Baby Balls Made with Pentagons (Tutorial in progress)

I'm newly obsessed with making balls for babies. I used to make them for my kids, but I used a sewing machine and now I'm hand sewing. The stitching is more precise with hand sewing and corners are tidier.

The method of sewing I'm using is English piecing. Basically, you have a paper pattern for the pentagon, the shape that is used for all pieces in the ball, for each piece of fabric. The fabric is basted onto the paper pattern, then the pieces are stitched together until there are 5 pentagons attached to the same central pentagon. When you have two sets of 6 total pentagons (the central one and the 5 attached to it), those two halves are attached to one another. (I'll add more about this as I construct the next one in line.) Leave open at least one seam so you can turn the ball right side out (this will make sense when I post pictures of construction), stuff it about halfway, add the sound maker (will add a photo of that too) in the center, and complete stuffing the ball. I stuff it tight, but not too tight; you want to leave enough play in the stuffing for baby's hand to be able to grab a part of it and maybe even shake it!

Color specific - brown

Black and white high contrast. 

Kid interest - Sponge Bob

I use a pentagon that I drafted. You can use pretty much any size bigger than 1". I would not go smaller than that. The side to measure is shown in the photo below. I use 2".

It's a pentagon (five sided) with each edge being 2". You can find pentagon patterns all over the internet or draw your own. There are 12 pentagons in each ball and they all have to be the same size.

I generally print off one page of templates and stack the printed page with some blank paper, then cut out a few at a time. That way I don't waste ink printing lots of pentagons. I like to cut through 4 pieces of paper at a time. Any more than that and the edges get a little off kilter. Remember, we're going to fold fabric directly on the paper pattern, so it's good to have it as precise as possible. 

After a few sessions of cutting, I have a bunch of pentagons ready to use when I'm ready to pick out some fabric and get going. 

The first step to sewing is to pin a pattern piece to a piece of fabric! I put down the paper and then cut at least 1/4" around the paper in order to have fabric to fold. Choose an interesting design to pin the paper to because that's what's going to show. 

Prepare a needle with a single thread that is in contrast to your fabric. Fold down an edge of fabric and take a couple stitches, fold down the next piece of fabric and take a stitch, and continue until you have all 5 sides basted down. I use a long basting stitch. You do not need to knot your thread. You'll be cutting the thread and taking the paper out later. For now, you want to fold all edges over the paper and baste each one down.

Here is one pentagon with the basting completed. You can see my red stitching in contrast to the white and black fabric. For each ball, baste fabric onto 12 paper pentagons.  

Here's a pretty simple tutorial on English piecing with hexagons. This one isn't mine, but I've made several hexagon projects using essentially the same instructions as I was taught them my a friend.  I'm not using hexagons, but the method of prepping the paper pattern is the same. They say it better than I can :) If for some reason you click and the site is no longer available, you can Google English piecing for several tutorials, including videos.

I'll update this post as I have photos of the steps required. It may take a while, but it'll happen!

Okay, this is what I'm working on - how about you?

Fruit Pie Potholder - Want to make one? Tutorial with pictures.

Here's another project you can make using scraps you have on hand or purchased fabric just for the project itself. Scrap sewing at its best. Use this as a jumping off point. There are no rules written in stone. I've learned from others, so I now pass this along to you. A fruit pie potholder.

I photographed my first attempt at one of these, so it's way far from perfect. I'm making more for Etsy and as gifts. Here's the basic how to:

The usual tools - well, the plate's not too usual. It's the best 9" circle I could find and it was tons easier than using a paper pattern. You'll need a pie crust looking fabric too. I made bias tape out of the same fabric for binding the potholder when it was done. 

I have some fruit fat quarters and chose blueberry for my first foray into pie making. You'll also need insulated batting made for potholders and hot pads. I use InsulBrite, but there are others. 

Next, cut the pie crust fabric and the insulated batting and the fruit fabric using the 9" plate as a guide. I tried using the fabric pen tracing and then cutting with scissors method. The second time, I used the rotary cutter and a rotary cutting board. Much easier. 

Cut a variety of lengths of 1-1/4" strips. These will be the lattice work on the pie.

Fold one edge of the strip toward the center and press. 

Fold the other edge of the strip toward the center, but not all the way to the edge. The goal is to keep the raw edges toward the back of the lattice strips. 

Turn your strip over and press again, then set them aside. I made too many strips for one potholder, but will be using them for other potholders. 

Looks kinda cute already, doesn't it?  Layer the circles in this order:

Back crust right side down

Insulated batting

Fruit fabric right side up

I chose to baste the layers together with a long stitch that I will remove later. 

This is the basting from crust side. The basting will hold things in place while we put the lattice on the top of the pie. (Looks kind of like a pita unfolded to me.)

Pin strips of lattice that were set aside at equal intervals and pin in place. Then stitch across the top to hold the strips while you weave. Be sure your strips are raw edge side down. 

Take another piece of lattice and weave it over and under through the tacked down pieces. I pinned them down, but it wasn't really necessary. 

Sew down one edge and back up the other. Weave another strip, alternating the over and under pattern, stitch up one side and down the other. Continue this process until you have all the woven pieces sewn down. 

This is how the back looks with one direction of the lattice sewn in place. I also took out the basting stitches at this point as the were no longer needed. 

Stitch the strips going the other direction, up one side and down the other. 

Trim the circle of uneven edges and excess fabric. Apply bias strips to the edges. I created a hook with the bias binding. 

As mentioned, this is my first try making one of these. I have 3 more cut out and ready to go. 

I suggest making your bias tape with the pie crust/back fabric. If you like, you can add rick rack to the edge for decoration. You can leave the loop off or do it another way. 

I use primarily machine stitching so that the potholder is fully machine washable. I've never had a problem with any I've made for myself, and I hope you won't either. 

One thing I will do differently is to add a hanger that will allow the pie lattice to show, when hung up, as straight up and down rather than on an angle. 

Now, go make some potholders!

And a pillow for my daughter's friend! & a mini how-to

My daughter met her bestie at Busch Gardens many years ago. They both worked at Land of the Dragons as teens and have been inseparable since. When her friend saw the pillows I made for my daughter, she was verklempt! She had to have one. Her boyfriend also worked at Busch Gardens as the engineer for their train. So, I got the fabric I had leftover, found a coloring page of a military train (he works on a military base now), made a train with fabric and Wonder Under, and voila, a pillow for the friend and her feller. 

Here's the front and back:

This is the front in progress. It is a simple log cabin block variety. I always do log cabin freestyle without really measuring anything other than the center block. For this pillow, I knew I would run out of the Land of the Dragons fabric, so decided to do it more like a Courthouse Steps design. Here are some really simple instructions for log cabin blocks. You can do them simply or complicate the heck out of them with paper piecing and foundation piecing and fussy cutting. I like the freedom of cutting all the strips the same width and just place, sew, turn, finger press; place, sew, turn, finger press; etc.

I printed the pattern, then traced it (so it made a mirror image), tracing also the windows and star on the side. (Source - Military train coloring page)

The pieces were placed on cloud fabric that had been enlarged with the blue print used for items on the train and on the reverse side of the pillow in the log cabin design.

I chose a light blue to outline the windows and star on the train itself, and since there was black in the bandanna used for the train, I used a black satin stitch to outline the train. I always use stitching on a piece that is placed with Wonder Under to keep it from fraying and to give it an accent. In this case, I set the zig-zag to a fairly thin width. 

And that's that. It's been a good sewing week!

Project - Clothespin Bag

I figured it was time to get rid of the old clothespin bag. It's sort of falling apart.

So I did. I made one today and you can make one too. Click on the projects link or go directly to it by clicking here.

Much better. Have fun!

New Project Added - Light Switch Covers

I added a new project today. It's one I've done many times. It's also not as time consuming as it looks, but it's a bit exacting. There are probably 100 different ways to make these, but this is the method I use and perfected for myself. I have custom covers all over the derned house! I've also sold a few on Etsy. They're fun to make. I like to do a bunch at once as I can use the decoupage medium, make a mess, and just in general get it all done. I usually do these over three days to allow for drying of layers and paint (if you use it).  There are some bare bones instructions as well. Use what you can instruction-wise and discard the rest. This is a jumping off point for you, so go for it.

Fabric Covered Light Switch and Outlet Plates

And here's a picture to entice you to try this on your own:

Now, get to it and enjoy!

As always, you can get to any of our projects using the project link on the right side of the page. 

Project - Mug Mats (Last Minute Gift Idea!)

Out of gifts for your friends for Christmas? Make these! I made them in an afternoon, including the picture taking and binding. All you need is fabric scraps, leftover batting (regulation batting, old towel, flannel, etc.), and some imagination. You can make your own bias binding or use purchased bias tape. I happened to choose Virginia Tech fabric for the strip quilting and M&Ms fabric for the back. Have fun, and get to stitchin! You have prezzies to make :)

Click here or click on our projects link on the right. 

New project added - gift tags

Years ago, I worked on a site called SewingWeb. I don't think it's still with us, but that's another story for another day. I did several projects when I had the site and am sharing one with you today. It's a simple way to use fabric, Wonder Under, and some string/yarn/ribbon that you have around the house.

Use this as a jumping off point. Let your imagination take hold and use the concept for greeting cards, embellished stationery, putting a new bit of artwork on a used greeting card, business cards, name tags or any other paper/fabric fusing you can think of.

Take a peek. It's gift tags!

Just a little sewing

I've been doing a bit of sewing here and there and finally finishing a few things. I changed my mind about the baby quilt noted below, but you'll have to wait to see what I ended up putting together. I used the fabrics (other than the backing) that I said I would, but well, it's not done yet. 

Today, I started working on some mug mats. All I have left to do on those is the binding. I'll post the pictures in a sort of tutorial after I get the photos ready to go.

The one thing I did finish was a tiny little drawstring bag. My husband had asked me to make a velvet drawstring bag for a firearm part he wanted protected. I don't have any velvet, but I do have fleece! this was a quickie project, but it'll work fine for storing the cylinder he needed to have it for. I thought it was cute enough to photograph, so there you have it.

I'm about to be semi-retired (after May 31), so I'm looking toward my stash and dreaming of sewing projects that I've been putting off. Oh yeah! Etsy, watch out. I'm getting ready to get my sewing act together again. 

How's your scrap stitching going?

Want to make some placemats?

Over on the right side of the page is a link to projects I've created over the years. Today, I posted a project for placemats. I worked for Sewing.com for a while and part of what I did was make "stuff" and photograph the steps along the way. I have made placemats like these a bazillion times and decided it was a perfect fit for an online tutorial.

So, while I continue to be on vacation, I'm still playing with some of the sewing projects I've done online. Feel free to make the idea your own!

Updated an older post - Christmas Stockings (teachers and otherwise)

Hey - lookie here - I updated the Christmas Stocking post with teacher's stockings and a link to how to make strip quilted stockings. Never to early to start making this year's batch!

February Season Tree Ornaments - Hearts Anyone?

I decided that it's time to start getting ready for the Season Tree for February. I saw some heart shaped potholders on Martha Stewart's site and thought that was a nice jumping off point for inspiration. Did I just admit that I was looking at Martha Stewart's site? Please don't tell!

I started digging through my heart themed fabrics and found a few I liked.

Then I had to find a heart to use as a pattern. My freehand drawing is not the best, so I found a picture on the web and resized it up and down for the heart and what was soon to be the heart center accent pieces. Then, came the cutting - hearts of both sizes and a piece of batting. I chose to make these flat and quilted rather than stuffed. Maybe the next batch will be pillowesque.

I practiced some edge stitching on a piece of the fabric and then jotted down te settings for what I decided to use. I'm not sure why I remembered this step, but I did! I can safely turn off the machine and not have to wonder "what in the world was that stitch I used?"

I stitched a small heart in the center of one of the large hearts with the decorative stitching. Then I made a sandwich of two large hearts right sides together with the batting on the wrong side of one of the hearts, sewed around the edges, leaving a turning area open, turned the heart, and top stitched around the edge. I did a quick machine quilting stitch inside the smaller heart so it would show on the back of the ornament as well.

These photos are the first heart I made. It still needs a hanger (probably thread) and when I make more, I'll add a hanging ribbon before I stitch the two pieces together. There's always a first! These were mighty simple, but I believe I could gussy them up with ribbons, strip/string quilting, etc.

Another hexagon tutorial

One of my favorite blogs to follow is Quiltville by Bonnie K. Hunter. It's all about using your stash and sewing with scraps, with a focus on quilts. As I was browsing older posts today, I found a really nice hexagon English piecing tutorial. She explains it so much better than I could, so I will provide pictures of what I'm doing rather than a how-to from here on :)

If you're interested in using small pieces of fabric to create larger items, do follow her blog. I just ordered her two books - one directly from her and one from Amazon. I can't wait to get them!

How to machine stitch bias tape around corners

I admit, my placemats are almost always oval, my potholders almost always have rounded corners, and I avoid sharp corners on purpose. Why? I don't want to deal with binding and mitering corners. I am pretty good at it by hand, but never seemed to master the mitering by machine. Well, guess what? I found a blogger who has done a very nice, simple tutorial about sewing bias tape around corners:

"Smashed Peas and Carrots

I'm absolutely going to try her method the next time I get brave enough to do corners. I made my daughter a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt when she was younger and hand stitched bias binding all the way around, mitering inside and outside corners as I went. Jeesh. If only I'd had the internet or a friend to teach me how to do it by machine!

18" Doll Vest Project Up!

I love to sew for 18" dolls. Sometimes I sell the items I sew and other times I don't. I may give the clothes away, swap with others, or simply keep them. There is a huge community of people who sew for 18" dolls, be they American Girl Dolls or others. I personally have about 10 dolls, including American Girl, Apple Valley, and a few hybrids. I have some that I want to rehab to give away or sell. They need some TLC for sure! Indeed, one or two of them could get haircuts and become boy models for clothing. But I digress.

Today, I received an E-mail from someone asking me for instructions on how to make an 18" doll vest. Many years ago, on a site I used to run (SewingWeb.com, may it R.I.P.), I created instructions and an online tutorial for that very thing. I re-coded it and put it up today for you to use. I made the pattern on my own. You can make one of our own or use a purchased one. The idea is to use up some smaller bits of fabric with the strip quilting process. You're not limited to the fabrics I used. Feel free to check out the projects link on the right or click here for the vest tutorial.

Here are a few vests I've made using the same general instructions:

P.S. If you go to ScrapSewing.com now, it will redirect you here. As mentioned below, the content of ScrapStitching and ScrapSewing will be here and projects and other information will be provided via ScrapStitching.com's space. You won't notice a thing other than ease of navigation.

Feel free to contact us anytime!