Quick-Tip: How Much Fabric For Binding A Quilt?

I always use 2 1/2" wide strips for binding my quilts. 

Here's a formula to figure out how much fabric to purchase to bind your, well, any project that requires binding really! 

(width of quilt in inches + length of quilt in inches) times 2 + 24" = amount of inches for total binding. 

Divide the total by 40 and round up, that = the total amount of strips. Times that total by 2.5 and that = the amount of inches of fabric needed.

Make sense? Here's another way to look at it:

(width of quilt in inches + length of quilt in inches) x 2, + 24" = amount of inches for total binding.

Amount of inches for total binding divided by 40 = the total amount of strips to cut (round this # up if a decimal). 

(Amount of strips to cut) x 2.5" = amount of inches of fabric needed

Tutorial: Thanksgiving Banner

In trying to make my own Thanksgiving decor, here's a banner I made to hang on the wall. I only spent $0.74 on the burlap since I already had the other supplies!

Supplies:

4" Cut of Fabric (for the letters)

1/4 Yard of Applique

1/4 Yard of Burlap

1 1/2 Yards of Ribbon

Here's how I made it:

1. I grabbed a fabric I liked and ironed on applique to the wrong side. 

2. In Microsoft Word, I used "American Typewriter" font, size 250, and in Text Effects I picked an outline of the font for easy cutting. 

3. Trace the letters backwards onto the applique and then cut them out.

4. I also made my triangle shape in Microsoft Word using the Shapes button.

5. Then I cut out the burlap using my triangle pattern and sewed a 1/4" seam around the edges of them to prevent fraying. 

6. Peel off the applique and iron on the letters to your burlap.

7. Cut 1" straight lines into your triangles for the ribbon to go through.

8. String through the ribbon and you're done! 

Tutorial: Scrappy Thanksgiving Wreath

This Thanksgiving wreath is quick and easy to make, especially if you have a lot of scrap fabric! I wanted to decorate for Thanksgiving but didn't want to spend any money, so this is what I came up with: 

All you need is a hanger, fabric scraps, and fabric scissors.

1. Start with your hanger, bending it into a circle.

2. Cut your fabric into strips - I used different widths but kept the length at a foot.

3. Tie your fabric onto the hanger in square knots (right over left, left over right). Switch between colors in a random order and continue until your wreath is complete.

Feel free to trim up your fabrics if you want, and you're done!

Lady Bug Costume

I wanted to share my first homemade Halloween costume for my little girl! It came together nicely so I'd love to share how I made it. 

Sorry for the lack of a cute background, but we had to get in pictures before she ripped off any of the attire!

The hat is crocheted, with added crocheted black circles. The antennas are made using black pipe cleaners and are secured on the hat by threading them through the crocheted holes already there. 

I bought a plain red shirt and added black circles of felt that I cut out. I cheated and hot-glued them on instead of sewing since I was out of black thread!

The wings I found at a local thrift store for $1.00! But I can easily see them being made with hangers, red nylons (if there is such a thing), and some paint. The arm bands are elastic, covered with red fabric which stay on quite nicely.

The skirt is a piece of elastic measured to my daughters waist size, with black tulle and red fabric tied in knots around it. VERY easy and I'm sure you've seen the technique before. Then of course she has on black tights. 

This costume is custom made for the cold Utah weather! But as you can see it wouldn't be hard to make some changes if needed. In the meantime,

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Halloween Monster Wreath

My door needs to be re-painted, but hopefully that doesn't detract too much from my Halloween monster wreath! This didn't require any sewing as I used a hot glue gun for everything, but I thought it was cute and appropriate to blog about! 

I took a hanger, shaped it into a circle, took some feather boas, and wrapped them around it. You could do any color really but this is what I had in my craft bag. I made the "googly eyes" out of felt pieces, as well as the monster hands and tongue. The hands and tongue are hot glued onto the back of the wreath. 

It's that easy! I made it in one night, and it's something different than your usual Fall wreathes! Plus it would be a fun craft that your kids can help with.