* Changes appearing around here

I'm moving my blog; the new location of this post is: Studio Paars - Changes appearing around here

Mijn blog verhuist; de nieuwe locatie van deze post is: Studio Paars - Er gaat hier iets veranderen

======================================================

Just popping in for a quick post: I will tell you all about my first craft show soon,and also I still owe a dutch version of my last tutorial.
But for now I wanted to share the news that I officially started my own business last week! I'm really excited about it, and already I realise I underestimated the amount of time it takes up. So that's the reason I'm manking some changes: I now have way too many websites, blogs and facebook pages to keep up with and I want to wrap them all together a little more transparantly. Not completely sure how I'm going to do that though :) And when.

Anyway, here's a new felt pendant necklace I made. This time I embroidered both sides instead of just one. It's available in my DaWanda shop (and coming soon to my all new Etsy shop too!)

Felt pendant necklace 'Plum' (front), a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

Ik kom eventjes langs voor een snel berichtje. Binnenkort vertel ik alles over mijn eerste creamarkt en ik vergeet ook niet de nederlandse versie van mijn vorige tutorial.
Maar voor nu alleen even het nieuwtje dat ik officieel mijn eigen bedrijf ben begonnen! Ik bleef steeds een beetje hangen in de hobbysfeer maar nu ga ik het serieuzer aanpakken. Ik merk al meteen dat er best wel meer werk in gaat zitten als je alles netjes bij moet houden haha! Maar dit is de reden dat er wat dingen zullen veranderen hier: ik heb veel te veel webbpagina's, blogs en facebook pagina's om te onderhouden, dus dat moet allemaal wat overzichtelijker. Alleen weet ik nog niet precies hoe :) En wanneer.

Maar hoe dan ook: hier is een nieuwe vilten ketting. Deze keer heb ik beide zijden geboduurd in plaats van maar aan één kant. Hij staat al in mijn mijn DaWanda shop (en binnenkort ook in mijn spiksplinternieuwe Etsy shop!) 

Felt pendant necklace 'Plum' (back), a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

also posted at:
annemarieshaakblog apeekintomyparadise atozebracelebrations beacrafterxd creatingmywaytosuccess diyhomesweethome flourmewithlove funkypolkadotgiraffe gingersnapcrafts handymancraftywoman homework kitchentableart ladybugblessings lifewiththecrustcutoff momnivoresdilemma moogly ourdelightfulhome rainonatinroof romanceonadime serendipityandspice seventhirtythree SNAP! somedaycrafts sugarbeecrafts thebrambleberrycottage twindragonflydesigns

* DIY: tutorial for an embroidered patchwork pincushion

->I'm moving my blog; the new location of this post is Studio Paars - DIY: sew an embroidered patchwork pincushion
->Mijn blog verhuist; de nieuwe locatie van deze post is Studio Paars - DIY: maak een geborduurd patchwork speldekussen

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Lately I have been making lots more of my little patchwork pincushions (will show them all here soon) and had a lot of fun with them, in choosing the prints, embroidery and buttons for each one. So I thought maybe it would be nice to make a tutorial for them. They're not hard to make at all so they would make a perfect beginners DIY project.

What you will need:

- some fabric scraps
- regular needle
- regular thread
- large tapestry needle
- extra strong thread
- embroidery floss
- ruler
- small piece of thin cardboard
- pen or pencil
- scissors
- filling
- 2 buttons

Pick your fabrics. You will need 9 squares of app. 5 cm2 (about 2") and one larger square for the back. You can use small scraps for this, but I didn't have any so I just picked out some matching colours from my stash.

Use your ruler to mark out a 5 cm2 square on your cardboard and cut to create a template (I already made mine some time ago so there's no picture of this step).
Lay out your fabric, right side down. Position the template on the wrong side of the fabric and trace around it. Now cut it out (don't bother with seam allowances or complicated stuff like that).

Repeat this step until you have 9 squares.

Carefully line up 2 of your squares wrong sides out and pin.

Now sew them together.
NOTE FOR  MACHINE SEWING: position your fabric with the starting point right underneath the needle (no backstitching required) and with the side of your fabric lining up with the side of your foot. This way it is easy to keep a constant seam width.
NOTE FOR  HAND SEWING: the simplest way to keep a constant seam width is to measure and mark out a line over which to sew.

Add another square to the 2 you've just sewn to make a strip of 3 squares.

Repeat the above steps to make 2 more strips so you have a total of 3 (all 9 squares used up).

Lay 2 of the strips side by side, right sides down. Finger-press the seams flat, making sure you press the seams of one of the strips up and the other one down.

Now position the strips right sides together and position and pin very carefully like instructed in the images below:

(this is to make sure the edges of your squares will line up neatly later)

Sew together in the same way as before.

Now you have 2 strips attached like this. Repeat the previous steps...

... and you have all 3 strips sewn together.

Finger press the seams outward like pictured here.

And now for the really fun part: pick out some embroidery floss, choose a stitch pattern and embellish the patchwork squares any way you like! Take a look here to see some of the patterns I've used.

Next, take a piece of plain fabric (for the back) and cut out a rough square, slightly larger than your patchwork piece. Pin right sides together and stitch, making sure you leave an opening for turning.

Backstitch at the start and at the end.

When you reach a corner, stitch all the way to the end of your top fabric as shown here, and backstitch to where you need to make the turn.

Backstitching at the end. Don't forget to leave a gap!

Cut away the excess backing fabric and snip away little squares at the corners.

Turn right side out. This step may be a little fiddly: use a pencil to help push the fabric out if needed. If it looks a bit wrinkled that's OK! It will smooth out later all by itself.

Stuff it! A pincushion needs to be nice and firm so don't hold back on the stuffing. Just make sure you have a little room left for closing.

Thread a needle and close the remaining gap. There are lots of tutorials out there for invisible closings so feel free to use those; however they don't work for me so I just close with a small overhand stitch instead.

This is what it looks like.

Now for the last step: take your tapestry needle, heavy duty thread and buttons.

Position your pretty button in the middle of the top.

And your plain old button in the middle of the bottom. Stick your needle all the way through the pincushion so that you fix both buttons in place at the same time. Make 2 passes, then pull the thread really really tight and secure it with a bunch of knots (hide these behind the bottom button).

And it's done! One pretty little pincushion :)
(I will make some better pics when it's light out tomorrow!)

EDIT: new pics added - since it's so gloomy outside still a bit dark though...

I would love to see what you make with my tutorials so please let me know if you've used any!
Any questions about this tutorial: post them in the comments section and I will do my best to answer.

The small print: do not copy any of my text or pictures and claim them as your own. Do not sell my patterns and/or tutorials. Pinning and linking is fine, wonderful even, but please make sure there is a link back to me.

also posted at:
alderberryhill atozebracelebrations beeacrafterxd betteroffthread blossomheartquilts creatingmywaytosuccess creationsbykara diyhshp firefliesandjellybeans flourmewithlove homework jaqsstudio ladybugblessings madincrafts momnivoresdilemma quiltstory rainonatinroof romanceonadime serendipityandspice seventhirtythree sewcando sewcanshe skiptomylou snap the36thavenue thebrambleberrycottage thetrendytreehouse thewinthropchronicles threadingmyway twindragonflydesigns

Some sashiko-inspired mending

mending, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

* Felt cuff in purple & aqua

I'm moving my blog; the new location of this post is: Studio Paars - Felt cuff in purple & aqua

Mijn blog verhuist; de nieuwe locatie van deze post is: Studio Paars - Vilten cuff in paars & aqua

======================================================

After almost a year since the last one, I made another one of my embroidered felt cuffs. This one is made of a soft lavendar purple felt with aqua, lime and pale blue embroidery in the style of a sampler.
Now to decide whether or not to put it in the shop... I would really like to keep it for myself: I just love these colours!


Na bijna een jaar sinds de laatste heb ik weer eens een geborduurde vilten cuff armband gemaakt. Deze is van een zacht lavendel-achtig paars met aqua, lime en lichtblauw borduursel in een soort merklap stijl.
En nu beslissen of ik 'm in de shop ga zetten... Ik zou 'm graag lekker zelf houden: ben helemaal gek op deze kleuren!

felt cuff 'purple & aqua' [#8], a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

felt cuff 'purple & aqua' [#8], a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

felt cuff 'purple & aqua' [#8], a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

also posted at:
504main adventuresofadiymom aglimpseinside alderberryhill allthingswithpurpose annemarieshaakblog artsyfartsymama atozebracelebrations avisiontoremember bacontimewiththehungryhypo becomingmartha bedifferentactnormal bowdabra bystephanielynn C.R.A.F.T. chiconashoestring craftionary craftomaniac craftyconfessions creatingmywaytosuccess creativejewishmom dianarambles diyhomesweethome finecraftguild firefliesandjellybeans fivedays5ways flamingotoes gingersnapcrafts gluedtomycrafts handmadecuddles happygolucky happyhourprojects him&her homework houseofhepworths iheartnaptime ishouldbemoppingthefloor itsoverflowing jaqsstudio justusfour keepingitsimple ladybugblessings lizmarie lovelycraftyhome makingtheworldcuter marigoldsloft momnivoresdilemma naptimecrafters natashainoz niftythriftythings petalstopicots quiltstory rainonatinroof raisingmemories rhinestonebeagle romanceonadime seasonsofhomemakers seevanessacraft serendipityandspice serenityyou sevenalive sewcando simplysweethome skiptomylou sumossweetstuff tatertotsandjello thecraftyblogstalker thecsiproject thededicatedhouse thediydreamer thegirlcreative thethriftinessmiss thetraintocrazy thetrendytreehouse thewinthropchronicles thirtyhandmadedays tidymom todayscreativeblog trulylovely twindragonflydesigns whilehewasnapping whipperberry

* Patchwork pincushion #2

I'm moving my blog; the new location of this post is: Studio Paars - Patchwork pincushion #2

Mijn blog verhuist; de nieuwe locatie van deze post is: Studio Paars - Patchwork speldenkussen #2

======================================================

So I am having a bit of a patchwork crush at the moment... a new blanket will be starting soon, but in the meantime I am enjoying these really small pincushions. This here is #2 (I like how it looks totally different from every angle). When I have gotten a bit more practice I will make some for my shop I think (how many pincushions can one person really need?).
This one is machine pieced and hand embellished with some stitches.


Dussss... ik heb een beetje een patchwork tic op het moment. Binnenkort ga ik beginnen aan deken #2 maar in de tussentijd vind ik deze kleine speldekussentjes erg leuk om te maken. Dit is de tweede (ik vind het grappig dat hij er uit elke hoek zo anders uitziet). Als ik wat meer geoefend heb zal ik er een paar voor mijn shop maken (want hoeveel speldekussens kan één mens nou helemaal gebruiken?).
Deze is met de machine in elkaar gezet en met de hand versierd met wat steekjes.
 

patchwork pincushion #2, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

patchwork pincushion #2, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

patchwork pincushion #2, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

patchwork pincushion #2, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

also posted at:
aglimpseinside ajennuinelife betteroffthread craftyconfessions diycraftyprojects firefliesandjellybeans gingersnapcrafts gluedtomycrafts handmadecuddles him&her homework jaqsstudio makingtheworldcuter marigoldsloft quiltstory rainonatinroof rhinestonebeagle romanceonadime serendipityandspice suzysartsycraftsysitcom thecraftyblogstalker thegirlcreative thewinthropchronicles trulylovely twindragonflydesigns whilehewasnapping

Patchwork pincushion

This ended up as a pincushion (as one of you suggested!). I thought it would be too big but it ended up a nice size. And it was finished just in time to serve as a gift for Mother's Day as well :)


Dit werd uiteindelijk een speldekussen (zoals voorgesteld door één van jullie!). Ik had verwacht dat het veel te groot zou worden maar het was toch wel een leuk maatje. En ook nog eens net op tijd klaar om te kunnen dienen als Moederdagkado :)

pink patchwork pincushion, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

also posted at:
anoriginalbelle avisiontoremember bacontimewiththehungryhypo bowdabra coloursdekor creativejewishmom fivedaysfiveways gluedtomycrafts handmadecuddles ishouldbemoppingthefloor madincrafts makingtheworldcuter marvelouslymessy naptimecrafters ninthstreetnotions quiltstory raisingmemories rhinestonebeagle serenityyou seventhirtythree skiptomylou thirtyhandmadedays trulylovely twindragonflydesigns whilehewasnapping

* Mushroom necklace

I'm moving my blog; the new location of this post is: Studio Paars - Mushroom necklace

Mijn blog verhuist; de nieuwe locatie van deze post is: Studio Paars - Paddenstoel ketting

======================================================

Felt pendant necklace 'mushroom', a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

I immediately made another felt pendant necklace. This one is bright red with white dots, stitched with red and white floss and two white glass beads added.
I will be listing it in my shop too.


Ik maakte meteen nog een vilten ketting met hanger. Deze is fel rood met witte stippen, genaaid met rood en wit borduurgaren en met twee witte glaskralen.
Deze komt ook in mijn shop te staan.

Felt pendant necklace 'mushroom' front, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

Felt pendant necklace 'mushroom' back, a photo by HGK handmade on Flickr.

linked at these parties:
acreativeprincess aglimpseinside annemarieshaakblog anoriginalbelle atozebracelebrations avisiontoremember becolorful betteroffthread bowdabrablog classyclutter coloursdekor craftionary create-with-joy creatingmywaytosuccess creativejewishmom dragonflydesigns faithgracecrafts firefliesandjellybeans freemotionbytheriver funkypolkadotgiraffe handmadecuddles happyhourprojects him&her jaqsstudio katiesnestingspot lovelycraftyhome makingtheworldcuter marvelouslymessy ninthstreetnotions pinkapotamus quiltstory raisingmemories rhinestonebeagle romanceonadime serenityyou sewmanyways simplehomelife suzysartsycraftsysitcom sweetlittlegals thefoleyfam thetraintocrazy trulylovely whilehewasnapping youngandcrafty

* Felt cuff in red & black

I'm moving my blog; the new location of this post is: Studio Paars - Felt cuff in red & black

Mijn blog verhuist; de nieuwe locatie van deze post is: Studio Paars - Vilten “cuff” in rood en zwart

======================================================

I'm glad I got around to doing a little more embroidery lately (again partially inspired by TAST). This is another one of my felt cuffs; this time in blood red & black, with black flowers and thorny vines. A little grey to give it a little more life, and the backing is also in grey. And another vintage button from the grandmothers' stash :)
I liked the gothic-fairytale look in the end: it was a bit of a challenge to use a single colour, and I did compromise with the dark grey french knots, but I think it kinda works. What do you think?
EDIT: now available in my shop.
EDIT: it SOLD in less than 4 hours after listing! Yay :)

Eindelijk kon ik weer even lekker wat boduren (wederom deels geinspireerd door TAST). Het werd weer een vilten cuff: deze keer in bloedrood & zwart, met zwarte bloemen en doornige stengels. Een beetje donkergrijs om het wat levendiger te maken, en de achterkant is ook grijs. En nog een vintage knoop uit de oma's voorraad :)
Ik vind de gothic-sprookjes look wel mooi: het was een uitdaging om 1 enkele kleur te gebruiken en ik heb een beetje vals gespeeld met het grijs, maar ik vind het resultaat wel geslaagd. Wat vind jij?
EDIT: nu in mijn winkeltje te koop.
EDIT: hij is VERKOCHT, minder dan 4 uur nadat 'ie in de winkel kwam! Yay :)

felt cuff 'red & black' [#7], a photo by het groene kamertje on Flickr.

felt cuff 'red & black' [#7], a photo by het groene kamertje on Flickr.

 

felt cuff 'red & black' [#7], a photo by het groene kamertje on Flickr.

linked at these parties:

anoriginalbelle avisiontoremember becolorful boogieboardcottage C.R.A.F.T. coloursdekor commonground craft-o-maniac create-with-joy creatingmywaytosuccess creativeitch delicateconstruction etcetorize eyeheart fingerprintsonthefridge freckledlaundry itsahodgepodgelife itssoverycheri katiesnestingspot lovelycraftyhome makingtheworldcuter marvelouslymessy petalstopicots pinkapotamus quiltstory rhinestonebeagle seevanessacraft serenityyou sewcando sewmanyways sewchatty skiptomylou thesoutherninstitute thetraintocrazy threadingmyway toastiestudio trulylovely whilehewasnapping wtfab