Category Archives: Stuff to make

Triangle table runner

Posted in Sewing, Stuff to make by

 

For such a little thing, this project took me quite a while–all those teeny triangles. I also decided to hand quilt, something I really enjoy but only on a small scale. Can you see that the triangles are not perfect, or technically not triangles at all? I was so focused on getting the top points right and the rows aligned, I kind of forgot about the sides. I am starting to understand why Boo Davis, author of Dare to Be Square, only works with squares. I am pleased with the neutral palette. I decided to mix in some subtle prints, and they add some interest without making it too busy.

Bucket family

Posted in Sewing, Stuff to make by

Not Charlie Bucket and clan, but bucket hats. I made a complete set for all our noggins. It was my first attempt at sizing up a pattern (from the Little Things to Sew pattern) and it worked pretty well! I used Robert Kaufman Essex for all three exteriors. My husband declined a “fun” lining, so his hat has olive green in the crown only, but I did sneak in some green top stitching. My navy blue hat has Liberty Hot Pink Wiltshire as the lining. The Tana Lawn is so silky smooth it’s perfect for lining a hat. It would be excellent for a baby’s senstitive skin–plus you would only need a teense.

Minor Renovations

Posted in Kids, Stuff to make by

House renovations on the large scale take time, money, and decision-making skills. But renovations in the miniature don’t really involve a lot of commitment on any level.

Zeke & I have been sprucing up the ole dollhouse–repainting, wallpapering (with scrapbook paper), and yes, we “caned” these chairs using thin ribbon and Original Tacky Glue (great stuff). Zeke says we’re going to do this every year but I think this may actually be the last (bittersweet) time.

 

Coffee Can Art Caddy

Posted in Kids, Recycled materials, Stuff to make by

I couldn’t throw out these coffee cans. They have the silver bullet look of a vintage Airstream–and you know how I feel about gleaming old campers.

So I attached ribbon handles to make art caddies. Which sounds sweet but was actually a little violent–I pierced holes (vertically) in the sides by pounding on the end of a iron file with a hammer. Noisy and satisfying.

Threading and knotting the ribbon was the trickiest part. I folded the ribbon to thread through a 1/2 inch slot and used a lot of ribbon length to make a knot inside the can, trimming the extra after I made the knot. They work great for our art supplies, but I could picture them filled with plastic spoons and forks or napkins for outdoor summer meals & parties.

Bucket hat

Posted in Gainesville, Kids, Sewing, Stuff to make by

This bucket hat was a snap to make–thanks to the excellent pattern from Liesl Gibson in her book Little Things to Sew. My daughter is on the cusp of being too old for all the patterns in this charming book, so I had to make something quick. I finished this hat in a morning, just in time to head out into the Florida sunshine.

Here is a peak at the interior fabric–Walk in the Woods from Moda.