Sunday 21 October 2018

Sew-a-Softie Tutorial


Martin Monster
Designed by Katie
Sewn by Heather 
@heathermakes_sewing on Instagram


I asked Katie, aged 11, to draw me a simple drew picture so I could create a Halloween softie.  Anything too complicated and it would of been much more difficult to create a pattern from the picture.

Here he is ... Martin Monster! 




I enlarged the drawing to 150%.  If you do not have a photocopier then just draw the picture bigger.  


Materials needed:-
  • Drawing or pattern
  • Felt
  • Cotton
  • Needle
  • Scissors
  • Toy stuffing
  • Pencil or chalk


How To Make:-

Step One
Cut out all the parts that need to be sewn onto the body.
(I photocopied martin Monster several times so I could cut all parts at once then cut the felt pieces)

Step Two
Draw around the body parts on each chosen coloured felt.
I did the blue body as all one piece as this made it much easier to sew together. 




Step Three

Check you have all the parts needed (please do not notice that I forgot to cut out the tail!!)

Now you can see all the pieces that you need to sew together and then sew onto the body.



Step Four

Start to sew!!  Any stitch that you can do is fine.  There are no set rules here!

I did the hands and feet first, then sewn the eyes one.

I did all three layers of the eyes at the same time because the black thread would not be seen through the green and white once the back went on.

Then sew the white part of the eyes onto the blue body. 




Step Five

Sew on any 'tummy parts'  Again I sewed all three layers at the same time then did a running stitch around the big purple part.  

I then sewn the tale up.  Again I sewed all the parts at the same time.  A quick running stitch around the blue, then sewn the green and pink circles all at once onto the end of the tail.  

Step Six

I placed the mouth where it was to be sewn on, then followed the mouth line by sewing through the paper.  the paper tears off easy at the end.  just be careful not to pull to hard otherwise the stitches will be pulled too.

Sew on his teeth.  



Step Seven

Once you have the front part sewn together, lay out hands and feet and horns where you want them.

Pin into place or clip them on or just remember to stop sewing and place then in position when you get to that part of the body.

Katie decided at the last minute she wanted black lines on the horns!

When sewing up leave a two or three inch gap to put a little stuffing in if you wish.
Once you have stuffed, them carry on sewing u to where to started.

I only stuffed the main part of the body, not the hands, feet or tail.  



Step Eight

Stand back and smile because you have created a beautiful monster!


Martin Monster  

He is now sitting on Katie's bed!  I just about had time to take a photo before he was whisked away!!



I hope you enjoyed my very first tutorial!

If you make a monster please tag me in the photos as I would love to see what you made from a childs drawing!

Anyone of any age can make a softie.  It does not matter if you can hand sew in a straight line or not, I can't!!  I used a running stitch ... if you look closely at the photos, the stitches are running all over the place and not in a neat line at all!!  Give it a go ... you will not regret it.


Instagram heathermakes_sewing
Twitter xstitchchick #HeatherMakes

Thanks for reading!  Happy sewing!!
Participant in Sew a Softie

Hugs Heather
xx ✂✂✂ xx

Saturday 13 October 2018

@heathermakes_sewing

@heathermakes_sewing on Instagram

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Good Afternoon all,

The last few weeks we have had a really good declutter of our home.  Along with a few room swaps!! 

All I can say is WOW!  I never thought this house could look so good.
(Its a very odd lay out as its spread over floor levels!!  Weird or what lol)

This weekend my kiddies are at their fathers, so I thought ... mmm sewing weekend will do me thank you!!  

But no, James and Naomi (James' girlfriend) are heading from Belfast to mine to finish off the rest of the rooms!!

Oh ooo ... my quiet weekend of sewing out the window, but ... they said they will do it!!

Naomi loves to clean and organise so she is in her element.  I love to sew ... so happy days for everyone!!

Anyway, the point of this post ... as I was sorting out my stuff that was still boxed up from moving house a while ago (this is a very small house and I have, sorry had, too much stuff there was no where to unpack it too!!)

My 80's bedroom

Penpal letters and
the keys to my very first car


James' card  from his Great-Grandma for starting school!
James is now 3rd year University!
A lovely keep sake to find!! 

Well I'd better start sewing before James and Naomi arrive, otherwise I might end up with a hoover in my hands and not a needle!!  I wouldn't mind but the house is gorgeously tidy ... I think its an excuse to check its still tidy haha!! lol

I am making a jacket for Naomi's stuffed toy sheep ... long story ... that a post in it's self!!  I shall write one later on! Oh maybe she misses Shauny the sheep, since he has been here all week!!

Have a great weekend all

If any of you are on Instagram or Twitter, pop on in and say 'Hi!'

Hugs
Heather
xxxx

#sewing
#handmade

Tuesday 9 October 2018

A change is as good as a rest ...


The past 2 weeks we have had a big change about in our home. It is an odd house with many levels! Storage is very tight so most of our belongings were in boxes under beds, or children sharing a room that no longer suited. 

The main room in everyones home is the living room ... well for us it was just a room that never got used. We are not ones for watching TV at all. Id rather be sewing, kids out on bikes or in their rooms chatting to friends, building lego or doing art! 

So that great big room that ended up as a 'shed for bikes' or 'storage unit' for James' uni stuff over the summer, was a waste of a room whilst we struggled for everyday storage of what we used ...

So ... we had a massive change around in the house! Its been a hard slog ...

I have taken over the living room! Its lovely and bright. New sewing bench up which is lovely and high because I bought the wrong legs ... thats a great mistake haha Sew easier to work at!!

The girls have gone into my old room, One of the boys into girls old room! Now means none of the boys are sharing. Also means the biggest bedroom now has cupboard and unit space for storage!!

The new living room is now in the dining room, which is open plan, plus right next to the kitchen!!

Love it when a plan comes together!

Happy days ...

Yummy new living room
My New Sewing Space
My lovely
organised fabrics




Have a Brilliant Day
Hugs
Heather
xxxx