Tutorial: Envelope cushion from two fat quarters

Requirements 

Two co-ordinating fat quarters (a fat quarter is 50cm x 56cm) 
One 16” cushion pad/insert 
Pins 
Tape measure 
Thread 
Sewing machine (or hand sewing needle) 
Fabric scissors 
Pinking shears 
Trims as required ie. Pom poms, rik rac, buttons etc. 

1.Place the two fat quarters together with right sides of the fabric facing each other. Then stitch the two fat quarters together down one of the shorter edges and then press open. At this stage add any trims that you would like, on this example we have used pom poms along the centre seam. 

2.Decide which fabric you would like to have less of showing on the front and then cut a 3” strip of the end of this fabric as shown below. 

3.Fold the fabric in half lengthways and trim the width down so it measures 16.5” wide as shown. 

4.Take one of the shorter edges and turn up by 1cm and press all along the edge and then turn up again by another 1cm and press so that the raw edges are hidden, as shown below. Then stitch along this edge, to hold back where you have pressed. Repeat this with the other short edge. 

5.With right sides facing up, mark with a pin on the bottom edge, 5.5” along from the seam (where the two fabrics are joined) on the fabric that you want the least of, as shown below. Then repeat on the top edge. 

6.Measure 16” along the bottom edge from the pin and mark this point with another pin and this will mark out the front of your cushion, and then repeat on the top edge. 

7.Take the shorter side and fold over from the pins as shown. 

8.Take the other side and over lap from the pins across as shown. This forms the overlap of the envelope cushion. 

9.Pin the top and bottom edge and stitch along where pinned 1cm from the edge ensuring that you stitch right to the corners.

10.Trim the two side raw edges with pinking shears to avoid fraying. 

11.Turn the cushion so that all the right sides of the fabric are on the outside and then give a final press with the iron. Insert the cushion insert/pad through the opening and your lovely cushion is finished.

Tutorial: Pencil case

Rebecca has written us a great tutorial on how to make a fab back to school pencil case. Click on the link to see full instructions and photographs.

Happy Sewing!

Introducing Rebecca our new blog writer

Hi my name is Rebecca, I’m 13 years old and I’ve been going to the 'Owl and Sewing Cat' for a while now, I got to know Tracey early at my time there, probably for my lack of my straight stitching and my fast pace sewing machine but I would like to think most of all for my interesting colour schemes. 


 I have been asked to write this blog to ‘inspire’ people of my generation with ideas for sewing projects and I really hope I can. The first thing I thought when I was asked to write this blog was ‘Well what do we really use?,’ I thought this first as I’m finding it hard fit anymore bunting or cushions into my room I need a sign that says ‘DUCK’ every few metres for passers by to avoid the risk of accidental bunting strangulation! 


So what do we really do? 
School. 
That is what came to my mind I know everybody hates to think about school in the middle of the holidays but unfortunately this horrid place is where we spend most of our time. 
And what do we do at school? 
Classes. Another horrid fact. 
And what do we do in Classes? Work. 
Now what items would you consider to be associated with work? Pen, Ruler, Rubber……… Pencil Case! 


Who would not want to go back to school with a Single Edition, personalised pencil case? So we have configured a pattern for a great pencil case that will easily fit a 30cm ruler, pens, pencils, and what ever else you may need. Hope you Enjoy!

Fun for the School Holidays

Hello, my name is Bryony, I'm thirteen years old (and will be 14 next week, yipee) and I am lucky enough to be the daughter of Tracey who owns the, Owl and Sewing Cat shop in Eastbourne. She has always encouraged me to do more sewing and be creative, so when my friend and I showed a great interest in sewing last year and were keen to do and learn more it help to inspire her, along with Kirstie Allsopp's Home Made Home programme, to open a shop. She now sells a variety of fun, colourful and new fabrics and holds lots of workshops where you can make patchwork cushions, tote bags, envelope cushions and more in Eastbourne.

With the school holidays upon us I thought would write this blog to give all those young inspiring sewers like me, some ideas to keep busy in the holidays. This is my first ever blog and so I hope you find it helpful. If anyone makes any of these ideas it would be lovely to see some photos, please email to info@owlandsewingcat.com or pop into the Eastbourne shop where we can take a photo for you for our facebook page to share your ideas.

The above picture shows the Beginner Sewing kit that has a different selection of materials, ribbons, threads etc, as well as a lovely sewing box house. This kit can be used as a fun and creative way to spend the Easter holiday, so much can be made from this kit; for example you could make a book cover, brooch, customise clothes and bags and many other basic projects. This great new kit can be brought at the shop for £19.99 includes needle, pins, thread, brooch backs, labels, buttons, felt, various fabrics, ribbons, rik rac, safety pins, pom poms, house sewing box, each kit is individual with different fabrics. 






The Fairy Trinket Box is a great way to enjoy learning to hand stitch as well as making lovely birthday presents. It's really simple to make and suitable for very young sewers. £3.50.

 


This Felt Craft Cushion is avaible in various colours and styles and are excellent for jazzing up your beds or sofas. Everything is included and easy to follow instructions which is also great for the younger sewers and well as adults!! £8.50


Here is another beginner kit but this one is for a felt shoulder bag which again comes in different colours and is a fun way to enjoy and learn how to handstitch. Earlier this year it was my youngest cousin's Birthday and we gave her one of these shoulder bags, she had never sewn before but found this project fun and easy and couldn't wait to do more sewing as soon as she finished. £8.50.



Small felt decorations are sold in shapes of leaves, flowers, bees, houses, deers and hearts. These can easily be stuck, glued or stitched on and can be used to decorate, redesign and style other items, the best thing to attach these to are felt bags as shown above. These bags are perfect for collecting eggs in an Easter Egg Hunt so they are great presents to give children this Easter. Bags from £2.99 and felt decourations 25p each

I often find that I have lots of spare odd buttons that I don't have any use for but there are lots of objects and accesories that can be made and decorated with buttons. They can just simply be sewn onto clothes or you can be more creative and thread them onto ribbon to make a bracelet or neckless. You could thread them onto thin wire and bend it into a shape and hang it off a door handle by some ribbon, as shown above, another way to use up your buttons is to stick them around a photo frame or a note book cover. In owl and sewing cat we have loads of jars of yummy coloured buttons in all various shapes and sizes and costing 10p each so some in and have a good rumage through them and select your favourite.

Using Bond-A-Web is a fantastic way to decorate your clothes. All you need is a cheap plain t-shirt, bond-a-web and some small fabric. Cut a square of fabric and square of bond-a-web the same size and iron togeather. Then cut into your desired shape, peel the back of the bond-a-web and place on t-shirt and iron to fix it in place, this can now be machine washed without any problem. Thats all you need to do to create your own t-shirt, so have some fun and be creative. For a demo just ask in store

Bond-a-web is £2.50/m and great fun.

Cute and cuddly soft toys can be made out of many different materials and old items of clothes including socks which seem to be the most effective way to make stuffed animal toys. I had great fun making the small pig shown above out of two odd socks and a couple of buttons and the book Stray Sock Sewing shows how to make loads of animals out of a couple of socks, it also teaches you various ways and techniques of handstiching. If you dont want to use your socks we do have them in 'owl and sewing cat' for £1 each.

I hope you have fun trying out these new, fun ways of using up your scraps, spare buttons and old clothes, plus trying out new projects and kits. Have a great school Holiday and hope to see you in the Eastbourne shop!

Many thanks, Bryony

Tutorial: Quick and easy envelope cushion

Requirements:
Fabric 40”x 16.5”
16” cushion pad
Sewing machine
Tape measure
Scissors
Pins


1. Cut a length of fabric 40” wide by 16.5” long, and lay with right side down, so the wrong side is therefore facing you. Then mark with pins 12" in from each end along the width, on the top and bottom edge, as shown below:

2. On both ends (the shorter sides) turn and press the edge under by approx ½”. Then turn under again approx ½” and press. Then stitch in a straight line along the edge as shown below, and repeat this process on both short ends.

3. Fold over both sides of the fabric, right sides together, to the pin points earlier put in place and pin along the top and bottom edge. This will mean that there is an overlap in the centre, and the fabric now forms a square shape. Then machine stitch a straight line along the top and bottom edge using a 1/4” seam allowance as shown below:

4. Then turn inside out, so that the right side fabric is on the outside and press the seams. Then put the cushion pad in through the overlap, and your cushion is complete. If you wish decorative bows, buttons or ties can be added across the overlap. 

HAPPY SEWING