Scottie Dog Table Mats - Tutorial

And now to make some new table mats  - to give as a wee pressie!

I have made many different things using my usual scottie dog template - but I decided to look for a new template - google image search!!! mysofttoycorner.blogspot.com had the perfect template.
Templates cut - fabric selected - ready to start!!!

I cut the template in a few different sizes - ironed the fabric pieces onto some Vliesofix then cut them out. The Vliesofix is great for fixing fabric in place for applique.

Then the wee dogs were ironed on to some white 'Homespun' 100% Cotton - mine were 11 & 1/2" by 14 & 1/2".

 



 

After ironing on the templates the dogs were blanket stitched on - I used my sewing machine or they could be done by hand. Small pieces of ribbon were also added as collars, and blanket stitched on.

Then 2 & 1/2" strips were cut, firstly sewn onto the sides then the top and bottom.

Remember to iron your seams outwards - that way you can't see them through the white cotton.

So per mat 2 strips 2 & 1/2" x 11 & 1/2" and then 2 strips 2 & 1/2" x 20".  

 

  

Then place the front and back pieces right sides together, then the wadding on top of the backing piece - both of these were cut bigger that the front piece.

 

 

Then machine stitch 1/2" in from the edge of the front piece, leaving a 4" gap at the centre in the bottom edge. 



Then trim the excess and cut the corners - being careful not to cut the stitching. Then turn the mat the right way round, pushing the corners out to make them as sharp as possible, fold in the gap in, pin and iron.

 Then starting from one of the bottom corners machine around 1/4" from the edge.

 Iron again...finished!!!

 

 

 

 

 





 







 





 

 



 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I love Crochet!!

I learned to crochet about 15 months ago ...and I love it!!!
Here a few pictures of some blankets I have made.
P.S. I have got another one on the go....

First ever project!

Made for my wee cousin's beautiful baby boy - inspiration from 'The Jools Oliver 'Little Birdy range'

Happy Easter Hen

Found this lovely crochet last week, ordered it and could not wait to start it ....and finish it!!
The blog is 'Magic with hook and needles' and the designer is Vendula Maderska, her patterns are gorgeous, colourful and very creative. English is not her first language, and there was a few occasions that I need to rip out and start again, but most of that was due to my lack of crochet expertise and some terminology I was not familiar with. Vendula has nice clear photographs, although I am still struggling with the difference between British and American terminology - Universal Crochet language required!

Another of this ladies lovely patterns.

With these little birds I only increased one stitch in the increase row.

And I now always use a magic ring/circle intead of a chain and a slip stitch where possible.

In the yellow birdie - well I am calling it a chicken - I did all the increases.

 

Happy Easter!!

Living Room

 

During the Christmas Holiday we decorated our living room, this is the room at the back of the house which is a great room for closing the doors and watching TV!
We painted the walls, two lovely greens, a feature wall which was the darker colour - I love green! And replace the very worn and shabby carpet - with a very neutral beige, and then I made curtains for the first time following the fantastic instructions on the www.wereinstitches.co.uk web site.
But the best bit was making a quilt and cushions out of this gorgeous patterned fabric.
I bought this fabric in Spotlight quite a while ago, orginally as a 5 piece fat quarter set, called 'Mellow Pear' just because I just liked it! How many times have I bought fabric just because I like it or NEED to have it!!!!!
Thankfully, a few months later, I was able to find some of the design and buy another few metres, then I team it up with some lime green and bright pink. I love applique and the pears provided the inspiration.

 

 

This is how I feel!

To blog or not to blog????

Setting up my own blog was something I was really keen to do...but recently I been really busy, as we all are, and working on my own just seemed to be be really low on my priority list...but my love of other blogs has spurred me on to get back to it.
If anyone is reading this..thank you.

Easter Wreath

Hi All,
Easter is just around the corner, so it is time to start a wee bit of Easter Craft...exciting stuff!!!
Thought I would post some pictures of my wreath from last year.
After a trip to Spotlight..I was ready to start!!!
Syrofoam ring, plastic eggs, feathers, ribbon and chicks.

Time to heat up the glue gun!!!! And attach the hanging strip first - I used a 15cm lenght of ribbon, glued it on and then wrapped it around the ring then folded it back on itself and glued the two ends together. Then started to on the eggs...very carefully!!!

Placing the glue over the join keeps the eggs from coming apart.

Then just glue the eggs on..and on!!!

 

Once all the eggs are on it is time to start filling up all the spaces with the feathers, I also used some sparkly finely shredded cello paper....always room for a wee bit of sparkle!!!

Then some chicks and small polystrene eggs.

All finished and ready to hang up...so pretty!!