Tutorial: How to Make Fabric Banner

It's the typical end of the year craziness when school project, report, test, and presentations are due on top of the usual: teaching, cooking, cleaning, laundry-ing, and carpooling by the end of the day I am too tired to do anything else but sleeping.

On Mother's Day, I wanted to sew something that I have been wanting to make for a long time: fabric banner. There are probably tons of tutorial out there but I just want to go right into sewing so I did it my way.

First, make a triangle pattern on paper. The one I make was 7 inches wide then mark the middle point at 3.5 inch:


then go straight down to the 7.5 inch mark. Connect the points then you get your triangle:


fold the fabric then use fabric marker to copy the pattern to your chosen fabric. I used 6 different fabrics but you can use less of more as prefer.


I make four two-sided triangles with each fabric


the folded one looks like this:


iron them one by one:


then arrange them in a way you want it to be displayed:
 

put them on top of each other:


then start sewing the sides on zig-zag mode {or use serger if you own one}




I happened to have a left over 1 inch fabric rope to sew them on:


Fold it into half and iron:


Open the fold, sew  the triangle at the folding line:


then fold the rope back and sew again:


That's it. I am done:


It brighten up the room and never fail to make me smile every time I see it.  Didi even requested me to make one for his room.


Now you can make one for yourself. ;)

The Everyday Tote

Since the burglar took my old purse and bag (picture below), I had been looking for replacement bag that can fit a regular size folder, 15 inch laptop, and books.


I couldn't find one that I like and fit my budget so I thought I should try to make one myself. I made it and was pretty happy with it until Chris pointed out that the faux leather wasn't lining up perfectly. It doesn't bother me so much so I am still using it but it was a good feedback. I made another one for a dear friend of mine.


The inside: polka dots lining, large pocket for small things like keys, pen, lip balm, etc and magnetic button for closure.

I made the handle long enough so it can be hung over the car's head rest
It is not perfect but I like the fact that it's useful, practical, light, and can be thrown in the washer. Yayyy!!!

Introducing: Cherished Goods

A few years ago, I learned how to make rice heat pads to warm up my feet during cold nights. Since then, my boys and I use them every.single.day during cold winter months. I then started making these as gifts to friends and family. Some of them asked if I would sell it so they can have more than one.

Inspired by a book written by TOMS' founder: Start Something that Matters, Cherished Goods was born.

Now that my boys are a little bit older, more independent, and can help out. I thought it’s time to start creating and giving.
 
 My goal is to create useful, practical, and lovely cherished goods that bring smile and make a difference in people life starting with these microwavable rice heating pads. 

Each one is made with 100% soft cotton flannel fabric and filled with rice, lavender flowers, and eucalyptus essential oil.
 

PS: During the month of December with each item you purchase, you are also providing a warm meal for homeless men, women, or children in our local community.

All items are shipped priority mail, which takes on average 3-4 business days to arrive.

We only make limited numbers of these. So grab some while it last!

Go here to order your feet warmer or multi-purpose heating pads.

Thank you for your support!

What I Sewed Lately

Most of the time, I use my sewing machine for mending/ altering purpose, which are not that interesting to look at. Occasionally, I get to sew a few pretty things:

#1 Bolster Covers for my talented baker friend, Bertha. After all the wonderful cakes she made for my kids, this is the least I could do for her.

#2. Beach Towel Patchwork. We were given this Beach Towel as gift. I thought I could make it prettier with the left over fabrics I have.

Sewing: How to fluff stuffed animal

After 5+ years of daily hugs and cuddles, Max's beloved lovey turned flat:

Sewing: Reversible Vest

We attended two weddings of our dear friends last month and Max was given the privilege and honor to be the ring bear on both weddings. The weddings were two weeks apart so I decided to make a reversible vest to make it work for both occasions.

Sewing: Pajama Pants

In the beginning of last year, I wrote 12 new things I want to learn that year  and sewing pajama pants is one of them.  

I used my old pajamas pants as pattern. Then followed the tutorial here.

Sewing: Pretty Totes for the Aunties

I was going to make this for Nana when she came last May but it didn't happen. So happy that I can finished it before her birthday.

Sewing: Patchwork Potholder

I found this book at the library one day.

After drooling over so many cute projects I decided to make the Patchwork Pot Holders as thank you gifts for my baking friends for making my boys' birthday cake. Step by step tutorial can be found in the book: Zakka Style by Rashida Coleman-Hale. A little correction of the tutorial and the binding instructions can be found here

How I Chose My Sewing Machine

Besides cloth diapering, the most frequent question I got is what I sew with. I don't know why I never done a post about it. I think it's personal preference like some people love Nikon some prefer Canon; some chose Honda some prefer Toyota; some heart Kitchen Aid some love Bosch.... you get the point.

If you got one already and happy with it please don't send me a hate e-mail. I am just sharing how and why I chose mine. :)

DIY: Sperm Whales

This is one of those projects that's totally unnecessary but so rewarding. I found this book at the library.

How to patch a hole in pants

Max came to me one day, "Mama there are holes in my pants. Can you fix it?"
I love making things with my sewing machine but 50% of the time I use it for shortening pants, re-purposing, or patching holes like this.

Home Tour: Sewing Corner

We live in a two bed rooms condo so our space is pretty limited and we make use every corner in our house in order to make it work for us. I love small space though and don't mind living in smaller one especially after seeing this lovely 665 ft. cottage:

Superhero Cape

I have been wanting to make one of those superhero cape for the boys after seeing the cover of this book:

I think every boy NEEDS one of those don't you agree?

A few pillows update

Our sofa continually evolved over the year.
First, he got red pillows
Before:

Then I added the quilt and chevron pillows because the leather makes it too cold to sit on during winter
Progress:

Suspender and Bow Ties

Two months ago, our dear friends got married and the bride trusted me to make the suspender and bow tie for her cute ring bearer.

I followed the tutorial to make the suspender here. The only thing I did differently was putting the elastic inside the fabric. 

Shoulder Heatpad

A friend of ours got into biking accident and had to go through a shoulder surgery. Even after a month, the pain was still unbearable at times. I thought of making a shoulder heat pad similar to the regular heat pad I used to make. The only different is the size {I made it larger: 10 x 17} and stitches in the middle parts to keep the rices in place {got the inspiration from this etsy shop}

It's turned out to be quite tricky. I had to stitch the vertical lines first then filled them with rice column by column, stitched horizontally, filled the next row with the rice, stitched again, and so on.

Shark Tank Inspired Towel

A few months ago I saw a great Beach Towel design on Shark Tank. Since I have plenty of towels {thanks to my mom who always brought some when she came to visit us} I decided to make two for the boys. All I did was joining by sewing together two medium size towels except the middle part that way the head can get in.  For the neckline, I use elastic for Wes' towel and cute monkey button for Max:

Sewing: Chevron Pillows

When my mom came to visit us last year she commented that the the sofa quilt does work but I need to make some more pillows that way our back would feel comfortable too. I think she was right so I was delighted when I found comfortable pillow inserts at IKEA. I use the envelope-backed pillow cover tutorial on Martha Stewart's site to make these pillows.

Sewing: Ottoman Cover

We love this lovely Tidny fabric from Ikea. Supposedly, you can color it with fabric markers. We bought some for the Playhouse and still have about one yard left over so I thought I can use it to make an ottoman cover: