Buttons and Bobs

  Tempted by the word "simple" on the cover of Simplicity K8293, I purchased Sew Magazine in order to get the pattern included in the pack. I hoped to make a tunic similar to the Seasalt ones I have in my wardrobe so I chose view D. On checking the pattern I wasn't sure about the instructions about how to neaten the interfacing around the zip.  Over to Youtube and a search for "sew interfacings shift dress" took me to a full tutorial by Aneka Truman of Made to Sew o n how to make a shift dress that is almost identical to K8293. (Aneka's pattern is called Copen.) It is an excellent tutorial. It takes a long time to reach the instructions regarding interfacings that I was looking for but I learned a lot by watching all.  Note there is a Facebook Group especially for users of the Copen shift dress pattern.

First Christmas pinafore in a Christmas tree print. Father Christmas buttons. Lined in white. I had issues with the machined buttonholes on the shoulder straps. Seams tend to throw out the automatic procedure and the machine starts to sew on the spot. Advice offered on the internet - - make horizontal rather than vertical buttonholes - start from the bulkier end of the strap - gently put your finger on the front of the button foot as it does its work. I took the advice plus I trimmed the seams very close to the stitching with pinking shears on a second pinafore. I did not have the problems with buttonholes. I think I have chosen fiddly buttons though!

I have made zipper pouches before but I like this one the best so far.  The lining is easier to include than in other tutorials I have followed and the ends of the zip are neatly finished. The tutorial for these is by Amanda aka Jedi Craft Girl.

We are always losing the remotes so I have made an organiser to hang over an armchair. There are three pockets - the middle one will hold pens or pencils.  One side is weighted with a block of wood held in a fold.  I put studs on each side so that the wood can be removed easily when the organiser needs washing.

Practising with fastenings - a little activity folder for a two year old. Six fastenings - elastic loop and button, button and buttonhole, buckle, velcro, press stud and zip. Opening four of them reveals family names. 

I followed a tutorial by Jessica Fediw to make ragged cloth letters for a game for toddlers. I haven't made the whole alphabet. With my set the child can make Mummy, Daddy and her own name.  I have used pinking shears around the edges but I have not made them too ragged yet - that will happen when they are washed after some wear. I enjoyed making another storage box for the letters cutting the square 15  by 15 inches.