About Me

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I'm a retired primary school teacher, who started paper crafting in 2008, when I had a fancy to make my own Christmas cards. Since then, I have tried all sorts of techniques and styles - and I kind of like them all. I have been lucky enough to be on blog teams and large design teams and to do a bit of freelance demonstrating - and I love the challenge of working with different products. My crafting style is very varied - from junk journaling and art journaling, bookbinding and journal making, to quilting and patchwork - and of course I still make cards. This variety keeps me interested - and my crafty stash growing!! I'm always seeking inspiration for new projects.

Monday 11 June 2012

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #70 - No Cards

Well, it has finally come round to being my turn to set the challenge - and we are sponsored this time by Di's Digi Downloads who are offering a $10 Gift Voucher!!

Now, I love making cards, but I also love making a whole host of other things from boxes to notebooks, and gift bags to bookmarks. So, for this challenge I decided to ask you to make anything other than cards, tags or ATC's. I want to see and celebrate all those other things that I'm sure you make out there - boxes, gift bags, paintings, bookmarks, notebooks, sewing projects, knitting projects, glass painting, encaustic art etc etc BUT no cards, tags or ATC's please!! 

So, what do I have to offer as inspiration? When I first thought about this challenge I had a few possibilities in mind - including an MDF box and an MDF wastepaper bin both of which are just crying out to be painted and decorated. But in January, I treated myself to a new sewing machine. I haven't really done any sewing in years (and even then I only ever did basic stuff) but I had a fancy to have another go. So, I decided to challenge myself as well as all of you, and try something that I haven't done before. I decided to make a patchwork cushion cover. Now this was a longer project than my usual, and you don't need to make anything near so involved - although I expect the more experienced of you could put this together in a lot less time than it took me!! 



In searching for some suitable fabrics for my cushion cover, I have begun to learn a whole new language - charm packs, stash packs, fat quarters, jelly rolls and layer cakes to name just a few!! I eventually bought a few stash packs (consisting of 10" squares of fabric) from Pelenna Patchworks and some mini charm packs (2.5" squares) from The Cotton Patch. I also bought a 2.5" Omnigrid and a rotary cutter, so I could cut the small squares I wanted to use.  The fabric for the back of the cover came from my local Fabric Land.


Once I had cut out all the squares, I played around with the layout until I was happy with it, before piling the squares up ready to stitch together.


Now, I knew that in order for this to end up looking OK, I would need to measure things at each stage, and my Tim Holtz ruler came in very handy to do this. I marked 0.25" in from the edge to sew the seam.

For each subsequent patch I measured 2" across from the previous seam, and marked the line for the next seam. 


After ironing open all the seams, I had seven strips ready to assemble for the cover.


I measured and assembled these in the same way as the individual patches.


After pressing the seams open, I then measured the finished size of the front of the cover. This allowed me to then follow the instructions found HERE on how to make the envelope-style back of the cover (thanks to one of my lovely forum friends for pointing me in the direction of this). The only thing I will say is that because I had a 16" cushion pad, and the front was roughly 14", I allowed an extra 2" on the longer of the two measurements she gives you.


When marking the seam for the outside, I measured 2" from the patch-seam towards the edge. The hope was that all the patches would be around 2" square once the cover was turned in the right way.

I was pretty pleased in the way this turned out. So much so that I have made another - this time in red. Both of these were gifts for friends (I blogged about the 'matching' cards back in May  - 'Felt Fun')   - and I intend to make a few more!! 


So, I hope that I have inspired you - and not frightened you off. Pop over to Crafty Cardmakers to see what the rest of the Design Team have been up to - there's a real range of projects there!! Let's celebrate the diversity of crafts that are out there - and whether your project is large or small I am really looking forward to seeing it. And any experienced sewers and quilters out there - please feel free to leave me some tips!! 

I would like to enter my cushion cover into the following challenges:
Moving along with the times - Anything but a Card
Try it on Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Cxx

11 comments:

  1. These are fabulous - I'm always so impressed at people using sewing machines - they seem nigh on impossible to control to me!

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  2. wow that is so beautiful. love it, thank you for joining us at TIOT.EE

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  3. Both are fabulous, LOVE the soft browns you've used on the one for this challenge--gorgeous work! :)

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  4. Love these cushions, the patchwork look gorgeous. I must use my machine again, its just sitting gathering dust as the moment.
    Yvonne x

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  5. wow Carol - it's a mazing. And I think a lot of work. Love it
    Hugs
    Doreen xx

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  6. These are both just fab hun, love the colours!

    Thank you for sharing with us at MAWTT this week, good luck!
    Hugs Shell xx

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  7. When I was at school we were taught to use a sewing machine in 'domestic science'. There was always some idiot, the teacher told us scathingly, who broke the needle. Naturally that idiot was me... I tell you this so that you understand just how impressed I am with your cushions! I love the patchwork design. Vicky x

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  8. Love the cushions Carole. It's been years since I did any patchwork, there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do anything except make cards lol.
    Hugs Kimx

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  9. Wow, that is a lot of work, but so worth it. Great take on the challenge. Thanks for playing with us at TIOT.
    Hugz, Z

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  10. carole, i love this,
    got loads of fabric so i can do some patchwork soon!!!

    with regards to felt, which machine are you using?? also you need the big die cutting folders to go through it, and a heavy duty machine like the bigshot, and even then its difficult to get that thickness of felt through!!!

    Paula xx

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  11. Hi Carole your cushion is gorgeous. I have recently obtained a sewing machine though I have mot sewn for many many years. Thank you for sharing this piece, which I saw on crafty carmakers x

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Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!! I really appreciate it!! Cxx