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.

A new (old) endeavor.

With retirement came the opportunity to get involved in the many projects I love.

Research and Genealogy is captivating and led me to write about my family and my husband's family, with 4 books published so far.

When the research road blocks seems overwhelming, a quick change of activity revitalizes and recharges me. That is when crafts come in. I love all crafts with quilting and sewing being my favorites.

I have created many quilts, crafts articles, dog clothes, etc but until recently have not thought of documenting the experience. This have changed, I will start to write instructions and photograph as many of my present and past creations as possible. This too should be left to new generations to view.

When possible I will also pin the projects to Pinterest.