Recently in Holidays Category
In a previous blog on fascinators, I described how I create a base for each design by singeing the cut ends of two pieces of grosgrain ribbon, and then stitching the two pieces along each long edge to create a tube. The tubes can be any length -- different sizes work for different designs -- but they have to be wide enough for a headband to slip through for wearing. I like to make a handful of these tubes and have them at the ready so I can just be creative and flow from one project to the next without stopping.
For my first bit of Halloween finery, I started with a length of spool tulle (say that three times fast), and gathered it with my machine so that one side of gathers was shorter than the other.
Next, I glued the gathered tulle to a doll's hat. I've mentioned before that starting with the tiny chapeaus made for dolls (I usually get mine at a craft store, rather than a toy store) is one of my favorite tricks for speeding up the process of making fascinators. I'm using hot glue in these photos in the interest of time, but craft glue also works great. 
I recently found some really fun skull beads at a novelty store, and bought them without a plan for their use. But now is their moment to shine! I glued eight of them around the crown of my mini hat.
I wasn't loving the way the tulle was sticking out from the hat, so I decided to carefully fold it under, leaving the fold well past the edge of the brim, and then I tacked it down with glue. I carefully worked all the way around the brim this way.
To finish, I glued one of my grosgrain sleeves to the underside of the hat. The hot glue shows on the underside, but since this hat is small and will sit right against the head, it won't show. 
And voila! A little bit of haunt couture. 
The second design started with a scrap piece of white crushed chiffon that I cut on the bias. It's about 4 inches wide, and I gathered it at the sewing machine, and then glued a grosgrain sleeve to the back of it .
Next, I added a piece of Riley Blake elastic lace trim (I am in love with this stuff) and a small scrap of gimp braid.
With the addition of three novelty spider rings -- I cut the ring portion off the backs with kitchen shears -- it becomes a gothic maid's cap. I like how the spiders blend a little bit with the background, so people might not notice them until they're up close.
Last year, I made a ballgown witch dress that used black faux foliage as a trim. I had several leaves left over, so I decided to put them to work.
I glued the leaves on in layers to one of my grosgrain sleeves. I find that with silk foliage and hot glue, I have an easier time applying pressure from the back than from the top. Saves my fingers from getting too hot! 
Another novelty store find -- tiny bone hands. I think I paid $3 for a dozen of these. I glued them right on top of my leaves.
A simple black satin ribbon bow, and I am ready for a creepy night out!
If you're like me, you have a drawer full of odds and ends of lace and ribbon. In an effort to use some of these scraps up, I grabbed a length of black lace and gathered it into a circle with a running stitch.
I glued my circle to a base with a loop of ribbon on top of it ...
... and added an eyeball to complete the look!
My last fascinator started with a leftover white lace loop gathered into a circle just like the black one above. What I really wanted for this one was a bat. But none of the bats I had on hand were quite right, so I drew a little bat onto a piece of Presto felt and then adhered it to the back of a scrap of black velvet. Then, I cut the velvet around the felt bat. The adhesive keeps the velvet from fraying for light use.
With the bat layered over the lace, and a couple of hotfix rhinestone eyes, my fascinator is complete! I have been wearing this one around the house because I like it so much!
Now, I'm feeling very ready to celebrate right up until the big day! I hope you're inspired to raid your stash and create something uniquely you for the Halloween season! If you do, please be sure to share with us on Facebook!
For everywhere but Georgia it seems that fall is in the air. The leaves are turning and there is a bite in the air. I can feel it in my bones even if I can't feel it in the temperature outside. I yearn to choose jewel tones, leaf motifs and drink apple cider. So, of course, I made a wreath to channel my inner thoughts. At least my door can look as festive as I feel even if my family is still in tank tops and shorts.
To make a Fall Felt Wreath like mine you will need to visit a few tutorials. The first is a free bird pattern that is designed to use as a mobile, and I did use it to create one for my first born and plan to make a second for my soon-to-be little one, but this time I crafted just one bird from felt. When you make yours be patient when turning it since the felt is thicker than the quilting cotton this pattern was designed for so it will be stubborn. Once you triumph you can use a small whip stitch to close the tail after your firmly stuff. The second tutorial is the felt rose bud by Creative Jewish.
The supplies you will need are one straw wreath form that can be had from your local grocery store, hardware store or big box store, some scrap yarn, about 100 yds of 2 colors. I choose two tonal colors in a cotton blend and a wool blend for pom-poms and to wrap the wreath. You will also need several pieces of felt in fall colors for roses and the bird. Lastly you will need your glue gun.
First, wrap your wreath with both yarn colors. I wrapped mine last because once I had my pom-poms, roses and the bird my wreath needed something more. If you wrap yours first you can ensure it has complete coverage and it will make it even more beautiful. Tie it off in the back and add a little extra at the top for hanging. Next, make your pom-poms, about 5-8 will do. You can either tie them on or glue them in place. Attach them in a cluster towards the bottom so your bird will have a nest. Next, make your bird and carefully glue him in place. Be sure you lean your wreath up against a flat wall before you do this so you can make sure your bird doesn't lean toward the back too much as this will interfere with hanging. If your bird doesn't push your wreath away from the wall then he is sitting just fine. If he does, reposition him more toward the front of your wreath. I positioned my bird's back to the front of the wreath so it would appear he was building his fall nest. Then I clustered some roses right below him, about 4-6 should be good unless you love them and want more, more, more. You can cluster more at the top or cover the remaining wreath. Try topping them off with faux berries, pearls or beads for some added glitz. Glue your roses in place.
You can embellish your wreath further by embroidering your bird's back, draping a long piece of knitted icord around your wreath or cutting out felt leaves and gluing them in clusters around your roses. I hope you will share your own creations on our Facebook page.
Summer knitting is not just about hiding away in the air
conditioning it is a great time to start your fall and holiday knitting projects
and gifts. You will never have that sweater ready for fall if you don't start
it now. I know, I know, you are looking at the temp and scoffing at sitting
with wool yarn in your lap. What better excuse to hide inside during the
hottest part of the day than because you are preparing for the holidays. I find
my fall sweaters are always brighter and more cheerful when I start them in
summer. Add to the above the fact that school is starting soon which means you
will have the time to start some summer knitting projects. All good news! Plus
I can throw another one at you: try working up all your knitting projects (or a
majority as a compromise) in chunky weight yarn. Your projects will fly off
your needles, leaving your with more time for you or to complete more
projects: including sweater, mittens,
scarves and (my favorite) shawls.
I had never known the tradition of wearing a Poppy Flower for Remembrance of War Veterans until I went to a Veterans' day memorial ceremony last year. It was very touching and so beautiful that I still have the simple crepe flower on my trench to this day. One a day where everyone is decked out in the Red, White and Blue, what better way to accessorize than with a crocheted remembrance poppy. Your poppy can symbolize anything that you love about the USA, a beloved soldier or veteran or as a thank you to our founding fathers (I count all those revolutionary soldiers among them) and mothers that worked tirelessly 236 years ago. I adapted a super sweet poppy earring pattern I found on Ravelry by Janet McMahon for my brooch. All you need is some worsted weight yarn in black and red and a size J/10 hook.
Follow the poppy pattern using 1 strand of black and 2 strands of red yarn and only make one poppy, unless you want to make another for a friend. Once finished find a small piece of felt approx. the same color as the red of your poppy and using a spool as your pattern trace a circle and cut it out (or grab these ready made felt circles). Next, take a pin back (you can recycle one from another broken pin or use a safety pin) line it up on your felt circle and mark cut lines for the pin and end to fit through.
Fold your circle in half and cut small slits at these marks. Fit your pin back into the slits and then line your felt circle on the back of your poppy and glue in place with fabric glue. Pin your felt circle down until the glue is dry. Wear your poppy with pride and as a great accent to your patriotic wardrobe. Rock it out at the bar-b-que or watching fireworks. You can also increase the yarn gauge and hook size to make coasters or as a hat pin.
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I love this pattern! Let's just get that out of the way. This playsuit was fun and quick with lots of room for modifications to make it custom to you or to change it up each time you make it. I am always hesitant when making nightgowns or Pjs of any kind because when I sleep in them I want to be sure ahead of time that they will be comfy as well as attractive. The Hot Patterns Retro Playsuit definitely fits the attractive bill but does it also meet the comfy qualifications? Only making one will answer the question.
I opted for a navy charmeuse satin because we all know dark colors make us look slimmer but I don't look good in black. I am a naturally pale Irish girl so I wanted something with a bit of color. The fabric arrived and it was dreamy (quite apt that it was destined for sleepwear). I then decided to trade the lace trim in for some cotton, ruffle accent. I loved the romantic look of the lace but I love the feel of cotton so much more. Using approx. ½ yd of 45 in. cotton, I cut 3 in. straight strips of quilting cotton (about 5 yds) and pressed it in half widthwise, wrong sides facing. I then ran it through my ruffler using the 12 st setting. This created about 4 yds of ruffle trim, just right to finish off my playsuit.
Overall this was a dream pattern. It went together exactly as instructed. The satin was not the hassle I was expecting. Just be prepared with a sharp needle and quality thread and it should be as manageable as cotton. The ruffle really worked well with the style of the playsuit. I attached it to the right side of the top and leg openings and then folded the raw edges toward the inside and topstitched the seams down on the right side. Be sure and finish off the seams with a zig zag or a serger otherwise your satin will fringe. The ribbon details are also a nice touch though you can create some spaghetti straps out of your satin. I picked one of the complimentary colors from my ruffle for my 1/4 in. ribbon. The lavender really works well with the navy and my skin tone. This is a great addition to my PJ drawer and I like it even more then my satin gowns because the shorts keep the playsuit from riding up in the night. A + in comfort!
With New Year's Eve
almost upon us, I realized how tired I was from the holidays and the party yet
to come. I wondered how I would recover. With a toddler, down time is a luxury
and recovery time is not abundant. So whether you need to recover from an
abundance of champagne or from just being out past midnight, my first aid
pillow will speed your recovery and get you ready to break all your resolutions
(unless you resolve not to make any). The magic is in the rice filling which
holds heat and settles to shape to any part that ails you. Be sure and use only
natural fibers because poly blends may melt from the heat. I recommend some of
our wool
suitings for the pillow case and some flannel for the red cross. Here's how
to make one or several for you and your pals.
Materials for one First
Aid Pillow:
½ yd of medium
weight fabric (Wool, Cotton or Linen)
½ yd of flannel
(Wool or Cotton
or Wool felt)
1-2 lbs of rice
Download
your First Aid Pillow Pattern and cut out just the square. Trace 2 squares
onto your pillow fabric, cut out squares and set aside. Cut out the red cross and cut out 1 from
flannel
Hand stitch or machine
stitch your cross centered on your pillow, matching up edges. With right sides
facing and using ½ in. seam, sew the front pillow to the back, leaving a 3-4
in. gap for turning and filling. Clip corners and turn.
Use a large funnel to
pour the rice inside your pillow, stopping when it is ½ full. Pin and hand sew
the gap closed.
Heat your First Aid
Pillow for 1 min 30 sec to 2 min and apply.
You can make smaller
versions (3-4 in squares) for boo-boo pillows. Make several and keep a few in
the freezer for cold applications too.
I want any guest to feel comfy and cozy in my home so I try to incorporate items of that nature everywhere in my home. I know that if I feel comfy and cozy that chances are friends and family will as well. This is even more important now with the beginning of the holiday season. Guests will be in and out of your house, some just for the afternoon and some for longer (MUCH, much, much longer). Some sneaky ways to bring a touch of cozy is to put it in unexpected but appreciated places like your bathroom guest towels. One of the first rooms anyone visits is the bathroom and what a way to shake off the road weariness than with a plush and gorgeous cable knit towel. Let this be the first in a long line of luxurious amenities with which you pamper your family and friends. The guest towels are deceivingly fast and simple--your guests need never know.
Materials:
2 skeins of Lion Brand Baby's First Yarn in Pixie Dust
Notes:
PM: place marker
M: Stitch Marker
LC: place 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in front, p3, knit 3 from cable needle
RC: place 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back, p3, knit 3 from cable needle
Instructions:
Cast on 48 sts and work in garter stitch for 1 ½ in.
Row 1 (WS): knit 4, PM, purl 14, PM, k3, p6, k3, PM, p14, PM, k4
Row 2 (RS): k to 2nd M, p3, k6, p3, k to end
Row 3: k4, p14, k3, p6, k3, p14, k4
Row 4: k to 2nd M, LC, RC, knit to end
Row 5: k4, p14, p3, k6, p3, p14, k4
Row 6: k to 2nd marker, k3, p6, k3, k to end
Row 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11: repeat rows 5 & 6
Row 12: k to 2nd M, RC, LC, knit to end
Row 13: repeat Row 3
Row 14: Repeat Row 2
Row 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19: repeat rows 13 & 14
Continue repeating Row 4- 19 until piece measures 22 in. in length, work in garter stitch for 1 ½ in. and bind off. Weave in ends and block as needed.
The cozy cotton blend knit into a cozy cable knit towel will set the tone for comfort and love that rest of your home will offer to your friends and family this holiday season. Knit some up as gifts as well!
Good Morning and Happy Wednesday! I hope this note finds you well and preparing for a terrific Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.
As I reflect back on all that has transpired this year, I am overwhelmed with a deep feeling of gratitude for the many blessings I have received. I have been blessed with good health in my immediate and extended family. Our "Fabric.com family" here in Marietta has grown beyond my wildest dreams. Today, we are able to provide good and meaningful jobs to almost 200 people! Our larger extended family of customers has also expanded beyond anything I could have ever thought possible. Today, over 150,000 people from all over the world visit each and every week. How could we possibly say "Thank You" enough to all of you for your friendship and support! You are our reason for existing and I hope our commitment to serve you is evident in everything we do.
This Thanksgiving celebration will be particularly meaningful for our immediate family. Our oldest daughter, Alexandra, has gone off to college in Philadelphia, which feels a long, long way from Marietta. We will get to spend 4 days with her, and my wife's extended family, during our annual Thanksgiving visit to Joliet, IL. To say that we are excited to all be together is a huge understatement. It seems like only a year of two ago when I was sharing details with you about her early days as a swimmer in junior high school. The time passes so fast.
On behalf of everyone here at Fabric.com, please accept my warmest personal wishes to you and your entire family for a happy, meaningful, and safe Thanksgiving holiday!
All the best,
Stephen Friedman
To kick things off, I'm starting with one of my very favorite movies of all time -- "Mary Poppins." I have had a crush on Dick Van Dyke ever since I first saw this movie as a kid. The DVD is on heavy rotation in my sewing room DVD player. I hum the songs nearly constantly. Hello, my name is Holly, I and I am addicted to "Mary Poppins."
I adore the jacket Bert wears during the Jolly Holiday fantasy sequence. The stripes are so fun, and the look is just joyous. I have been lucky enough to see the original piece -- it's on display in a shop in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Imagine my delight and surprise when I saw that the fabric pattern is actually customized with grosgrain ribbon stitched onto a striped base. Instant inspiration!
I decided to make a jacket for myself based on Bert's finery. I tweaked the colors slightly, thinking that I wanted to end up with something that had a look reminiscent of ribbon candy.
Here's what I used:
- A blazer pattern I drafted for myself about eight years ago. Almost any pattern you like will work just fine, though I'd recommend one without too many seams. The short style on this Indygo Junction pattern is a good candidate.
- 2 1/2 yards of striped fabric. I used a Premier Prints stripe as my base.
- 10 yards of yellow grosgrain ribbon
- 10 yards of orange striped grosgrain ribbon
- 2 1/2 yards of sunflower china silk lining
I cut all my pieces from my base fabric first, then I stitched down all my ribbon on the cut pieces. This was time consuming, but so totally worth it for a completely custom look. The key here is to mirror the look side to side if you want to achieve a symmetrical look. If you like to shake things up by not worrying about symmetry, that'll give your jacket a totally different edge. It's all about playing!
Once the ribbon was all stitched down (I used every bit of those 10 yards!), I assembled the jacket like normal, and ended up with some serious stripey fun!
Even though the colors on mine are springy, I plan on wearing it through winter while I wait for warmer weather. With the addition of a glittery pink mini poinsettia from the local garden and craft store, I am ready for holiday cheer! (Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the trend in recent years of pastels being holiday colors? LOVE!) It'll be a jolly holiday indeed, and this look will carry me right through spring.
Imagine all the combinations you can use to make your own entirely custom look! I love the idea of making a project like this with my go-to color combo of black, pink and gray. And who says you have to start with a striped base? Applique ribbon stripes over a print base, and you can really create some amazing designs -- all uniquely you!
