Snippets ~ Tissue Cozy

Another Easy-Sneezy Snippet today!

Find two cute little scraps of fabric:

5-3/4" x 6-1/4" main print

5-3/4" x 7-1/2" accent print

1 package pre-folded tissues

With right sides together PIN the short 5-3/4" seams together on both ends.

STITCH using 1/4" seam allowances. 

 

TURN right side out and PRESS seam allowances toward accent fabric.

CENTER the main fabric with accent fabric on outer edges

 covering the seam allowances evenly, then PRESS flat.

FOLD in half to find the center and place pins to mark. at each end.

With right sides facing, OVERLAP center accent strips at the center pin...

...PIN in place.  Repeat on other end.

STITCH 1/4" seam across both ends.

FINISH raw edges with zig-zag stitch, if desired.

CLIP corners.

Form boxed corners:

Fold each corner with the seam down the center as pictured.
Anchor into your pressing board with pins, if necessary.

MEASURE down 3/8" from the point of each corner, and draw a line for stitching.

(1/2" is too big.  Trust me.)  PIN in place.

STITCH on drawn lines to form boxed corner.

 

REPEAT to box all four corners.

TURN your new Tissue Cozy right side out and fill with

pre-folded tissues (a packet of Kleenex has about ten tissues).

 Bless you!

Snippets:  Simple projects, gift ideas and handmade doo-dads made with just a few scraps and notions.  From my sewing room to yours.  See more "snippets" HERE.

Tableside Pressing Pad

Let's make a customized mini pressing pad to keep next to the sewing machine!

 Featuring Solid Pumpkin and Linen Basic Shade by RBD Designs, 

plus a little Avignon by Emily Taylor for Riley Blake Designs.

Supplies: 

• 1 Fat Quarter
• Two  8" squares (optional)
• Stapler with staples, or hammer and upholstery tacks
• 3/8" plywood, cut into a 14" x 18" rectangle
• (see if the lumberyard will cut it for you!)
•  2 pieces @ 18" x 21" 100% cotton batting
•  1 piece @ 18" x 21" Insulbright or other heat-reflective batting

Instructions: 

1)  Piece the outer cover 

 Now, this step is OPTIONAL, but since I had these blocks lying around 

 from this recent VIDEO (Sewing Triangles) I thought we could use them!

 

Watch the video, or follow this TUTORIAL

to make EIGHT Quarter-Square (Hourglass) blocks at the same time!  

 Square up the blocks to 3"

Next, alternate each unit and stitch them together in a row.

Slice your fat quarter at about 14" over from one edge.
STITCH to insert the pieced strip between the cuts,

using 1/4" seam allowances.  Trim to 18" x 22" rectangle.  

You may want to finish the raw edges by serging, zig-zag 

or turn under 1/4 inch and stitch.

2) Stack the cover and batting as follows:

Fat Quarter (finished/right side down)

Heat-reflective batting

2 layers of cotton batting

Plywood

 Trim off batting corners, about 3/8" from the corner of the wood.

3)  Staple cover to plywood

 Bring a corner of the fabric up over the plywood

and staple or tack to the wood. 

 Form miters on the corners by folding the fabric around the batting,

then staple to secure.

 

Pull tightly and staple your fabric to the back of the plywood.  

I finished the corners first, then anchored each side at the centers,

and filled in with staples all the way around to secure.

 

Here are some of my tools... plus the phone to call my husband

to have him pick up more staples at the hardware store...

 My dear husband suggested that I put something on the back to

 cover the staples and prevent scratches or splinters. (Thanks, honey!)

I used a light piece of fusible interfacing and just ironed it on! 

 

Ready for any "pressing" matter...

This is just another fun "Snippet" from my sewing room to yours.  Great for classes or retreats, too!   

This little pressing pad could be made with a coordinating strip of fabric, or even without blocks.  I thought it was a fun way to use up these extras.  Plus, they coordinate with a sewing kit ensemble I'm putting together... Shhhh, don't tell, it's a surprise!

See more simple project tutorials, gift ideas and handmade doo-dads for the sewing room on my Snippets page!

 

Snippets ~ Tableside Pressing Pad

Today's  Snippet from the Sewing Room...

A customized mini pressing pad to keep next to your sewing machine.

Find the TUTORIAL << for Riley Blake Designs' Cutting Corners!

I absolutely love my Big Board...

...but it's not quite as portable as this sweet little tableside pad.  
Plus, I can always change out the cover, or just make another if I have a whim! 

Hope you enjoy this little Snippet!  I sure do.  Check out all the tutorials for previous Snippets HERE.  Then be sure to pop in next Monday for another easy-sneezy project!  *Ü*

By the way, CONGRATULATIONS to Maria (Mo Eads), the winner of last week's UFO to GO! & Snippet Giveaway!

Snippets ~ A Snappy Case

Today's Snippet!

Ever lose your spectacles in the sewing room, or just can't see to find them?  Here's another fun Snippet from my sewing room to yours... an easy-to-make eyeglass case to hold those elusive specs!

Supplies:

Main fabric:  6-1/2" x 7" rectangle

(I used laminate - matches my sewing kit *Ü*)

Accent/Lining fabric:  6-1/2" x 8-3/4" rectangle

Heavy fusible interfacing (Pellon Decor-Bond)

Metal tape measure (1/2" wide) that you can chop up

Tin snips or heavy-duty craft scissors

 

FUSE interfacing to wrong side of lining fabric.

 

With right sides together, STITCH main fabric to lining along one 6-1/2" edge. 
Use 1/4" seam allowances.  PRESS seam allowance toward main print
(use presscloth if making with laminate).

 

FOLD sewn unit right side out and align opposite edges together.

PIN or BASTE lower edges. 

You should be able to see about 3/4" of accent fabric at one end.

 

STITCH in the ditch to form your casing for the tape measure.

 

Fold to find the center of the top band and STITCH down the middle of the casing.

CUT off two 3" lengths of metal tape measure with tin snips or craft scissors.

Round the edges if possible. 

If the ends are rough, use a bit of painter's tape to wrap the ends.

 

With right side of eyeglass case up, INSERT tape measure into both ends of casing.

Be sure the DOMED side of the metal tape measure is UP.

 

With right sides together, PIN edges along side and bottom. 

Make sure you have enough room to stitch a 1/4" seam 

and enclose the tape measure.  If not, RE-TRIM tape measure if necessary.

STITCH seams, using 1/4" seam allowance.

Finish edges with zig-zag stitch if desired.

TRIM corners and TURN your eyeglass case right side out. 

Use the help of a chopstick or other blunt object to turn the corners.

 

SQUEEZE to open the end and insert your glasses.

Stores one or more pairs of glasses. 

Better yet, make one for each pair for every room of the house. 

(Advice to self...)  I buy these cute reading glasses at Michael's

 craft store for around $2.99, and yeah, I have a pair

 in every room and I still lose them!

I've been having sew much fun making these little projects and doo-dads for my sewing room using just a few scraps and odds and ends, all while testing out Riley Blake Designs' fun fabrics and notions. 

I call these my     

I'd like to invite you to subscribe to keep posted, and remember to check here for more fun "SNIPPETS" from/for the sewing room.

You may be interested in one of my other snippets:
the UFO-to-Go! It's a portable design wall roll-up!  

You can see it in a video here:
http://youtu.be/-4eBjeP-Urs 
Or see the step-by-step Tutorial here:
UFO-to-GO!

 

Happy Sewing!!

Deonn