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!

Linking with these great parties!

Purple Patchwork Pot Holders

How is that for alliteration???

Here is the companion piece to Ruffled Towel I posted about yesterday.

I saw some cute ones on Pinterest and thought- "I could make some cute potholders!"
So I did!

Here are some inspiration pictures:

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I know there are a lot of tutorials out there for potholders too, but this is how I did mine.

Ingredients:
Fabric- Scraps enough to make 7" X 7" squares, front and back
Insulation- Either heat proof interfacing or AT LEAST 3 layers of thick material (I used 4 layers of flannel)
Bias tape or fabric to make bias tape- About 35" per potholder

How To:
Start by piecing together three squares of fabric (3" X 3")- these were left over from my KSU quilt. Piece together the background fabric, press and cut it to 7" X 7" square.

Cut the backing and insulation pieces into 7" X 7" squares.

Layer the pieces and quilt as desired. I finally got to use one of the cute stitches available on my sewing machine- love how it turned out.

For the binding I made bias tape using the same tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew.

Starting at the corner where you want your loop, place bias tape and potholders right sides together. You want to leave about 3 inches of bias tape stiching out from the top of the potholder.  Start sewing about 1/2" down from the top the potholder.

Sew until you get about 1" from the first corner. Put needle down in fabric and fold corner over as shown in the picture- first  fold so wrong sides of bias tape are together and the extra tape is hanging over to the right, then fold so that right side of bias tape and right side of fabric are together. Sew until you are about 1/4" away from bottom, put needle down and turn corner. Complete this step and all corner except the last one.

When you get to the last corner, pull back the bias tape used to start the binding and keep sewing about 3 inches past the edge. Cut bias tape and loop it to make a hanger. Place under the bias tape from the beginning and sew into place.

Loop the extra bias tape around the back and hand stitch into place as shown in picture. Hand stitching binding all the way around the back of the potholder using matching thread.

Linking Up with some of these parties!

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

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Purple Ruffled Towel

So trying to stick to the Stashbusting September rules when you have birthday presents to make can be a little tricky- but I am very happy with what I came up with!

I really love this ruffled towel- it is sweet and simple! I think my favorite part is the fabric- you can't see it that well in the pictures but it has glitter in it!

I have seen these all over the place and it is pretty basic sewing but just in case you wanted to know-
Here is how I did it:

Ingredients:
Huck Towel
Fabric (enough to make a 2 3/4" X 48" strip)
Sewing Machine
Thread
Pins

Cut your strip of fabric 2 3/4" X twice as long as the towel you want to put it on. My towel was 24" wide- so my fabric was 48" wide.

Sew into a long tube and turn inside out.  Iron so that seam is on the middle of the backside.

Fold in both ends and topstitch all the way around the strip of fabric.

Set your stitch length on the highest it will go (mine goes to 5) and sew lengthwise down the middle of the strip for a basting stitch.

Pull on the thread and make the fabric ruffle until it is the same length as the width of your towel.

Pin in place and sew down the middle (make sure and set your stitch length back to normal ~2.2)

See- wasn't that easy! And Pretty! You can do multiple ruffles if you want!

Linking up with some of  these great parties!!

Make sure to check in tomorrow and see the companion to this great gift idea!

Thanks for stopping by!