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Practical PDF Sewing Patterns

in 52 Week Sewing Challange· 52 Week Sewing Challenge - 2020· Arts and Crafts· Flosstyle Patterns· Sew For kids· Star Shorts

Sewing Challenge 2020 – Week 8

This weeks challenge: Pinterest Nailed It
Accepted/Rejected: Accepted

This week I wanted to try something a bit different, I found the pants below while looking on Pinterest and decided I would have a go at lino printing/stamping to create my own fabric. I remember at high school we had to make a lino print as part of our art class assignment but we printed it on to paper not fabric.

I found some rubber blocks and carving tools at Spotlight that looked perfect for what I was wanting, the rubber blocks were thicker than the lino tiles I used in high school but that made it easier to hold when stamping the fabric. They were also much softer than the lino tile which made carving them easier as well.

I found a dog picture that I liked online and printed it out, then traced it onto tracing paper and flipped it over onto the rubber block and pressed to transfer the design onto the block. I then used the tools to carve away the parts of the design I didn’t want to be printed. (This was a little hard because in drawing and painting you add the parts you want so it took a little bit to wrap my head around)

Once the design was carved I started testing it and removing a little more in the parts I wasn’t happy with and then I was ready to start printing onto my fabric. I traced out my pattern pieces onto the fabric so I was able to see were the prints would end up once the shorts were complete.

I mixed a regular acrylic paint with fabric medium to make the finished design washable and stamped my design onto the fabric. I made one pair with the design the same way up and reapplied paint between every stamp, the other pair I changed the design around and reapplied paint less often. I am very happy with how they turned out and the boys love them, so thats the most important part. I also got these amazing labels from Kylie and the Machine to add a finishing touch.

I am hoping to have a go at potato stamping in the next few weeks with the kids as well. Have you tried stamping/printing your own fabric? I would love to see photos if you have.

Happy Sewing
xx Gail

in Flosstyle Patterns· Sew For kids· Tidy Travel Tote

The Tidy Travel Tote – Newborn sewing series

I started my TTT on a Monday. I watched Gail’s Youtube Sew Along day by day. The Sew Along videos made the process of sewing super enjoyable and not overwhelming.

I used what fabric and supplies I had on hand. If you sew non-clothing items regularly, then chances are you have all the supplies needed. The only part I was missing was enough fabric. As it was a gift from a friend I couldn’t get more, sigh! So, no matching changing mat yet! I’m sure plan blue or pink would work just fine.

I really enjoyed Day 2  – Gail’s method of sewing the curved flap and wipes pouch curve, in one step is way better than pinning and cutting, pinning and sewing fiddly pieces together (Timestamp 9.25 )

I made a fabric option adjustment using PUL for the lining of my optional inside pocket pouch. Like a mini wet bag for soiled clothes or a cloth nappy. It wasn’t the easiest fabric to sew seeing it has a waterproof backing. My one sewing friend recommended tissue paper and that solved the stitch skipping issue.

I really loved making my TTT for my daughter on the way. My next sew in the “Newborn series” is the Itty Bitty! Stay tuned.

XOXO Tash

in 52 Week Sewing Challange· 52 Week Sewing Challenge - 2020· Costumes· Flosstyle Patterns· Sew For kids· Sprouts· Twigs· Ventura Lite

Sewing Challenge 2020 – Week 6

This weeks challenge: Heart
Accepted/Rejected: Accepted

So initially I thought this weeks challenge was great for me because my son’s daycare are having are having a dress up day for Valentines Day. But after talking to him about what he would like dress up as he decided he would like to be a Valentines Super Hero, with a cape. Do you know what that looks like?? Because I was over here scratching my head for a quite awhile.

After some more chatting we decided on some Sprouts Twigs like the ones I made for Book Week last year but in red and a red cape to match.

I was already planning on making a Valentine’s Shirt after I saw something similar and the little monster approved it to be a part of his costume. The Ventura is perfect for iron on decals.

Here he is all dressed up and ready to go to daycare for the day.

Happy Sewing
xx Gail

in 52 Week Sewing Challange· 52 Week Sewing Challenge - 2020· Flosstyle Patterns· Sew For kids· Ultimate Bucket Hat

Sewing Challenge 2020 – Week 3

This weeks challenge: Headwear
Accepted/Rejected: Accepted

I have had these two bucket hats sitting here for a little while now and the kids have been super patient waiting for them to be done, so I thought this week would be the perfect time to get them finished.

The kids were super excited that their hats were finally finished and couldn’t wait to wear them.

Now if only I could get around to finishing all the other half finished projects sitting on my sewing desk. How many unfinished projects do you have?

Happy Sewing
xx Gail

in Freebies· Printable· Sew For kids

Super Fun Games to Play with Bean Bags with a Free Printable

Bean Bags are a super versatile toy and the number of ways to play with them is limited only by your imagination. I have put together a list of our favourites and created a free printable booklet (you can find the link at the bottom of the post) so you can have them all in one handy place. It’s also perfect to add to add as part of a gift.

Free printable booklet full of games to play with bean bags. Perfect to add to a gift of handmade bean bags for a birthday present.

Want to play the games but don’t have any bean bags? Head over to the Make Your Own Bean Bags Tutorial.

Bean Bag Games

Target Toss:
Scatter the printable targets on the ground, with lowest points closest to the throwing line. Take turns tossing bean bags and trying to land on the targets.
Increase the challenge by placing the targets inside objects such as a bucket or pot.

Walk the Line:
For this activity you will need a piece of rope, lay the rope in a straight line on the ground. Balance a bean bag on your head and try to walk along the rope without it falling off.
Ideas to make it harder are to balance a second bean bag on top of the first, pick up an object along the way, add turns or waves to the rope line or try a heel to toe walk.

Walk the Line Bean Bag Game, part of the free printable booklet at flosstyle.com

Fill the Bucket:
Place a pile of bean bags on one side of the yard and a bucket on the other, move all the bean bags to the bucket one at a time. You can make this a race with more than one child by giving them each a bucket to fill and see who gets the most. Or for one child change the way they have to get to the bucket each time eg. crawl, hop, jump, walk backwards etc.

Juggling:
Start with one bean bag and toss it up and catch with the other hand. Once this can be done add a second bean bag and toss both to the other hand at the same time. Then add the third bean bag, for this to work your riming needs to be spot on, you will need to be catching with one hand, while tossing with the other and have one bean bag still in the air ready to catch.

Free printable Bean Bag Games: Try and hit the targets to get the most points

Tossing:
Start by tossing the bean bag into the air and then catching it, once you can do this easily try some of these ideas; toss the bean bag higher into the air, try to toss and catch the bean bag with only one hand, toss with one had and catch with the other or add a clap after tossing the bean bag and before catching, see how many claps you can add and still catch the bean bag.
Ultimate challenge: Try throwing up the bean bag and then catch it on the back of your hand. Throw it up from the back of the hand, and catch again. Can you toss it from the back of one hand to the other hand? And then back again?

Jumping Beans:
Scatter the bean bags on the floor. Pick up one and toss it into the air. With the same hand, pick up another bag and transfer it to your other hand. Repeat until you have all bean bags in one hand, and catch the thrown beanbag in the other.

Read to start playing? Download the printable booklet. You can fold the pages together to make a booklet or cut each on out and punch a hole in the corner and tie together with string or ribbon.

Bean Bag Games Free Printable from flosstyle.com

in Freebies· Sew For kids· Sewing with Kids· Tutorials

Free Bean Bag Tutorial

We have been invited to a birthday party later this month and I wanted to sew something for the birthday boy that he could play with.

Bean bags are the perfect classic toy for kids of almost all ages. They are simple and open ended toys that can be used in so many different ways. They can not only be used for stacking, tossing and catching, this colourful collection can also be used for educational play such as colour recognition, matching, and counting.

Before I had even finished sewing these Parker was trying to run away with them, so I decided to make him his own set while I was at it.

I used heat transfer vinyl (HTV) to make the letters and numbers on my bean bags. You can cut these from HTV and iron on or make fabric appliques.

You could also try using fabrics with different textures, such as minky, satin, cord etc to turn the bean bags into sensory toys.

You will need:

-Fabric
-Filling (Rice, Plastic Pellets, Corn etc)

How to make them:

I used 6″ squares for the large bean bags and 4″ squares for the smaller ones. (You can use smaller or larger squares to suit you)

Cut 2 matching squares for each of bean bags you’d like to make. (I chose a plain colour for one side and character print for the other.)

-If you are applying HTV or applique do that before sewing squares together.
-Place 2 squares right sides together and sew around the edges leaving a gap big enough to turn and fill.
-Snip the corners and turn out, use a chopstick to push out corners
-Top stitch the 3 sides of the bean bag that don’t have the gap on them.
-Fill the bag with filling of your choice and top stitch that side to close the bean bag.

Free Bean Bags Tutorial. Great for presents and educational play.

Each bean bag seam is double stitched to provide extra security against breakage. You should check your bean bags regularly for wear and loose stitching. If you have used an organic filling such as rice, be sure to store your bean bags where they won’t get wet.

You can find some great games to play with your bean bags and a free printable booklet which is great to add when giving these as a present by clicking the link.

Another great idea for a handmade present is the Ultimate Bucket Hat. You can find a complete tutorial on how to sew it here.

Happy Sewing
x Gail