THE LAST WORD
Short on time? Luckily Amanda Carye's not short on ideas for speedy sewing sessions…
Short on time? Luckily our back page columnist Amanda Carye's not short on ideas for speedy sewing sessions… Find out her favourite quick makes
Some days you want to push the proverbial boulder just a little bit more on a long-term project. And other days you just want to sit down and sew something from start to finish there and then. For those times when you’re looking for a little instant gratification, here are five of my current go-to sewing projects that are the perfect combo… quick and easy:
Got a couple of 4½in square scraps left over from a project? Take two and sew a ¼in seam around the edges right sides together, leaving a gap on one side to turn them right side out. Grab some stuffing to turn them into a pin cushion (always handy) or some potpourri or lavender for sachets.
Scrunchies are back. Cut a 3½in x 25in piece of fabric, sew right sides together along the long edge then turn the tube inside out. Safety pin a 9in piece of ¼in elastic to one end of the tube, thread it through (scrunching the fabric as you go) and tie into a knot. Fold the raw edge of one end under and tuck the other raw-edge into the folded end. Stitch ends together, wear with attitude.
If you have a yard or so of lightweight fabric you can’t bear to cut into, make a neckerchief! Trim your fabric down to 36in square. Pick another fabric to make the binding (I like a good pop of colour for contrast, but you do you). Four 2in WOF strips should do the trick, but go narrower if you want a dainty edge, or wider if you want a bold one. Sew the binding to the square, as you would a quilt. Instant fashion statement!
Grab a neutral fabric and some bright contrasting thread and quilt a grid to make a new pillow cover or two (or ten)! Play around with your grids. Maybe make a simple one-line window pane design, a basket weave or a cool plaid with your threads. The sky is the limit!
Got a little more time (like a slow and lazy Saturday afternoon)? Make a scrappy quilt clutch/computer case/makeup bag. Dive into your scrap bin and make a simple block for the front panel (I typically stick to rectangles, but if you’re feeling ambitious, why not try some improv curves?). Quilt it, trim it down to size, attach a chunky zipper, sew up the sides and presto: a new bag!