Tuesday, February 19, 2013

One of a Kind

Hi everyone, hope you had a great weekend.   We took the 45 minute drive up to Morro Bay as the weather in California was spectacular on Saturday.  If you have ever been to Morro Bay, chances are you were wearing a jacket and tennis shoes and stopping for hot chocolate since it can be very cool and foggy.
Not this weekend.
78 degrees and no fog in sight...in fact flip flops were the shoes of choice for the day!  Nice to have a relaxing morning to walk on the harbor and watch the boats go by.
Well on to todays tutorial...it's a simple sewing tutorial that I thought the Sewing Blueprint stamps would work great on.   Since I am on a Distress Paint kick, you know they are going to make an appearance.

I used the dabber top on the Distress Paint bottle to color the stamp.  Then stamped a couple images on muslin fabric so I would have more than one choice.  I am always surprised at how clear the paint will stamp on fabric with no bleed...really amazing.
I choose Barn Door which can be kind of deceiving.  At first it looks pinkish but as soon as it dries, it changes to a nice red color.  Don't let it fool you into thinking it's pink, because it's not.
 

I decided to make a cover for my sewing machine.  I started by cutting a piece of striped fabric 26 x 24".  I folded the fabric in half so that I had a piece 13 x 24", then sewed up the two sides.
Leaving it inside out, I tried it on the sewing machine to make sure it fit.
To make the box corner just leave it on the machine and pull the corner up (like it has ears).
Pin the corner where you will stitch.
Take it off the sewing machine and stitch across the triangle.  Don't sew over the pin, just pull it out before you get to it.  I like making a boxed corner with striped fabric since it gives you a stitching line.
 Cut the triangle off about 5/8" above the stitching line.
Turn right side out and put cover back on the machine to check for fit.  Done.
Next, add bias tape to the bottom edge of the cover.  I used 7/8” Wide Single Fold Bias Tape so I could get a wide  colored edge at the bottom of the cover.
photo via Simplicity
Stitch the bias tape to the edge of the WRONG side of the fabric. You are stitching right on the fold line, which makes it really easy to follow and keep your stitching straight.
 
Once you have stitched all the way around the circle you can move to the ironing board.  Here you will press the bias tape all the way around to the front side of the cover.
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Once pressed flat, stitch in place.
Now to add the stamped image.  I cut it out and pinned to the front of the cover.
Then stitched it on with the same red thread. You could fold the edge under for a cleaner look or pink it with pinking shears, even sew it with a zig zag stitch.  Lots of options for sewing the patch on.
As I said before, I used the 7/8” Wide Single Fold Bias Tape so I would have an extra wide edge at the bottom.  My idea was to use the Simple Sayings stamp set to stamp on the bias tape.  I chose a few stamps from the Simple Saying set, the small pointing finger from Warehouse District, and a small star from an tiny letter set I have had for about 100 years.  I am also using Black Soot Distress Paint.  The mister is in the picture to remind everyone to clean your stamps right after using.


I stamped along the edge following the same pattern.  I figured these were good words to use as everything I sew is "one of a kind"...you can never make anything exactly the same, even if you try right?  And "from the heart" just seemed like a great sentiment to go along with it.

At first I was worried there was too much of a bump under the bias tape (from the raw edge inside) to get a good stamp image but I was wrong.  As I stamped each time, I slightly rocked the stamp just a bit to make sure it was going over the bump.  Not one mess up or bad image.  Super happy with that.
I added a Trinket Pin and a bit of black ribbon to the corner of the stamped image.
Here is the finished cover.   Super easy project.
In addition, if you don't need a cover for your sewing machine, you can use the same concept to create a tote bag by just turning it over and adding handles.  You would just need to adjust the size measurements to make the bag.  Maybe that is another tutorial....

Cheers for a great week!
paula



32 comments:

  1. Paula, always loving your tutorials. So easy to understand and very inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to share.

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  2. Another beautiful project, Paula! Love the break out photos - thanks for sharing your creativity with us!

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  3. Love it! And actually I do need a cover for my sewing machine. Thanks once again for the inspiration --can't wait to get one made up!

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  4. Cool! The fabric stamping adds a wonderful bit of personal charm! Will the paint stampings hold up on fabric that will be washed also often?

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    1. Katalina Jewelry, I cannot answer that as I have only had the Distress Paints for a couple weeks. I will say that when I was doing the previous fabric test I got the image wet and scrubbed it for about 3 minutes just to see what it would do. The answer...nothing. It looked just the same as after I had stamped it.
      hope that helps
      paula

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  5. That is so cute and so awesome!! I don't know that I would have the courage to stamp on the binding after I had sewed it on, but seeing your results has really changed my mind! I can't wait to give it a try!

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    1. cynthia, I thought the same thing but NOT one problem at all and I did nothing special. I think because the Stampers Anonymous stamps are deeply etched in the red rubber, the stamp comes out cleanly every time.
      p

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  6. That looks so professional - thanks for sharing

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  7. Way too cool! Shall I send you the dimensions of my machine? *LOL*

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  8. what a great idea!! I shall have to buy enough material that when my sister visits from Ohio, she can mae one as well.
    Thank you for sharing,
    Donna in Ky.

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  9. This is so wonderful....but I'll bet that cover is rarely on the machine, as the machine is always in use! Just love it.

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  10. Such a cute cover! I would have never thought to combine sewing with stamping. Sew much fun!

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  11. Love, love, love THIS! The idea is adorable, and I just love the stamped image!

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  12. Truly awesome!!! You are so cleaver!!! I live in Redding and it was beautiful here too!! I go to Trinidad, Ca every chance I get, have been to Morro Bay once love it!

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  13. Best dressed sewing machine I've ever seen. Love the fabric.

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  14. Great project, but especially like the binding!! Great job.

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  15. How beautiful, Paula! I´ll try to make one for my sewing machine.

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  16. Super cute...my machine has cover envy!

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  17. Awesome oppossum. These stamp sets really made your cover special. I didn't know I could use TH paint of fabric. Now, I am going to have to try it. You are such an enabler.

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  18. Love your sewing machine cover. I need to make one for mine. Ooh, I wish I could have gone to Morro Bay too.

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  19. I always love blue and white ticking and this is just a perfect example. I love everything you did. The weather down south of you was beautiful too!

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  20. Beautiful job! I miss the central coast. I used to hang my hat in Lompoc. You made me home sick!

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    1. Ahh, C. M. Taylor, My husband grew up there on Somerset Ave (the hill above the bowling alley) and graduated from the local High School.
      Small world.
      paula

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  21. Going to give this stamping on material a try. Got a set of the distress paints at my local scrapbook store, and am LOVING them! Good day to play here in Missouri, thunder-snow, sleet, freezing rain and more snow.

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  22. Thank you, i just learned a L.O.T. More fun ways to play, yeahhhh.

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  23. So cute and so easy! Thanks for sharing!

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  24. omg!! this is awesome!! thanks for sharing and have a fabulous week!! =)

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  25. I'm so jealous !!! this photo remember my vacation, I like to be there Morro Bay is so quiet and relax.
    Your creation is so cool, I absolutely need one for my sewing machine. thanks for sharing

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