It's not often that I make something by hand which might
even be good enough to sell. Usually I'm rushing to get something finished
because I've promised Prima she can wear it tomorrow, or because I'm sick and
tired of yanking jersey through the sewing machine. All too often, the end
result is nothing like the one beautifully depicted in the instructions. This is also partly due to the fact that I am
too mean to buy gorgeous fabric and instead try to get the same effect with an
old school sweatshirt and a couple of bits of felt. I am always ignoring the
fact that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Perhaps I am learning. Or perhaps it was simply a matter of
the right book at the right time. Today's project, which was inspired by 101 Ways to Stitch Craft Create (£10.66, David and Charles), went like a dream.
This hardback book features (obviously) 101 quick and easy projects to stitch,
sew, knit, bead and fold. While the projects are described in "step to
step" terms, the tone is neither patronising nor presumptuous. Each project
takes up one page and is accompanied by a photograph of the end result, which
makes you really want to try it. Next on my list are the Union Jack card,
Quilted oven glove, and Russian doll decorations (don't tell Prima!).
Since I have a large amount of dried lavender from the
garden this year, I decided to try the sailing boat lavender bag, but adapted
it somewhat. I didn't have any beautiful Tilda red striped fabric or
blue polka dot ribbon. Although there is a boat template on the
stitchcraftcreate website, which ties in with the book, I opted for a heart-shaped motif made
with a piece from a fat quarter I got for my birthday. Yes, a piece of NEW
FABRIC! The main fabric would be a scrap of dark denim, and the ribbon came
from a boxed bundle of blank cards.
Although I didn't follow the suggested materials to the
letter, it was useful to have the instructions as a guide (I nearly sewed the
ribbon loop on upside down) and to have the dimensions set out, making the
lavender bag neither to fiddly to sew nor pillow-sized. Not including cutting fabric, the first bag took about 40 minutes to make.
Another bonus about the book is that it encourages you to
try all sorts of crafts, not just sewing, and the templates provided in the
back/ on the website mean that you will get pleasing results even if you aren't
a great free-hand drawer. This will make you feel more confident about giving the item as
a gift. The projects are all flexible enough for you to adapt them to your own
budget or to the materials you have available. I was so pleased with the end
result, it was really professional, quick and cheap to make and fabulously
lavendery, that I might start a production line. I'm sure I've got an old tea
towel I could use...
Fancy making something too? Good range of downloadable patterns here
Fancy making something too? Good range of downloadable patterns here
