Sew What

DIY love note
By Dilys Tong
Sew Be It Studio 

Let’s be honest…. No matter how much I announce the fact that I hate Valentines, deep inside I secretly wish the cupid would send me a Valentine love. What is a better way to tell that special someone “Be mine!” than with a handmade Valentine card. So dear Cupid, for this Valentines, could you send me a George Clooney look alike, please?  

Materials

• For the card – your choice of felt colour, approximately 12” by 9”
• The mini hearts – felt pieces, any color of your choice. I would recommend colors that are valentine related such as hot pink, red or purple.
• Felt to cut out letters for your special message
• Yarn
• Large yarn hand sewing needle
• Glue
• A hand full of fiberfill
  

Cutting

• Cut out 8 (or so) mini hearts in your choice of size. You can cut out the hearts in any color of your choice. I personally prefer the colours of love….pink, red and fuscia.

Construction 

Step 1: The card body

• Fold the felt in half

  

• Using a large running stitch with the yarn, and hand stitch along the folded edge.

  

  
  

Step 2: Decorate the card surface

• Place the mini hearts as in

  

• Pin the hearts in place
• Using the same yarn, hand stitch around the heart edge with a running stitch.

  

  *Just before you finish stitching all around, take a little bit of the fiberfill and stuff the center of the heart, then continue the stitching.

  

• Repeat the same for all the hearts.
  

Step 3: The love message!!

• Cut out the letters of your love note and glue them to the inside of the card.

  

  
  

I hope this card will bring you the romance that you deserve!!! Happy Valentines!!! XOXO

By Dilys Tong
www.sewbeitstudio.com 

December is usually a crazy month for all of us. We are lucky to have time to breath between family gatherings and holiday parties. Lets be realistic....its easy to run out of time before getting to all the holiday sewing projects you had planned to do. No need to get into panic mode. This project is super easy and requires no sewing! The snowflake placemat will help you perk up your dinning room table and brings a bit of the winter wonderland to your guests. 

What you will need:

• 1M of white felt
• Glitter glue – any color of your choice
• Fabric scissors
• Paper 
  

Pattern:

• Any snow flake of your choice. The easiest thing to do is print out a snow flake from the internet. Just make sure the snow flake is big enough for your plate to sit on and have the snowflake show around the edges.
  

Instruction: 

Step 1: Trace out the snow flake shape on the felt

Step 2: Cut out the shape (diagram 2) 

Step 3: Embellish the snow flake surface with the glitter glue (diagram 3 & 4). Let dry and you are ready to decorate your dinning table for your holiday dinner party! 

by Dilys Tong
http://www.sewbeitstudio.com

This Christmas, be a finance wizard by making your own Christmas gifts and decorations. Not only is it a great way to add your personal touch to the gifts but also a great way to eliminate the dreadful arrival of the unwelcome Visa bills in the January. At just a fraction of the cost, you can create gifts worthy of the queen!  

We will start with a Christmas stocking as our first project for the holiday. Gotta have some place to hold all the goodies that we are going to make later!! 

What you will need:

• ½ M of fabric – try to choose fabric that have interesting texture or prints to sass up the stocking. Let the fabric do the work for you.
• ½ M of fleece – a contrasting color always look better
• 7” long ½” twill tape or ribbon
• Letters charms in the names of your loved ones
• Sewing machine
• Pins and thread
• Paper
  

Pattern: 

• On a piece of paper, draw the shape of the stocking of your choice. Just make sure it is big enough to hold all the goodies for your loved ones.

• Once you establish the shape, add seam allowance of ½” all around
• Cuff: measure the top edge of the stocking, then x that by 2 (to go all around the top), that number will be the width of the cuff. For example, if it’s 7”, 7 x 2 = 14. 14” is the width. For the height of the cuff, it’s 9”.

• Add seam allowance ½” around the cuff.
  

Cutting: 

• Stocking – cut 2 fabric
• Cuff – cut 1 fleece
  

Construction

Step 1: Place the stocking body with the good sides facing together. Stitch around the stocking, leaving the top edge open.

Step 2: Clip the seam allowance at the curved edge. It will allow the stocking edge to lie flat.

Step 3: Turn the stocking right side out. Press.

Step 4: Cuff

• With the good side facing together, stitch the back seam.

• Fold the cuff in half, with the wrong side facing together, bringing one edge to the other.

Step 5: Stitch the cuff to the stocking

• Place the good side of the cuff to the inside of the stocking. Stitch around

• Flip the cuff to the good side of the stocking.

 

Step 6: Sew the twill tape or ribbon to the cuff as the loop.

Step 7: Hand stitch the letter charms to the cuff

Bring out the mini liquor bottles and other goodies and start to fill up the stocking! Stay tuned for the next Christmas project idea!

By Dilys Tong
Sew Be It Studio

This Halloween show your evil side by wrapping your dog in an egg and bacon. Forget the typical princess or witch costume, step outside the box and make this ridiculously cute and easy costume for the pooch. In half an hour, your breakfast combo pooch is served. Don’t forget the milk bone to reward your dog for being a good sport.

You will need:

½ M of cream fleece

½ M of burgundy or dark red fleece

1 piece of white felt

1 piece of yellow felt

Small amount of fibrefill to stuff the egg yolk

Matching color thread

10” of ¼” wide white elastic

5” of 1” wide Velcro

Cutting:

This costume is designed for small dogs. If your dog is a larger breed, please make sure to make the necessary adjustments.

Bacon part:

Cut the cream fleece approximately 44” long, 2 ½” wide. It shouldn’t be a perfect rectangle. If you cut the cream strip free hand, it will make the edges uneven and appear organic.



Cut 2 narrow strips in red fleece. Just think of the red part of the real bacon. It should be uneven in width.

Egg part:

Cut the white felt using the egg white template



Cut the yellow felt using the egg yolk template

Construction

Step 1: Stitching the red strips to the cream part

Lay the red strips on the cream surface, secure the placement with pins. Note: Your red strip placement shouldn’t look like two red straight strips. Just think bacon.

Using the zigzag stitch, sew the red strips to the cream surface.

Step 2: Velcro

Wrap the bacon strip around the body of the dog to mark the placement of the Velcro.



Stitch the Velcro in place.

Step 3: Fried egg hat

Stitch the yellow yolk piece to the egg white piece with the zigzag stitch. Make sure you leave an opening for the stuffing.



Insert the fibrefill to the egg yolk.



Stitch the elastic to one side of the egg white.

Check the elastic length on the dog’s head to make sure it’s the right length. Cut off extra if necessary. Make sure the elastic is snug, but not too tight.

Stitch the other end of the elastic to the egg white.

You are done. Put on your costume and enjoy trick and treating with your pooch in style.

by Dilys Tong
Sew Be It Studio

There is more to being single and fabulous than having a closet full of sky high pumps and little black dresses. Nothing is more important than safe sex. Over the course of my dating escapades, I’ve realized that you can’t depend on men to be sensible with certain things – carrying a condom on him – or even something as simple as taking it out of his wallet when the time comes. And so, I’ve decided to make it a little bit easier for us girls by incorporating safe sex into home décor. Voila! A smart looking pillow with a top secret pocket to hold a Trojan (or two) for that oh so sexy encounter.

What you need:
1 M of upholstery fabric such as velour, denim.
1 piece of red felt approximately 12” by 9”
1 piece of green felt approximately 12” by 9”
Thick hand sewing thread in red and beige or embroidery thread (you can always use a different color if you like)
Heat and bond – it’s like double sided tape for fabric appliqué. You can purchase it at most fabric or craft stores.
Sewing machine
Hand sewing needle, scissors, pins
Iron
1 16” by 16” pillow form

Pattern:
Pillow – a square 17” by 17”
Cherry
Cherry stem

Cutting:
Pillow – cut 2 in your fabric
Cherry – cut 2 each cherry in red felt
Cherry stem – cut 1 in green felt

Construction:

Step 1: Apply the heat and bond to the cherry and cherry stem
Follow the directions of the heat and bond package, apply the heat and bond to he back of one of the cherries and to the stem.
ONLY ONE CHERRY GETS THE HEAT AND BOND, the other cherry is the secret pocket for the condom, so no heat and bond for that one!!!

Step 2: Bond cherry stem to the pillow fabric with iron
Place the stem on the pillow surface as you see fit, try not to place it too close to the edge.

Step 3: Bond the first cherry to the pillow
Place the cherry just a little on top of the bottom of the stem

Step 4: Stitch the other cherry to the pillow
Since this is the secret pocket, make sure you leave an opening.

Hand-stitch the cherry to the pillow, stitching around the cherry.

This will also be used as a decorative stitch as well
To help keep the pocket a secret, hand stitch around the opening edge (just don’t stitch it shut)

Step 5: Hand stitch around the cherry and the stem to keep the decorative stitch look

Step 6: Hand sew the snap to the opening to keep the condom from falling out

Step 7: Stitch the pillow together
With the right sides together, stitch the pillow together, leaving an opening at the bottom.

Step 8: Turn the pillow right side out, and insert the pillow form.

Step 9: Close up the opening by hand stitching

You are done and just so you know, I took it for a test drive, and it’s fantastic!

by Dilys Tong
Let’s face it! No matter how hard you tried to preserve your favourite t-shit, it ultimately will meet its fatal end – coffee stains, sweat stains, wine stains….the list goes on. Just take a look at my all time favourite Chilly Willy tee - it’s covered in crap that I can scrub till my fingers fall off yet it will never be completely clean. However, I am determined to save my Chilly Willy, so I am turning it into a handbag with the hope it will live on. And…you are also saving our planet by recycling, one t-shirt at a time!

Materials

• 1 old t-shirt

• Approximately ½ m of light weight cotton lining

• One pair of approximately 6” circular bag handles

• Matching thread

• Pins

• Hand sewing needles

Cutting:

• Bag body – the dimensions of the bag are 11” by 16 ½”. Try to cut out the shape using the front of the t-shirt with the picture. .

• Bag lining – cut lining of the same dimensions 11” by 16 ½”

• The loops for the bag handle – cut close to the stitch edge of the neck line ribbing and sleeve ribbing.

  

• (Diagram 1) If your t-shirt does not have the ribbing, you could substitute it with ribbons. Cut each loop to 4 ½”

Seam Allowance: 3/8”

Construction:

Step 1: Sewing the loops to the top edge of the bag body.

You should have 3 loops on each side and make sure it is the edge where the bag opening is. The loops will be used to hold the handle in place.

• On the right side of the fabric, line up the edge, pin the 3 loops to the edge of the fabric. Make sure they are equally spaced. To make it easier, pin one at the center of the edge and measure approximately 3” away and pin the other loops.

  

• Repeat this step on the opposite side.

  

Step 2: Making the bag body

• Fold the bag fabric in half with the right side facing together, stitch the sides together.

  

• Turn the right side out

Step 3: Attach the bag handle to the bag

• Wrap the loose end of the loop around the handle and secure it in place.

  

Step 4: Lining

• With the right side facing together, stitch the sides together

Step 5: attaching the lining to the bag

• Fold the top edge of the bag 3/8” toward the wrong side and press with iron

  

• Fold the top edge of the lining 3/8” toward the wrong side and press with iron

  

• Pin the folded edges together and hand sew it shut.

  

Ta Dah!! You are done. Big applause from Chilly Willy!

by Dilys Tong

This skirt is a crazy easy to construct and is so versatile that it’s a great addition to anyone’s wardrobe. Perfect for beginner sewers or for those who wants to have a new skirt in a couple of hours ready for the night out! Sass it up with a beaded fabric, go for the casual look with a light weight cotton or with a classic wool gabardine for the fall, the possibilities are endless!

You will need….

• A sewing machine (of course)

• 1 ½ yard of fabric (the longer your skirt, the more fabric you will need)

• Basic sewing tools – straight pins, threads, cutting sear

• ½” wide elastic=

Making the pattern……

• You will need your hip measurement + ½” ease. We will use my hip measurement as the example

My hip measurement is 38” + ½” = 38 ½”

• Yoke – the length of the yoke is your hip measurement + ease. The width can be anywhere between 3 to 5” wide. That is up to you.
  

• Skirt – Since it’s going to be gathered to fit the yoke, the skirt needs to 2 times your hip measurement plus ease. For example 38 ½” * 2 = 77”. We will divided that in half. The width of the front and back skirt will be 38 ½” by 18” long.
  

• Add seam allowance for all seams. Suggest to use 5/8”

Construction: ( seam allowance is 5/8” or whatever the seam allowance you chosen)

Yoke – cut 1

Skirt - cut 2

Step 1: Yoke – With the right side together, matching side seam and stitch.

Finish the seam edges either by serging or zigzag.

Step 2: Skirt - with the right side facing together, stitch front to back together at side seams.

Step 3: Skirt – Gather the upper edge of the front and back. (To make gathering stitch – use largest stitch length and do not back stitch. Stitch one row at your seam allowance and the second row within the seam allowance. Pull the thread and you should see the gathering happens!)

Step 4: With the right side together, pin the yoke and the upper edge of the skirt together. Pull the gathering stitch gently until the skirt upper edge matches the yoke edge. Stitch. Serge or zig zag to finish the seam. Don’t forget to press the seam.

Step 5: Elastic casing – First, we press the upper edge of the yoke to the inside by ¼”, then press the folded edge to the inside by 5/8”. Stitch it down and make sure to leave an opening to feed the elastic through.

Step 6: cut the elastic to a measurement that is comfortable. Insert it through the casing. Once the elastic is completely through the casing, overlap the ends and secure it really well with stitching. Close up the casing opening.

Step 7: Hem – Once you determine how long or short you want your skirt to be, make a narrow hem by folding up the lower raw edge twice by ¼”.

You are finished!

by Rina Grosman

This super quick and easy project was inspired by the recent pride parade and Dyke march, which took place over the weekend. What better way to honour the Pride parade than a pun, a plate, and some decoupage?!

Materials:

Plate (value village, IKEA, grandmother’s)

Paper clippings (newspaper, magazine, etc.)

Paint brush

Decoupage/ Gel medium

Scissors

Step 1: Find and cut out images and words from magazines and newspapers (magazine weight paper usually works better). Mix and match until new meanings form with the juxtaposition (4 years of art school) of these images and words.

Step 2: Arrange on plate until happy with placement. Use the paint brush to spread the decoupage or gel medium over the paper. A nice thin layer without bumps. Note: don’t brush over the paper too many times or else it will rip or the ink will smudge.

Step 3: Let dry.

Bask in your own genius hilarity!

By Dilys Tong
Sew Be It Studio

You might ask me why I would make a cupcake bed for my dog. Well, my dog is so bloody cute that you almost want to take a bite out of her. (And believe me… after a couple of gin and tonics, it has crossed my mind). So I decided to make her a bed that is almost as yummy as she is. After all, is there anything that spells out LOVE quite like pampering your pooch with a cozy cake bed? 

This bed is sized for extra small to small size dogs. (eg. Chihuahua, Jack Russell). If you want to make the bed for a larger size dog, just double the measurement and materials. 

Materials:

• Drafting paper or brown craft paper, for your pattern
• 1 M of fleece for the top layer (the icing)
• 1.5 M of twill, it could be cotton, polyester or mix. Just make sure it has a sturdy body. Do not use fabrics that are too soft and loosely woven.
• 5 M of 1” wide ribbon. Any color of your choice.
• 2 large bags of poly fiber fill
  

Pattern (on paper):

• Cupcake top – The diameter should be 40 ½” by using a radius of 13”.

• Cupcake Bottom – The diameter should be 31” by using a radius of 10”. 



• Cupcake sideband-  This section will take a little more steps in making
• Step 1 - draw a rectangle 32” by 9”



• Step 2 – draw vertical lines equally spaced and slash all the way down to the bottom line but not through it. You are cutting them apart, the bottom should be in tact.



• Step 3 – Spread each section apart at the top until it is measured at 41 ½”.

 

Cutting the Fabric: 

Cupcake top – cut 1 in fleece 

Cupcake bottom – cut 1 in sturdy fabric 

Cupcake band – cut 2 in sturdy fabric 

Construction: 

Step 1: Sew the cupcake side band together. 

• With the right sides facing together, stitch the two panels of side band together, just the one side, so you can lay the side band flat on the table.



• Press the seam open.
  

Step 2: Sew the ribbon to the side band.

• Pin the ribbon on the right side of the side band, equal distances apart, stitch along the ribbon edge to secure placement. Remember the ribbon is supposed to look like the stripes from the cupcake pan.
  

  

Step 3: Sew the other side of the side band.

• With the right sides facing together, stitch the other side together but make sure to leave an opening in the seam for inserting the stuffing later.



• At this point, your side band should resemble a round tube with a hole in one of the seam
  

Step 4: Sew the cupcake bottom to the side band.

• Make sure it is stitched to the smaller distance of the side band.
• Pin the bottom to the side band with the right sides facing together. You might find this a little tricky sewing the circular shape. Here is a little tip… Sew with the side band fabric on top and that would help to control the fabric. Also, we are using a small seam allowance to help eliminate extra ease.
  

Step 5: Sew the cupcake top (the fleece) to the top of the side band.

• With the right side facing together, stitch the fleece top to the side band. 
  

Step 6: Through the opening of the side band, turn the bed right side out. 

Step 7: Time to stuff the bed!  

Step 8: Once the bed is stuffed and full of coziness, close up the opening. 

Paws up! And you are done!! Woof!

by Dilys Tong
Sew Be It Studio

With a twist of lemon, you can add loads of sunshine and summer into your cocktail. You can do the same for your wardrobe! Forget the traditional belt buckle; turn up the fun a notch with your accessory. This project is super easy. You don’t have to be a sewing guru to make this belt. 

Materials:

• Any yellow scrap fabric will do. Consider using fabrics that have a medium weight and tightly woven. I highly recommend using a light weight vinyl.
• Scrap of green fabric for the leaves
• Scrap of felt – any craft felt will do
• 1 yard of 2” wide elastic, in colour of your choice
• Hook and bar for closure
• Any beads of your choice
• Thread and sewing needles
  

Pattern:

You can use my lemon template or you can certainly draw your own shape.

Cutting:  

*Trace out the shape of the lemon on to the rough side of the fabric, then add ¼” seam allowance all around.* Only do this for the lemon body (Diagram 1)!

• Cut 1 lemon body in the yellow fabric
• Cut 1 lemon body in the felt
• Cut 1 in green for the lemon leaf (no felt needed for the leaf)
  

Construction: 

Step 1: Sew the lemon body together,

• With the right sides facing together, stitch the yellow side and the felt side together.
• Stitch on your traced line. DO NOT FORGET TO LEAVE AN OPENING.
  

Step 2: Clip the seam allowance along the curve edge and all corners (Diagram 2). 

Step 3: Turn inside out. Press (Diagram 3) and (Diagram 4). 

Step 4: Close up the opening with hand stitching (Diagram 5). 

Step 5: Beads!!!- You have complete creative control in this step. Sass up your lemon with some bling. Just remember, less is often more (Diagram 6).

Step 6: Hand stitch the leaves to the lemon body (Diagram 7). 

Step 7: Mark the elastic to your waist measurement minus 1”. For example, if your waist measurement is 29”, mark the elastic at 28”. BEFORE YOU CUT THE ELASTIC, MAKE SURE YOU ADD 1” EXTRA ON EACH END OF THE ELASTIC FOR FINISHING.
*Beware of the muffin top look! Caused by the elastic being too tight.* 

Step 8: Hand stitch the hook to one end of the elastic and the bar to the other end (Diagram 8). 

Step 9: Hand stitch the lemon to the elastic.  

Now that you are done, you can sit on the patio with your new belt and enjoy your lemon martini! 

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www.sewbeitstudio.com