PRETTY PICNICWARE H SMOCKING HOW-TO H BIAS BINDING MASTERCLASS e New magazinng i w e from s ie expert Debb Shore
ISSUE 4
29 SUMMER
PROJECTS
PICNIC COOL BAG
CUTE DOG DOORSTOP MAKE IN JUST 9 SIMPLE STEPS
Make
Sewing Bee Tamara’s
PARTY CAKE FRILL
beautiful beach bag
APPLIQUÉ BOTTLE BAG
Brought to you by the craft experts
Sweet, practical and easy to sew!
WELCOME
!
Meet desig ner, maker and TV ,praeuthor Debbie Shosenter re...
p6 Hello and welcome to issue 4 of Sew Inspired. This issue is packed with wonderful summery projects you'll love to make, whatever the British weather decides to bring our way! With The Great British Sewing Bee back for a fabulous fourth series, I'm thrilled to introduce our guest designer this issue – the talented Tamara Melvin, finalist in series 2. I caught up with Tamara to find out what life is like after the Bee (page 33) and you'll find Tamara's exclusive nautical style beach bag on page 34. I've also been busy this issue, creating my new favourite pal, Buttons the dog doorstop (page 6), enjoying English Paper Piecing a lovely sewing machine mat (page 60)and upcycling a wonderful old wicker chair (page 50). I love giving furniture and textiles a new lease of life so I hope this project inspires you to have a go too! With warmer weather promising to make an appearance it's time to update your picnicware. Our pretty picnic mats, featured on our front cover, are a fun project for newbies and experienced sewers alike (page 20). Pack your picnic in style with our cool bag (page 22) and keep barbecue tools handy with our tool tidy (page 37). For summer parties use this issue's free stencil to create a sweet appliquÊ cake frill (page 12) and how about a string of cupcake bunting (page 16)? I can't wait to see what you make, you can email me your photos at deardebbie@sewinspiredmag.com Enjoy the issue!
Debbie Shore is a best-selling sewing author with nine published books, including the award-winning Half Yard Heaven series. For more inspiration visit Debbie's website at the address below and subscribe to her YouTube channel.
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www.debbieshore.tv
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DOORSTOP
se shaU ped a hear b t the utton ear for
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Buttons the dog Buttons the doorstop makes a great companion and he’s easy to sew too! By Debbie Shore
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DOORSTOP
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SKILL LEVEL
YOU WILL NEED
A Template downloaded from www.debbieshore.tv/si4
A 76x30.5cm (30x12in) fabric A (use woven cotton)
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A 91x30.5cm (36x12in) fabric B (use woven cotton) A 250g toy filler A Four buttons in two sizes for ears A Two black beads or buttons for eyes A A bag of sand or rice to use as a weight A Basic sewing kit TOOLS A Sewing machine Use a 0.5cm (¼in) seam allowance throughout
This cute doorstop is sure to put a smile on your face when you come home, and it would make a perfect gift for a dog lover. Let Buttons guard your door – he’s so friendly he’ll greet visitors with an approving woof! Use leftover fabrics for this doorstop, but try and use two contrasting prints to give Buttons some style. Delve into your button box and dig out some favourites to attach to his ears – after all, they are what give him his name! HOW TO MAKE Cut out all your template pieces apart from the base. Firstly, make up the tail: sew the two pieces right sides together but leave the bottom open, Snip around the curves to make
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the corners less bulky, then turn the right way out. Stuff with a little toy filler [1]. Take the two back pieces, and place the tail centrally between the top and bottom sections. Sew right sides together, sandwiching the tail between the two pieces. Topstitch under the tail with the seam facing downwards, this will help the tail to stand up when Buttons is finished [2]. To put the body together, sew the back section to the top of head [3], then sew the nose to the chin, and the chin to the chest. Take two head pieces and sew in the darts [4]. Sew the head to the body across the neck [5]. Pin the long strip of fabric around one side of the whole dog, right sides together, making sure the seams match around the neck and nose. Sew in place [6].
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DOORSTOP
TIP If you find the tail doesn’t stand up enough, put a few hand stitches between the tail and body to hold it in place.
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Repeat with the second side. Snip into the curves, as shown [7]. Cut a piece of fabric larger than the base pattern piece, cut in half and sew back together with a 1.25cm (½in) seam allowance. Press the seam open. The pattern is placed over this seam before cutting. Pin, then sew the base to the bottom of the dog. Unpick about 7cm, (3in) from the centre seam [8]. Turn the right side out and stuff firmly with toy filler. Just before closing, pop the bag of sand inside. Hand-sew the opening closed with a small slipstitch [9]. Sew the earpieces right sides together in pairs, leaving a gap of about 5cm (2in) in one side for turning. Snip around the curves, turn the right side out and press. Topstitch [10]. Sew two buttons to the top of each ear. (You’ll find it easier to sew the buttons to the ear first then, in turn, sew ears to the head). Pin the ears to each side of the head, making sure they are even, then hand sew in place. Mark the position of the eyes with an erasable ink pen, then hand sew the beads on. If you have a long needle, take the thread straight through the head and pull slightly to give the eye area a little shape [11].
'Why not give Buttons a collar to make him the best-dressed pooch of the pack?' DEBBIE SHORE, DESIGNER
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FABRIC
BUNTING
Melissa Nayler Melissa has been sewing since the Sixties, dressmaking for herself and her children. In the Nineties she discovered patchwork and quilting and is now known to her friends as gadget girl as she sews on several machines. She can’t imagine a day without sewing.
SKILL LEVEL
YOU WILL NEED
A Cupcake template downloaded from www.debbieshore.tv/si4 A Different fabric scraps to make a cake wrapper, cake and icing A Scraps of wadding A Ricrac & ribbon A Buttons A Basic sewing kit TOOLS
A Sewing machine
sweet treats Whip up a row of pretty cupcakes and make a string of sweet bunting for your kitchen. By Melissa Nayler
This cupcake bunting makes a pretty party decoration - hung inside or outside on a sunny day. Laden with sweet icing, wrapped in a pretty case and topped with a cherry, each fabric cake is suspended from a line of piping cord with tabs of gingham ribbon held in place by colourful pegs. Sew the cake wrapper and cake fabrics together, with a 0.5cm (¼in) seam allowance. Draw a line approx one third from the top of the cupcake template. With fabric right side up, place the line drawn template across the seam line and cut 2 shapes. Add a piece of ricrac along the seam line on the right side of both shapes. With right sides together, sew around the bottom 3 sides, leaving the top open. Turn right side out; press. Cut 2 icing shapes – remember to reverse one of the shapes – and 1 of wadding.
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Sandwich the fabric, with right sides outside, with wadding in between and insert the cake shape by approx 1.25cm (½in). A spot of spray adhesive on both sides of the wadding will help to keep everything together. Raw edge appliqué around the icing shape, ensuring you catch in the cake. Add a piece of ribbon and button for hanging.
TIP Make your cupcakes as colourful as you like by using contrasting coloured thread
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BUCKET
BAG
hing matc faux a m Makeel fro r tass leathe
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nautical & nice Make Tamara Melvin’s stylish bucket bag and take it to the beach and beyond
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BUCKET
BAG
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Tamara Melvin Super talented Tamara was a finalist in series 2 of The Great British Sewing Bee. Since then she has worked with a number of large sewing brands, presented on live TV, created designs for magazines and now runs sewing and crafting workshops and children's sewing parties. She had great fun creating this bucket style beach bag with its funky patterned lining!
SKILL LEVEL
35
YOU WILL NEED
A 1m (1 yd) of denim or a similar heavy fabric
A 1.2m (1.3 yds) of lining fabric A 1m (1yd) of faux leather or similar fabric
A 2m of webbing or similar shoulder strap material
A 3 x bag rings (these have an opening)
A 1 x slider A 10 x eyelets (follow the manufacturer’s instructions)
A 1cm (⅜in) wide piping cord for the drawstring
A Release clip (for tassel) A PRYM textile glue A Basic sewing kit TOOLS
A Teflon or non-stick machine foot
A Heavy duty machine needle (eg. leather needle)
A Sewing machine Use a 1cm (⅜in) seam allowance throughout
Tamara’s traditional style bucket bag, features a cord pull and adjustable straps and is created from durable denim and faux leather with a printed cotton lining. Practical and roomy, take this bucket bag to the beach or use it as a handbag to accompany a stroll along the prom! TO MAKE Cut a 50x96cm (19⅔x37¾in) piece of denim, a 50x48cm (19⅔x18⅞in) piece of faux leather and a 50x102cm (19⅔x40⅛in) piece of lining fabric, remembering that if you are using patterned fabric, you will need to cut out two separate pieces and not on the fold. Fold each piece in half lengthways and cut a corner from each corner of the folded side, measuring 12x12cm (4¾x4¾in) square [1]. Using pinking shears, cut a straight line across the upper edges of the bag base, alternatively you can fold over a scant hem
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and machine sew if you prefer. Pin the bag base to the outer fabric, then using a straight stitch, attach the base to the outer bag. Right sides together, sew the sides and base together, leaving out the cut out corners. Open out the corners so that the centre seam is in the middle, and with all edges together sew your seam. Repeat on the other side [2]. Repeat with the lining fabric, remembering that the lining fabric is slightly taller than the outer fabric [3]. Press. ‘Bag it out’: so with right sides together slide the lining over the main bag matching the side seams and sew around the top edge of the bag, leaving a gap about a hand’s distance wide so that you can pull though [4]. Push the lining through to the inside of the outer bag to create your lining. The lining is slightly taller than the outer bag to allow for a small turn over, or edging. Fold the ‘loose’ fabric from your hole to match the 1cm (⅜in) seam allowance and pin. Press. Stitch in the
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BUCKET
BAG
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ditch (where the two fabrics meet) to secure then turn over. Find the centre of the front and back of the bag and mark with a pin. Decide how many eyelets you’d like on your bucket bag. Mark each one, remembering that you don’t want to have an eyelet on the side seams. Attach the eyelets, following the manufacturer’s instructions, taking care to place the right side of the eyelet on the front of the bag [5]. Your bucket bag should now look like this [6]. To make the strap, cut a 1.1m (44in) piece of webbing and 2 x 18cm (7in) pieces for the tabs. Take the slider and fold over about 3cm (1⅛in) of the strap on the centre bar. Stitch in place with a secure stitch. I like to use a box shape with a cross from corner to corner. Now thread one end of the strap through the slider so that you make a loop. One end of your strap will be ‘free’ and the other will have the loop. With the ‘free’ end fold over again 3cm (1⅛in) as before and pin, leaving a gap when you
TIP Make your bag lining as bold and playful as you like for added summer fun!
sew your ‘box’ in order to slide the hardware through [7]. With the tabs, pin to the inside of the bag and sew in place, again with the box cross stitching. You should now have a strap with a loop on one end and a ring on the other. Using the second ring, slide through the tab and attach your strap. Adjust the slider to create the right length of strap for you.
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Weave the cord through the eyelets and knot to secure. To make the tassel. Cut a piece of faux leather measuring 18x45cm (7x17¾in) – it helps to use a rotary cutter and ruler here to get nice even straight lines. Mark out 5cm (2in) from the top with a line. Then measure out 1cm (⅜in) lines vertically from the top line. Using the rotary cutter, cut those lines up to the top line and not over it. It should look like fringing! Cut a 1cm (⅜in) wide strip as your loop and slide onto a release clip (I used circular bag rings with a side release). Using textile glue, stick the loop together [8]. Open out your fringe and place the loop on the left side. Slowly, with the top edges in line and gluing across the top part, roll the loop over and over until you reach the other side. Wipe off any access glue and secure in place with a hair bungee. Leave overnight to dry and then attach to your bag to finish.