Wind-sock

I had this coloured light cotton fabric cut up from a summer dress.

And I turned it into a wind-sock simply by sewing a square shut at the side, hemming the top and bottom. I inserted a wire coat hanger into the top hem. And attached scraps of matching fabric at the bottom. Light fabric that could billow in the breeze.

Then I simply got a thumbtack and stuck the fabric on to a stick!

Sewing Machine Cover

My sewing machine came with a light plastic Singer cover. I cut it up at the seams and used that as a pattern to make a new cover in a sewing-themed fabric.

The fabric is not my style really at all! I'm not a particularly pattern-friendly person. But it's a bit fun and fits the task...

I french-seamed it, and did it backwards on the side seams but that didn't matter.

And I made a really basic flaap for the handle-hole.

It keeps the dust off the top of the machine!

Nice little job for an hour on a Sunday.

What a difference a patterned fabric makes

I've moved house. Here's a pic of the window in the bathroom:

 It needs a blind. So I got a blind... plain white:

And then I added some fabric to it. I was pleasantly surprised by really how much of a difference the pattern makes:

From Ikea! The fabric and the blind itself.

"Meditate where you're at" cushion

I intend to meditate more often. So why don't I? I'm not a lazy person and I'm good at keeping my word - so usually when things aren't happening there's an explanation for it. And if I really truly intend or want to do the thing... then I should search for the reason that it's not happening.
I got a meditation chair, thinking that would entice me

 ... but I'm still not meditating. And I think it's because:

• it takes up a lot of space > so there aren't many options about where it can be
• the chair is a permanent fixture > I can't move it from place to place depending on where the sun shines or if one of the rooms in my place is occupied

For a while, I thought I wasn't using it because it had no cushions, but I made cushions so I had overcome that obstacle!
I'm staying away from home, alone on a semi "retreat"right now (which is why I'm thinking about meditating!) and I started scribbling and designing an idea for a "Meditate where you're at" cushion - because really all meditating requires is sitting on your bum on the floor and concentrating. I'm a big believer in posture; striking a pose has a huge effect so sitting on the couch wasn't working for me, I need to be crosslegged. The tiled floor is cold here and the cushions were too small... hence the requirement to design something.

I'm thinking it can fold.

The black line indicates a zip. And it's got a handle on it, not sure where yet

There's loads more work to be done! I'm writing about it here so I can throw out the scribbly bits of paper that I've been designing on!
For the filling, I researched some Ikea baby foam mattresses, Vyssa Slappna:
160x70x7 €30
120x60x5 €20
When I go home, I will ask someone to sit on some paper or fabric on the floor and draw around them to get the shape and dimensions.
Regarding the shape, I'm not fully decided on it yet, not entirely sure that I like the heart shape above. I had dismissed this shape, however, and focussed on progressing with the other, the folding etc is working out with the heart shape.

This is what happens with design - an idea must get discarded, sometimes for no valid reason other than a whim - but I suppose that's what designers are for, trusting their whims and following them!

Onion Bag

I bought a bag for storing onions. Like this one:

And it's been a really useful, tidy, functional addition to my kitchen.
When Derrybeg Farm needed to make up a hamper of goods to promote Community Supported Agriculture, I thought to contribute an onion bag. I had bought just the fabric for the job!

Bought on sale from The Eternal Maker: Abstract Onions by Kobayashi

It's a simple drawstring bag pattern. I think I used shoelaces for the drawstrings.

The shape/size/dimensions of my bag were influenced by the scrap of fabric which I had.

The professional bag which was my inspiration does have a zip in the size for easy access of onions if the bag is hanging, I didn't trouble myself with this. I wonder if the winner of the hamper minds! And if the bag gets used!

Sewing against the Clock

Dinner at my friend's last night... in exchange (teasing!) for setting up her sewing machine. The Ikea SY, I was very impressed with it.

And then a mini hot-water-bottle and fur-like fabric was produced; the grand plan was to make a furry cover for the hot-water-bottle.
Quick look at the train timetable. 35 minutes.

Train station is 18 minutes walk away. Can it be done? Sew a furry cover in 17 minutes?!

It felt like the last moments of an episode of the Sewing Bee. The pressure! Was quite fun. And I made the train.

Wipeable strap covers for Baby Car Seat

My friend came to me with a problem the other day. Her little girl isn't a good traveller and the straps of the car seat are difficult to clean.

Luckily, she had a spare strap to give me so I could use it for measurements while sewing the solution!

Coincidentally, my sister-in-law had bought some pink polka dot fabric in Germany. It has an oil-cloth-like texture.

I cut two rectangles, added velcro, stitched the edges. Hey presto. Mammy's life is made easier ;)

Simple Drawstring Bag

I thought I could teach myself sewing.
Drawstring bags... I thought I could do one of them very easily.
But all my attempts were failing. Something so simple was defeating me. There was one little key that I was missing.
This winter, living with my parents in the countryside with not much to do, I went to an adult education evening class in a nearby secondary school called "make your own clothes" and I picked up some basics. And the confidence to try a drawstring bag again.
Here's the key... a nip with the scissors where the cord-casing folds down.
The tutorial I used is on winkdesigns.typepad.com.

The fabric is 100% white cotton and 100% White Cotton Gütermann thread.
You may be able to see faint little butterflies on the white fabric? They are Sukie Iron-on transfers.

This particular drawstring bag is going to be used as a travelling laundry bag! Because I'm commuting from the countryside to work and I stay overnight in Dublin one or two nights a week.