{Quick Tutorial} How To Make Bias Binding

Whilst there are a huge number of bias bindings in all colours, patterns and widths, do you ever find you just cant find the right one to bind that quilt/edge that apron/finish that project??

Well look no more and keep on reading!  We may just have the answer :) A fab little gadget came into the shop a couple of months ago so thought I'd put together a tutorial on how to use it!  

For this you will need:

- Bias Tape Maker (I prefer the 25mm one but it also comes as 12mm) 

- 1 Fat Quarter of fabric (I used Anthology Raining Rainbows - Spots)

- ruler

- scissors

- iron and ironing board

- sewing machine

1. Cut your FQ so its a square, then cut diagonally so you have two triangles.

2. Lay out and pin as per the diagram below then stitch along the pinned edge using a 1/4" seam.  Iron the seam open.

3. You will end up with, what I believe is called, a parallelogram (maths was never my strong point).  At this point, draw lines length ways 45mm apart.  Depending on how big your FQ is, you may need to trim a little from one of the long edges.

4. Putting right sides together, bring the short sides together and pin, matching up your pencil lines.  Sew using a short straight stitch and you'll end up with a tube kind of thing (technical, I know).

5. Starting at one end, cut along the lines so you end up with a continuous strip of fabric.  You'll almost be cutting around the tube shape, if you see what I mean?!

6.  This is the fun bit!  Feed one end of the fabric strip into the tape maker, right side down.

7. Pin one end of the fabric of to the ironing board and as the fabric feeds out of the tape maker, carefully press it with the iron (I dont want to state the ridiculously obvious but please be careful the iron is hot and it gets quite close to your fingers)

8. Keep that going until you reach the end of the tape.  You may need to go back over some part a few times, including where you've stitched the seams.

9. Ta dah!  Lovely bias binding that you can make to match ANYTHING!!  

Rhi @ The Sewing Boutique x x

p.s. a few tips...this works better with thicker cottons or cottons with a slightly stiffer texture.  The Anthology fabric I used in this worked out well but did keep slipping.  

Also, any square of fabric would work, doesnt need to be a FQ, could be bigger or smaller.  A FQ will make around 2.5 metres of bias binding as a guide.

{Quick Tutorial} Easy Toddler Skirt

I've come across quite a few toddler skirt tutorials over the last few months.  Some of them were simple, some of them were more complicated with pin tucks and waistbands.  However, seeing as Im not very good at following a pattern, or a tutorial for that matter, I decided to do my own and share with you what I feel is a simple, but pretty, toddler skirt!

First things first you will need....

2 fat quarters*

1 metre of wide satin ribbon

1/2 - 3/4 of a metre of 1" wide elastic

Pins and Sewing Machine

* you could use half a metre of fabric but for some reason this skirt falls better if two pieces are sewn together

1. Firstly you need to cut your fabric.  I used Riley Blakes So Sophie For my 2 year old I cut two rectangles 19.5" by 14.5".  This will make a skirt about 10.5" long which falls just on the knee (I should point out at this point my 2 year old is quite small, bless her!).

2. Next, iron your hems.  Take the long edges and iron a 2.5" seam on one side and a 1.5" seam on the other.  So each piece will look something like this....

3. Pin and sew your 2.5" seam with a zig zag stitch.  Dont worry about it being too neat as we'll be covering it up in a bit.  It does need to be relatively straight though.  Do this on both pieces.

4. Now pin your ribbon over the zig zag stitching on the right side of the fabric.  Effectively you're covering up the stitches and lets face it, making the skirt look pretty!  Sew into place top and bottom with a straight stitch (tip: satin ribbon tends to gather and ruffle if you sew it too quickly so try sewing with a longer stitch) 

5. When pinning the ribbon on the second piece, you might want to measure it against the first piece so when you sew your side seams, the ribbons match.

6. Unfold your 1.5" seam allowance.  Sew your side seams, going all the way to the top on one side but stopping at the fold line on the other as you'll need this gap to thread your elastic through in a bit.

7.  You will now have a tube, type shape.  Turn it inside out and fold and pin your 1.5" seam allowance.  Sew around it to create the casing for your elastic, stopping where you've left your gap.  I like to use a zig zag stitch as this stops the edges fraying but you could tuck in the raw edge and do a straight stitch, whichever you prefer.

8. Cut and thread your elastic.  I measured mine around my little ones waist and added an extra inch before I cut it.  Its the most accurate way to do it!  

9.  Then thread it through the casing you've created on your skirt.  Easiest way to do it??  If you know one, please let me know!  I put a safety pin in one end then, making sure I catch the other end near the opening before its lost, carefully feed the safety pin through.  As you feed it through your ruffled waistband will start to form.

10. Pin in place so it doesnt slip back through then, making sure you catch all your edges, sew into place, sewing your opening shut at the same time.

And there you have it, one toddler skirt expertly modelled by my adorable little girl....

You cant see how long the skirt is on her (trying to get her to stay still was bad enough) but it is just on her knee, so the perfect length for playing in, twirling in and....

..apparently climbing through your car window!!

They really are easy to make, infact, this probably took me an hour.  I've also made one in green from fabric I had in my stash!

See, quick and easy!

{Quick Tutorial} Sewing Machine Cover

My sewing machine doesn't get anywhere near the attention it deserves these days.  However, I still look longingly at it sat in the corner, wishing I had a few hours to spare to start some of the many projects I have going around in my head.

So imagine my complete disgust when I did set it up this morning and found a spider happily making it home in my beloved sewing machine!!!  I was mortified, so decided to get rid of Mr Skinny Legs (could have been Mrs, it didnt stick around long for me to ask) and do the only thing I could do, decide which fabric to use to make a sewing machine cover.

I've put together a quick tutorial so you can have a go at making your own.  

For this I used - 1/2 metre Michael Miller Mod Blooms

3/4 metre of turquoise spotty ribbon

Sewing machine

White thread
Pins

1. Ok, this is how I worked out my measurements.  You'll need to cut two pieces from your fabric. For the first piece (the smallest piece) I measured to the highest point of my machine and the widest point at the side (where the handwheel is).  For the second piece (the biggest piece) I measured the widest point of the front of my machine then for the length I did two times the height of my machine plus the widest point at the side. Make sense??? (for those of you into equations, it would look something like this....h x 2 + w)

2. Cut two fabric pieces depending on your measurements.  My fabric measured 31 by 16 inches and the second piece 7 by 12 inches.  I allowed a 1/2 inch seam allowance throughout.  This will probably fit most machines if the above explanation confused you! 

3. Still with me??  Good.  Sew a 1/2 in hem around what will be your three open edges of your larger pieces of fabric (one long edge and both short edges).  You could line your cover with other fabric (or make it reversible!?) but for the purposes of this tutorial, I wanted to keep it simple.

4. Pin the second smaller piece of fabric, right side to right side, to the last long raw edge of the larger piece of fabric.  This will make the back panel that will give your cover shape and cover the part where your hand wheel is.  Sew into place using a half inch seam, carefully tucking and sewing across the corners, not leaving any gaps.

5.  Fit your cover over your machine and measure on both open edges where you would like your ribbon to fasten.  I used about 12 inches for each side so I could tie it in a nice bow.  Pin your ribbon in place and sew.  Two lines should do it, ensuring you back stitch to re-inforce your stitching, however you could also do a cross between the lines just to be sure.

6. Tie the ribbons and there you have it, one sewing machine all tucked up for the night and most importantly, safe from spiders!

Whats more, I now have this gorgeous fabric to stare at instead of just my white machine.  Not a bad thing!

I hope that all made sense and that you find the time to give it a go!  It really only took half an hour or so to do from start to finish.  Think the most difficult part is the measuring (my maths isnt the best).

Dont forget you can find all the materials I used over in the shop and if you give it a go, send us a picture!