Patchwork Christmas Ornaments

I posted this back in September for Stashbusting September at the T-Shirt Diaries. I figured since it is November it is fair game to start posting Christmas projects!

Every year I love to make handmade ornaments for my family and friends. Usually I plan what I am going to make, go out and buy supplies, then get to crafting. Not this year- I am going to use only what I have on hand! And I have LOTS of fabrics on hand. So here you are- some easy Patchwork Christmas Ornaments.

First off, don't limit yourself to Christmas ornaments on this project. You could make them into any seasonal ornaments you want or even into coasters. Make them a little bigger and they can be place mats! I thought doing them in fall colors and a pumpkin cutout I could make some really pretty coasters!

First off I found all my red and green fabric from my stash and started cutting. I cut my patchwork pieces into 3/4" squares in order to make a finished ornament of 3" X 3". Then lay them out in a pattern you like. I chose to off-set my columns so I didn't have to worry about lining up all those tiny corners.

If you have never done patchwork, don't be afraid- it really is just sewing in straight lines. And if it isn't totally even, that's OK- it looks more homemade that way!

First step- take two squares- hold them right side together- sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Then take the next piece, hold it right side together with the piece you want it to border and sew.

Once you get your first column done, press all seams to the side. I like to use spray starch to help get it flat.

Sew all of your columns. Place them right side together next to each other, line up the seams with the center of the adjacent columns squares. Sew with 1/4" seam allowance.

Once all of your columns are pieced, spray with starch and press seams flat. Trim around edges to make a square.

For the overlay I used t-shirt fabric so that it wouldn't fray. I cut out the square and centered a stencil of the shape that I wanted over it. I used hearts and stars. Trace the shape and cut out the inside portion so that you have a square with a heart cutout in the middle of it.

Use spray adhesive to hold the overlay in place on your patchwork piece. Stitch in contrasting color around edge of cutout.

Cut matching size square for backing on the ornament. I like to add a little bit of personalization so I embroidered "Love, Zoe" on the backs. Cut ribbon or cording for your hanger- pin in between the backing and your front piece. Sew around edge of the whole ornament. Use pinking shears to trim the edges.

Give as gifts or keep some for yourself. If you don't want to do the patchwork part, doing a solid or pattern as the background works well too. Or you can pieces strips or diagonals, however you want to do it! Have fun with it!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you can find some cute things to make out of this tutorial!

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Rice Neck Warmer

Ever notice how Dad's are the hardest to buy presents for, well it turns out they are the hardest to make presents for too. I had a hard time deciding what to make my father for his birthday. But I came up with this rice neck warmer. I made it big enough so that it can be a back warmer too.

This is an upcycled project- made from old t-shirts that are being stored to be made into a t-shirt quilt eventually. I like the way it turned out and it works really well as a neck warmer. So here is the basic how to:

Cut a rectangle out of two pieces of fabric. Like I said before- I wanted mine to be big enough that you can use it as a back heating pad too.

Cut out whatever decorations you want- I decided to do a black lab applique (my Dad has a black lab named Blue) and some stripes.

Position the decorations and sew them in place.

Sew the two rectangles right sides together- make sure and leave a hole to fill with rice. Turn right side out.

Using a funnel fill with plain rice- leave enough room that it can fold easily.

Sew it shut!

Since this one was rather large I heated it 2 minutes in the microwave and it felt great. I used it on my neck while writing this post and I think I may just have to make one for myself too!!

      

Thanks for stopping by, have a good day!

Cloth Napkin Tutorial

One of my favorite things is eating Sunday dinner at my parent's house. My mother has several sets of beautiful cloth napkins, but you can always use more right? So for my mother's birthday I decided to make her some pretty upcycled cloth napkins.

My sister had given me this beautiful paisley curtain that she wasn't going to use for anything. I clipped the rings off of it and started cutting. 

This is a pretty simple project, so find some pretty fabric and let's make some cloth napkins!

First figure out how big you want your napkins and cut the cloth with 1/2" seam allowance on each side. I wanted my finished napkins to be 17" so I cut them 18" X 18".

Using my quilting ruler I marked 1/2" away from the edge in disappearing ink. Fold over 1/4" and spray with spray starch- press into place.

Should look like this- do it for all sides. Then fold over 1/4" again and press into place. Sew around all seams with coordinating color. You now have beautiful cloth napkins!

This is also my entry for the Blogger's Dinner Party for August.

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Thanks for stopping by! Have a good day!