Category: sewing

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Mouse Pincushion Video Tutorial

We just returned from a long vacation, stopping off in New York to visit Etsy for Craft Night, where I showed lots of patient people how to make the little mouse pincushion from my book 1, 2, 3 Sew. Everyone was so nice and friendly, and made me feel at ease, despite equipping me with a microphone and putting me behind a camera.

Photo above by Laura Malek.

If you’d like to make a pincushion, you can download the instructions and templates here. This version was modified to use felt for the ears, which went faster in the workshop. But if you use fabric, just be sure to add 1/4″ seam allowance to the template.

Later in the evening, my husband and kids came by and you can see how we enjoyed Etsy’s cool photo booth, and you can also scroll through some other photos from the event here.

And a special thanks to Purl Soho for providing a discount on the beautiful felt used for this project. It’s so much fun to visit their store!

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Craft Night at Etsy Labs

Live in New York? Head on over to Etsy on Monday, August 1 and see me! I’m excited to be doing a Craft Night at Etsy Labs. You can learn to make this mouse pincushion! This little mousie is just like the one in the book, except we’ll be using felt for the ears to make it in a snap. All supplies included and this is a free event with with limited admission. Reserve your spot here.

Don’t live in New York? You can watch a video demonstration of the project on Etsy — I’ll post a link when it’s available.

See the little gal in action in my book trailer here:

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Pixel Painting Tote Bag

Head over to Alpha Mom and check out my tutorial for this pixel painting project that I did with my 6-year-old. Here I made a tote bag (front and back views above), but you could paint pixels on pretty much any surface.

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Lunch Sack on Sew, Mama, Sew!

Today the kind folks at Sew, Mama, Sew! are hosting the second day of the 1, 2, 3 Sew blog tour. The Sew, Mama, Sew! blog is a must for anyone interested in sewing or fabric. Full of tips, tutorials, and the latest sewing trends, it’s a great source of endless inspiration to add to your sewing to-do list.

The jars fabric here is designed and handprinted by Roisin Fagan from Bespoke Uprising. Photo above by Laura Malek.

So head over and get the instructions to make this Lunch Sack from my book. It’s an insulated tote with an attached drawstring lining, perfect for lunches at school or work. This is the third project in the totes chapter, so it presents a few more challenges including French seams and an insulated lining, but I think it’s still easily manageable for someone with a bit of sewing experience.

The other day I sewed a kid’s version using Rashida Coleman-Hale’s Cute Bots fabric from her new I Heart collection. This one is in a fabulous linen/cotton blend! I know that linen isn’t an obvious choice for a lunch tote, but it’s natural and fully washable. And I added my daughter’s name with an embroidered patch.

Here are some other good options to make your own stylish lunch sack:

Be sure to head over to Sew, Mama, Sew! for the full pattern instructions and more photos, and enter to win a copy of the book! And be sure to check out their round-up of summer sewing tutorials. You can find 1, 2, 3 Sew and a great selection of sewing books in the new Sew, Mama, Sew! Book Shop.

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Quick Crafty Round-Up

Boxy Dopp Kit from The Cottage Home for Kojo Designs.

DIY Magic Shell from Emma of Food Coma for I Go by Katie.

Gauzy Cotton Caftan from Craft Stylish.

Kids’ DIY Postage Stamps from Bloesem Kids.

Cocktail Umbrella Lantern from Allison Patrick of Zipper8 Lighting for Etsy’s How-Tuesday.

Floral Straws from Martha Stewart.

How-to Ombre Shirt from Cotton and Curls (via papernstitch).

101 Sewing Tutorials for Summer from Everything Etsy.

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