Stashbusting start

This week I've made a start on my massive fabric stashbusting challenge for the year. 

I'm still catching up from our big holiday and getting the girls back to school, so I wanted to start with something easy.

I sorted my fabric at the end of last year and worked out a rough plan of what to make with things.

This pile of fabrics is ones I'm not so fond of.

I decided to use them to make some fabric wrapping clothes (furoshiki) and fabric gift bags.

I have a wrapping box full of left over gift wrapping paper, ribbons, gift bags, old cards to be used as tags - and also some wrapping clothes. We try to keep our gift wrapping environment friendly!

So now we have some more wrapping cloths:

Some simple gift bags which can be tied with ribbons or scrap fabric:

And also a couple of gift tote bags.

At least now this fabric can be put to use, and also prettied up with ribbons, colourful scrap ties - and I also plan to make plenty fabric flowers from my scrap fabric that can be added to our gift wrapping box.

All in all a good start to my stash-busting!

I just need to keep chipping away at the pile - a little each week!

Have you done any stash-busting lately?

Jill

My fabric stash has got to go!

“The path to success is to take massive, determined action.”

 - Tony Robbins

Since we were away for most of January, February is my 'New Year' for 2015 for starting projects.

This is  BIG year for projects!

The picture above shows our rearranged spare room. We took apart our spare bed and stored it in the built in wardrobes at the back of the room. These robes were hiding my fabric stash - but no more!

Now my stash is piled up in a heap. My task this year is to work my way through it - sewing things to use, give as gifts or sell.  By the end of 2015, I want to just have my sewing desk (on the left) and the wooden chest of drawers that you can just see peeking out on the right. All those boxes, bags, pockets etc have to go!

Having everything out in the open is going to be a daily reminder and motivation to keep on sewing. To start with I'll have to move boxes just to reach my sewing machine!  I have lists of things to make and I've tried to divide the lists up into a time schedule over the course of the year.

I think I'm venturing into unchartered territory here. I can find lots of posts on blogs and articles about stashbusting, reducing your stash and organising your fabric stash; but nothing about trying to use it all up!

I know it's a massive ask - but the way our spare room looks now is a HUGE motivation to get this done. All the fabric, notions and other bits and bobs I've saved over the past 10 years, are going to be put to use.

Use What You've Got is my motto and that's certainly what I'm sticking to this year!

So how about you?

What does your fabric stash look like? Do you have any pictures to share? Does it need to be used up? 

I may be a bit crazy to attempt  this challenge - but I do hope you'll follow along and see what I make and also the progress photos of my shrinking stash over the year!

Better get started!

Jill

Use what you've got

Last month I had a couple of weeks where I had some kind of virus that left me feeling lethargic and energyless. I rested mostly, but did manage to put some of my time to good use by slowly sorting through and organising my crafting and sewing supplies.

I have so many bits and pieces squirrelled away for making things with - and I think it's time I stopped collecting things and started using them!

I have straps, cord, buttons, plastic kids toys, fabric yoyos, threads, old clothes......

I think it's going to be a long process - I have so much 'stuff' - and a huge amount of fabric too of course!

So this week I'm going to start with..

Free packets of mini coloured pencils and pens and mini notepads I picked up for just a few cents. Combine those with some old jeans..... let's see what I can come up with!

What kind of things do you have in your stash?

Christmas Placemats

I finally started some Christmas sewing, and made a few festive placemats using this cute Christmas fabric.

They were super simple. All I did was cut rectangles of fabric 

44 x 36cm (17 x 14"), then double turn all 4 edges and stitch around them. 

Cute fabric, super simple project and Christmas preparations started! 

Have you started your Christmas sewing yet?

Giant fabric origami bag

One of my most popular tutorials is for this fabric origami bag:

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a lot of pageviews on my blog coming to view this tutorial from a forum in Holland.  When I went to look at the forum, I found a picture of a larger version of this bag.  Unfortunately, although I bookmarked the page, it now won't show up in my browser, so I can't credit the inspiration behind my own larger version of this bag!

I used some pretty fabric that my girls chose.

Then I simply followed my own tutorial for this bag, but cut the fabric 80cm (approx 31.5") square.  Then instead of drawstring ribbon, I cut 2 strips of the outer fabric, 118 x 10cm (46.5 x 4"); double folded them lengthwise and top-stitched to hide any raw edges; then threaded one through each side of the bag casing and stitched each strap together in a loop.

I'm really pleased with the result:

I think it would make a great beach bag, or just general tote!

I also had some fun playing around with the effects I can use on my new birthday camera...

I've only had my camera for 2 days, but haven't had a chance to explore all it can do yet!  Looks like it might save me some time editing the photos on the computer, with all these cool effects on the camera itself! Can't wait to get snapping!

Have you ever tried any fabric origami?  This bag is very simple to make - equally easy large or small.

For the tutorial so you can make one for yourself - go here!

Ruffle knit bags! - a tutorial

After making both my girls ruffly skirts, and one ruffly top, I decided to add a little bag each for them.

I used some denim scraps from old jeans, fabric from my stash for the lining and of course some of the lovely ruffle knit!

Here's a simple tutorial for making one of these bags:

Materials needed:

Denim (or other strong fabric for bag base and handles:

1 piece 32 x 16 cm (12.5 x 6.25")

2 pieces 32 x 3 cm (12.5 x 1.25")

2 pieces for straps 33 x 8 cm (13 x 3")

Ruffle knit ( or other pretty fabric for main bag sides )

2 pieces 32 x 16 cm (12.5 x 6.25")

Fabric for lining :

1 piece 50 x 32 cm (19.75 x 12.5")

Lay out your outer bag pieces like this:

Pin, then stitch these strips together - right sides together to form the main outer bag section.

Now take your outer bag piece and the lining piece - both of these should be the same size.

Fold them in half - short ends together, and right sides together. Pin and stitch down both sides:

Note: be careful when you pin the outer fabric that you match up all the seams neatly!

Now to 'box out' the bottom corners of the bag.

Put your hand inside the outer bag piece and reach into one of the corners:

Flatten out the sides of the bag up at the corner with the seam in the centre like this:

Then you need to stitch across the corner 

 4 cm  (1.5") in from the point.

(I usually run 2 or 3 lines of stitching here for added strength)

Then cut off the corner outside your stitching.

Repeat this for both corners in both your outer and inner bag pieces.

Now to the straps.

Take the two strips of denim (or other fabric) for your straps and fold the outer long edges in to the centre like this:

Then fold the outer edges in again, so hiding both raw edges.

(If you feel more comfortable you can iron this as you fold and pin into place.)

Then stitch down both sides of each strap, close to the edge:

To attach the straps to the main bag.

Turn your main bag part right sides out and place one strap on each side of the bag matching up the raw edges like this, and pin in place:

Make sure the straps are in the same place on both sides of the bag.

Secure the straps in place with a couple of rows of stitching.

Now insert the lining inside the main bag:

And fold the top edges of both bag parts in towards each other to hide the raw edges. Pin all the way around:

Then topstitch all the way around the top of the bag to join the outer and inner bags together.

Done!  Now fill up and use your new cute little bag! 

My girls are 7 and 9 years old, and these bags are the perfect size for them.  You could use firmer fabric, or add interfacing to make a bag that holds it's shape better (I just wanted soft bags for my girls!).

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

If you like this tutorial - there are over 100 more on my tutorials page - suitable for all levels and abilities of sewing!