Lunch Sac from Scraps

At the beginning of the year, I made C a little lunch sac. As you can see, it wasn't so cute. Since then, I have had a new one on my to-do list. Originally C wanted a camo sac, but they were all out of camo at the store. Then I remembered I this.

I managed to get some squares out of it.

This is what I came up with for C's new lunch sac. It has velcro on the inside and little handles that are much better then the first lunch sac.

I didn't have quite enough squares, can you tell?

At least the black strip matches. Maybe I should use a lint brush on it before I take a picture next time.

Kristen

Rag Rug Tutorial

Since I had so many questions on the last rag rug, I decided to do a tutorial. Also, my sister has wanted one really bad, so this is her Christmas present.

You will need:
Fabric - Lots of fabric in colors you would like to see together. You can buy new or use old scraps.
Scissors
sewing machine or thread and needle

First, I cut my fabric in strips about 1/5-2 inches.

Then I take strips and start braiding. It's helpful to have 2 long strips and 1 short strip. The short strip you can pull through so the bottom doesn't braid on itself.

When you run out of fabric, sew another piece on.

When you think your braid is long enough, start sewing it together. Don't finish off the braid yet, just incase it's not long enough. I thought mine was long enough, but it wasn't so I just added on.

I first take the beginning and fold it on itself about 10-12 inches. Here is where you can hand sew, but I just stick it in my machine and zig zag. You have to be careful not to pull the braid tight or it will start to turn into a bowl. But, you also can't bunch the braid together too much or it will get ruffly. You just have to find that balance of even braid.

The zig zag stitches show, but they don't stand out when the rug is on the ground.

See, just bump the braid up next to itself as you sew.

Have fun putting your scraps to good use and not waisting!

Rag Rug

Well, it's a work in progress, but I finally got my rag rug started. Here is my long braid. I love all the different colors.

Usually I will knit on a long drive and last week we went to the Grand Canyon. Since I have been dying to get one of these made, I decided to do this instead of knitting on our drive.

Unfortunately, I ran out of fabric so I couldn't finish with 4 hours left in the drive home. But, when I am done, it will go great in my 70's kitchen. I feel like if you can't change it, just go with it.

It will be a while before it's done, I need scraps to make it. I feel like it's a waist to buy beautiful fabric and cut it into scraps, I have make something with it first.

I really like the way the browns turned out in it.

Kristen

Checkers anyone?

I have been trying to spend some one on one time with C each day. I was thinking it was going to be homework during nap, but so far there hasn't been any. So, I thought it would be fun to have some old fashion games.

C really wanted Connect Four, and I wanted Checkers. Well, I went to Target and returned with what C wanted and Guess Who? (The game, I'm not really asking you to guess who.) They were all out of Checkers which turned out to be good because it saved me $13.99. Connect Four has checker pieces and I realized I can just make a board!

64 little squares later I decided it's much better this way, I had the scraps, no spending money, no waisted resources as in packaging and I lowered the carbon foot print, no deliveries. Perfect! Now, I'm sure tons of others have had this brilliant idea, but am just thinking of it now.

Yes, yes, I have said many times, I am not a quilter. Can you see why? This just irritates me so much. The darn squares are never perfect! At least it was only a couple that this happened to.

Also, this isn't a quilt, there was no quilting involved. I just sewed tiny squares together. Actually though, this is the tedious part of quilting to me, I would like the actual quilting part. (What ever it's called.) Yes, I am so technical in my terminology.

I also have to say, yes, I do know a checker board is black and read. BUT I didn't know I had red until I was all done with the top and looking for the bottom fabric. I couldn't find anything I liked until I stumbled upon this perfect red. Oh, well.

Ok, it's really late and I'm really tired. Off to bed and checkers tomorrow.

Shirt from scraps

Remember that orange knit I made one of the Haiti dresses from? Well, I had a thin strip left and I have been wanting to make Lacey a specific top that needed just that amount of fabric. I cut 20 inches of that strip and smocked the top and bottom, added straps and ta-da...

I just love this print! The hair isn't bad either. Now that it's short, I don't have to detangle it every morning.

Such a perfect summer top. Very girly too.

Kristen

Clothing Labels

Oh no!! I washed my shirts with the labels sewn into them and the ink washed right out. I am so sad. I need to figure out a way to make it permanent. I heard just press it with a very hot iron. That doesn't work. Maybe if I soak it in vinegar.

Well now, I just discovered what can be done with freezer paper. I've seen it all over blogs, things done with it, but I never knew how. I stumbled upon a little youtube video on making home made clothing labels. I have wanted labels for SO long! But they are so expensive that I can't really justify buying them when I sew mainly for my family or gifts. When I saw this video I was so excited, I could hardly wait to get to the store, too bad I saw it at 10 pm last night. But, guess what did first thing this morning...

Yep, I bought my first pack of freezer paper. C was so excited to see what it was as soon as quiet time after school was over, we opened it up and got to work. First, I cut a piece the size of a piece of paper, then cut my fabric that size also.

Here's all my pieces. Now, I only need the freezer paper and the fabric. I ironed the fabric to the shinny side of the paper.

Apparently, I didn't iron it good enough because this is how my first attempt turned out after I yanked it out of the printer.

Lovely! I was so sad thinking it wasn't going to work. Then I decided to try to iron more with a hotter iron and look what I got. :-)

I really couldn't contain my excitement. I had to sew a shirt just so I can put a tag on.

After the labels are printed, just peal it off the freezer paper. C did this part for me.

Here is a sneak peak at what I made. I have to show you the label on something, but I'm not ready to post this top. Tomorrow, after I get a picture wearing it I will post. I just love how the label looks! I love the raw edges and the unbleached muslin I used. It looks very natural. The best part... they don't itch one bit.

Oh, freezer paper, a new found love. Oh the possibilities. I am so excited about this. I know many of you are probably going, duh! Where have you been? That's ok though, I don't mind.

Here is a little green idea for this. You can use scraps of solid fabric to iron on your paper. Something new to do with those odd shape scraps that are not long enough to go into a basket.

Kristen

Hobo Sac's

More Hobo Sac's! Yep, the same pattern I got from Made. Last week I mentioned that C loved the homemade present we gave to a friend so much that he said it was the best present we ever gave. He loved it all, well all but the skirt. He has been asking me to make him a sac ever since. We had another friend that had a birthday and I knew she would love the make-up so we made her some of that and C was telling me I needed to make her a sac also. So I made her a sac and he kept asking when I could do his. Of course I had to make his right after. I just couldn't not do it. You know when they are so sweet asking you to make something that they absolutely love, how could you say no?

Here are the 2 new sac's. Now I just need to do one for L. She waiting so nicely for her Hobo Sac.

C wanted the this fabric that I made his cape out of for L's birthday party. I messed up on cutting the capes I made so I had weird pieces of scraps left. So I had to piece it together to get enough fabric. Can you see that little seam hiding behind the pocket? That's why I added this little extra pocket, to hide that little seam. I knew Cole wouldn't mind because he LOVES pockets. He had it full inside and out within 5 minutes of me giving him the sac.

Here is the birthday sac. I do have to say, I love giving a present in the Hobo Sac, there is no waist. No trash from the wrapping and it's SO cute! Yes, we had to do the make-up again. I just love that stuff. It was funny, the mom was a little nervous when she saw it thinking she was going to really have to regulate the use of it. Then I told her to feel it. That's when she realized it wasn't real. She was very happy and so was her daughter.

Another way to not waist any part of the present, I buy a book instead of a card and write a happy birthday note on the book or an index card and tape it to the book. Card's get trashed, books get loved.

One more picture of C's sac. He just loves it.

These are just so much fun and so quick and easy to make. I have said that I don't like making the same thing twice because I get board, but these are just too easy.

I am linking this with:

Car Organization

Here is a project I have had in mind for probably about a year. I finally got so annoyed with stuff all over my car that I set out to actually do the project this weekend. With L being sick sleeping most of the weekend and C with is grandparents, I had plenty of time. 

I use to have these ugly faded seat back covers. I always thought they needed pockets in them, but they were also a bit too small and the ties at the top were a bit too far apart. See how it pulls and makes it bunch up? So, I decided to make custom seat back covers.

L went shopping with me Friday just before she got really sick and picked out her fabric. She was totally set on this pink with polk-a-dots. It actually was great because it went well with the black for the cover. I picked C's fabric, blue and black are his favorite colors. But, I really don't think it matters because he is just so excited to have pockets. He LOVES pockets.

Look at that mess on the floor! Then, look how nicely everything has it's place.

Again, another mess in-between seats where the jackets are kept... Until now, there is a nice pocket just perfect for that jacket.

Here is a picture of both seat back covers. C's bottom pocket is a bit heavy, so I may add some boning to the back behind the bottom pocket.

Yes, L has tissue and C has an extra pocket for toys because L is constantly asking me for a tissue. She can't stand having anything in her nose and blows it probably about once every car ride.

Look what I made with just some of the scraps of fabric...

Isn't it lovely boy bias tape? Plus, I still have a ton of fabric left over.

I am linking with:

Sew Much Ado

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