Padded Coat Hangers

Another project from my quilting book. I wanted to make some padded coat hangers and decided to make them for my mum and aunties for Christmas.

I bought some plain coat hangers that were ideal to cover. 

I cut a piece of wadding the same width as the coat hanger and long enough to wrap around the hanger.

The wadding was secured in place with thread, sewing in the ends to secure.

I deceided to buy a bundle of Fat Quarters. I wasn't sure how much fabric I would need as the pattern was designed to use up scraps. The bundle had a quarters of a meter of each of 4 codinating fabric designs that had been pre-selected by the Fabric Warehouse.

Using the folds in the fabric as a guide, I cut each square in 2 and machined sewed 10 strips together in a random pattern.

The strip was folded in half lengthwise and the ends of the strip machine sewed together. I had to make a small hole in the middle seam for the hanger to go through and put the fabric strip over  the padded hander. The open edge was then tucked in and sewed by hand to close.

 A fabric flower on the font to disguise & secure the hole that the metal hanger poked through.

A made with love message to finish off.

Marble Chunky Cardigan

Something amazing happened this week. I finished knitting a cardigan which my daughter is now wearing. That is quite an achievement for me I can't remember when I last knitted an item of clothing other that hats, scarves, mittens or socks. I think it was about 10 years ago.

Whilst on a theatre trip to Aylesbury last April, we had time to wonder around the market before the show started.  I came across a wonderful knitting stall Threadbare Yarns. They had some amazing yarns all displayed beautifully in baskets. I took a liking  to this Marble Chunky wool by James C Brett. My daughter flicked through the patterns and found a sleeveless cargidan that she liked.

I started knitting the next day. The wool was wonderful to knit with. Due to my other projects, like a true knitter, I kept putting this one down and going back to it. I finally finished the knitting and sewing up 9 months later. 

I was worried that I'd run out of wool before I finished. This was all that was left. I've never had a knitting project that was so close to running out of wool.  

The finishing touch was sewing on the lovely heart shaped wood  buttons which we found in the

 The Fabric Warehouse.

The finished cardigan - which my daughter is too shy to model!

Heart Shaped Lavender Bags

The new craft yarns at the Fabric Warehouse have inspired me. So, I thought that I'd make some lavender bags for aunties and cousins for Christmas. I'd have  a good excuse for some crafting and they'd get a handmade gift.

 I began by trying to sew them but found it tricky to sew perfect heart shapes. Then I saw Kirstie's Handmade Christmas with Kirstie Allsopp on Channel 4 and decide to use a different method. Kirstie made a heart garland using iron-on fabric adhesive. So it was back to the Fabric Warehouse to buy some.

The iron on adhesive has a paper backing. I placed it  face down on the reverse side of the fabric and then ironed it. This binds the adhesive side to the fabric.

I could then draw out the hearts on the fabric and the cut them out. 

 I cut out 3 different sizes using 3 contrasting fabrics.

I trimmed the smaller 2 sizes with pinking sheers.

I peeled the paper from the back of the fabric of the middle size heart and positioned it in the center of the larger heart and then ironed again. This fused the 2 pieces of fabric together. 

I repeated this with the smallest heart.

A button was added to the center for decoration.

I removed the paper backing from the prepared heart and another large heart and ironed around the very edge to stick together - leaving a gap at the bottom of the heart for the stuffing. I ironed in some ribbon to make the hanger.

Inspired again by Kirstie I ran a running stitch of embroidery thread around the heart about 1cm in from the edge, leaving a gap again. I then lightly stuffed each heart with very  small pieces of wadding. 

Now for the fun part. I found some wonderful English Lavender on Ebay. I put 3 or 4 teaspoons of  lavender in each heart.

Once the hearts were stuffed &  filled with lavender I ironed the gap together and completed the decorative sewing. To finish off the edges were trimmed with pinking shears.

All ready to be wrapped up for Christmas.