Sewing is a delightful skill which I have been learning throughout the years. My mother never learned to sew, and so we have learned together! We started out with patterns, and my younger sister and I have made various small projects on our own. Below are a few of those for you to create for yourself. Any of these projects can be sewn by hand or by machine. I recommend learning hand sewing first before you attempt a machine, if you have never sewn before.
Sachets
This is a very easy project! Simply choose the shape that you want the sachet to be (i.e. square, heart, diamond, etc.) and cut two equal pieces, in that shape, out of your chosen color of fabric. Sew a seam about 1/4 inch away from the edge with the fabric right sides together, leaving a space for turning the sachet inside out. Turn it right side out (use a pencil for pushing out the corners if you want) and fill with potpourri. Fold the raw edge of the hole inside and sew a seam to close.
Patchwork Pillow
You will need about a half a yard each of two colors of fabric, depending on how large you want the pillow to be. Start by cutting five squares of equal size (I did about 3" x 3", for a small pillow) out of one color, and another four squares out of the other color. If you plan to embroider a name or design into the center of the pillow, cut the five squares out of the lighter color. (For a different twist, do each square a separate color, or do just the center square white). For the first row of squares, sew one light colored square to a dark colored one, right sides together. Then take another light colored square, and sew it, right sides together, to the dark colored one. Press the seams open. It should look like this:
Repeat this step, except reverse the order of the squares (this time do dark, light*, dark) and then the last row the same as the first. Now, take the first row, and lay it, right sides together, on top of the second row, matching the squares. Sew them together, and then repeat on the last row. Press all your seams open. Cut a large square of fabric the size of the finished front of the pillow for the back. Placing right sides together, sew around the edges, leaving a space at the bottom for turning. Turn right side out, fill with stuffing, and close the hole by folding in the raw edges and sewing it closed. If you wish, sew a seam on the outside around to finish it off.
* If you want to embroider a name or design into the center square, you can do it at this point or later. See below for instructions on embroidering names.
Embroidering Names & Designs
The easiest way to embroider a name in the center of your pillow is to print out the name in the size and font you wish to use onto a piece of paper. Then place your patchwork square on top of the paper, and either tape it to a window (for light) or, if you have a light box, use that. Using a fabric marking pen, trace the name from the paper on to the fabric square. After choosing your color of embroidery floss, backstitch along the lines of the name you just traced. The same goes for designs; find a pattern that you like and trace it on to the fabric, then backstitch along the lines.
The Backstitch:
Come up at A, go down at B, come up at C. Down at A, up at D, down at C. Continue in this fashion until your design is complete.
Cozy Heat Log
This is the perfect thing to warm you up on a chilly day! You can do the easy no-sew version or get a little more fancy and sew it. Note: the "fancy" version works best using a sewing machine, because of the need for small stitches.
The No-Sew Version: Simply fill a sock (the thicker the better, and you choose the size) with rice about 3/4 of the way up, put a rubber band (DO NOT use the kind with the metal connector) around the top, fold the top down over it, heat it up in the microwave for about 2 minutes, and voila!
The "Fancy" Version: Cut two rectangles, about 10" x 5", out of a cozy, soft fabric (fleece or flannel is good). If you wish, you can embroider a name into the heat log (see above). Sew a seam around three edges (both the long sides and one of the shorter ones). Fill with rice about 3/4 of the way up. Fold in the top and sew to close. When you are ready to use it, heat it up in the microwave for about 2 minutes, and then put it around your neck or wherever you need heat!
If you want your heat log to smell nice when you heat it up, you can stir a few drops of essential oil (a few nice ones are clove oil, peppermint oil and lavender oil - though I don't recommend mixing the them!) into your rice before you fill the sock or log. For longer lasting scent, mix in real whole cloves (for clove) or dried lavender (for lavender) in addition to the essential oil.
More projects will be coming soon! Also, click here for some modest & feminine sewing pattern numbers.
