Lace Sensation – The DIY Lace Skirt

This ever-so-easy tutorials comes to you from the pages of the oh-so-trendy A Matter of Style blog, our favourite new fashion forward hot spot.

You’ll need:

-          A skirt

-          Lace trim (choose a wide trim with a repeated design)

Instructions:

Cut the lace into bands. 

Pin a band to the skirt and, using a straight seam sew in place.

Repeat the process until the skirt is fully covered.

Whilst we can’t supply you with the completed skirt we do have a variety of patterns and fabrics in store for you to make your own, as well as an awesome collection of lace. Give us a call on our Golden Number 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX for more info on what’s in stock and on special this festive season.

Send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

Our NEW STOCK will get you in the Christmas spirit.

What are stocking fillers without the stocking? Make you own this year - it’s easier than you think thanks to our cut & stitch Christmas Stocking Panels. We've also got some fabulously festive table cloth panels that are the perfect accessory to your Christmas feast.

The celebration doesn’t stop there! We’ve got a host of merry fabrics flooding our shelves.

Did you know that fabric makes great gift wrapping? Stitch gift bags or simply wrap around and tie with ribbon, either or you’re sure to have a winner. It’s also a much greener option than using wrapping paper because you’re more likely to reuse/recycle the fabric than the paper.

Give us a call on our Golden Number 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX for more about what’s in stock and on special this festive season.

Send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

A Midsummer’s Dress Tutorial

Thinking of making something precious for your little princess? Well, then have we found something for you. From the Charm Stitch Blog comes a Midsummer’s Dress tutorial that is charming in more ways than one – it offers three different back closure methods (button, ribbon and long sash). Click here to download the PDF instructions. 

P.S. Laura (the creative genius behind Charm Stitch) recommends using voile for the bodice and skirt, although she does admit that light weight quilting cottons and double gauze would be cool too. Come on in and have a look at what we’ve got in store. With over 1000 fabric prints and styles you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for. Give us a call on our Golden Number 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX for more about what’s in stock and on special. You can also send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Funky Fashionable Stockings

It is unlikely that a fire will be roaring in that fireplace, unless, of course, you’re having a braai. So why stick with the traditional? Check out the super stockings that the elves over at spoonful.com are creating to spice things their Christmas.

You’ll need

• Scissors
• 2 pieces of purple felt, each 60 x 38 cm (24 x 15 inches)
• 2 pieces of black faux fur, each 60 x 38 cm (24 x 15 inches)
• Long sewing pins
• Large-eye sewing needle
• Purple embroidery floss
• Costume jewelry buttons and chains
• Clear tape
• 9 inches of black twist cord

Instructions

1. The Basic Stocking: Click here to download the fancy boot stocking pattern.

2. Cut 1 boot shape from each piece of the purple felt and 1 from each piece of the black fur. Be sure to cut the fur boots so that the toes point in opposite directions with the fur sides up.

3. Pin together the boots with the furry sides in and the purple boots on the outside.

4. Using the floss, whipstitch around the edges, sewing the boots together. Leave the top edges unsewn.

5. At the top, sew together the front 2 edges, then the back 2.

6. Fold down the top to make a cuff.

7. The Trimmings: Use floss to sew the buttons and chains to the boot.

8. Tape the ends of the cord to keep them from fraying, and then sew the cord to the stocking for hanging.

You’ll need:

• Scissors
• 4 pieces of gold felt, each 21 by 20 inches
• Red felt and red embroidery floss
• Green felt and green embroidery floss
• Purple felt and purple embroidery floss
• Long sewing pins
• Large-eye sewing needle
• Gold embroidery floss
• Pony beads
• Clear tape
• 9 inches of red twist cord

Instructions

1. The Basic Stocking: Click here to download the bare foot stocking pattern.

2. Cut 1 bare foot shape from each piece of the gold felt.

3. Cut 5 circles from the colored felts for the toenails.

4. Place one foot on top of another and pin the toenails in place.

5. Using the matching floss, whipstitch (see page 131) around the edges of each toenail, sewing through both feet.

6. Pin all 4 feet together and use the gold floss to whipstitch around the edges, sewing the feet together. Leave the top edges unsewn.

7. At the top, sew together the front 2 edges, then the back 2.

8. Fold down the top to make a cuff.

9. The Trimmings: Thread pony beads onto a 24-inch piece of colored floss, wrap it around the ankle, and tie together the ends.

10. Tape the ends of the cord to keep it from fraying, and then sew it to the stocking for hanging.

Click here for more great stocking ideas.

Looking for some specific fabric for this project or the next? Give us a call on our Golden Number 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX and we’ll help you find what you need. Send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

A stitch in time… from an embroidery hoop to a clock

Trouble keeping track of the time? This DIY embroidery hoop wall clock is a must have for every sewing enthusiast.

You’ll need:

• scrap fabric about 2.5 cm wider on all sides than your embroidery hoop
• embroidery hoops  (the pink one is 17.8cm (7 inches) wide and the small wooden one is 7.7cm (3 inches) wide – it was a tight squeeze)
• foam core scrap
• craft knife
• rotary cutter or sharp scissors for trimming fabric
• writing instrument
• cutting mat
• spray adhesive
• clock kit
• chopstick

Instructions:

Begin by tracing the inner loop of your embroidery hoop on foam core. Trim circle with craft knife. Verify circle fits in inner hoop snuggly - a little loose is fine too.

Apply spray adhesive to the back of the scrap fabric and center the disc-shaped foam core on the sticky side.

Identify center point of foam core/fabric piece, poke hole with the scissors or knife - You will be inserting the clock pieces through this hole, so compare size of clock kit post with your hole, enlarge hole until the clock post easily goes through. The chopstick works very well to create a gradual increase in size so that you don’t offshoot your mark.

On the backside of the fabric/foam core piece, place the inner embroidery hoop and mark the circular edge from where you will trim the excess fabric (while manhandling, be considerate of your time pieces as they bend easily).

Load clock components as pictured on package and add the battery.

Trim fabric with a rotary cutter or scissors and tighten the embroidery hoop.

Hang and admire

Note: The clock components will protrude from the back of the embroidery hoop. Your clock will therefore hang from the clock kit, not the top of the embroidery hoop, so you should take care to line up the clock-kit when mounting to fabric.

Visit the Charm Stitch Blog and your local Fabric and Textile Warehouse for more for more creative craft ideas.

Send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

A stitch in time… from an embroidery hoop to a clock

Trouble keeping track of the time? This DIY embroidery hoop wall clock is a must have for every sewing enthusiast.

You’ll need:

• scrap fabric about 2.5 cm wider on all sides than your embroidery hoop
• embroidery hoops  (the pink one is 17.8cm (7 inches) wide and the small wooden one is 7.7cm (3 inches) wide – it was a tight squeeze)
• foam core scrap
• craft knife
• rotary cutter or sharp scissors for trimming fabric
• writing instrument
• cutting mat
• spray adhesive
• clock kit
• chopstick

Instructions:

Begin by tracing the inner loop of your embroidery hoop on foam core. Trim circle with craft knife. Verify circle fits in inner hoop snuggly - a little loose is fine too.

Apply spray adhesive to the back of the scrap fabric and center the disc-shaped foam core on the sticky side.

Identify center point of foam core/fabric piece, poke hole with the scissors or knife - You will be inserting the clock pieces through this hole, so compare size of clock kit post with your hole, enlarge hole until the clock post easily goes through. The chopstick works very well to create a gradual increase in size so that you don’t offshoot your mark.

On the backside of the fabric/foam core piece, place the inner embroidery hoop and mark the circular edge from where you will trim the excess fabric (while manhandling, be considerate of your time pieces as they bend easily).

Load clock components as pictured on package and add the battery.

Trim fabric with a rotary cutter or scissors and tighten the embroidery hoop.

Hang and admire

Note: The clock components will protrude from the back of the embroidery hoop. Your clock will therefore hang from the clock kit, not the top of the embroidery hoop, so you should take care to line up the clock-kit when mounting to fabric.

Visit the Charm Stitch Blog and your local Fabric and Textile Warehouse for more for more creative craft ideas.

Send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.

The Country Stitcher’s Christmas Ornament

From the pages of the Styrofoam brand foam Crafts Blog comes a Christmas ornament that is just so us, it’s unbelievable! And because we know you love sewing just as much as we do, we had to share it with you.

Click here to view the tutorial.

This project is an excellent excuse to go rummaging around our Haberdashery. Choc-a-block with buttons, ribbons, zips and more, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. Give us a call on our Golden Number 0861 322 839 | 0861 FAB TEX for more about what’s in stock and on special. 

Send us a FRIEND REQUEST on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news and specials.