Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A couple of simple tutorials, and a new design!

Apart from my pantry, the other area of my home I like to keep well organised is my linen cupboard.
I have found that since our two youngest adults drifted home again, that cupboard can quickly become the storage centre for 'anything' of a linen nature!
There are three queen size beds here, which means quite a few sets of sheets and pillowcases find themselves crammed between the shelves with no manner of order, and a forgotten sense of whose sheets belong to which bed.
Yesterday I made the decision to rectify the sheet chaos and in the process was able to begin diminishing my store of orphan fat quarters.

You'll need two fat quarters in co-ordinating colours...
Trim them to exactly the same size, and lay one on top of the other, right sides facing...
 Sew the two fabrics together down ONE side. 
Open the fabrics out to one wide length.
Do you have a spare jelly roll strip? I found a green one that looked fine with the two fat quarter fabrics.
If not, cut a 2 1/2" wide strip of fabric that will be long enough to go across the width of the joined fat quarters, minus 2 inches.
With your iron, press a hem down along both long sides of the strip, and at each end.
Pin it across the top edge of the fat quarters, about 2" below the raw edge.
Leaving the ends open, machine sew the strip to the fat quarter fabric just inside it's bottom and top edge.
Fold the fat quarters in half again, and sew across the bottom and down the other side. Leave the top edge (with the jelly roll strip) open.
Make a double folded hem along the open top section, and machine sew.
Turn right side out, and press the bag flat.
Thread a long length of ribbon or cording through the jelly roll pocket...
 Press the bag flat again, and pin around the three sewn sides.
Machine sew a 1/4" French seam around those sides. 
 
Pop a pair of sheets and their matching pillow cases inside, gather the ribbon and tie in a bow.
Now how much easier will it be to keep your sheets organised?!
This bag took me just 20 minutes - and I have a number of orphan fat quarters waiting on me to make more sheet bags this week.
I was really happy to be doing some simple sewing yesterday (after months of needlework!) so I set myself to a new task - making some lavender sachets to hang in my wardrobe. This was something I had been meaning to do since we moved house!
I used another orphan scrap of fabric, and a small crochet doiley.
I cut a rectangle, folded it in half and sewed around the three open sides, leaving a 2" opening to add the lavender later.
I turned the sachet right side out, pressed it, and filled it half full with dried lavender.
Using a scrap length of ribbon, I made a loop and sewed it into the centre of the opening as I machined the opening closed.
 The ribbon was pulled through the little hole in the centre of the doiley, before stitching the doiley to the sachet. 
Very simple, very sweet.
You could whip up a set of these as gifts in no time! Perhaps sew one of my Monograms on them?
 Today I had a play with a new design, something else to help me with organisation.
 I gave you a sneak peek of the feature block last week, but it's all finished now!
~Shabby Roses Pins 'n' Needles Storer~ 
The perfect and pretty way to store your special pins, your scissors, and your needle packets.
  
Cotton lace, and vintage buttons...
  
A bow!
 
Having pretty storage space that can hang in your craft room is fabulous!

Do you like it?
Pattern will be available soon. 

Back to making more of those sheet bags! 
Have a wonderfully creative day too, won't you?!


15 comments:

margaret said...

3 good ideas here to share with us, love the doily added to the lavender bag it really finished it off beautifully. Great idea for the sheets, shame no spare fat quarters, need to increase my stash.

Jeanette said...

Gorgeous shabby roses pins n needles storer. Hugs,xx.

Abby and Stephanie said...

I love doilies bit and small and sachets are so smelly good. Love the drawstring bag. I store my sheets inside of the pillowcase that goes with it. Looks like you're been very productive.

Jeito Mineiro de Ser said...

Ótimas idéias, lindos trabalhos!
Um abraço!

Egléa

Country Whispers said...

Love the needle storer and great idea for organizing sheet sets. I too have a linen closet that gets out of hand at times and this would work perfect. Thanks for sharing!

Carrie P. said...

Girl, you are so creative! I love the idea of the sachets using the little monograms. Smart!

M. Santos said...

Muchas gracias por el tutorial y un trabajo muy bonito.
Besos

Alice said...

Thank you--I was just whining about the linen closet yesterday. No way to make it bigger so your bags may just do the trick.
L,A-

Sue from Cyprus said...

Awh Jenny, what a lovely post! I really love the sheet bag idea and so simple to make. Your linen cupboard sounds just like mine!! As soon as the kids get in there to 'sort out their sheets' it generally means I need to sort out the linen cupboard pretty sharpish!! Wouldn't have it any other way, though. Thank you for sharing your very pretty patterns, they are divine!
Hugs, Sue from Cyprus x x x

Gale, Ky quilter said...

You are so talented and creative! Love those bags - so cute!

Judy1522 said...

Thank you so much for the great ideas. I was just thinking a couple of days ago that I have lavendar that I need to put into sachets so your post is very timely for me. I will definitely be using your idea.

Fee said...

You are so clever - Love it all :)

Vickie said...

Oh how I pine for a linen cupboard...one day I know I will again have one and I love your fat ¼ bag .....your new design is gorgeous as well..I know that brain of yours never switches off..cheers Vickie

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Love that needle holder. Sew cute! I just posted the last 2 mini wedding quilts I made, using the Promises & Borders border you so kindly allowed me to use. I linked back to you in the post. Thanks!

Elly D said...

Another great gift idea! I have a bag of lavender just waiting to use. You new pattern is really gorgeous and such a great way to store needles and pins! Thank you also for the Monogram patterns. Hugs Elly (also an Elizabeth ;))