Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
Now for the fun part
Everything you need to know to make the projects
Stepby-steps for the craft projects
from pages 166 and 188 PLEASE BE SEATED Gather your supplies 1.5m x 115cm cotton print fabric; 1m x 115cm contrasting cotton fabric for piping; 4.5m piping cord, 5mm dia.; 53cm zipper; 53 x 53 x 15cm square foam cushion insert
You’ll also need Sewing machine with zipper foot and general sewing supplies; matching sewing threads
Here’s how STEP 1 From main fabric, cut:
2 top and bottom pieces 56 x 56cm;
3 side pieces 56 x 17cm;
2 zip pieces 56 x 10cm; then set aside. STEP 2 With right sides facing, fold cut edge of piping fabric over to selvedge edge to create a triangle shape. Cut along fold, then cut 5cm-wide strips from each side of this cut, along bias. Square off ends of each strip. You’ll need combined length of all strips to total 4.5m. STEP 3 Place 2 strips, right sides facing, at a 90° angle. Sew across the ‘square’ they make, along diagonal. (Make sure, before you sew, long edges line up and bias of fabric is in same direction.) Trim seam allowance back to 5mm and press seam open. Repeat to sew together half of bias strips to make 1 long strip, then repeat with other half to make 2 long strips in total.
STEP 4 Cut a strip of piping cord to same length as a bias strip. Fold strip around piping cord with wrong sides facing and sew along length using zipper foot. Repeat with second bias strip.
STEP 5 Pin 1 piece of piping around all 4 sides of top cushion piece, right sides facing and aligning raw edges. Cut into seam allowance at corners to help it curve around, then sew (still using zipper foot), leaving ends of piping cord unsewn.
STEP 6 Overlap 2 ends of piping cord and cut so they butt up against each other with no overlap. Trim bias strip so ends overlap by approximately 8cm, then fold over end of 1 piece to wrong sides by 2cm. Position this over top of raw edge, then pin in place and sew.
STEP 7 Repeat Steps 5 and 6 with remaining strip of piping and bottom cushion piece.
STEP 8 To make handles, cut two 35 x 10cm pieces from main fabric. Fold each piece in half along length, wrong sides facing, and press. Open out, fold over all 4 edges on each piece to the wrong sides by 1cm, press, then fold in half again. Topstitch around all 4 sides, 5mm in from edge.
STEP 9 With right sides up, place a handle centrally onto 1 side piece. Pin, leaving some slack in handle so it’s easy to pick up, then secure in place by sewing a rectangle, about 4 x 3cm, at each end. Reinforce by stitching diagonally from corner to corner in each direction within the rectangle. Repeat the step with your remaining handle and a second side piece. STEP 10 Pin 1 side piece with a handle and 1 without, right sides facing. Sew along 1 short edge. Sew other side piece with a handle onto remaining short edge of piece without handle, in same way, to make 3 sides of cushion.
STEP 11 With right sides facing, pin edge of zip along length of a zip piece. Sew using zipper foot. Open zip, then repeat to sew other half of zip to remaining zip piece.
STEP 12 Close zip, then pin and sew short ends of zip piece to short ends of cushion side, right sides facing, to form a loop. Open zip again.
STEP 13 Pin side piece to cushion top, right sides facing, aligning raw edges and encasing piping as you go. Using zipper foot, sew around all 4 sides, keeping close to piping. Repeat with bottom cushion piece.
STEP 14 Turn cushion cover right sides out through zip opening and press. Insert foam cushion then close zip to finish.
ROPED IN Gather your supplies Silver end caps, 8mm dia. (2); strong glue; 65cm cotton rope, 8mm dia.; hot-glue gun and glue sticks; flat faux suede cord, 3mm wide: 25cm each of coral, burnt orange, pink, fuchsia; 25cm narrow neon orange cord; 30cm narrow gold cord; 5 x 3cm brown faux leather; pompom, 2cm dia.; pliers; 6mm silver jump rings (2); silver lobster clasp
Here’s how STEP 1 Fill silver end caps ¼-full with strong glue, press each end of rope firmly into an end cap, ensuring glue comes into contact with rope. 10cm down from 1 rope end, dot hot glue onto rope. Attach end of coral cord. Wind around rope, leaving a small space between each wrap. Secure cord end to rope with a dot of hot glue.
STEP 2 Place a small dot of hot glue directly after wrapped cord and attach burnt orange cord. Wind this around rope, making sure each wrap butts up to previous wrap. Secure end of cord as before.
STEP 3 Repeat Step 2 using gold cord after burnt orange cord.
STEP 4 Fold pink cord in half to find centre. Add hot glue onto rope just after gold cord and stick down centre of pink cord. Wrap 2 ends of cord around rope, alternating in a crisscross fashion along rope. Secure ends in place with hot glue.
STEP 5 Repeat Step 2 using fuchsia cord after pink cord, then neon orange cord.
STEP 6 Snip a series of 2cm lines, 5mm apart, along 1 long side of faux leather to create a fringed effect. Dot hot glue onto rope after last wrap of orange cord. Wrap uncut section of leather around glued rope, with fringing hanging over orange cord. Secure end of fringing with hot glue. Attach pompom to top of fringing with hot glue.
STEP 7 Using pliers, open a jump ring. Hook it onto a silver end cap, hook lobster clasp onto jump ring and close. Repeat with second end cap and remaining jump ring.
PATCH IT UP Finished size 40 x 60cm
Gather your supplies Small amount of 10 or more coordinating fabrics for cushion front; water soluble pen; 41 x 61cm backing fabric; 90 x 70cm batting; 40 x 60cm cushion insert; 8 x 10cm Kraft-tex paper (optional, see Notes below); stamp and black Staz-on inkpad (optional)
You’ll also need Sewing machine and general sewing supplies; matching sewing threads
Notes
■ Use a 5mm seam allowance unless otherwise stated. ■ Kraft-tex paper looks and feels a little like leather but you can cut, sew and wash it like fabric. It can be bought in a choice of natural colours from craft shops on Etsy or kraftkolour.net.au.
Here’s how STEP 1 Cushion top is made from 24 patchwork squares using 3 styles of patchwork squares: half square triangles (HST), drunkard’s path quarters and plain squares. (Your cushion can use as many or few of each patchwork square style as you choose, so long as there are 24 in total.) Following instructions below, cut out and make 24 patchwork units from cushion front fabrics.
Making a half square triangle (HST)
STEP 2 To make 2 HSTS, cut two 12 x 12cm squares from different fabrics.
STEP 3 Place them right sides facing, then draw a diagonal line across centre using a water soluble pen.
STEP 4 Sew fabrics together, stitching 5mm on either side of line.
STEP 5 Cut along line. Open 2 joined pieces out. Press seams open then to 1 side to complete.
Making a drunkard’s path quarter STEP 6 Cut an 11 x 11cm square. Using a photocopier, enlarge templates A and B (below) by 240% then cut out. Place template A in 1 corner on wrong side of 1 square. Draw around it then cut out.
STEP 7 Repeat Step 6 using template B.
STEP 8 Fold both pieces A and B in half and crease to find centre mark. With right sides facing, pin pieces together, matching edges and centre marks. Use plenty of pins to match curves.
STEP 9 Sew pieces together around curve. Press carefully.
Making a plain square STEP 10 Cut an 11 x 11cm fabric square.
Cushion front
STEP 11 With right sides facing stitch 2 units together down 1 side. Continue adding units to make a row of 6. Make 3 more rows. Press seams, pressing each row in an alternate direction. Join rows together to make panel of 6 x 4 units. Press well.
STEP 12 Cut batting in half, each piece measuring 45 x 70cm. Lay 1 piece flat with patchwork panel right side up on top.
STEP 13 Rule a 2.5cm square grid on patchwork panel with water soluble pen. Quilt patchwork along ruled lines. Trim batting back to match patchwork panel.
Making label (optional) STEP 14 Trim Kraft-tex paper to size and stamp it
using inkpad and stamp. Stitch label in place in bottom right-hand corner.
Assembling the cushion
STEP 15 Place backing fabric right side up on top of other piece of batting then mark and quilt, as for cushion front as done in Step 12. Trim backing piece even with patchwork front.
STEP 16 With right sides facing, pin and stitch cushion front and back together, leaving 1 short side open.
STEP 17 Turn right sides out. Remove water soluble pen from both front and back. Place cushion insert inside, fold in raw edges, then slip-stitch opening closed.
GAME, SET AND MATCH Gather your supplies Towel, hand towel or washer; cotton fabric; contrasting fabric for binding
You’ll also need Sewing machine and general sewing supplies; matching sewing threads
Note
Use a 5mm seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
Here’s how STEP 1 Measure length across towel or face washer. Measure proposed width of feature panel (here width of woven section on towel). STEP 2 Cut cotton fabric to these measurements, adding 1.5cm either side of length across (for hemming). Width doesn’t need extra as it will be bound.
STEP 3 Cut two 2cmwide strips of binding fabric, to same length as cotton fabric.
STEP 4 Place 1 strip right sides facing along 1 long edge of cotton fabric, matching raw edges. Stitch together.
STEP 5 Turn binding strip over to wrong side of cotton fabric and press then pin into place on right sides.
STEP 6 Repeat Step 4 and 5 to bind other long edge of cotton fabric with binding strip.
STEP 7 Place bound strip onto right sides of towel over woven section, or in chosen position, and pin.
STEP 8 Turn short sides of bound strip under to meet edges of towel and pin. Slip-stitch short edges in place with matching thread. Topstitch each bound edge in place.
DREAMCATCHER DELIGHT
Gather your supplies Mod Podge; paintbrush or glue applicator; coloured feathers; gold glitter; gold clamp findings; jewellery pliers; string; scissors; beads and small beach finds, such as shells (optional); embroidery hoop
Here’s how STEP 1 Using a paintbrush or glue applicator, apply Mod Podge to tip of feathers, covering roughly a quarter of surface. Place feathers in a plastic container and sprinkle glitter all over gluecovered area. Shake off the excess and leave to dry.
STEP 2 Fix gold clamp findings to end of each feather, placing bottom of quill inside finding, then use pliers to bend each side over and secure.
STEP 3 Attach a length of string to loop of gold clamp and tie a knot at back. Tie another knot slightly further up string, then thread on a bead (or beach find). Repeat, knotting string before adding each item, to separate.
STEP 4 Take inner ring of embroidery hoop and secure each piece of string to it with a knot. Start at centre and work outwards, making string either side slightly shorter each time and keeping it symmetrical. Add a string loop for hanging.
Use your crafting powers for good beauties and give these handmade to the special people in your life!
HUG-ME-TIGHT TED Finished size about 28 x 19cm
Gather your supplies 1 x T-shirt; sewing matching and general sewing supplies; fibrefill; felt scraps
Note
For a child under three, omit bow tie detail for safety.
Here’s how STEP 1 Using a photocopier, enlarge template (right) to 260%. Cut out. Turn T-shirt inside out, pin on template. Allowing 5mm around template for seam allowance, cut through both layers of shirt. Pin fabric front and back together, right sides still facing.
STEP 2 Using zigzag stitch, sew around outside edge, leaving a 4cm gap on 1 side for turning through. Using straight stitch, stitch around again, inside zigzag stitch, leaving opening unstitched.
STEP 3 Turn bear right side out. Stuff firmly. Turn fabric allowance at opening through to inside. Slip-stitch closed.
STEP 4 To make bow tie, cut felt to 4 x 6cm. Pinch felt in middle, fold a T-shirt scrap around centre and sew in place. Stitch bow tie firmly onto bear.
STEP 5 For nose, use template for positioning and sew on a piece of felt. For eyes and mouth, make 1 long stitch for each eye and mouth and work loops over to make them curved and for eyelashes. IN THE BAG Finished size 25 x 30cm
Gather your supplies Water soluble pen; 14 x 14cm square plain fabric; stranded embroidery cotton; embroidery needle; 1 fat quarter cotton print (see Notes, below); 26 x 31cm pieces lining fabric (2); 80cm narrow cotton cord
You’ll also need Sewing machine and general sewing supplies; matching sewing thread
Notes
■ A fat quarter is a piece of fabric about 50 x 55cm.
■ Use a 5mm seam allowance unless otherwise specified.
■ If you want a double drawstring, unpick casing opening in opposite side seam and thread a second piece of cord from this opening. If cord is thick, make casing a bit wider than 1cm.
Here’s how STEP 1 Using water soluble pen, sketch a decorative letter onto centre of plain square. STEP 2 Using 3 strands of embroidery thread, work over outline in chain stitch (see below). Dab away any marker residue with a damp cloth or cotton bud.
STEP 3 From print fat quarter, cut 2 rectangles 26 x 31cm and 1 square 14 x 14cm.
STEP 4 With right sides facing, stitch embroidered square to print square around all edges, leaving a small opening on 1 side for turning through. Trim corners then turn through and press, pressing in raw edges of opening.
STEP 5 Centre pocket on 1 print rectangle, positioning a few cm up from bottom. Topstitch pocket in place, stitching close to edge on 3 sides (not top side), securing pressed opening at same time.
STEP 6 With right sides facing, stitch 1 lining piece to 1 print rectangle along one 26cm edge. Press seam open. Repeat for second pair of rectangles.
STEP 7 Place joined pieces right sides facing, putting lining pieces together and seams matching, then stitch bottom and side seams, leaving an opening along short side of lining to turn through. Turn right sides out through opening and slip-stitch opening closed. Push lining down into outer bag and press well, especially around upper edge.
STEP 8 To create casing (see Notes, left), make a line of stitching around top edge of bag 3cm below top. Stitch a second line 1cm below first. Where casing crosses side seam, reinforce both lines of stitching by sewing back and forth a few times before continuing.
STEP 9 With a seam ripper, carefully unpick side seam stitches between casing lines, taking care to unpick outer bag seam only and not through reinforced stitches.
STEP 10 Thread cord through casing, knot the ends and trim.
JUST IN CASE Gather your supplies 1 fat quarter fabric print (about 50 x 55cm); 25cm zipper; ribbon scrap
You’ll also need Sewing machine with zipper foot and general sewing supplies; matching sewing thread
Note
Use a 1cm seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
Here’s how STEP 1 Cut fat quarter into 4 rectangles 17 x 27cm (2 are for case outer, 2 are for lining).
STEP 2 Place 1 rectangle right side up then place zip across 1 long side, centred and right sides down, matching raw long edge of fabric to edge of zip tape.
STEP 3 Stitch zip into place along this pinned edge using zipper foot.
STEP 4 Repeat Step 3 with a second rectangle to attach other side of zip tape.
STEP 5 With 2 fabric/zip pieces right sides facing, stitch together along bottom long edge. Press joined pieces flat, matching up zip with bottom seam.
STEP 6 Sew across both short ends, catching zip ends in centre. Turn right sides out and press.
STEP 7 To make boxed corner, turn case wrong sides out. Pinch 1 corner, so seam runs up centre to form a triangle.
STEP 8 Measure 3cm up from point of triangle, rule a line across corner at this point, then sew along ruled line, making a boxed corner. Cut off corner, 1cm outside stitching.
STEP 9 Repeat Steps 7 and 8 to make 3 more box corners.
STEP 10 To make lining with remaining 2 rectangles, turn 1 long edge on each piece under by 1cm to wrong side and press.
STEP 11 With 2 rectangles right sides facing, stitch together along long raw edge. Press flat, matching up turned-under edges with bottom seam.
STEP 12 Box corners of lining as done in Steps 7–9.
STEP 13 Pin lining inside pencil case outer, wrong sides facing, and topstitch together along zip edge to hold lining in place and neaten.
STEP 14 Loop ribbon through zip pull to finish.
CAPED CRUSADER Gather your supplies For mask: 1 fat quarter soft fabric (about 50 x 55cm); 30 x 30cm iron-on double-sided fusible bonding web; fabric scraps in contrasting colours; 30cm matching elastic For cape: 60 x 115cm soft fabric; 1 fat quarter fabric (about 50 x 55cm) in contrasting colour; fabric scraps in contrasting colours; 30 x 30cm iron-on doublesided fusible bonding web; 60 x 115cm lining fabric in contrasting colour (see Note); 2cm piece velcro You’ll also need Sewing machine and general sewing supplies; matching sewing threads
Note
Cape lining is cut from a single length of fabric, but you can cut into panels like outer cape, if you prefer.
Here’s how Mask
STEP 1 Using a photocopier, enlarge Caped crusader mask template (opposite) to 220% or size to suit your child. Make 2 copies. Cut out 1 copy along outer outline.
STEP 2 Prepare enough fabric for front of mask by backing it with bonding web, using a dry iron according to pack instructions. Peel paper backing away and stick on second piece of fabric. Using mask template, lightly trace its outline onto 1 side of fabric.
STEP 3 Trace appliqué template pieces (from second template photocopy) onto paper side of more bonding web, tracing backto-front (so they’re right way round when bonded). Cut out, leaving a 5mm margin, then bond to back of contrasting fabric scraps. Cut out along traced lines and carefully peel off backing paper. Assemble appliqué pieces in position on mask front, adhesiveside down. Cover with paper or a soft cloth and press into place until bonded, taking care not to overheat sensitive fabrics.
STEP 4 Topstitch 2mm in from edge of all appliqué shapes using matching thread. Sew around traced lines for outer edge of mask and eyes.
STEP 5 Carefully cut out mask 2mm from stitching.
STEP 6 Cut out eyes using smaller scissors. Sew elastic into place at back of mask, either by hand or machine.
Cape STEP 7 Using Caped crusader cape diagram (right), prepare a
paper pattern to scale. Using photocopier, enlarge Cape motif templates to 400% and neckband to 220%. For cape panels, pin paper patterns to soft fabric and fat quarter fabric then cut out, adding 1cm seam allowance. Cut out 2 neckbands, adding 1cm seam allowance. (Do not cut lining yet.) STEP 8 Trace motif templates onto paper side of bonding web, tracing back-to-front, and cut out, leaving a 5mm margin. Use a dry iron to bond pieces to back of various contrasting fabrics. Cut out and carefully peel off paper backing. STEP 9 With right sides facing and with a 1cm seam allowance, pin and stitch cape panels together along straight edges. Press seams to 1 side, then topstitch close to seam on right side. Lay cape on lining fabric, right sides facing, and cut 1 lining piece to match (see Note, opposite). STEP 10 Position motif pieces on right side of cape, adhesive-side down. Cover with paper or a soft cloth and press into place until bonded, taking care not to overheat sensitive fabrics. Topstitch around motifs, 2mm from edges. STEP 11 Place cape and lining right sides facing and sew 1cm from edge, stitching at start and finish to secure and leaving neck edge open. Snip corners, turn right side out and press. STEP 12 Place neckband pieces right sides facing and sew along shorter ends and top. Trim corners then turn right side out and press. Mark centre back of neckband with a pin. With right sides facing and matching centre back of neckband with centre back of cape, pin 1 raw edge of neckband to cape lining and sew in place (ends will extend at front edges). Press under 1cm on remaining raw edges of neckband. STEP 13 Fold remaining raw edge of neckband over seam allowance at neck edge, pin and topstitch into place 2mm from edge along entire edge. Sew velcro fastening into place at each short end of neckband and press to finish.