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A simple, quick project using patchwork and appliqué.
A simple, quick project using patchwork and appliqué.
00Having recently learnt the basics of patchwork and quilting I wanted to take on a small, simple project using these skills before working my way up to tackling making a quilt. For a look at my first attempts at quilting see our blog post on What is quilting? A patchwork and appliqué cushion seemed like the perfect answer. I drew a simple pattern of a patchwork border and left space in the middle for some appliqué. The first challenge was choosing the material. Too many choices! What are the best colours to go together? The second challenge was what to use as the appliqué. This was meant to be a simple quick project so I chose a simple pattern of two hearts. After measuring the cushion pad and allowing for seam allowances I cut out the material using a rotary cutter. Rotary cutters are great for shapes with straight edges and so much quicker than scissors. For an introduction to using a rotary cutter click here. With all the pieces cut out I prepared the back of the cushion. This is a simple envelope cushion so I had cut the back wider than the cushion pad so I could cut it in half to make the envelope overlap. The edges were turned over and sewn into place and the two pieces put aside to use later. The next step was to attach the hearts to the front using Bondaweb. Being more than capable of attaching the wrong side of the appliqué to the cushion I always follow our simple tutorial on this to get it right each time! Next each patchwork strips was attached to the appliquéd centrepiece to make one large front piece for the cushion. Then attach the two back pieces, insert the cushion pad and the cushion is finished. Simple and quick to make! There is no excuse get revamping your cushions now! The Finished Cushion...
Card Making Classes Now on the Website.
Card Making Classes Now on the Website.
00Details of our card making classes are now on the website. Our classes incorporate recycling and upcycling to keep your cardmaking affordable, orginal and unique. Learn to make a card that is specific to the occassion and to the person the card is for. Our classes are suitable for all levels of experience and will teach you to make eye-catching and original cards cheaply and easily. Using old cards, wrapping paper, trimmings and ribbons you can come away with some gorgeous creations to send and impress friends and family. For dates and booking see the website ...
Felting Courses added to the website!
Felting Courses added to the website!
00Felting is one of the latest cool, creative crafts. Forget boring commercially produced felt. Make your own. It softer and thicker than the felt you buy and you can use it to make purses, bags, hats, slippers, scarves, bunting and jewellery. The only limit is your imagination! We have put together two exciting felting classes and these are now live on the website. Choose from making felt jewellery or learn how to make a piece of felt and turn it into a purse. We are pleased to welcome Abby, otherwise know as the Habedashery Hostess, to Crafts Bee. Abby will be busy teaching us all to felt. Courses are available on the 11 October with a date in November to be added soon. ...
Quilting – What is it, can a beginner quilt, and other questions.
Quilting – What is it, can a beginner quilt, and other questions.
00Quilting. What is quilting, can a beginner quilt and other questions? A number of people on our Learn to Sew Class ask if quilting if they can do a quilting class or is it too difficult? The answer is yes it is a great next step for beginners and those with sewing experience that want to try something new. There seem to be lots of terms thrown about with quilting and, to a beginner, it is confusing as to what they all mean. What actually is quilting, how does patchwork fit into it and what is appliqué? My first proper experience of quilting was a few years ago when, with the help of Regan, one of our quilting tutors, I made a small wall hanging. Prior to this my first and only experience of patchwork was at school making a small patchwork tortoise. It seemed to take ages, cutting all the pieces out, laboriously tacking them together then hand stitching them all to make a very un-tortoise looking tortoise that was promptly put to the back of the cupboard and ignored. With this at the back of my mind I was slightly worried but, having seen the beautiful work Regan produces, I knew there must be much more to it. The first thing to do was choose my material. This did take a while trying out different colour combinations. But eventually I decided on green as the colours looked fresh and lively together. Dreading the cutting out, and remembering how long it used to take, I found out that cutting out is now done with a rotary cutter! After a little bit of practice I got going and within a few minutes my squares were perfectly cut and ready to sew together! This is the point at which I needed to work out how patchwork fits into quilting and what actually is quilting. Quilting is stitching together three layers of fabric. The bottom layer is underneath the quilt so is not generally on view, the middle layer is the wadding and the top layer is normally made up of patchwork blocks with a border. The three layers are stiched together and the stitches form a decorative pattern. This still left appliqué to be explained but more on that later. The patchwork squares were pinned together and then quickly and easily stitched together on the machine without tacking. With memories of the tortoise now firmly forgotten it was...
Sewing Techniques – Using Bondaweb for Applique
Sewing Techniques – Using Bondaweb for Applique
00A quick guide to using Bondaweb in Applique. Its easy to get confused when using Bondaweb. The last thing you want to do is stick it to your iron by mistake or get the applique the wrong way round. To help you get it right we have written a quick guide. Draw or trace your shape onto the paper side of the Bondaweb. In the middle of your design, on the Bondaweb, write your name,the colour of the material your will be cutting it out in, your favourite colour or anything as you will need this later to make sure you have the Bondaweb the right way round. Roughly cut out the shape in the Bondaweb. Giving it a 0.5-1cm border. Take the fabric that you want to cut the shape out of and turn it over so the wrong side is facing you. Lay the Bondaweb onto it making sure that you can read your writing. (This will make sure you are ironing the correct side!) Iron the Bondaweb to the fabric so the Bondaweb and the fabric stick together. Roughly cut the shape out of the fabric. Then neatly cut out your finished shape. Peel the Bondaweb off of the fabric. You can feel the Bondaweb has left a coating on the fabric. Place the Bondaweb side of your appliqué onto the material it is to be adhered to and iron it until it sticks. Stitch around the edge of the appliqué. Either by hand or with a machine. Remember that your finished appliqué will be in reverse from the shape you originally draw. When you start it is easier to start with symmetrical shapes so that this does not...
Great Tutorial on How to Use a Rotary Cutter on Fabric
Great Tutorial on How to Use a Rotary Cutter on Fabric
00We found a great tutorial on how to use a rotary cutter and how to square up fabric. Have a look at it on our Facebook Page.
Bee Pin Cushion
Bee Pin Cushion
00Love these Bee Pin Cushions our quilting teacher made especially for us.