Thursday, March 19, 2020

Make your own decorative door stop...



I finally made some time to sew another doorstop and take photos along the way so you could make one too. What I like about this project is the flexibility to use scraps of fabric, an orphan stitchery or small quilt block, to create something pretty for your home. And though I call it a door stop the one I made a couple of weeks ago has taken up residence on a window sill in the recently made-over laundry because I love looking at it!

Here's the one I'm talking about...
(the Peace stitchery pattern is HERE)



So let me tell you about the one I made this week. Initially I was just going to use one fabric in order to show you the steps as it doesn't matter how you make up the front or back, just as long as the measurements of the final sack is correct, but this was going to be used in my home, so it seemed only right to create a door stop I really liked.

That led to a relaxing cuppa break with pencil and paper in hand, and soon I had a very simple little vase of applique flowers ready to use. If you want to use this free design use the link below.


You can get as creative as you like with your own door stop and may even find yourself making a few extras as most homes have at least two doors to the outside world, plus they make lovely gifts - all you need to remember is to make your outer sack 8.5" x 21"

I dug into my scraps box after choosing the pale aqua tonal print for the main section, adding extra lengths down the side and across the top to bring the size up to 8.5" x 21"...




By folding the outer sack in half you can work out where the applique goes (if you're planning to use it) so the next step would be to trace the design, fuse the applique shapes in position and either fuse or baste some scrap quilt wadding behind it.

I machine quilted before I began the applique ...




Threads were chosen to blend with my fabrics...






I chain stitched around most of the applique shapes after the blanket stitch was done.
The little leaves have blanket stitch up the centre to fill one half and I satin stitched the other half of the leaf.




Once you've finished the applique and embroidery trim away the excess quilt wadding from the sack.

Fold the sack in half and sew up both sides with a 1/4 inch seam...




Draw a 3/4 inch square in each corner (this will be 1" from the sides because of the 1/4 inch seam) and 3/4 inch up from the fold.
Cut out the corners you've drawn.




Fold the cut corner flat so that the side seam is in the centre and pin...




Sew across the corner with a 1/4 inch seam. Repeat with the other corner.




This is what I call 'boxing' the corners because it allows the sack to sit up securely once it's filled.




Turn right side out...




Fold in the top edge by 1/2 an inch and press to make a hem for later. It won't stay folded at this point but it will help you later as the fabric now has a pressed line you can use as a guide when we complete the door stop.




Fill a plastic bag with rice. Around 1.5 to 2 kilos (3.5 - 4.5 pounds) is great because it's the right weight and size for a door stop. 
You could use kitty litter or dried beans but the weight will be different so you'll have to work with the size you need to 2/3 fill the sack.




Place the bag of rice inside the sack.

Now we make the handle. This is a 2.5" x 12" length of fabric, folded in half lengthwise and raw edges sewn together with a 1/4 inch seam. Turn right side out, press, and fold in the narrow ends by a 1/4 inch. Slip stitch the open ends closed.




Sew the handle in place on both sides of the sack with buttons, about 2 inches below the top edge.






Draw in the sides by around 1/2 an inch after folding down the previously pressed hem and secure the fold with a few stitches.




Pin or use binding clips to hold the folded hem closed across the top of the sack before slip stitching the opening closed.




And that's it!
You now have a sweet door stop for your home.







While you're here today, can I show you the new set of patterns for the April issue of my Faith In Hand Stitchery Club?

These are the 3 designs inside the April issue which will be emailed to Club members on March 31st...


Each month I include a simple bonus project for displaying one of the completed stitcheries. In this issue we'll be making a table runner.

Psalm 118:24 - When my children were little we'd sing this song each morning because I found it to be a wonderful reminder for them that each day the Lord gives us is a gift to be cherished and they should look for reasons in their day to rejoice and be glad in it.
The kids are all grown and have families of their own now but I often find myself singing this same verse as I go about the early morning business of preparing breakfast for my dear husband.
It seemed only natural to take Psalm 118:24 a little further this year and design a colourful double ended table topper...









Hope in the LORD - Gift giving is a lovely and natural rhythm of our lives so I'm always looking for simple yet beautiful ways to create projects that can be gifted to suit most occasions.
This sweet framed affirmation of where our hope truly lies can be appliqued or hand embroidered, but however you make it rejoice that you're sharing a promise from the Lord which will never be broken.







Proverbs 31:10-12 - This passage of Scripture is very personal to me because many years ago I cried out to the Lord for guidance in my blessed role as wife to the love of my life. I wanted to not only honour him, but also to honour God in how I lived out such a responsibility.
These scriptures were carved across my heart that day and have never left my day to day thoughts; they guide and direct my attitudes, plans and purpose.
The fruit from living them out is abundant, for my husband tells me every day how much he cherishes and loves me...and this should come as no surprise, for it's a promise from God's Word.






Would you like to join the Faith in Hand Stitchery Club?

The monthly patterns arrive as a pdf file direct to your email inbox on the last day of the month.

Monthly payments are automatically deducted from your Paypal account so I hold none of your personal information other than your email address.

The cost per month will be $8.95 Australian (currently around $5.15 US) and your membership runs as long as you want to be involved. You are free to leave the Club anytime with no questions asked.

JOIN TODAY by clicking the Paypal button below.

BUT BEFORE you do that - please make sure your Paypal email address is up to date because that is where I will send your patterns. If you want them sent to a different email address please email me and let me know as I'm happy to do that for you. My email address is here.



FREE JOINING GIFT

All members within 24 hours of joining Faith in Hand will receive the pattern for my Humble & Kind table runner via email so you can stitch this up while you await the next issue of Faith in Hand to arrive on March 31st...
I hope to have you stitching along with me very soon!


Okay, that's it from me today as dinner needs to be prepared (gnocchi with homemade tomato pesto and mushrooms) and then afterwards I have to plan two weeks of menus using what we have on hand for ingredients as there's not a lot of fresh produce in the stores right now and using up the vegetables and fruit we already have is wise financial and food management anyhow.

I know that for all of us the months ahead will have challenges we have not been faced with before but I also see it as a time of ingenuity and creativity if we think outside the box and try new things.
I've been saying for more than ten years that I want to finish a 1930's style churn dash quilt top from the blocks I made in 2009-10, yet they lay ignored in a pretty box at the bottom of my sewing room shelving, waiting patiently...surely they have waited long enough? It's right near the top of my 'finished what I started' list now.

What do you have on your mind to do?
What would you like to learn during these months of staying home?

I'm quite astounded by the number of tutorials and ideas found on Youtube and I'm also hopeful that people who used to blog regularly but left to focus on social media pages will return and begin sharing life and encouragement once more.

Let us keep our chins up, ladies, as Nana would say, sing a melody to the Lord each morning, and look for new ways to embrace home life in order to make it the sanctuary we have always hoped it would become.

biggest hugs my lovelies,


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17 comments:

Erica said...

Hi Jenny. Thank you for always sharing such beautiful and inspiring words and patterns. Yes, life is different at the moment but we have our God who never leaves us or forsakes us and thats all we need. I love Psalm 91! Take care

Karen said...

Beautiful dear Jenny. Challenging times ahead for sure. I think many christians will be holding onto the promises in Psalm 91. God is faithful. The next three stitcheries will be much looked forward too. Arohanui

Joanne said...

Hi Jenny,
Thanks for the door stop tutorial ! Jean fabric and a few applique hosta leaves will surely keep the door open !
I'm enjoying the days at home...completing projects and stating new ones and using up what's in the back of the pantry.. bought a while ago for one reason or another :)
Enjoying the sunny vibe your blog brings !
hugs,
Joanne

Susan said...

Thank you, Jenny, for the doorstop tutorial. God is in control and I am trying to live by Philippians 4:4-8.

Judi Smith said...

Hi Jenny! I so love this new format! Churn dash....just the words make me happy. I have had an idea for a churn dash quilt for some time now, so I can’t wait to see what beautiful fabric combinations you will use. I need a little shove to be brave and start one with the fabric I already own. Hugs!

Dots said...

Lovely doorstop! I can't wait to get started on that. How pretty that will be at my door! I bet my daughters will want one,too. Using what fabric I have on hand. I try to do that as much as I can. Sewing settles one's nerves after hearing the constant reports. My daughter told me, "you get fearful from the constant updates." I told her that the Lord says "to fear not their fear." And I assured her that God will keep us, as He always has. We just need to read His word and rest in Him.
I stitched a unicorn pillow for my youngest granddaughter's 7th birthday coming up Sunday. She will enjoy it along with a dinner here at Granny's house. I so love my children.
Be well, Jenny.

Julie said...

Your blog post today is like a ray of sunshine in a rather grey world dear Jenny. Thanks so much for all that you share - I know I say that often but it really warms my heart. I have pulled my Phyllis Mays Kitchen out this morning & am enjoying working on that. I think of our parents generation who survived wars so I am sure we can survive this.

Farm Quilter said...

Your work is so lovely!! By putting that rice in the doorstops, you also have an emergency supply if push comes to shove!! I'm really trying to rejoice, but it is a bit difficult at present as my dad joined my mother and brother in heaven yesterday, 3-18. I know God is in control, but I am feeling quite alone here as none of my family is near and they are unable to travel here at present.

Kay said...

This is lovely and I am sure that I will get around to making a couple in the coming days. I will have a think about a filling as rice is like gold dust in England at the moment, one of the many things that are hard to get hold of in the shops. Hope all is well. x

Ondrea said...

Your door stops are both so lovely and I love how you have added the chain stitch around your applique. It really makes the applque stand out. It is very important for people to focus on nice things at the moment and to be kind to others. Creativity brings joy as well as inventiveness ( is that a word?) I have noticed a few CALs and free patterns being offered as well as a few youtube tutorials to help people during isolation. Blogs like yours truly help people come together and be less fearful .



Susan said...

Amen, amen, amen, Jenny! This is a time of struggle, but it's also a time of creativity, of trust, of faith, of love, of peace. We must know to whom to look for these things, and then all things become possible. I am going about my daily activities as normally as the outside world allows. I believe that God has appointed my days, and all will be well, whatever happens to me. Thank you for your inspiring and uplifting words in each post. Thank you for the tutorial, and the lovely little appliqué and embroidery piece. I like the idea of those leaves. Con besos, as my Spanish friends say. =)

Jude said...

Thank you Jenny for your blog posts and all you offer, designs and great instructions, recipes and ideas and lovely photos as well. All very much appreciated and inspires craft ideas especially for now to let others know they are being thought of. Hope you and your family all stay well. [] []

Allie said...

Well that's just gorgeous Jenny thank you so much! Love love love the patterns coming in the new issue - something to very much look forward to. You just brighten my day so much! Love you!

Deborah said...

Churndash is a favourite of mine. Thanks for the encouraging ouraging words. It is a tough time but I am praying more and trying to hold on to God's word. When I am afraid I will trust in Him. (Psalm 56)

Tammy said...

Love your new door stop tutorial . Look forward to creating this at some point ...Although I do not have glass doors or screen doors. This would make the most beautiful gift . Thank you so much for all you do and share with us. And thank you for setting such wonderful Christian examples and sharing Gods word with us...I'm so afraid this is gonna get much worse before it gets better. But I know I will make it through. I am depending on my faith. I know he will see us through this.The designs for April or gorgeous. Hope you are doing well Dear friend...I have a sinus issue allergic to all the pine pollen....Every year this time....Now everyone will think I have the virus

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Jenny, your stitcheries are always so beautiful and I am in constant awe of both your designs and how neatly you stitch. It's truly a credit to you!
Thank you for sharing this latest project at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring your decorative door stop at tonight's party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne

Julie @ My Wee Abode said...

I love this doorstop... the pattern and the verse, too! I'm here by way of Kerryanne's party... Would you please link this up at Tuesday Turn About this week? We open at 5pm CST. Hope to see you there via myweeabode.com!