Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Onion Label Market Totes!


I'm all about re-using materials in sewing, and I was inspired a while back by the great graphics on my annual autumn bag of onions--how to utilize the bright, eye-catching, and durable label?

I started checking out onion bag graphics and collecting bags wherever possible! The labels can be delightful. With a little time, and a few incarnations, my idea has fully emerged from the back of my mind-an Onion Bag Market Tote! And I have to say it's fabulous. I've even opened my own Etsy shop and put a few up for sale!

I'm just finishing a couple more in denim--I'll try to post them soon. Back to the sewing machine!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

One Last Spiral Flower Project--Dollar Store T-Shirt Recycle!


Okay, just one last post involving my spiral flower project.

Like most everyone, I have a long list of projected projects in the back of my mind. Among them was this delightful idea from Cal Patch in the Craftstylish newsletter--a cute, summery shrug recycled from a t-shirt. I wanted to make one for Joy-joy!

I used a white, child's size 7 dollar-store t-shirt I had on hand. The shrug instructions are great--it's a fun, fast project that Joy-joy can wear with everything.

Since I've had my spiral flower samples/experiments pinned to my design board, I began to wonder how they could be used as embellishment, and the pink vintage seam-binding flower seemed like it would make a perfect pin for the shrug!

I just trimmed the backing (which was stabilized knit) close to the edge of the flower and pinned it to the shrug from the inside with two safety pins--putting a pin back on the flower itself would work, but in this case I wanted it to sit very close to the garment and to still be removable. I think it's really cute!

It was fun adding the 'label' at the back neck of the shrug-it's a scrap of cute ribbon that coordinates nicely with the flower.

Very spring-y!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Spiral Flower Onesie!


Just one more spiral flower project--an embellished dollar store onesie for baby K.

The onesie is light weight, so I stabilized the front by fusing a circle of knit to the underside, then sketched a few lines on the right side as a guide for stitching. The flower is made from 3/4" strips of a lightweight white knit mesh ($1.00 a yard on sale at Hancock's!)

The center of the flower is a yellow button from my button box, with leaves made from scraps of green knit mesh. So cute on Baby K!



Monday, April 11, 2011

Spiral Flowers, Part 2!




Further rumination on spiral flowers. . .

I decided to try making a flower with some blue vintage bias tape from my stash, pressed open and stitched along the middle. This flower is my favorite! I love the ruffly raw edges.

Here is a version made from torn strips of some pink silk organza--this one is my least favorite try, but it might be better in a color that contrasts more. I do love the torn edges, though.

Still contemplating a tutorial. . .