Tutorial - Embellished Fabric Pin

In the coming weeks I'll be offering up a few tutorials for quick and easy projects, including some gift ideas, cards, and maybe some packaging. I'll also be trying to use supplies I already have, and will be recycling or repurposing some items that would ordinarily go in the trash. Check back often to see what I've been up to.

Today we'll make this little fabric pin that I've embellished with Eyelash cord and a fish bead. You really don't need the Eyelash, but it does add some nice texture and interest, so if you have some, go ahead and use it. You can substitute another cord if you have something interesting, or you can skip it altogether.

For this project you'll need some scraps of fabric, scraps of quilt batting, contrasting thread, a pretty bead or charm, and a sew-on pinback. Wonder-Under is optional, but helpful when you're working in this size.

My finished pin measures 1-5/8" by 2-1/8", so I will describe my project based on that size. You will need to adjust the measurements based on the bead or charm you're using.

Most of the steps are illustrated below, and the remaining steps I think are self-explanatory. Directions follow the photos.

1. First, if you have Wonder-Under, fuse it to the wrong side of your fabric scraps following the manufacturer's instructions, and remove the paper backing. I like to use it because it helps hold the layers of my project together while I'm sewing, and it gives some body to my pin.

2. Cut a 1-1/2" x 1" piece of one fabric, 2 pieces of a contrasting background fabric approximately 2-1/4" x 2-1/2", and 1 piece of batting approximately 2-1/4" x 2-1/2".

3. Fuse the small piece of fabric to one of the background pieces, then fuse that to your batting. Don't worry if your batting is sticking out or if your background looks too large. You'll be trimming this to a smaller size in just a few minutes.

4. Cut a 6" (approximately) piece of Eyelash and fold it in half. Set your machine for zigzag, and stitch around the edges of your smaller piece of fabric,feeding the Eyelash along the edge as you go and zigzagging the Eyelash in place. Don't worry about which direction the little eyelashes go, but do be sure to catch the main cord under your stitching. Trim off any excess length of Eyelash. This is already looking cute, isn't it?

5. Sew your charm or bead on at this point, using a sturdy thread and knotting it securely on the back of the batting.

6. Now fuse your remaining background piece to the back of your work. You probably won't be able to press this flat because your bead is on the other side, but that's OK. Really all you need to do is tack it in place. Be careful not to melt your bead if it's plastic.

7. Now you can trim the entire piece down to the size you want. This will get rid of any stray bits of batting or background that are sticking out, and will tidy everything up.

8. Zigzag around the outside edge to secure all the layers.

9. Handstitch your pin back securely to the back of your fabric, being careful not to stitch through to the front.

That's all there is to it! You can change this up in a variety of ways, such as adding a ribbon loop to make a tree ornament, leaving off the pin back and stitching your work to a larger project, attaching the pin to a gift package -- or whatever else your imagination suggests.

Tutorial - Covered Button Hair Elastic

This has to be one of the easiest but most effective craft projects I've ever done. I make a variety of things with covered buttons, and the hair elastic is probably my favorite, although I can't wear these because my hair is short. There are probably dozens of different tutorials for them on the internet, but I thought I'd share with you how I make them.

(For the directions below, the corresponding photos go clockwise from top left in each set.)

1. First, gather your supplies. You will need a covered button shell and back, a pusher and holder assembly aid, a small piece of fabric, and a plain hair elastic (not pictured here). I like to use Maxant brand buttons. You can purchase a kit that includes the assembly aid, and refill packages without the assembly aid are available. I'm using size 24 buttons.

2. Using the template that corresponds to your button size (provided on the package), cut a circle of your fabric and center it over the assembly holder. Place the button shell on top of the fabric.

3. Push the button shell down into the assembly holder as far as it will go.

4. Fold the edges of the fabric down into the button shell.

5. Place the button back on top of the shell, with the loop pointing up.

6. Place the plastic pusher over the button back.

7. Press the pusher down all the way to attach the back to the shell.

8. Your button should look like the one at bottom right, above.

9. Press on the bottom of the holder until the button pops out. Now isn't that like magic? A covered button!

10. Thread your hair elastic into the button loop.

11. Loop one end of the elastic over the button loop and through the other end of the elastic.

12. Pull tight, and you're done! It's that easy!

These are so much fun to make, and they are great little stocking stuffers for Christmas. They look especially cute when you group 2 or 3 of them on a ponytail.

How-To: Fabric Gift Card Pouch

I sometimes feel like a gift card is a little bit impersonal, but so many people like to receive them, and they're so much easier to send long-distance, so I end up buying quite a few of them. Last night I was getting ready to put one in a card and send it off, when I came up with an idea to personalize it a little bit. The gift card pouch pictured here took only minutes to make, and I didn't have to buy any new materials for it.

I always have bits of fabric on hand that I've applied Wonder-Under to, just in case I want to do a project like this, so I was able to pull from that supply for my gift card pouch. In addition to the fused pieces, which are used for the outside, the lining, and the decorations, I used scraps of quilt batting (in this case, Warm & Natural).

First, cut 4 rectangles of my background fabric and 2 of batting, each sized 3-3/4" x 2-3/4". Set 2 of the fabric rectangles aside to be used for the lining. Fuse each of the other pieces of fabric to a piece of batting.

Cut your embellishments out of a contrasting fabric that already has Wonder-Under applied to the reverse side. In my case, I used a circle template to mark and cut circles in several sizes. Place those contrasting pieces onto your previously fused fabric/batting pieces and iron in place.

Using a decorative thread (I used Madeira rayon), embellish the surfaces as desired. Decide which embellished rectangle you want for the front of your pouch, and cut one end off at an angle. You could create a fancier edge, but I was trying to keep it simple. Zigzag that edge with decorative thread. This will be the top edge of the pouch front. If you want the edge to be completely smooth, you can use a satin stitch (a slightly rough edge doesn't bother me, so I just used a narrow zigzag).

Now fuse the 2 remaining fabric rectangles to the backs of your other pieces, completely covering the batting. You now have lined front and back pieces. Place one on top of the other, lining sides together, and zigzag or satin-stitch around the 4 raw edges. You're done!

In addition to the gift card, I was able to tuck a few other small goodies into my pouch. The next one I make will be about 1/4" bigger in both directions so I can use it for artist trading cards. The pouch pictured here almost worked for that purpose, but it was just a little too tight.