2008 June « Finishing Ideas for Handcrafts

Almost Done – The Monkeys are Winding Down – S T U V

Jun 29
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The end is in sight – here are four more monkey letters!

BTW, the slight delay in posting this week is because I have been caring for my MIL following her total knee replacement. The surgery went well, but she went home too early (her choice) and didn’t tell us she had no one to come stay with her during her at-home convalescence. She ended up hospitalized again with pneumonia. She’s an 83-year-old in generally good health, but stubborn does not begin to describe her! DH and I practically kidnapped her when she was released on the 24th, so that we can help her get back on her feet. We hope to have her back in her own home shortly. We take her to the doctor’s tomorrow for an x-ray to check on her recovery from pneumonia and to her surgeon later in the week to have her knee checked, and then we will see. Do pray for all of us, please!

M N O P Q R Hey, Hey It’s the Monkeys

Jun 20
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Are you old enough that this title means something to you? Yeah, me too – lol!

It’s bonus week – six letters for the price of four (and you can’t beat the price!)

Enjoy!

Removable Cushion Cover

Jun 15
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For my dear floss-daughter’s new baby, I wanted to make a special gift.

I apologize in advance for the poor quality on some of the pictures – I had difficulty eliminating the glare with the white on white backing fabric.

Step 1: Cross stitch your design. Try to leave enough un-worked border for your seams (if you haven’t , there is a solution, to be covered in another article).

Step 2: Iron lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of your stitched work. This helps protect the back, and also serves to anchor the threads.

Step 3: For the back, select a complimentary piece of fabric. I chose a white on white design to compliment the DMC B5200 on 28 count natural linen. Cut it to the same width as your stitched piece.

Step 4: You will need two pieces for the back – each as wide as your stitched piece and 4″ longer than half the height.

Step 5: Iron lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of each backing piece. Fold under two inches on each piece at the long side (these will overlap in the middle of your cushion).

Step 6: Work buttonholes near the folded edge on one piece of fabric.

Step 7: If you want to add lace, pin the lace to the front stitched piece, along the seam line, right sides together. (BTW, at first I was going to publish this prior to sending it off – hence “hiding” the design.)

Step 8: Match the back pieces to the front stitched piece, right sides together, overlapping centers. Make sure the piece with buttonholes is under the overlap of the second piece.

Step 9: Sew along seam allowances (I use ¼ inch) on all four sides of your cushion. Re-sew 1-2 inches at each corner for strength. Trim the corners close to stitching.

Step 10: Turn to right side, pushing out corners with a knitting needle.

Step 11: Mark placement of buttons with a pencil through the buttonholes.

Step 12: Sew on buttons.

Step 13: If, like me, your cushion is an odd size – make a simple stuffed pillow to fit. Stuff it into your cushion cover.

Step 14: Button the back to secure.

Step 15: Display!

Questions? Please do not hesitate to ask!

Posted in Cushion / Pillow
Tags: sewing

I J K L – The Monkeys are Playing Again!

Jun 14
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No, I did not get the finishing done on my Altoid tin last weekend. As soon as I do, I promise I will post the directions.

But here are the next four letters of the Monkey Alphabet – Enjoy!

: Monkey Alphabet

Posted in freebie
Tags: alphabet

A Stitch in Time

Jun 06
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I had believed that this proverb was attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Imagine my surprise, when I began to research it (so that I might attribute it to him for this article) to discover that it was not! Oh well, it’s still a good saying.

My DS, seeing me work on this small chart, said “That doesn’t make any sense!” When I explained that my sense of this proverb is that taking one stitch when it is needed, saves having to take nine stitches later, he said “You left out the commas.” Sigh.

But I think it’s a good proverb anyway, and appropriate for my purpose, which is to make a small sewing kit for my handbag. If you’d like to make one, too, you are welcome to use my design. Today I’m giving you the chart. If, as I hope, this weekend I get the finishing done, I’ll post the instructions next week.

I stitched this on 14 count white aida, a scrap I had left from another project (Waste not, Want not – right!) BTW, I used DMC 115, not DMC 815. At the time I created the pattern, I had not yet discovered how to create new floss lists in PC Stitch Pro. And now, even though I have discovered how to use that feature, I still haven’t created a list for DMC Varigated floss. You may, of course, use any colors you wish – lol!

Please, if you stitch this, send me a pic. I’d like to start a Gallery page. As an incentive, if you are the first to send me a pic, I’ll send you an empty Altoid TIn. Really! You can send me your address in a separate comment, which I won’t post.