. Saute onion, carrot and galic in extra virgin olive oil until onion is translucent.
2. Stir in meat and brown meat. Add salt, pepper, oregano, basil or your choice of Italian seasoning to release flavor of spices.
3, When meat is finished browning, stir in one can of crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 cup of red wine and a sprinkle of cognac. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1 hour or until the desired consistency is reached. Garnish pasta with fresh chopped parsley and basil.
4. Sit back and enjoy the compliments.
If you still feel like sewing after this delicious treat, here is a link to a free pattern download from Northcott Fabrics: Cambridge Square.
Enjoy!
