CasaSugar

Weekend DIY: Retrotastic Camera Bag

Kelly Schwarze — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:17:17 PDT

We get a little excited about all things photography and DIY around here, so naturally this cut-and-sew retro camera bag from Happysewlucky is next on our growing craft to-do list.

To make this plush bag version of the iconic blue Diana lomography camera, purchase a fat quarter piece of the fabric ($17) with the camera components already printed and ready to sew into place. Then follow Happysewlucky's step-by-step tutorial on transforming the fabric into a retro wonder.

DIY: Make a Sewing Kit in a Mason Jar

Casa Community — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:41:03 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member Funkytime from the Su Casa group:

So today we have a sewing kit in a jar!

You will need:

- Jars

- Fabric

- Batting

- Spray Paint

- Hot Glue

For more pictures and instructions, go here!

A good day everyone!

xoxo, Sibylle

Do you have a smart DIY up your sleeve? Share it with the Su Casa group!

DIY: Christmas Tree Pillow

Casa Community — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:00:00 PST

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member dsmendes from the Crave Worthy Creations group:

While searching for inspiration for a pillow, I stumbled upon an adorable tree pillow. The Woodland Forest in Moss Green and Olive pillow is from Etsy designer allisajacobs and her other designs are just as unique! Since I purchased fabric to make my own pillows, I used this design as my inspiration.

I was making this pillow from scratch, so I purchased a 12"x16" pillow form and the white cotton fabric to make a cover. I pulled out my sewing guide (Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts) and followed the directions to make an envelope-backed pillow cover, so that I can change the cover after different holidays. Then, I picked three print fabrics that look good together and could be used for trees. Walking on the crazy edge of crafting, I just cut out three triangles without using a template and hoped for the best. I didn't worry too much about perfectly straight lines. Because the pillow cover was already sewn together, I chose to glue the trees and stumps directly on the pillow using Dritz Heat Set Glue and an iron. Then, I used the tip of the scissors and frayed the edges. See step-by-step instructions on my blog.

Have you been doing any holiday crafts lately? Be sure to share your projects in the Artists and Crafters group!

Artist of the Day: Miyuki Sakai

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:30:00 PDT

I spotted this spread in the June issue of Martha Stewart Living and fell absolutely in love. San Francisco-based, Osaka-bred artist Miyuki Sakai creates these gorgeous sewing illustrations with nothing but a sewing machine, a straight stitch, and 200 different colors of thread. For the issue, Sakai created beautiful floral plate illustrations, which I think would make a wonderful trompe l'oeil effect on a placemat or tablecloth. But she also sews still life, street life, and portrait illustrations which are equally charming hung in a frame or stitched to a pillow. Here are a few of my favorites.

View 5 Photos ›

OnSugar Blog: Homemade Designer Burp Cloths

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 04:00:00 PDT

Lots of moms think out loud, and SugarKat does too. Baby Burp Cloths comes from the Crafty McCrafterson blog at OnSugar.

I have a bunch of fabric that I bought thinking I was going to make blankets and stuff, but really, I'm not there yet. So, I bought some diaper burp cloths and decided to dress them up with some snugly flannel fabric.

What you'll need:

Iron
Fabric
Sewing Machine with thread
Burp Cloths

Measure out the fabric with the burp cloth
Cut the fabric and fold the edges and iron
Sew the edges to the burp cloth
Cut the strings and voila!
Then make more and they will make great shower gifts for expecting moms!

Read the entire post (including step-by-step photo instructions) here. Want to see more? Start following OnSugar blog Crafty McCrafterson or start your own OnSugar blog.

DIY: Make a Valance Out of a Dust Ruffle

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:00:00 PDT

Here's a post from OnSugar blog Crafty McCrafterson:

Since Izzy's new room has a dresser under her bed, we decided to use the dust ruffle to make the valance.

What you need:

Iron
Sewing Machine
Curtain Rod
Drill
Screws and the like

Continue reading to learn the steps.

Cool Idea: Reinventing the Sewing Wheel

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:00:00 PDT

I'm a sucker for most things antique, especially if they have a seamstress slant. While my settee may be my fave flea market find, my retired Singer table is right behind it. What has been keeping it in second place is the impracticality of it. I adore the original black sewing machine with golden accents, but unfortunately it doesn't make for an easy place to store much. Alas, I was introduced to a Singer revival that has me scavenging for a suitable table top.

The cute Sonoma shop The Loop displayed some jeans, a bowl, and other knickknacks on a table that was crafted from a Singer table base and an old table top. Simple enough to construct, all you need are the two pieces and, depending on the fit, potentially a few nails and maybe some wood glue. If I can find the right topper, my old iron-based clothes-maker may be taking the top spot and pushing my settee down the list.

What do you think of the table that reinvents the sewing wheel?

DIY: Appliqué Throw Pillow

Casa Community — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member nancita from the Art(ist)s & Craft(er)s group:

I am not an expert crafter, but I have a friend who is, and she has started hosting a Craft Happy Hour, where she teaches her noncrafty friends to sew, using a different project each month. Food and drinks are served, hence the "happy hour."

My first time using a sewing machine ever (!), we made these throw pillows with self-made appliques. I didn't think I could do it, but it was surprisingly easy and oh so cute. My pillow is now proudly displayed on my bed, so you know it wasn't a total disaster. Here's how to do it:

What you need:

A 14" x 14" pillow form
At least 15" x 15" of fabric for the front panel
At least 21" x 15" of fabric for the two back panels
An image printed for your appliqué. The image is best as a silhouette (search Google Images for basic art) and printed to the size you want it to be on the pillow. I chose a maple leaf, while another friend used a goose (at right).
A coordinating fabric for your appliqué big enough to fit your image (could match the back panels or not)
A coordinating thread in a color that you want to border your appliqué
Enough Wonder Under for your appliqué

To learn the steps,

How to do it:

Cut the front panel and two back panels of the pillow cover to size.
Cut the appliqué fabric to a square a little larger than your image.
Cut a piece of Wonder Under slightly smaller than your appliqué fabric square.
Iron the Wonder Under to the wrong side of your appliqué fabric square. Peel off the paper backing of the Wonder Under.
Draw/trace your image on to the wrong side of the fabric, on top of the Wonder Under adhesive.
Cut out your image silhouette to create your appliqué.

Iron the appliqué on to the front panel of your throw pillow cover in your desired location.
With a narrow, short zig-zag stitch, sew around the border of the appliqué with your sewing machine with a thread color of your choice, coordinating or contrasting.

Now prepare your back panels. Fold the short side of one panel under once, then iron the fold line. Fold the short side of the other panel under twice for a double fold, then iron the fold line.
Hem the double-folded panel close to the inside edge of the first of the two folds.
Lay your front panel on a flat surface, right side up. Lay your double-folded panel right side down on top of the front panel. The long side should be vertical and the unfinished end should line up against one edge of the front panel. Lay the single-folded panel right side down on top of the other two pieces of fabric. The long side should also be vertical with the unfinished edge against the opposite edge of the front panel than the first back panel is lined up with. The two back panels should make a square the same size as the front panel with your finished edges overlapping in the middle.
Pin all the way around the border of the pillow cover catching all pieces of fabric.
Sew all the way around the border with the appropriate size seem allowance.

Trim your corners close to the seem with three snips each. Turn the case right-side-out and use a point turner or pen to clean-up your corners and get them nice and pointy.
Stuff your pillow cover with your pillow form.
Voila! You have a throw pillow cover accented with a self-made appliqué! Congratulations!

Behold the proud pillow makers! Note: Three of us had never really sewn before at all.

Have you been doing any crafting of your own lately? Be sure to post photos and tales to the Art(ist)s & Craft(er)s group!

How-To: Curtain a Room For Under $20

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:00:27 PST

The other day, I tweeted about the awesome sale Ikea was having on some of its fabric. We're talking 99 cents a yard here, people! That is really, really cheap. And while I love my Amy Butler fabric, it often runs around $14 a yard. Since I've been looking for fabric for curtains for my soon-to-arrive baby's room, and since those five windows in the room require about 17 yards of fabric, it was hard for me to justify expensive fabric.

So, imagine my delight when I found this great graphic-patterned brown and white fabric. It's part of the Petronella line of fabric at Ikea, and is usually $5.99 a yard (on sale now for 99 cents a yard). While this fabric is quite narrow (18 inches wide), it's already hemmed on the sides with a contrasting brown border. This helped to make my curtain-making project a relative snap. In fact, the hardest part of the job was taking down the ugly white blinds that had been hanging prior to this project!

Tell me, do you buy fabric at Ikea? If so, what projects have you whipped up with it?

View 5 Photos ›

Have You Ever Sewn a Slipcover?

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:00:07 PST

Slipcovers are certainly a more affordable alternative to having your furniture reupholstered. But ready-made slipcovers rarely fit well, and store-bought slipcovers (say from Pottery Barn) can cost a small fortune, too. So if you've got sewing skills, sewing your own slipcover is a smart alternative. Unfortunately, the tedious task is not for the easily irritated. Have you ever sewn one?

Source: Flickr User So Sylvie