Mesh Wreath

I have been asked by a friend to teach her how to make a mesh wreath? They think I know everything, I don't, but I do know how to google it. So I found this one for a puff wreath from the Old Time Pottery but it was a video, so I will added here until I get a chance to make one and take picture of each step.

Mesh Wreath by the Old Time Pottery.

This is what a "Puff" Wreath looks like:

And here are the instructions I wrote from the video:

Wire form 24”

1 roll of 21”deco mesh (10 yards)

1 roll of deco mesh 10”for accent color

5 yards of 2 ½ inches ribbon for a bow (or bows)

Other embellishments as needed

18 pipe cleaners, folded in half

Tie the pipe cleaners to the inside ring at the cross bars

Now tie more pipe cleaners to the outside ring about halfway between the cross bars. You may want to use a glue gun to keep them from sliding.

Start with a 3-4 inches tail, bunching together the deco mesh starting in the inside ring, continue bunching up the mesh at about 12 inches and tie it to the next pipe cleaner. Tie them together and fluff it up. Continue on till the first pipe cleaner, tie it. Do not cut.

Start now on the outside ring the same way. End at the cross over pipe cleaner in the outer ring. Cut a 3-4 inches tail.

Now do the same with your accent mesh, gathering a tail and puff at every 6”. Start on the center ring attaching it to the same pipe cleaner. Continue alternating inside and outside ring going around twice.

Fluff up the puffs and hide the tails by pulling thru the back and up and down the ring.

Make sure all the pipe cleaners are secured and use them to attach your embellishments or turn them to the back and cut it.

There is also a "Curly" wreath which instructions were already on a PDF file and I am attaching here:
Miss Kopy Kat Blog - how-to-make-curly-deco-mesh-wreath

She uses the entire width of a 21" roll of mesh and 4 colors.

A different version (on a very long and boring video) is done with 10"rolls and 3 colors. They call it "Ruffled"Wreath. This one is from UnderATexasSky.com. Here is the short version of the instructions:

Uses 3 - 10 inches rolls

2 of the same ribbon width, one roll solid another with a design.

Cut 12 inches from each mesh. (12 cuts of each color)

Gather the pieces in the middle and attach it to the pipe cleaners alternating the colors.

Starting again from the beginning, use the same pipe cleaner opened (do not add on top of a twisted pipe cleaner)

Repeat with the 3^rd color.

Start all over again in the inside ring

Cut ribbons to about 12 inches, dove tail the ends, scrunch in the middle and attach it to the pipe cleaner. Do the same to another ribbon and attach it on top of the previous ribbon on a different direction.

Now attach any embellishments, ornaments etc.

Here is one I made:

It came out very pretty but I did not like working with the mesh as much as I thought I would. It frays too much!

I also made a Santa Claus head and a swag. Here they are:

Another easy wreath I found was made with a wire hanger and tule instead of mesh. The video is by Nica Wolmack and she gives good instructions but I find it easier to follow written directions.

I will try to write up instructions for this one also.

Dog costumes

BOO!!!!! Halloween is here and your 4 legged friends wants to join in the fun.

There are many costumes for sale at the pet stores but they look cheap and your baby deserves more. The solution: make your own, like the one my dog Rio (a shih tzu/pug mix) is wearing for the pictures.

Her cousin Dublin (a pit bull) is also posing.

I also made costumes for Rio's friends Ms. Poo and Mr. Winston (small poodles). Mr. Winston, the only boy in the group, got a vest in the same fabric as the girls.

I started with a basic harness pattern and added extra inches to the length for the dress and vest plus the tutus.

The harnesses are usually 5-6 inches long, from there I added 3 inches for the dresses and vest plus another 3 inches for the tutu.

It was hard trying to show the pattern in its full size as I don't have a large scanner, but you will get the idea. Click here for a link to the pdf. file: 

dog harness pattern

The important measures are neck, chest and body length (from neck to tail). 

Happy Sewing and Happy Halloween!!!

Double Sided No Sew Fleece Blanket

How to Make a Double Sided Tied Fleece Blanket

Making this fleece blanket with tied ends is very easy, no sewing required! You will need 2 pieces of fleece (contrasting colors looks better), about 2 ½  yards each (for an adult size (7 ½ feet long to cover their toes!, 2 yards for youth size and 1 ½ yard for a baby/toddler size), scissors (or a rotary cutter),  ruler and tailor’s chalk.

Lay the two pieces of fleece wrong sides together and pin, you don’t want the fabrics shifting when you are cutting. CUT THE SELVAGES OFF. Trim all around the edges if needed.

With your ruler and chalk, mark a 3 inches line all around

Cut out a 3 inches square from all 4 corners.

Now cut out fringes on both fabrics at once, about 3 inches deep all the way around the fabric.

Cut a small slit on each pair of fringe, make sure not to cut too much or the pieces will come apart.

Push the fringes up & pull down inside, through the slit.

Continue tying all the way around the fabric until your blanket is complete!

If this is a large blanket add some embellishments around the center  to secure the two parts together and avoid bunching when washed. 

Shown here on a different blanket made with two contrasting colors and the letters were added on both sides.

NOTE:  If making a one sided blanket you will tie two fringes together into double knots, this helps them to say together after washing).

Purse organizer insert

Do you ever find yourself looking for something in your purse just to realize that you left in your other purse? I did, many times, until I decided to do something about. I spent a good amount of time looking for a purse organizer on the web but could not find anything that fit my needs. Most were too large and I wanted something that could go from my medium size purse to my small across the chest purse.

The solution? Make my own.

The organizer I made was 28"x 7". At seven inches high it was short enough for the small purse and OK for the large one and the length was also good enough for both. Note that if you have a large wallet it should go between the  folds, not inside of the pockets.

Materials:

1 yard of fabric of your choice or;
1/2 yards each of two different fabrics
Embellishments as you like.

Cutting:

Cut pieces at 28 1/2" by 15" (same fabric or one of each)

With both fabrics on the wrong sides, Make a running stitch all the way around leaving an opening to turn.

Turn it inside out and iron.

Again run a stitch around to sharpen the edges and close up the opening.

Fold that in half lengthwise and mark as many pockets sizes as you will need. Phone, agendas, sunglasses, pens, etc.

Stitch up and down along the marks (don't forget to back stitch the top) and you are done!

Here are pictures of a finished product made with 2 different fabrics.

Duffel Bag, Quilted

Quilted, personalized duffel bag

My granddaughter needed a duffel bag to carry her uniform and shoes to her cheer leading practices and she wanted with the school colors, garnet and gold.

So here it is.

Materials

·        1 ½ yard of quilted double sided garnet fabric. I bought 2 yds to be safe and to add pockets.

·        18"  separating sport zipper

·        1 yd of gold broadcloth fabric to make the handles

·        1 pk of gold/yellow fabric for binding

Cutting

·        Cut two 12" circles (and 2 half circles, with binding, if you want to add pockets on the sides)

·        Cut one rectangle 19 1/2" by 37 6/8”, this is the circumference of my 12”circle (here you have to find the circumference of whatever size of your circle).

·        Cut one rectangle 11”x 25” if you want pockets along the middle of the bag and add binding to the short ends.

·        Cut 4”x 37”of the broadcloth to make 1 1/2” wide strips for the handles (this is good enough for this size bag, make it longer or shorter as needed. You can use ready-made webbing but I couldn’t find any in gold.

Assembly

·        Fold the long edge of the rectangle in half.

·        Mark the fold line.

·        Measure in 4" from each end of the fold and mark on the fold.

·        Measure 6”from each end.

·        Add pockets rectangle to center. Pin it down.

·        Fold the strips (or webbing) in half lengthwise and mark the center.

·        Lay one end of the strip at the center mark.

·        Lay the half way mark on the opposite center mark.

·        Bring the other end around to meet the starting point. Working from the center fold, pin in place 4" from the edge of the rectangle, stopping 6" from the top edges of the rectangle.

·        Sew the edges of the strip (with pocket rectangle underneath) stopping and pivoting at the stop point, sew across the ends and back down the edge of the strap. I also sewed down the center line to avoid things getting lost in a bottomless pocket.

·        Sew the zipper to the fabric following the 1/4" guide on the zipper tape (about the middle of the zipper tape).

Repeat for the second side of the zipper

Adding the ends … hang in there, this is the tougher part.

·        Fold the bag in quarters and mark the folds at the ends of the body of the bag.

·        Unhook the zipper to open the bag flat.

·        Fold the circles in quarters and mark the folds at the edge of the circles.

·        Pin the side pockets in place.

·        Placing right sides together, matching the quarter marks, pin the circles into the ends of the bag.

·        Sew the ends in place following the curves.

·        Apply a seam finish to the seams.

·        Turn right side out and press.

 View of side pockets

All my inside seams were zigzag to avoid fraying.

 

Also letters and other embroidery details should be done before adding end circles.