Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday Tutorial - Stay-Put Kitchen Towel
We have a guest blogger today... Mary of www.pin-sew-press.blogspot.com is going to show us how to make a kitchen towel that won't end up on the floor every time you turn around.
-------
I have a husband and a two-year-old daughter, and we all love to eat! So as you can imagine, we spend a good amount of time in the kitchen. With all that activity, it drives me NUTS when our kitchen towel ends up on the floor. With a two-year-old this happens a lot!
I'm excited to share my solution with you . . . the Stay-put Kitchen Towel. It's easy to make and you can showcase your favorite fabric on a previously boring kitchen item. Perfect!
(Scroll to bottom of post for a printable version of this tutorial.)
Materials:
- one kitchen towel, and be sure to prewash if it's new!
- three strips of fabric (see cutting details below)
- 2 yards coordinating ribbon for ties
- coordinating thread
- measuring tape
- rotary cutter, self-healing mat, and ruler
- sewing machine (and I recommend using a walking foot if you have one)
Cut three strips of fabric as shown in picture below:
Step 2: Fold under raw edges of strips
With right side of fabric strip facing down on your ironing board, fold over 1/4" on each short side toward the wrong side of fabric and press.
Repeat for all three strips of fabric.
Step 3: Determine spacing and place strips on towel
Using your measuring tape, measure around your oven door handle and determine where you'd like your ribbon ties to fall. (For my handle, I'll sew the ribbon ties 6" apart.)
Place strips on towel, spacing your top two strips based on your measurement from the last step. I measured from center of strip to center of strip, since the ribbon ties will be inserted behind the center of each strip.
Pin strips in place to prepare for sewing.
Step 4: Sew strips onto the towel
Stitching close to the edge, sew strips onto the towel
IMPORTANT: For the top two strips, sew only the top and bottom (long sides) to the towel, leaving both short sides open. This creates a tube where we'll insert the ribbon in Step 5.
For the bottom decorative strip, stitch along all four sides.
Step 5: Feed ribbon through the tube
The easiest way to do this is with a Clover Easy Turn Tool (shown below - I got mine in the sewing section of our local craft store.) If you don't have one, attach a safety pin to the end of your ribbon and "inchworm" it through your top tube.
Step 6: Measure and sew the ribbon tie
Step 7: Create the gather
Hold the loose end of your ribbon taut while you gather your towel to the desired width. Just go with whatever looks good to you.
Pin loose end of ribbon in place, and cut your ribbon to the same length as the other side.
Stitch along the edge of the fabric tube, securing it to the towel and sandwiching the ribbon in between (just like the other side.)
Step 8: Finish the towel
Repeat steps 5 through 7 for the second strip, and you're done!
Go ahead and tie it onto your oven door handle. Nice job!
Treat your ribbon ends to prevent fraying
Touch each raw edge of cut ribbon to an open flame (a lighter or candle will do.) You'll notice that the end of your ribbon will melt slightly, "curing" the ribbon and preventing fraying in the wash. Easy!
Items made from this tutorial are for personal use only, please.
Touch each raw edge of cut ribbon to an open flame (a lighter or candle will do.) You'll notice that the end of your ribbon will melt slightly, "curing" the ribbon and preventing fraying in the wash. Easy!
Items made from this tutorial are for personal use only, please.
Happy sewing!
Mary
Monday, July 11, 2011
Organizing - New Uses for Ice Cube Trays
While cracking the ice cube trays this weekend. I had the idea of freezing my leftover iced tea to use in my glass when I make the next batch of tea. This led to me wondering what other ways I could use ice cube trays.
A simple internet search and I found oodles of ideas. This article from www.homemadesimple.com was very helpful.
You can use them for housing craft supplies...
... and snacks.
A simple internet search and I found oodles of ideas. This article from www.homemadesimple.com was very helpful.
You can use them for housing craft supplies...
... and snacks.
How about one for your jewelry?
There were more ideas, so be sure to take a peek at their website for more inspiration.
Thanks for joining us!
Deena Davis
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Blog Party Sunday -- Show Us Your Handmades
It's blog party time. It's your chance to show off what you are making for yourself, for gifts, or to sell. We want to see it all.
The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items.
4. Family friendly items only.
The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button at the end of this post and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.
The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items.
4. Family friendly items only.
The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button at the end of this post and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Time Saver Recipes - Iced Tea
I've scouted the internet high and low for the perfect iced tea recipe and I found that there are about as many ways to make it as there are those that drink it.
After reading all those recipes, I decided I would just do it my own way and it works pretty well. I am the only person who drinks iced tea at our house, so I didn't want a big batch - after all, who likes day-old iced tea, right?
This is how I do it...
UNSWEETENED TEA
Fill a quart jar with cool tap water
Add one FAMILY SIZE tea bag (tag removed)
Cover the jar
Put in the fridge and walk away
Come back in about 2-4 hours, remove tea bag
Add about 1/8 t. of baking soda - yes, I said baking soda
I add 1 packet of splenda to sweeten just a little
SWEET TEA
Fill a quart jar 3/4 full with cool tap water
Add one FAMILY SIZE tea bag (tag removed)
I've been told that the baking soda takes the bitterness out of the tea and also helps keep it clear. All I know is the tea is good and you can't taste the soda at all.
Serve tea over ice, garnish with lemon or mint. - ENJOY!
Thanks for joining us!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.blogspot.com
After reading all those recipes, I decided I would just do it my own way and it works pretty well. I am the only person who drinks iced tea at our house, so I didn't want a big batch - after all, who likes day-old iced tea, right?
This is how I do it...
UNSWEETENED TEA
Fill a quart jar with cool tap water
Add one FAMILY SIZE tea bag (tag removed)
Cover the jar
Put in the fridge and walk away
Come back in about 2-4 hours, remove tea bag
Add about 1/8 t. of baking soda - yes, I said baking soda
I add 1 packet of splenda to sweeten just a little
SWEET TEA
Fill a quart jar 3/4 full with cool tap water
Add one FAMILY SIZE tea bag (tag removed)
Cover the jar
Put in the fridge and walk away
In a separate container, add 1 c. hot tap water and 1/4 to 1/3 c. of sugar - stir until dissolved, let sit to cool while the tea is "brewing".
Come back in about 2-4 hours, remove tea bag
Add about 1/8 t. of baking soda - yes, I said baking soda
Add the sugar mixture and stir.I've been told that the baking soda takes the bitterness out of the tea and also helps keep it clear. All I know is the tea is good and you can't taste the soda at all.
Serve tea over ice, garnish with lemon or mint. - ENJOY!
Thanks for joining us!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
