Chicken Baskets

This post will show you how to create a chicken basket. 

This is a really easy project and should take only about half an hour to an hour, depending on your skill level.

First, print and cut out the patterns.

Pattern Piece One

Pattern Piece Two

I suggest not cutting the batting to precisely the shape.  You can trim it down at the end. 

Start by putting the right sides together of the fabric and linking with the batting on top.  sew them together, trim and turn right side out.  Do this for the other side, the oval and the beak as well. 

With the right sides together, take the two chicken pieces and sew them together.  Leave the bottom and the back of the chicken open to create the basket.

Sew the oval piece onto the bottom

See the opening?

Stitch on the eyes.  I did this at the end so they were placed  precisely.  You may want to add the eyes before sewing the pieces together.

Stitch the beak on.  If you used batting in the middle, you wont have to stuff it.

And done!

Dr. Who Tardis: Progress Shots

My son's best friend wanted a tardis for his birthday.  He didn't give me much to go on, so I took off with the project!  I do not have a pattern to share, I made it up on the spot.  However, it is mostly geometrical with details so it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.  Here is my process:

Here are the pieces.  The accent pieces on the tardis are black strait stitches sewn on.  I added the windows and the window details along with the top black strip.  I debated hand stitching "Police Public Call Box" along it, but thought that I would need more planning than I had time for.

The other pieces of the tardis: the bottom, top pieces and the velcro strip to close it.

Sew the pieces together and turn them right side out.  Don't forget to sew the velcro strip on - and check that it is facing the correct piece and will correspond with the other side of the velcro.

Put the insides in.  I used plastic canvas but I feel that it wasn't stiff enough and would choose something else next time.  Hand sew closed.

Here are the top pieces.  The little piece was a plus sigh shape that I sewed windows onto and stitched up the sides.  The middle piece is a square with one inch sides.

Pin the middle piece to the top piece.  hand stitch in place leaving a small opening. 

Stuff slightly and stitch closed.

Stitch top piece on and stuff.

hand sew the four sides together

Closer view

Here it is stitched together.  Make sure not to stitch the door closed.

Stitch on top and bottom - don't stitch the door.  Make sure it can still swing.

Finished product

The birthday boy with his new Tardis!  It was definitely bigger than I first thought it would be! (as most of my projects are)

First look at his new Tardis.

Custom Plush My Little Pony

It is no secret that I love my little pony.  I have been wanting to make a plush pony for a while now, and decided to make one for my niece for her birthday.  The pony is made of fleece.  I hand sewed the eyes and cutie mark.  Since it was for my niece I made the mane and tail strips instead of a formed hair style as many custom ponies are.  My next pony will have that hair style.

I used this pattern from Deviant Artist Jackiekie.  It worked very well.  Next go around I will play around with the face shape, so keep tuned!

My pony ended up being about 16 inches tall.

Wrist Rest: Comfort at the Computer - Pattern

I made a few wrist rests for my family this weekend.  They are very easy to make and I can't use a computer without one!

Print this as a full 8x10 page.

To make your own, print out the template.  Cut out two of the shape.  I suggest using interfacing on the inside.  Leave an opening.  Turn right side out and fill with (uncooked, dry) rice.  If you do not use the interfacing, the rice may leave chalky residue that seeps through.  Interfacing will fix this.  Sew up the hole by hand and done!

You can also use those plastic pelts as filling - anything that is small and comfortable to lay your arm on.  Rice is the least expensive option. 

One side of my wrist rest

The other side

My son's wrist rest in action

Helpful Craft/Sewing Tips

Did you know that I post tips and updates on projects on my facebook page?  Follow me to see!
https://www.facebook.com/AmberingAlong

Yesterday I gave tips on creating your own pattern.  Check it out!

Minecraft Creepers

My son is really into Minecraft so I figured it was time to make some creepers.

These guys are about 15" tall and made from fleece.  I was very happy that they even stood up on their own!  I'm selling these at craft fairs for $15 each.  I am even making a large size.  I'll post pictures when those are done :)

How to Sew Circles with your Sewing Machine without any special tools

I love the look of circles in sewing.  They look very complex and difficult if done right.  Done wrong, and they just look like a mess.

I recently tried a new technique for sewing circles that I want to share.  It worked beautifully and was so easy!

Beautiful, precise circles!  I sewed 4 place mats with 3 circles each in just over an hour.

To get started, you need one tack with a flat(ish) back.  These tacks have a bit of a curve on the back and they worked just fine.  you also need duct tape. 

This image is blurry, but it was the best I could get.  Put the tack face up on your sewing machine and cut tape in place, sticky side down.  My sewing machine doesn't have much room to the left of the needle so I chose to go to the right of it.  It would have been easier had I gone to the left instead, but this worked just fine.

Choose your stitch (I did a zig zap with metalic thread).  Sew slowly making sure that the fabric is not loose.  The pin will pivot the fabric sewing a complete circle that matches up exactly.  I sewed the circles 3 times to get some bulk on the circle. 

Beautiful!

The back view

If you want to sew fabric circles, simply cute a piece larger than you need and add it to the pin.  Sew a strait stitch over the fabric in the circle shape.  Trim off the excess around and zig zag around the raw edge of the sewed on circle.