Felt snacks: watermelon, strawberries and cupcake

Watermelon

For each watermelon:

1. Print and cut out the paper pattern. Cut out two red pieces for the watermelon flesh and one green piece for the rind.
2. Sew the two red pieces together along the straight edge with a blanket stitch. I used three strands of a green embroidery thread.
3. Line up the edges of the rind with the curved edges of the watermelon flesh. Sew along one side with a blanket stitch and then two-thirds along the other edge.
4. Fill with polyester filling or felt scraps and close the seam.
5. Use three strands of a dark coloured embroidery thread to sew seeds randomly on the watermelon.

Strawberry

For each strawberry:

1. Print and cut out the paper pattern. Cut out one red piece and one green piece. Fold the red piece in half. Cut the tip off from one end, to make a flat tip as right. Sew together along the bottom and side with a blanket stitch.
2. Sew a running stitch around the top. Fill with polyester filler or felt scraps and pull the running stitch tight. Fasten to close the top.

3. Fasten the thread to the top of the strawberry. Place the green piece on the top. Sew in a cross to hold the green part to the top of the strawberry.
4. Using three strands of a light brown embroidery thread, sew a small, well-spaced running stitch on the strawberry to represent seeds.

Cupcake

For each cupcake:

1. Print and cut out the paper pattern and felt pieces. Using a blanket stitch sew the cake top to the cake side.

2. Sew the edges of the cake sides together.

3. Sew a running stitch along the bottom edge of the cake side. Fill with polyester filler and pull the stitching tight to match the size of the cake base felt piece.

4. Sew the base to the cake side using a blanket stitch. Pull out the running stitch.












5. Sew sprinkles or other decorations onto the top of the cupcake.

Felt breakfast: egg, sausage, croissant tutorial

Sausages

For each sausage:

1. Cut a rectangle 7cm x 9cm from dark brown felt.
2. Fold the rectangle in half lengthways.
3. With needle and matching thread (I used three strands of embroidery thread), use a blanket stitch to join the edges.

4. Fill with polyester filling or felt scraps.

5. Use a long running stitch around each end of the sausage. Pull tight and fasten to close the ends.

Eggs

For each egg:

1. Print and cut out the paper pattern pieces. Cut out two egg whites from white felt and one egg yolk from yellow or orange felt.
2. Place the yellow egg yolk on top of one of the white pieces and sew two-thirds of the way around the yolk. Fill with polyester fill or felt scraps and continue to close the circle.
3. Place the second egg white underneath and sew around 1-2mm from the edge.

Croissants

For each:

1. Print and cut out the paper pattern pieces. Cut two crescents from light brown felt and a wrapping each from light and darker brown felt. The larger piece of wrapping should be from the darker felt.
2. Use blanket stitch to join the light brown crescent pieces, leaving a small gap. Fill the crescent firmly with polyester filling and close the gap with blanket stitch.

3. Sew the wrapping pieces together using a running stitch.

4. Place the widest part of the wrapping along the outer edge of the croissant and secure together using blanket stitch. Secure along the sides, wrapping the main croissant piece as you go. Finish off by sewing along the narrow edge of the wrapping.

Pillowcase Dress Tutorial

I made this pillowcase dress a year or more ago and was instantly a fan - simple to make, and very cute. Mia wore it in summer with a Tshirt under and in cooler months (it never really gets that cold here in Brisbane) with leggings and long sleeves underneath. Now that she's grown a lot in height, she could probably wear it as a little summer top.

Anyway, I've had this beautiful Japanese style butterfly print sitting in the cupboard for a while and thought it perfect for another of these little dresses, just in time for winter. Here's how I made it...


1. Measure the length needed. I measured from the neckline down to just below the knee. Allow an extra 5cm for seam allowances and casing. So if your measurement is 45cm, you would want a length of 50cm.

2. Measure the length around the chest and halve this measurement. Add 12cm. So if your measurement is 50cm, you would need a width of 37cm.

3. Cut two rectangles of the main fabric to fit these measurements. In my case, I cut two rectangles 50cm x 37cm.









4. Cut a small rounded piece out from all top corners. For mine, I made a snip with the scissors 8cm in and 15cm down, then cut a rounded piece out between the two snips. Either fold the fabric over, or use the cutout piece to make sure all arm holes are the same size.







5. Place the two pieces with right sides together. Sew down both sides, allowing a 1cm seam allowance. Press the seams open.







6. Use the main fabric or a contrasting fabric to cut bias binding. Here's a good video showing how to make your own bias binding.

7. Bind the armholes of your dress. Open the binding and place the right side of the binding on the wrong side of the dress, lining up the edges of both. Sew around the armhole, close to the first fold. Fold the binding back up so that it sandwiches the main dress fabric. Turn over to the right side and sew around 1-2mm from the edge of the binding.



8. Make the casing. For both front and back, turn over 1.5cm and press. Then fold over again and press again. Sew along the bottom of the casing, 1-2mm from the edge.







9. Get ready to hem the dress! Turn inside out and fold the hemline over 1cm, then press. Fold over again 1cm and press again. Sew 1-2mm from the edge. Or you could use a blind hemming stitch to make an invisible hem .



10. Thread ribbon (I used 1m of 4cm wide ribbon, but this will depend on the child's size and your preference) through the casing.






There are a lot of variations to experiment with here. You could use binding in place of ribbon, tie on one or both shoulders, bind along the hemline, add a contrast fabric to the bottom of the dress......and so on.

Happy sewing!

Play dough

Another of the homemade craft supplies we love at our house is this play dough. So easy to make and it lasts  forever. And just like with the cornflour paint, if my little artist decides to do a taste test, all the ingredients are edible.

I found the recipe at http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/Play-Dough-L926.html, but the cream of tartar container also comes with a similar recipe on the side.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup salt
1 cup plain flour
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
food colouring

1. Mix all ingredients together in a medium sized saucepan.
2. Stir over heat until dough is pliable.
3. Allow to cool and store in a well sealed plastic bag or container.

I divided ours into two and made two different colours. Ours has been stored in the fridge in zip loc bags for quite a few months already and is still fine to use.

I bought a junior cookie set at a discount store that has cookie shapes and different cutters, as well as a rolling pin. We've had hours of fun - Mia especially likes making snakes and balls and instructing me on what animals I should make for her.