Liberty Backpack for Isla

So my baby girl, who is now three and not a baby anymore, started pre-kindy this year! Unbelievable. I'm still coming to grips with the realisation that she's growing up so fast, and spending most of two days a week with people I don't know. So I wanted a project to keep my mind distracted and I wanted to make something for her. I originally had thought I'd make her a library bag, but that's not the case now - for two reasons. Firstly, I now know that they don't visit the library at this age. And second, it's so beautiful that I'm not ready to let it out of the house!! So I've hung it in Isla's room to enjoy it and only bring it down when Isla wants to be a turtle and carry her unicorns around on her back.

 

So, I hunted for a pattern and remembered a really fun backpack pattern on The Purl Bee Blog a while back. Click here for link to pattern. I adapted the pattern in three ways. I personalised it with felt letters on the front. I swapped nylon chord for braided chord, and for this reason I had to double the height of the channel pieces and holes at the base to fit the bigger size of the braid.

 

Next, I dug out a piece of Liberty Lifestyle fabric, Bloomsbury Gardens Collection - print name Catherine (purchased years ago at Calico & Ivy). I chose this heavier weight fabric for strength and durability. Then, I found a matching spotted fabric for the lining (no idea where from as it's been around for ages). The bright pink felt is a rectangle that came with an unused Mollie Makes magazine project. And I got the gorgeous pink braid from Spotlight. I went looking for the nylon chord and came home with that instead. Happens a lot.

I vliesofixed the back of the felt and cut Isla's name out. I just hand-sketched the letters (backwards).

My favourite part is hand-stitching. I picked purple to provide a good contrast. My poor fingers and thumb were shredded from pushing and pulling through such stiff felt - but it was worth it. There's nothing more personal than hand-stitched letters, and the stiffer felt holds itself up really well. So I'm still happy with the choice of felt.

 

I didn't get any photos of the construction stage. The pattern was fantastic. So easy to follow and great big pictures helped me to work out what I had to do. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't as simple as Corinne's job, because I grabbed the braid instead of the chord. The braid was thicker - which meant that I had to remake larger channels and cut the holes at the base larger to squeeze the braid in. I also found that the braid doesnt slide as smoothly as a nylon braid would through the channels. But the backpack is still completely functional and looks fantastic!

 

Job well done xx For Isla Skye xx

 

For more pictures of Isla's backpack and her gorgeously bright Liberty-filled bedroom, pop over to my personal Instagram account @Rhapsodyland.

 

T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Christmas is just around the corner and the kiddies are all catching up at our place for a Christmas party next week. It's actually the mums that are catching up... the kids are just lucky we bring them along!! Haha, just kidding. We did the same thing last Christmas (seems like years ago) when the bubs weren't even walking yet. They all sat in a row with their cute little outfits on. This year, we'll be struggling to get them to sit together in one spot - and I think we're all just gonna stick them in Christmas t-shirts because they'll spend most of the time paddling in the little pool with no pants on! So cute!!

So, I bought plain white t-shirts for my two rugrats and thought I'd jazz them up myself with something Christmassy. They were only $3 at Target (bargain!!) and I found the perfect Liberty of London fabric in bright red with green/blue/pink/yellow patterns. It looks kind of Alice-in-Wonderlandish and is part of the Liberty Lifestyle - Bloomsbury Gardens Collection. The name is Virginia and the colourway is "Rich Red Blue". I think mum actually bought it at Purl Soho in New York a couple of years ago, with the hopes of making a dress for Isla... but it kept getting pushed to the back of the line - I think because it always looked so Christmassy to me. And so now I have the perfect job for it!

I decided on a Christmas tree for Isla's t-shirt because I really wanted to use the pom-poms I got at Calico & Ivy recently. The colours match perfectly and pom-poms are so girly (in my opinion :o). I made up a template to match her size 3 t-shirt and got busy. Here's the tutorial.

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T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree

Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

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You Will Need

T-Shirt

Fabric

Pom-poms

Fusible webbing

Graph paper (or a pattern/template)*

Drawing tools --> pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, pen, marker

Cutting tools --> sharp scissors, rotary cutter and cutting mat*

Sewing tools --> needle, embroidery thread, pins

Equipment --> Sewing machine*, iron and ironing board

* These items are not essential but would definitely make your job easier.

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Step by Step Instructions

Step One --> Design Your Christmas Tree Template

1) First, put the t-shirt on your bub.

Important Warning --> make sure your child is clean and does not have spaghetti sauce on their face or hands - unless you bought a red t-shirt, in which case it wouldn't matter ;o).

2) Work out the approximate dimensions of your tree based on the free space on the front of the t-shirt.

Remember that the sides of the t-shirt will wrap around the body so you may lose sight of your tree if you make it too wide. And if you're like me and you like to tuck the t-shirt in (so much cuter), you wouldn't want to design a really tall tree and the bottom half be lost.

Using a ruler and Dora The Explorer as a distraction to get her to stand still - I worked out that the perfect space on Isla's t-shirt was 6"H x 8"W. I marked this outline on my graph paper to help me draw my tree. You can draw your tree free-hand or trace a template straight on to the fusible webbing if you have one?! I didn't have a template and I wanted my tree to be symmetrical - so I used graph paper. If you want to use graph paper too, here's a great way to get a symmetrical tree.

3) Draw an outline of the space you have to work with on graph paper.

4) Draw dots in the shape of a tree. These will become your outer tips of your branches.

5) Draw dots back in towards the centre of the tree to create the outline of each branch.

6) Mark your numbers to follow like a dot-to-dot puzzle.

7) Connect the dots.

8) Copy the design on the other side to complete the tree. And there you have your template!

Step Two: Trace Your Christmas Tree Design On To The Fusible Webbing

1) Trace your design, making sure that you draw on the correct side of the webbing.

Step Three: Cut around the template, leaving a ¼" gap

Step Four: Iron the template on to the reverse side of your fabric

Read the instructions specific to your fusible webbing for info on iron temperature etc.

Step Five: Once cooled, cut the template out with sharp scissors and work out where you want to place it

Step Six: Separate the paper backing from the fusible webbing

Step Seven: Stick it in position and iron it to secure it in place

Don't panic if it doesn't line up perfectly the first time - it's removable until it's ironed on to the t-shirt.

Step Eight: Attach The Pom-Poms

1) Pick your 9 pom-poms for the tips of the branches.

I cut mine from the pom-pom garland I bought at Calico & Ivy recently, but you can buy them individually. I picked a yellow pom for the top to represent a star and went with red, green, and pink for the rest.

2) Thread a sharp needle and come up carefully through the tip of the branch, then through your pom-pom.

3. Then go back down through your pom-pom and the tip of the branch.

Step Nine: Blanket-Stitch* The Perimeter of the Tree

* I'll start by saying that this step is optional. I wasn't going to bother at first because it will probably only be worn once and the tree is secured well enough by fusible webbing and at the tips by the pom-poms... BUT I love the look of blanket-stitch AND I love hand-stitching. So I added this step in case you love the look of it too. Oh and note, if you love the look but don't love hand-stitching - blanket-stitch using your sewing machine prior to Step Eight: Attach the Pom-Poms. I personally find it easier to blanket-stitch by hand when I'm working with t-shirts because you don't have to worry about manouvering the t-shirt under a sewing machine to avoid sewing through the back (and we all know how I feel about sewing machines ;o)!

** If you don't know how to blanket-stitch, there are some great easy-to-follow tutorials out there on the internet. I learned through a gorgeous book called Stitched Gifts by Jessica Marquez.

Step Ten: Split-Stitch the Tree Stump

1. First, draw a template of your little tree stump. I used a magic pen - the ink disappears when ironed :o) ($4.50 at Carols of Midland!!), but you could use a regular pen as long as you cover the ink with your stitches (so you have to get your template perfect the first time).

2. Thread your needle and split-stitch over the template. I used 4 threads so that the stitch would stand out. And you could use a simpler stitch like back-stitch if you like. It would look just as good. I prefer the textured look of split-stitch, that's why I use it almost all the time ;o).

Finito!

Happy Stitching xx

 

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree

It's no secret that I love working with embroidery hoops! And linen!! And Liberty of London fabric!!! Ok, so I love working with a lot of things, but these are definitely in my top 10... :o)

So I couldn't resist making a whole Christmas Tree out of them. Mum gave me the oval hoop in the middle and I built my tree using 125mm and 200mm hoops from my own stash. I'm so happy with the shape!

I'm really happy with the colours too - although they are not the red/white/green of a typical Christmas palette. I picked my favourite Liberty fabrics and ended up with a red/green/yellow/blue palette instead! And it works!

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So, I started with the Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop that sits in the middle of the tree. The baubles are so adorable and work perfectly in the portrait layout of the oval hoop! I was initially going for a more realistic look with them piled on top of each other, but I tried it out before I stuck them down and found that a lot of the prints were hidden/covered up. So I spread them out instead.

* Prints (clockwise from the top) are D'Anjo, Garla, Judy Rose, Delfie, Kaylie Sunshine, Margaret Annie, and Rania is in the middle.

Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop

Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop

I split-stitched strings in a creamy colour to mimic twine, and I tied a bow using embroidery thread in coordinating colours. I was originally going to use a big twine bow, but I love the colours of the embroidery thread and it looks so vibrant and pretty! And I think it still looks a bit rustic too, so I'm happy with it!

Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop

Next, I made the Christmas Tree Embroidery Hoop and it worked out great - thanks to my 'magic pen'. Well, it's technically mums 'magic pen' but I use it that much that I have taken ownership. It's called a Pilot Frixion Ball pen and it draws on fabric and disappears when heated (ironed). Magic!! She got it at Carols of Midland if you're interested in having such magic. It is useful for almost every project, whether I'm drawing reference grids or lines to help with appliqué, or free-drawing shapes for embroidery.

Here, let me show you what I mean. See here, I drew a grid to make sure that my tree was in the centre and all the fabrics strips were in line. And then in the next pic you can see that once ironed - the ink is gone!

* Prints (from the top) are Xanthe Sunbeam, Margaret Annie, n/a, Mitsi, Betsy Ann, DAnjo, Rania, Pep, Garla, Kaylie Sunshine, Emma & Georgina, and Reuben Kelly.

Magic pen gridlines that disappear when heated.

Christmas Tree Embroidery Hoop

Next I made the HO! HO! HO! Christmas Embroidery Hoop using just the Reuben Kelly print (purchased at Calico and Ivy). I traced the letters using my trusty Fiskars stencil, and ironed them in place using Vliesofix (both from Spotlight). Then I split-stitched a cute border and voila!

HO! HO! HO! Christmas Embroidery Hoop

Next up is my four smaller hoops that represent four more aspects of Christmas that I love - Christmas stockings full of treats, Christmas presents full of joy, Christmas candles that fill the air with the scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and the words "Merry Christmas" that warm my heart.

* Prints (clockwise from top left) are Emma & Georgina (red Kona top of the stocking), Betsy Ann, and n/a.

Clockwise from top left: Christmas Stocking, Christmas Present, Christmas Candles, and Merry Australian Christmas Embroidery Hoops

I just have to give a special shout-out to my beautiful hand-stitched Merry Australian Christmas Embroidery Hoop. I love this hoop. It was my first attempt at stitching words... not too bad I think. I was going to use a stencil but thought it would look more personal if it was 'my writing'.

And the motif was my interpretation of a Red Flowering Gum - a Eucalyptus tree native to South-West Western Australia. It's a beautiful tree with masses of red pom-pom-like flowers when in bloom.

Not bad for a first attempt!

Merry Australian Christmas Embroidery Hoop

Hmmm, what's left? It must be the Christmas Star Embroidery Hoop! This one's a beauty.

It's lucky that mum found a patchwork star at the last minute because I was going to use a gorgeous little Liberty fabric-scrap wreath I made last week. I had always wanted a star in the top hoop - to make it a true Christmas tree - but this wreath was too beautiful to leave out (or so I thought :o).

* Prints (clockwise from the top) are Lesleys, Reuben Kelly, Betsy Ann, D'Anjo, Emma & Georgina, Rania, Kaylie Sunshine, and Delfie. And the star pattern came from the Gem Stars Quilt in the Splendid Quilts magazine.

Christmas Star Embroidery Hoop

I finished that star hoop yesterday and finally got to piece the whole tree together. It looks amazing.

Here are some closeups:

And the final shot of my Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree:

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas xxx

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Suppliers:

Calico & Ivy --> Liberty of London tana lawn and the 100% linen background fabric.

Spotlight --> Embroidery hoops and thread, Vliesofix, twine, stencil.

Carols of Midland --> Pilot Frixion Ball Pen.

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Nanna's 100th Birthday Present - a Liberty Motif Cushion

 

This was such a special project for me - to make something meaningful for my great-nanna for her 100th birthday this year. As you can imagine, she has had a lot of birthdays and doesn't really want for anything these days. But we still like to get her little things to celebrate and show our love for her. I rack my brain every year and choose things like comfy shoes or a pretty shawl... comfort is the main thing we want for her. So, I thought I'd make her a cushion for her back. I know it's not completely practical and she probably won't want to use it in case she damages it. But I knew she would love it because I made it myself.

So here's how I went:

I picked this Liberty of London "Rock and Roll Rachel" print because Nan would love the colours and I loved the paisley motifs.

I cut out the motifs and ironed them to 100% linen ready for stitching.

I satin-stitched around the motifs to add colour borders and definition; and I added some french knots for pretty detailing.

Then I stitched on a linen rosette and sewed on the Liberty fabric backing.

Hand-stitching the closure was a big job because the cushion insert was jammed in there to make the cushion really puff out!

The finished front showing the top flower motif and the 100 to celebrate the special milestone.

The rosette really stood out once the cushion was stuffed!

I backed the cushion with complete Liberty of London "Rock and Roll Rachel" fabric - it was SO soft and pretty!

Present time!

Nanna's handmade birthday present stash with her congratulatory plaque from the Pope!

This last picture was a 'montage' of the special birthday gifts handmade by me (cushion on right), my mum (quilt at the top), and my sister (painting on the left). We are a crafty bunch, aren't we?!