Fabric Gifts Using Cut Shapes: Group 2

Group 2 projects include (clockwise from back left):

holly wreath stocking, pod jar wreath cuff, pinecone and star mini quilt,

cookies for santa plate vinyl, canning jar topper,

holly cluster pillowcase, ribbon & holly mesh travel bag.

Three of these projects were created using "fusible" appliques

from the "christmas basic shapes" cut file available

from SnapDragon Snippets through

the Silhouette America online store.

The other four use additional cut designs that will be listed

with the specific notes for that project.

The wreath stocking tutorial and info can be viewed in a separate blog post.

The pinecone and star mini quilt tutorial for applique and patch cutting with the Silhouette electronic tool can be found here.

Separate information for the mason canning jar lid creation can be found on this separate post.

PROJECT 1: Pillowcase Band
1. Purchase small yardages of "body", "band", and "accent" insert fabrics, cut and apply holly leaf, pinecone and ribbon streamer shapes into a "spray" shaped cluster on the center of the front band, then construct the case.

(This is a miniaturized version, so if the scales seem unreal that is because the case is a child's size.)

2. Cut the pieces:
body - 28" x width of 44" fabric
band - 10" x width of fabric
accent - 1 1/2" x width of fabric

(Seam allowances are 1/4". Find a "how to" link here.)

You can see the approx. location of the applique on the FOLDED band (folded on the left side in this image, but UNFOLDED top to bottom so you can see the crease).

3. Follow the other link's instructions, or modify as shown here:
Press accent strip in half lengthwise, then align and pin raw edges of strip along band. Layer body top edge with face sides together, as shown, then stitch this seam. 

Press all allowances toward body. Serge or zigzag over edge the raw edges.












4. From the front side, topstitch neatly on body next to accent strip seam through all layers.
















5. Fold assembly with face sides together and align bottom and side raw edges. Also make sure that the band fold edges are exactly aligned at the opening. Pin if necessary, then stitch seam. Finish raw edge by serging or zigzag stitching. Turn face side out and press flat.

To keep inside seam raw edges of peeking out, top-stitch tack an inch or so near the opening, stitching through all layers and backstitching, or repeating the length of the stitching.

PROJECT 2: Plastic Mesh Travel Bag
Great for traveling to hold makeup, toiletries, first aid kit, snacks and more.

For this Christmas gift, a bright green fabric was chosen, then an easily "detachable" embellishment panel of cut appliques on double-layered wool felt with oversize center button is "tacked" in place with two decorative end star buttons.










1. Purchase a roll (or co-op this with friends) of screen door replacement plastic mesh, then select a fabric scrap for the banding, and obtain a nylon coil zipper at least 12" long.

Cut the bands: (1/4" seam allow. included)
top band - 3" x 13"
bottom band - 5.5" x 13"
mesh - 20.5" x 13"



2. Fold  the fabric rectangles in half lengthwise with the face sides out. Align raw edges of each with mesh ends, pin an stitch 1/4" seam. Over edge or serge the raw seam. Press fabric strips away from mesh (take care with hot iron to test that it won't melt the mesh).














3. Topstitch neatly on the fabric band next to the seam.

4. Pin fabric fold edge along one side of closed zipper, with end of strip approx. 1/2" beyond metal zipper "stop" as shown. It is okay if your zipper top ends extend past the strip ends opposite. They will be tacked and trimmed in the next step.

Top stitch neatly next to fold. Repeat for opposite side.








5. Open zipper slightly at top, align fabric strip ends, then zipgzag a bar tack across the zipper teeth to secure, approx. 1/2" from fabric ends.

6. Fold the bag with face sides inward.; make sure the zipper is slightly unzipped. Arrange the top mesh fold to be approx. 1" from the top band (narrower) seam; crease by hand or lightly press.

7. Pin and stitch the side seams on each side of bag. Finish the raw edges as before (serge or zigzag)

.
8. Prepare the fusible applique design on an oversize scrap of wool felt, working within a 2.5" x 9-10" design area. When fusing and/or edge stitching is complete, trace an appropriately-sized rectangle around the design with temp marking tool. Layer with second scrap piece of felt, then neatly topstitch ON the marked line. Trim 1/16" beyond stitching. Attach center button or other embellishments as desired.

Pin panel in place centered on lower band, then attach buttons through all layers.

 PROJECT 3. Decorative Pod Cylinder

1. Obtain a glass cylinder or recycle from second hand store. (Mine was a flourist's roses vase.)

2. Select a body scrap and trim strips/lining scrap. You will also need approx. 1.34 yards of decorative (sheer) ribbon, appliques of choice, small buttons for berry accents.

3. Determine your cut sizes to fit your cylinder's height and circumference. For mine, the center panel was cut about 3.5" tall, and .5" shorter than my tape measured around the jar. (You will want a tying knot gap between back edges when complete.)
The bands/lining combination rectangle was cut center panel height plus 4" (provides approx. .75" bands on top and bottom with 1/4" seam allowances.

4. Join center panel to one edge of band/lining piece. Press seam back toward center panel. Press 1/4" seam allow. back on both ends.

Now bring band and center panel edges together and complete seam. Press toward center panel as before. Turn face side out.

Press the cuff flat with equal widths of band on either side of center panel. 

5. Cut ribbon into four equal lengths (approx. 12" long each). Insert ends of ribbon pairs between cuff layers, pin in place. Pin remainder of pressed fold edges together, then neatly topstitch through all layers. Take care to secure ribbon against the tying stress it will need to withstand.

6. Place the cuff on your cylinder and tie ribbon ends at the back, as shown. If the cuff seems prone to slipping down, consider securing the front invisibly in place with a strip or two of double-stick tape placed behind and below the cuff edges.

Fill your cylinder with pods, nuts in the shell, small shiny ornaments, potpourri, or other interesting contents.

HOPE THESE PROJECTS

OFFER SOME IDEAS

FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTING!

Fabric Gifts Using Cut Shapes: Group 1

Cutting fabric shapes is very easy and fun

with the Cameo and the Silhouette system.

Here are five quick projects (stocking makes a "guest" appearance) 

using shapes from the cut file titled

Christmas Basic Shapes

from SnapDragon Snippets.

The appliques are cut from fabric that has been prepared

by fusing a required size square or rectangle to

paper-backed fusible web (Silhouette has a product

they call "fabric interfacing") such as Heat N Bond light.

APPLIQUE PREP STEPS:

A. Select your applique shape, size it appropriately, then check the "selection" design measurements on your Cameo or Silhouette screen. Add approx. 1/2" on each side (that's 1" increase to the width and length measurements), then cut this size piece of fusible web (paper backed such as Heat N Bond light for sewing in, or Ultra Hold if you will NOT be over-edging because the project will not be washed). Fuse on fabric backside according to product directions, then trim fabric to match paper size. Cut following Silhouette's recommendations. (See tutorial here.)

PROJECT #1: SPARKLING JUICE TALL SACK

1. Cut two 15"x7" rectangles (includes 1/4" seam allowances and wide opening hem). 

Fold in half lengthwise with face sides together and stitch one SIDE seam. Over-edge or serge raw edges (here and throughout as desired). 

Center applique of choice approx. 3.5"-4" up from bottom edge on one of the panels, fuse and over stitch raw edges. Attach buttons for berries.

Open flat and press seam. At top edge, fold back a wide header hem of 3.25".

2. On front side of hem area, use temporary marker to make a stitching line at 3" from fold.

Open header hem flat, then re-fold with face sides together as in step 1 and sew second side seam. Also stitch across BOTTOM. Press seams flat as well as possible.

3. Prepare the bottom shaping seam: Re-fold the bag so that one side and bottom seam line up on top of each other at the center. From the end point that forms with this folding, mark a perpendicular stitching line 1.5". 

Stitch across on the marked line, locking stitching at each end.

Repeat folding, marking and stitching for the opposite side. Turn the bag face side out.

4. Fold header hem to the inside of the bag and re-press as needed. Stitch all around on the previously-marked line.

5. If desired, attach the center of a decorative double tassel cord at the hem stitching at the bag's center back by stitching across 3-4 times. Or attach or simply tie ribbon in the same place. 

PROJECT #2: DISH TOWEL

1. Prepare and attach fabric applique to your purchased dishtowel. Some styles will work best with applique centered from side to side. This towel with wonderful side edge stripes seemed best with applique near the left edge. Overedge the raw edges of applique, pulling stitching threads to the backside and tying off to secure. Clip threads. Attach buttons.

PROJECT #3: COASTER

Prepare, fuse and overstitch the holly leaf applique edges. This project uses a pre-finished linen coaster with faggot open stitching detail. You could also simply cut squares 3.5" - 5", layer face sides together, stitch around leaving turning opening, turn, press, and edge stitch.

PROJECT #4: FRAYED PLACEMAT

1. Purchase coarse weave fabric. approx. 18" yardage is required for this double-layered version per placemat. Cut two rectangles from the fabric. To do this and keep the grainline and edge yards parallel with the cut edges, start at one end of the cut edge of yardage and pull a yarn. Continue pulling to create a trim line across the edge. If the yarn breaks, trim along the yarn path until the broken end can be retrieved and the pulling continue all the way across.

Prepare a base square from contrast coarse weave fabric, large enough to give a margin beyond applique shape with approx. 3/8" fringe. Complete applique on base square, position and topstitch to top placemat rectangle in desired position. Attach buttons. Layer both placemats, topstitch securely all around (shorten stitch length) approx. 3/4" - 1" (fringe depth). They remove edge yarns from both layers to produce fringe.

PROJECT #5: SACHET HANGER BAG

1. Trace a tag shape on top layer of double layer of selected fabric. (For your own shape, trace 4" wide x 5" tall rectangle, then trace diagonal of a 1" square on each upper corner.) 

2. Trim layers 1/4" beyond marked lines.

3. Press 1/4" hem back along bottom edges. Unfold flat.

4. Complete applique on front of top layer. Attach buttons and other details.

5. Re-layer and stitch 1/4" around on all but hem edges; back-stitch to lock at opening.
6. Turn right side out, press flat.

7. Complete a 1/2" button hole at center top approx. 1/2"-3/4" from top  as a hang hole.

8. Fill with loose lavender or favorite potpourri. Pin and stitch across layers. Thread sachet hole over purchased padded hanger hook. 

Hope these ideas help with your gifting!