Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• A fabric scrap of your choice
• A jar with a lid and a band
• Cotton balls or fiberfill
• Card stock
• A glue gun

Using the lid of the jar, cut out a circle the same size as the lid from the card stock. Again, using the lid of your jar, trace around it on the wrong side of your fabric. Increase the radius of the circle one inch and cut out the larger circle.

Layer the fabric, cotton balls or fiberfill and lid and place them inside the band. Press the lid down so that the cotton balls and fabric form the pin cushion. Check to see if you need to move the fabric or cotton balls to avoid creases in the material. Make any adjustment that are needed and then hold everything in place and use the glue gun to glue the fabric to the underside of the lid. I know, this step would really work better if you had a couple more hands, but do the best you can.  ;>)

Trim away any excess fabric and hot glue the card stock to cover the fabric edges. Line the band with a small bead of glue and insert the pin cushion into it. Press it firmly to help it adhere.  Add the lid to the jar and you have a new pincushion.

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Canning Jar Pin Cushion

Image: Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• ½ yard of outerwear fleece
• 1 pair of 7 ½ inch round, oval or “D” shaped purse handles
• rotary cutter or scissors
• A ruler
• A cutting mat

First, cut 2 16 x 18 inch pieces of fleece. The 16 inch measurement is lengthwise grain (least amount of stretch) of fleece.

Lay the fleece pieces wrong sides together on the cutting mat. Remove a 3 inch square from each corner and discard. Using scissors or a slotted ruler, cut ½ inch wide x3 inch deep fringe as shown. Take note that you must have an even number of fringe on the top edge.

Using an overhand know or a square knot, tie the pairs of fringe together on all sides except the top. Separate the layers at the top. Again, using a square knot, tie the fringe in pairs, with one strand in front of and one strand behind, around each handle.

This is the pattern for a regular sized, everyday purse. You can always increase the amount of material and make a larger purse, a carry-all or even a bag to store your craft supplies.

If you choose a solid color of fleece you can always put an embellishment, an initial or your personal monogram on you bag to give it a personal touch.

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No Sew Fringe Purse

There have been posts that people have loved, some that got a way bigger reaction that I ever expected and those posts that people have said “thank you for writing, that’s helped me”.

In no particular order, here are some of my favorites…

• My post about a free pattern for a Snuggie has gotten more popular than I ever imagined – apparently people want to make these… lots and lots of people!
• You can’t get much easier than these ribbon roses – I’ve made literally hundreds over the years.
• My fabric-covered journal tutorial turned into a much bigger how-to than I originally planned – it’s split into five separate posts, in fact.  Here they all are, so you don’t need to go searching for them: part one, two, three, four and five.
• Dyeing fabric doesn’t have to be a big, scary project – it can be a fun experiment too.
• And of course, anything I could embroider, I would!  I’ve made felt sweethearts for Valentine’s Day, a mini bag for Halloween and monogrammed napkins as a wedding gift – I’ve even embroidered on origami paper.

You can still find me on the web at Splendicity or my own personal craft blog

image: Stock.xchg

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My All-Time Favorite Tutorials

Instead of working with a dizzying view of camouflage, my “to-do” pile is a very serene, zen white.

Instead of working with industrial zippers, quilted nylon and heavy-duty elastic, I’ve switched to soft, fluffy fabrics and lots of different kinds of cotton.

That change got me thinking – how does your attitude change when your project changes?

Even little things like my music preference will change depending on what I’m sewing.  During my last project, I liked upbeat music with a good beat and lots of energy.  At the moment however, I’m enjoying a more relaxed playlist… or even just quiet.

Do some projects make you feel like scrunching up your shoulders and make you tense?  Or are some projects just too much fun to take seriously?  How about those projects that make you bored… remember to not fall asleep at the sewing machine

Next time you’re sewing, ask yourself – “how do I feel?” – and pay attention to it…

image: C Findlay-Harder

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Wordy Wednesdays

I’ve shared a few different glimpses into the process over the past couple of weeks (here’s the first one, second, third and fourth) and now that it’s actually finished, you can see how it came together:

I added a few extra details to the original pattern.  The pattern came with two inset pockets in the front seams and an extra cell phone or MP3 pocket on the chest.  Of course, that wasn’t enough pockets!

I added two cargo patch pockets, with flaps that velcro close, that sit over the hips.  I also inserted a zipper into the cell phone pocket – let’s face it, who wants to lose their expensive cell phone because it’s slipped out of a pocket!

The collar can be worn up or down and I added some extra insulation but layering fleece between the two layers of outer fabric:

The jacket also got modified by adding a placket over the zipper:

It keeps those chilly winter winds from coming in through the zipper.  The placket closes with velcro, for an extra layer of security.  You can also see the lining, which is actually a re-purposed nylon and Thinsulate blanket.

Overall, the jacket took longer than I was expecting (this pattern normally takes me less than 4 hours to sew) but I think it was a successful project – now to test it when the snow flies…

images: © C Findlay-Harder

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The Completed Altered Winter Jacket

It may be because they’re so technically complex…

It could be that the fabric is just not cooperating…

Or it could just be that you’re not enjoying the process…

In short – it’s a sewing project that makes you feel like you deserve a medal after it’s done!

But where to get a medal for sewing…

I’ve found one!

Okay, so actually Leviticus Jewelry has found a medal for dressmaking.  It’s a little vintage medal and they’ve made it into a great necklace:

They’ve used brass, silver and gunmetal-toned chains to create the necklace, and added a little dollhouse iron to add to the seamstress-y fun.

Unfortunately, I don’t know where the medal for dressmaking comes from, or how it was awarded.  What a charming way to commemorate a significant project though.

Maybe we need to bring back our own “medal for dressmaking”…

image: Leviticus Jewelry

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Do You Need a Medal for Dressmaking?

Fleece is such a popular fabric at this time of year – it’s warm, cozy and light to wear.  I do get quite a few questions on how to handle it though. It dulls scissors and needles like crazy, and is even prone to breaking thread if it’s not handled quite right.

In Christine’s post, a pinking rotary cutter or scissors were used to make a decorate edge on the fleece.  I personally recommend never using your “good” fabric shears on fleece – it dulls those edges almost as quickly as paper does!

If you’re having problems with thread breaking or skipping stitches as you’re sewing, check a few things.  First of all, are you using a good quality polyester thread?  Fleece will shred cheap thread – it’s not worth the hassle.  Are you using a stretch stitch?  You can even try loosening the tension a little too.  Make sure to use a new needle and that it’s large enough.  Fleece is a pretty bulky fabric and can require a surprisingly large needle to sew.

So don’t be intimidated – try out this great non-raveling fabric and have fun

image: Stock.xchg

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Sew With Fleece and Still Have Fun

I have a large family four sons and one daughter and it seems like I have spent most of my time, when they were growing up, at football games, baseball games or other sporting events. They were all engrossed in all types of sports when they were younger and they are the same now as grown ups. I was so happy to find something to make for the boys, grandsons included. This project started out as a plain, ordinary pillow until I changed the cover into a sports themed head rest.

Image: Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• Fleece – 2 yard of a coordinating sports print or 1 yard of print and 1 yard of a solid
• A 14 inch pillow form
• Scissors or a rotary cutter with mat
• A ruler

If you are careful with cutting you may be able to make two pillows from this amount of material.

To begin, take the two pieces of fleece and cut both into a 36 inch square. Cut a 5 inch square out of each corner of both pieces of fleece. Make fringe around the entire pillow, all four sides, by cutting 5 inches into the fleece at 1 inch intervals.

Place the fleece squares wrong side together with the pillow between the squares. Knot the fringe pieces together using one strand from the top fleece and one strand from the bottom fleece. Knot all of the fringe on all four sides and you have your pillow completed.

You can make this pillow with a variety of different prints for many different outcomes. If you are new at crafting you may want to buy the most inexpensive prints or solids. No matter which pattern you choose, I am sure you will be delighted with the finished product.

Kathy Zengolewicz is an author, ghostwriter, editor and proofreader. To learn more about Kathy and her services, visit her website at kathyzengolewicz.com.

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No Sew Fleece Sports Pillow

I’ve pretty much everything from the most basic tote-bags to elaborately quilted and embellished purses.  I have to admit – I enjoy it when people actually use the bags I make too

I think this may be a pattern I try out this year for gifts – and even better, it’s free!

Fabric.com is offering this great “Nomad” hobo bag as a free download until January 14th, 2010.  So you’ve got lots of time to download it

Simple hobo bags are great for everything from book bags, everyday purses to loading up in the farmer’s market.  You can make them dressy by using a decorative fabric, or keep it simple with a cotton twill or plain medium-weight fabric.

If you’d like to make something a little smaller, Show Your Workings has a great tutorial on sewing your own Japanese-style reversible or “fortune cookie” purse – so cute!

image: Fabric.com

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Free Patterns for Pretty Purses

How else can you use them?

Well mine is getting quite the work-out as I sew my hubby’s new winter jacket.

A quilting ruler for sewing clothes?

Let’s see, I’ve used it to measure and cut extra pockets that I don’t have patterns for… and my favorite use has got to be making sure that things are lined up straight.  And that they match on both sides!

Because I’ve altered the basic jacket pattern quite a bit, I don’t have any markers for sewing things like cargo pockets or elbow patches on.  Since my attitude is “sew it once, and do it right”, I prefer to make sure pockets are on straight the first time.

Using a gridded ruler allows me to measure exactly where the pockets are sitting, and reproduce that measurement on the other side.  For instance, I actually placed one of the elbow patches while my husband was wearing the jacket.  I carefully pinned it in place, and by measuring how far from the cuff and other seams, could place the other patch in the exact spot.

So break out your gridded ruler for more than just quilting – it’s a handy tool to have!

image: C Findlay-Harder

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Gridded Rulers Aren’t Just For Quilting