Tuesday's Tute: Water Bottle Bag Re-Post

Water bottles get a bit heavy, especially when carrying several in my purse or backpack.  Why carry everyone's, when they could carry their own in this cute and easy to make bag.  I made these for my children three years ago.  They don't look as pretty now as they do in this picture, but they have been put to good use.  All you need is a wash cloth and grossgrain ribbon.  You can add applique and trim as you like.  Our ribbon strap is long enough to fit across the body so it doesn't slip off of an active preschooler's shoulder.
Happy Sewing!
Debbie

Featured Post From Gracious Daughter of the King

Darci from Gracious Daughter of the King wrote a wonderful article about her favorite SquigglyTwigs Designs Patterns.  Check it out and see some pictures of her cute family wearing her SquigglyTwigs creations.
Happy Sewing!
Debbie

Tuesday's Tute: Vintage Flower Headband

 This week we are sharing with you another inspiration from Persnickety clothing, a vintage looking headband created with wrapped flowers and lace.

Materials:

 Fabric/lace scrap strips for the flowers (The longer/wider the strip the larger the flower.)
Glue gun and or needle and thread
Lace or ribbon strip to match the circumference of the head
Pony band
Beads or buttons for flower centers

Directions:

 1. Tie a knot at one end of the strip.

 2. Twist and wrap the strip around the knot.  Glue or stitch every little bit to hold the flower together.

 3. Continue twisting the strip and wrapping (and gluing) it until you get the size of flower you want.

4. Glue/stitch the end of the strip to the back side of the flower, out of sight.  Trim the ends if needed.

 5. Add the center embellishment.  (stitch or glue)  At this point you can add any fastener to the back you'd like.  This can be a broach, hair clip...anything.

Our flowers for this headband.

 6.  Prepare a headband.  See our tutorial here. The tutorial shows the headband stitched, but I glued this one. Lay the flowers out in the arrangement you'd like.  Stitch or glue them to the headband.

Enjoy!

Happy Sewing!
Debbie and Curly

Tuesday's Tute: Flower Belt

Yesterday, Curly and I were looking at Persnickety's Spring and Summer line.  She saw an adorable flower belt, and decided it would be a perfect accessory for her 4-H skirt.  As usual many colors would be used.  She and I worked together to bring you the Flower Belt tutorial.

Her drawing

Materials:

Belt Fabrics: 

    2 pieces 5" by 40" ea. (for a 20" waist and a simply knot tie)

Flower Pieces:

    13 rectangles 3" by 5"

Circle of felt to cover the back side raw edge

Something for your center (We used part of a silk daisy and an earring piece.)

Sewing machine and supplies

Glue gun

Hand sewing needle and thread

Directions:     

 Belt:

 1. Stitch the two belt pieces together (short edges) to form a circle. Press flat.

 2. With wrong sides together, meet the belt seams together and stitch around the outside.  Leave a 3" opening for turning it right side out.  Begin and end at the seam.

 2. Turn belt right side out.  Press flat so that the edge seams are on the edges.

 3.  Fold opening raw edges inside, press and stitch closed.  This stitch will be hidden under the flower.

Flower:

1. Chain Stitch short edges together to make one long multi-pieced strip.

 2. Narrow hem or zigzag edge.  A zigzagged edge will allow a bit of fray.

 3. Gather raw edge.

 4. Pull up thread to tighten gathers, and wind the flower strip around until you get the look you like.

 5. Hand stitch layers together in the center.

 6. Hand stitch down circle of felt to cover raw edges.

7. Hot glue (or stitch) on center.

 8. Secure the flower to the belt.  We used a safety pin so that the flower can be multi-purposed.

Happy Sewing!
Debbie

Tuesday's Tute: Discovered A-new

I've added more tutorials to the Tutorial page in the tab by the header.  This week you'll find a list of sewing techniques.  This new list follows the Flower Tutorial list, just scroll down a bit.  If there's a technique not on our list that you've been dying to know, leave me a comment and we'll see about getting a tutorial written on the subject.
Happy Sewing!
Debbie

Tuesday's Tute: A Chunky Necklace

 Chunky beaded necklaces are one of Curly's favorite things.  There several places on Etsy to purchase them at $15-20.  We thought we'd try to make one.  For about $20, we have enough beads to make several different necklaces.  If you are looking to make just one necklace with a variety of colors, your best bet is to buy one on etsy.  Otherwise, making your own is fun and frugal.

Materials:
about 1/2 yd of ribbon
Variety of Chunky (large) plastic/acrylic beads (We purchased our beads at JoAnns and Hobby Lobby)
Spacer beads (pea sized)
Embroidery or other heavy thread/needle
Candle or other melting source (I used a few matches)

 1. Cut the thread about 6" longer than your bead strand will be. Put a piece of tape on the non-needle end to keep the beads from running off. Arrange the beads in the order you'd like them.  String them onto the thread.

 2. Cut the ribbon in 1/2. Seal the end of the ribbon with heat or other means.  Stitch the end of the ribbon securely and tightly to the bead strand.  You don't want any thread space between your last bead and the ribbon.  Do the same with the other side.

3. Tie the ribbon in a knot to hide the stitching.  Heat seal the other ends of the ribbon to keep them from raveling.

Enjoy your new chunky necklaces!!!  They are great fun to create.

Happy Sewing!
Debbie and Curly @ SquigglyTwigs Designs

Websites for Inspiration

Welcome 4-Hers.  I have the wonderful privilege to share my design process with a group of 4-H sewists this evening.  Here are a few of the websites I like to browse for design ideas.
Chez Ami Clothing
Garnet Hill Clothing
Everything But the Princess
Art and Soul by Bercot
Boden USA
Kinder Kouture Clothing
Anthropologie
Etsy
Chasing Fireflies

Happy Sewing!
Debbie