Poinsettia Stitchery Kits

With snow on the ground and the neighbourhood decorations going up, it's starting to feel like it's time we get serious with our gift lists.  If you are like me, you want to include something hand made... or hand-makeable.  These small stitcheries work up very quickly, by hand or machine. (Mine are all done on the sewing machine).

A simple poinsettia shape is outline stitched in 12 weight Aurifil thread. You trace the design onto your fabric and layer with batting and backing as you would a quilt.  

Set your regular sewing machine up as for free motion quilting, and use either 40 or 50 weight thread in your bobbin.  For the needle, choose a size 100/16 TOPSTITCH needle, and thread your machine with the 12 weight thread.  It's always good to do a tension test before beginning;  you may need to lower your top tension just a smidge to accommodate the thicker thread. Then just colour on the lines with your thread. It's that simple!

This piece uses 3 colours of 12 weight - yellow, red, and green.  The background stitching is done with regular 50 weight thread.

I've made many of these, some for small candle mats and wall hangings, and some became cushions for Christmas décor.  This would look lovely as well stitched on a Christmas stocking.  Use your imagination!

I am happy to share the pattern, which I am including free of charge in a small kit which includes the three spools of thread and one size 16 needle, packaged in a Christmas  box ready for gifting.

You can find the kits on my website, at this link.  

Christmas Thread Set Gifties

 Last year, looking for quick and unique gifts, I stitched up this cute little poinsettia mat using Aurifil 12 weight thread. It was fun to do, and I ended up making several of them.

I printed the pattern and instructions, and put together little Aurifil thread kits, perfect for Christmas stitching and gifting. Last year these were the Christmas special at the various pop-up shops and venues where I was vending, but this year being what it is, they are now available from the website.  

These pieces have all been stitched on my regular domestic sewing machine, set up for free motion,  NOT on an embroidery machine.

You just trace the design onto your chosen fabric, layer the top on batting and backing,  and stitch on the lines. Regular 50 weight thread is used in the bobbin.  It's like colouring with thread instead of a crayon.

I've used the design both on cushions and small stitcheries which can be used as wall hangings or table mats.

 The sets come in two sizes:  the smaller contains 3 spools of 12 weight thread, a size 16 machine topstitch needle, as well as the printed pattern.  It's packaged in a gift box, all for the special price of $18.99. 

The larger set contains 3 big spools of Aurifil 12 weight, a size 16 topstitch needle, and the printed pattern, all for the special price of $39.99. 

You can order from the website for delivery across Canada, or pick up your order locally in one of these nifty reusable bags, sporting the Amherst logo (while quantities last.)

Find the goodies here: https://sew-karen-ly-created.square.site

Appliqué Outside The Box - Literally!

One of the catch phrases of the past few years is to do our thinking “outside of the box”. Who knew we could do our appliqué that way too?! These boxes make use of techniques familiar to quilters: turned-edge appliqué for the outside of the box, with a 1/4" seam allowance added...

and raw edge appliqué with no seam allowance if you wish to add a lining.

In our current trend of make-do and recycle, these really quick to make fabric gift boxes fit the bill nicely as fabric scraps left over from quilts may be used.

The first task is to assemble suitable boxes for covering. Boxes come in all shapes and sizes and with a little ingenuity most can be successfully appliquéd. My favourite ones to use are those with flaps which fold in to form the box lid, rather than those with a separate lid. Look in your cupboards (or browse Sobeys!) and you’ll see all kinds of interesting boxes.

Here are Wong Wing Chinese take out, Little Debbie cookie boxes, and an octagonal one for Compliments Sensations Pulled Pork Burgers. I admit some of this food I have purchased just to get the box…My boys haven’t yet made the connection that when I have a pair of socks needing a gift box, there are Swiss Rolls in the cupboard that week. Perfect fit :)

The two boxes to be covered in this tutorial are a Tetley Tea and a Wong Wing frozen entrée box. The fabric is from Nancy Halvorsen's "Tidings" collection by Benartex. It took less than an hour to complete both boxes. Basically, the cardboard boxes are opened flat and covered with fabric in the same way we work appliqué around a template. Fusible web secures the fabric to the box.

Once you have decided on a box, additional materials required are: fabric (large enough to accommodate your box, plus seam allowance), fusible web (the same size as your fabric), a hot iron (preferably with steam capabilities) and double sided tape or a hot-melt glue gun. I chose Steam A Seam 2 fusible web for this project as it is a bit thicker than some others.For those who attended my machine appliqué workshops during the Fibre Arts Festival earlier this month, the wooden applicator tool from your kit comes in very handy for turning the edges.

Open up the box by gently coaxing the flaps apart and trace around the edges on the paper side of your fusible web.

Roughly cut the fusible web approximately 1/2" past your traced lines and fuse it to your fabric. Cut your fused fabric approximately 1/4” past drawn lines. Clip into curves exactly as you would if you were doing turned edge appliqué. Removing backing from fusible web as you go, lay printed side (outside) of box on top of sticky side of fabric. Pat down, and turn edges under just as in appliqué using that nifty wooden tool. When it’s all smooth, flip the box over and steam press the fabric in place.

For the lining, remember that it needs to be traced in reverse – so flip the box over when tracing the lining on the fusible web. Cut shape out roughly - as above - and fuse to back of lining fabric. Cut approximately 1/8” inside your traced line. Lay lining in place to test for fit. Trim as needed to ensure it does not show on the outside of the box, remove paper backing and fuse in place.

To reassemble your box, press along original scored lines on cardboard. Fold back into shape. Secure using either double sided clear tape or hot melt glue between the flaps. If desired, before reassembling you may add appliqués to decorate your box. Apply fusible web to back of motif fabric, and cut out desired motifs. Open box out flat and fuse appliqués in place on box sides. Reassemble box as above.Yo-Yo's make a great decoration for your boxes also.

Simply trace a circle on your fabric, cut out, turn under 1/4" and hand stitch the hem using a long basting stitch. Pull up the threads and knot the thread to hold your circle. I traced around the outside of a roll of masking tape to create these large yo-yo's, which measure 1-1/2" across when finished.

And that's all there is to it! It's up to you to decide if these are boxes for holding gifts, or if the boxes ARE the gifts (much like James Thurber's Container For The Thing Contained conundrum *-). Either way, it's a quick and easy way to create a "quilty" Christmas gift.If you have enjoyed this tutorial, kindly leave a comment at the bottom of this post. We'd love to see pictures of any you make, just email them and they will be shared on this blog.