Tag: craft pattern

house fly rag doll : sewing tutorial

May 19, 2023

by annwood

Who could be mad at these guys? Sew up some little fly friends, you’ll need a handful of scraps, stuffing and buttons. Pretty much. Their expressions crack me up. And the funny little legs definitely have “flyness”.

The idea for them first turned up in the daily paintings. I love to celebrate the less loved creatures and who is less loved than the dreaded house fly?

And why not make them cozy? They fit perfectly in the little wire beds.

let’s make a batch of dear little pests

download the template

supplies

basic sewing kit
embroidery thread (I’m using dmc perl cotton 12)
buttons – 1/4 – 1/2 inch-ish
cotton fabric scraps
a little stuffing

It’s helpful to read through all the steps before beginning.

: 1.

: 2.

1. Pin the body pattern to 2 layers of cotton fabric – right sides together – and cut out 1/4 inch from the edge. With the pattern still attached, stitch around the edge of the paper. Leave open between the marks.

2. Clip the seam allowance at the marks.

: 3.

: 4.

3. With the paper pattern still attached fold the edges of the opening over and press.

4. Clip little triangle sections out of the seam allowance – be careful not to clip the seam.

: 5.

: 6.

5. Turn the body right side out. Use a chopstick or similar to push out the curves.

6. Stuff the body and stitch the opening closed with tiny whip stitches.

For adding the details and features you will find this tutorial on how to hide your knots helpful.

: 7.

: 8.

7. Cut out the stomach patch and stitch in place.

8. The wings are made from 2 layers of fabric. Pin the wing pattern to a double layer of cotton – wrong sides together – and cut out around the edge of the pattern (do not add seam allowance). Repeat for another wing.

Support free patterns like happy flies! And keep the awesome free projects flowing.

Click here to add your support.

: 9.

: 10.

9. Stitch all the way around the edge of both wings with contrasting thread – about 1/8th inch from the edge.

10. Stitch buttons close to the edge of the head. I used a half inch button here – you can use 2 or 4 hole buttons.

: 11.

: 12.

11. Stitch two straight lines in contrasting thread to finish his simple features.

12. Pin the wings in place. The short side goes in the center with the edges overlapping slightly. Make a few stitches in the center and down the side. Stitch with the same color thread over your previous stitches.

: 13.

: 14.

13. Make a knot 4 inches from the end of your leg thread (I used dmc perl cotton #12). Insert the needle into the side seam at the top to the stomach patch.

14. Bring the needle out the other side until the knot catches and make a knot at the seam.

: 15.

: 16.

15. Make a knot in the thread and before tightening it use the needle to pull it down the thread util it is 1/2 inch from the body. Tighten the knot.

16. Trim the leg about 1/2 inch from the knot. Repeat the knot and trimming on the other side.

17. 1/2 inch below the first legs add the next two. For the last two legs Make a knot 4 inches from the end and put the needle in 1/2 inch from the bottom of the body. Bring the thread out the other side until it catches and make a knot at the seam.

: 18.

: 19.

18. Make a knot 1 inch from the body.

19. Trim the leg 3/4 inch from the knot. Repeat the knot and trimming on the other side.

hello fly friend!

Do you know somebody who needs an aggressively friendly fly? Is there an adorable swarm in your future? Let us know in the comments.

the 2023 international scrap festival : 8 ideas for your scraps

February 3, 2023

by annwood

comments 11

small scrap fabric projects surrounding text text: 2023 international scrap festival

Welcome to the fifth annual international scrap festival! Each year as the days begin to get a little longer and spring seems like a legitimate possibility we take some time to reflect on the magnificent possibilities of fabric scraps.

You can find patterns and tutorials for everything in the photo above (plus lots more) on the free pattern page.

Plus a brand new free pattern – Scrap project idea #1 little chicks! I love them. They just kill me. Let’s make thousands. Find the tutorial right here.

more ideas for your fabric scraps

2. This festive scrap bunting was another new free tutorial here this summer – made with mini yoyo’s – find the tutorial here.

3. Also in the celebration/decoration department this super simple way to make a festive curtain or wall hanging sort of situation. The attachment method is simple and clever. 11 year old me wants this a lot.

4. For your bigger scraps this super clever sewing mat machine cover combo. I need a couple of these. My machines are old and don’t have covers. Machines don’t like dust.

5. Find inspiration and tips for managing your scraps here. I especially love the idea of cutting down all the weird shapes. I could spend hours ironing and trimming.

6. And turn them into a quilt with this Antique Four Patch Economy Block Tutorial. I love the way it looks. I’m doing it.

7. Bendable cake flags. So sweet and they would also be great on paper mache ships and cardboard castles. I’m definitely making them for some very nice mice.

8. Merit badges. everybody appreciates a little acknowledgment! I love this idea for big folks and little folks. I’m thinking we should have a merit badge contest in the community, what do you think? Find the tutorial for the badges here.

Stay tuned for more scrap festival news this month! And share your ideas, have you got a favorite project? What’s you preferred storage method? (mine is messy but sorted by color, pretty much). Let us know in the comments or join the ann wood handmade community.

little chicks : free sewing pattern

February 3, 2023

by annwood

comments 8

Little chicks! Super quick and easy to make. And you can make little chicken families using the free chicken sewing pattern.

You just need fabric scraps and a few other things to get started.

download the pattern

You will also need:

fabric scraps – light cotton or linen
felt (I like wool felt)
embroidery thread
glue stick
stuffing
a basic sewing kit
pencil or disappearing marker

: chick 1

: chick 2

1. Pin the body pattern to 2 layers of fabric with the right sides together and cut out.

2. Mark the seam line, location for the beak and opening marks lightly in pencil or disappearing marker. Cut out the beak from felt. Pin the body pieces – right sides together – near the tail end.

: little chick 3

: little chick 4

3. Add a tiny bit of glue to just the back edge of the beak.

4. Fold back the top layer of fabric and place on the body fabric exactly as shown – point facing in. Use the guide lines on the wrong side of the fabric to check the placement.

5. Fold the top layer back down, pin and stitch the seam with very small, straight stitches. I got a much better result stitching these by hand. After stitching trim little triangles into the seam allowance being careful not to clip the seam.

Support free patterns like little chicks! And keep the awesome free projects flowing.

Click here to add your support.

: little chick 6

: little chick 7

6. Use your chopstick to turn the chick right side out. Push all the curves out with firm pressure.

7. Stuff with wool.

: little chick 8

: little chick 9

8. Fold in the opening of the edges and stitch closed.

9. You will find this method for hiding your knots helpful for embroidering the details. I added an X on each side for eyes using 2 strands of embroidery thread.

10. You can leave the beak as is or clip a little triangle out of the center.

: little chick 11

: little chick 12

11. For the legs use embroidery thread. Put the needle in the bottom seam as shown – coming out about 3/4 of an inch from where you inserted.

12. Pull the thread through so you have some length on each end and knot close to the fabric

13. Trim the legs. Use starch to give them a little stiffness (pro tip – hair gel works too)

You could also add a couple stitches on the side for a little wing detail and a hanging string (use this method again to hide the ends).

hello little chicks!

I hope you make lots of little chicks! If you do I’d love to see. Please use #annwoodpattern on instagram. Or share in the ann wood handmade community.

textile book tutorial part two – making the sections

February 23, 2022

by annwood

comments 29

* The tutorial is divided into 2 parts. Please read both parts entirely before beginning. Seriously, it helps. Start here.

The book has 20 pages, including cover and back. There are five sections – each composed of 4 rectangles/pages.

3 sections have slots.

and 2 sections have tabs.

This tutorial demonstrates how to construct the two kinds of sections in the book – slot and tab. Before you begin to sew the sections please read this post on how to create and organize the pages.

You will need:

your 20 pages/rectangles
chopstick or similar
a basic sewing kit
embroidery thread

make a slot section

: 1.

: 2.

1. To make a slot page take two rectangles and lay them out with the right sides facing you.

2. Place one over the other – right sides together.

: 3.

: 4.

3. Draw a half inch margin down the right hand side of the top piece.

4. Clip the short lines on your page pattern. Fold the center section back.

5. Place it over the rectangles and mark the short horizontal lines.

6. Sew the half inch seam above and below those marks.

the 2021 scrap festival : 11 + ideas for your scraps

February 12, 2021

by annwood

comments 14

Consider this magnificent scrap, I’ve been holding onto it for 50 years or so. Loosely rendered daffodils on cotton, one of my all time favorites. It was my grandmother’s dress. This last little bit will be a couple hexies, there is pretty much, just barely, enough. I like scraps. My beginnings are in the mountains of scraps my mother kept in the attic. Giant garbage bags (seriously, the jumbo ones) bursting with mostly cotton prints.

For the third year in a row, in February, we celebrate scraps. A little extra. I’ve rounded up a bunch of scrap friendly projects and made you a new free sewing pattern.

11 + project ideas for your scraps :

1. Minimalist mice (or bunnies) by wild olive. You could turn the sweet, simple design into all sorts of pocket creatures. The combination of raw linen and small charming prints is lovely.

2. This needle and thread case. I shared this in the newsletter last year and I think it is the most popular project to date.

3. Scrap seam binding. Checkout this easy way to make seam binding from scraps. I use tons of seam binding for mending and I love the way this pieced together stuff looks.

4. Angry apple cores – my newest free pattern – disgruntled and mostly eaten fruit.

5. Scrap quilts. This collection is impressive and inspiring and it might motivate me to finish one of the many scrap quilt tops I have begun and abandoned.

6. For your wool and felt scraps – an embroidered scissor keeper.

7. Fabric sailboats – they twirl in the breeze and cast lovely shadows plus they are great for your bigger scraps –

8. Hexie-logcabin pieced potholders from sewshecan.

9. Stitched envelopes. so many possibilities for these. Find a DIY for cotton envelopes here and and a wool or felt version here.

10. And you will of course need sweet stamps.

11. For tiny scraps, classic sarubobo plush.

And so many more! I added a bunch of other scrap projects last year – lucky fish, minimalist chickens and a little owl ornament among them – find them all on the free pattern page.

Do you have a great idea for a scrap project? Do you have a half finished quilt top in your closet?! Let me know in the comments and happy 2021 scrap festival to you.

owl ornament diy

November 27, 2020

by annwood

comments 25

And I’ve made you something!

These little owl ornaments are a perfect project for little scraps and they are quick to make. I’m making lots as gifts or to add to packaging.

They’re inspired by the little, lost Saw-whet owl who was accidentally transported to NYC with the giant tree for Rockefeller Center this year. He has since gotten some first aid and been returned to his forest. What an ordeal for the little guy!

Let’s make little owl ornaments!

You probably already have everything you need. And they lend themselves to batch production A glue stick really helps with that – the parts are little and a glue stick is much quicker and easier than pins. You can set up a bunch of fronts so they’re all ready to stitch. It’s easier than pins.

download the pattern

You will also need:

scraps – wool, cotton and linen are great
a basic sewing kit
chopstick or similar
gluestick
buttons
embroidery thread

: 1.

: 2.

1. Cut out two body pieces, two eye pieces and one head and beak and one each of the three wing pieces.

2. With the right side of the front body fabric facing you use a tiny bit of glue stick to place your pieces as shown. Leave the top wing piece off for now.

: 3.

: 4.

3. Use a contrasting color embroidery thread to stitch the head cover and wing pieces in place.

4. Stitch buttons to the center of the circles with embroidery thread also. Use regular sewing thread in a matching color to stitch the beak in place with tiny whip stitches around the edge.

: 5

: 6

5. Uses a contrasting embroidery thread to stitch around the eyes and add some straight stitches to his breast.

6. Create a loop of string or embroidery thread for hanging and knot the ends. Mark the 1/4 inch seam allowance on the wrong side of the back fabric.

: 7.

: 8.

7. Place the hanging loop on the face of the owl with the loop facing down and the tails near fabric edge.

8. Place the back body over the front – right sides together- pin and sew the seam leaving open along the wing side.

lucky fish : slow stitch project

September 18, 2020

by annwood

comments 137

Who doesn’t need some luck? Plus these very simple fish are pulling me out of slushy, stubborn stuckness.

One thing leads to another, if you let it, but first you need to start. Where I really started was ironing, ironing scraps. It went on my to do list because it was an easy win (I felt like doing it). And I had saved a couple bundles of scraps, each sent by a friend, to sort and iron pre-move.

As I ironed and sorted by color the wheels started to turn and I felt a strong and persistent spiritual directive to slow stitch some fish.

Maybe you feel like stitching some fish too. Let it be a meandering process, try stuff. Let one thing lead to another.

** DOWNLOAD THE FISH TEMPLATE **

You will also need:

fabric scraps – light cotton or linen
little scraps, buttons lace for embellishing
stuffing
a basic sewing kit
pencil

1. Pin the pattern to 2 layers of light cotton fabric – right sides of the fabric together – and cut out. Be sure to clip out the little triangle notches.

: 2

: 3

2. Mark the seam line lightly in pencil.

3. Stitch the seam by hand or machine, leaving open between the notches. Find hand sewing tips here.

: 4

: 5

4. Clip notches around the curves and clip off the points at the nose and tail. Be careful not to clip the seam.

5. Use a chopstick to turn the fish right side out.

: 6

: 7

6. Pro tip: use a plastic mechanical pencil to push out the corners – retract the lead first.

7. Stuff your fish.

scrap fabric project : flower garland

August 21, 2020

by annwood

comments 31

*Many of you have asked about the wood thread winders – they are awesome! And you can find them at French General.

These garlands are an experiment in color, working with fabric scraps in green, lots of berry shades and a little bit of very hot pink. I love the combination of the cooler organic shades with this one super bright (almost neon) shade. This is a project I brought to a workshop this past spring, you know, one million years ago. The idea was to provide an invitation to play and some constraints – in this case time (it was the end of the workshop) and color.

Buttons and wood beads add interest and a little weight so it hangs nicely and you’ll nee a little stuffing for an extra special touch – more on that in a minute.

You could use ribbon, string, twill tape etc. for the base or make a fabric strip yourself. There are directions for that below but let’s make the scrap flowers first.

You will need

fabric scraps
buttons
embroidery thread
wood or glass beads
stuffing
basic sewing kit
sewing machine – for making the strip

making the flowers

1. Start by cutting a bunch of shapes from your scraps. Don’t think too much or edit yourself at this point, just give yourself a bunch of shapes to play with – a variety of circles and leaves. Part of the value in this exercise for me is that I end up putting things together that I might not have if I made a plan first. Note – the shapes do not need to be perfect.

2. Layer the leaf and flower shapes and stitch them together with embroidery thread. I cut some circles into pinwheel shapes. Some are just layered and stitched, some edges are frayed. Try stuff. Make more flowers than you need, choices are good.

The puffy flowers in the necklace at the top of the post were added by one of the awesome workshops students – Michele Muska. They are a fantastic addition. She also added some charms and little fabric tails. I love the necklace.

3. The puffy flowers are super easy to make. Stitch around the edge of a circle – this one is about 3 inches across. Leave the needle and thread attached.

4. Gather until it’s almost closed. Add a little stuffing.

5. Pull tight and knot.

6. Bring the needle up through the center.

7. Loop around the edge and insert the needle in the bottom center. Bring the needle through the top center and pull tight.

8. Repeat this stitch around, evenly spaced, as many times as you like and then knot on the bottom. Add a button to the center if you like.

These flowers also make a sweet mini pin cushion. I liked it so much I interrupted my flower making to make a little needle book to add it to.

miniature paper hens : free tutorial

August 4, 2020

by annwood

comments 21

Let’s make tiny chickens! So little and just the right size for tiny rag doll world. They are quick and easy to make and it’s fun to work on a bunch at once. I’m using crepe paper from a roll. Streamers work too but I think crepe paper from rolls and sheets is easier to work with.

The hens are truly tiny, only about 2 inches from tail to beak. If you require a bigger little chicken I think it would be easy to scale them up.

lets’s make tiny paper hens!

*This post contains affiliate links – meaning I get a small commission of you purchase though the links. The affiliate links are marked with an asterisk.

download the template here

You will also need:

one inch *styrofoam ball
*crepe paper – sheets or streamers – sheets are easy to work with I think
glue stick – I love the *uhu stick for paper
scissors
optional – manicure scissors – super helpful for making little cuts
acrylic paint and brushes
white glue – elmer’s is good
a fine tip black marker

1. Cut out and trace the two tiny template pieces onto cardboard.

2. Cut two triangles into the flat top of the head to make the comb.

3. Push the pointed bottom of the head piece into the ball.

4. Push it in until the bottom corners are inside the ball.

5. On the opposite side of the ball push the pointed bottom of the tail into the ball.

6. Push it in until the corners are inside the ball. Your piece should look like this. Paint a little white glue along the edge where the cardboard meets the ball. Let this dry.

7. Paint the cardboard the same color as your crepe paper. After the base paint is dry paint the comb area with red and the beak with yellow. It’s already pretty chickeny isn’t it.

8. Stretch your crepe paper – streamers aren’t that stretchy but sheets and rolls of crepe paper are. Cut two strips – one inch wide and about nine inches long each.

9. Fold each strip matching up the edges – the folded piece should be about two inches long.

10. Clip into one side with your scissors creating pointy fringe.

11. Unfold the strips and cut off a two inch piece.

12. Apply glue stick to the tail and wrap the two inch fringe piece around it. Use a little more glue to tack down the end of the paper.

13. Let that dry for a few minutes. While it’s drying cut 8 one inch pieces and 6 half inch pieces.

doll overalls : a free sewing pattern

June 11, 2020

by annwood

comments 24

Of course the tiny rag doll need overalls. And they come in mr. socks size too cause I’m nice like that. They’re easy and quick to make and you could scale the pattern up for larger dolls. Sew them completely by hand or some seams can be done on machine if you like.

You will need :

the template – get the doll overalls template here and the mr. socks overalls template here.

light weight cotton fabric

a basic sewing kit

and optional – tiny buttons and little scraps for patches

1. Pin the strap fabric to single piece of fabric. Pin the overalls pattern to a doubled piece with the right sides together. Pin the lining to a single piece of fabric – you can use a contrasting fabric or the same as the overalls.

Note – I’m using a print from the French General new lawn cottons. The prints are all super sweet and great for small dolls.

2. Mark the seam line lightly in pencil on the wrong side of the lining piece and both overall pieces. It’s also helpful to mark the front and back on the overall pieces as indicated on the pattern.

3. With the right sides of the fabric together sew just the front seam of the overalls as shown in red above – stopping at the end of the curve.

4. Clip a couple little notches in the seam allowance at the curve. Be careful not to clip the seam.

5. Press the straight part of the seam open.

6. Press the top seam allowance over – wrong sides together – on the lining and overalls.

7. Place the lining on the overalls with the right sides together and pin. Stitch only the curved seams as shown above. Clip little notches into the seam allowance.

how to make salt clay

May 19, 2020

by annwood

comments 20

making dolls and mini dishes from salt clay

It’s also called Victorian Salt Clay, I even love the sound of it. The question was “ What if you want to make tiny dishes but don’t have paper clay?” I wondered if a homemade, air-dry clay could work and the answer is yes. It was a fun experiment plus I love the way it smells – I was immediately 11 again.

Salt is the main ingredient. It produces a clay that is a little more textured than paper clay. It takes a while to dry – a day or two. You shouldn’t bake it but you can put it someplace warm to speed up the process. My oven has a pilot so it’s always a little warm and I put my pieces in it overnight. The small things were dry but the larger pieces needed another day. It’s very hard when dry and can be sanded and painted – I have tips for that below. First let’s make the clay.

You will need:

1 cup of salt
⅓ cup water
½ cup cornstarch
¼ cup cold water

!. Mix 1 cup of table salt with ⅓ cup of water. Heat in a small pan over medium heat, stirring constantly for 4 minutes. Do not let it boil. Remove from heat.

2. Quickly stir the ½ cup cornstarch into ¼ cup cold water. It’s very important that you sprinkle the cornstarch a little at a time stirring constantly or it won’t mix properly.

3. Put the salt mixture back on low heat and add the cornstarch mixture stirring constantly. The mixture will begin to thicken. Keep stirring until it becomes dough like – this happens pretty quickly.

4. Scoop it out onto a plate and let it cool. When it’s cool enough to handle, knead it into a smooth ball. It’s ready to use – you can roll it like cookie dough or sculpt it. Left over clay can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. I did find it a little crumbly when I took it out of the fridge the next day but after I kneaded it again it was sculpt-able.

I tried making some plates and cups from the tiny dish tutorial and got good results. When I formed it over things it was looser than the paper clay but it still worked. And in the plate tutorial I recommend letting it dry about halfway before cutting the shapes. With the salt clay you can’t do that – it becomes too brittle. It’s a pretty stiff clay though so easy to cut.

Over-all I was pleased with the results – not as fine as the paper clay but still charming and I definitely value heart over perfection in tiny dish making.

Plus it’s fun to make the clay!

I sanded the pieces and painted with watercolor, acrylic craft paint and finished some with nail-polish. Use quick multiple coats of paint. I found if I overworked the paint it would lift.

The handle on the tiny cast iron frying pan broke when I sanded it but I glued it back on and painted it with black nail polish. The teacup got painted with black nail polish too. The soup kettle was made by forming the clay over a handle – similar to the process for creating the teacup in the dish tutorial.

Parts for a little doll experiment showed up too. Such a funny little lady, I love her. I’ll post a photo when she’s finished.

And magic stones.

I made them, that’s how I know for sure they’re magic. They are painted with watercolor and acrylic and finished with a layer of nail polish. The clay and stones would be a fun project to do with little folks and a magic rock in your pocket can’t hurt.

I hope you make victorian salt clay!

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paintings to stitch, the hexie quilt and nude rag doll news

April 18, 2020

by annwood

comments 32

Every day starts with stitching owls and castles and swans etc. and making scrap hexies. I chose a few images from the daily paintings to print on linen and stitch and I love stitching them, I find it hypnotic. It’s a free style situation – choosing lines or details to highlight and embellish. I’ve only been using 3 stitches – back stitch, satin and french knots.

You can find the stitch paintings in the shop.

When I finish these I’ll keep them in the hoops and hang them in a little group – I’ll show you how to do that soon. I’m using DMC floss – the six strand stuff – separating one, two or three strands.

I love this blue bug gentleman, where is he going? Who are those flowers for? And I love the little french knot flowers for his bouquet. I used two strands of thread for these.

french knots:

Bring the needle through the fabric where you would like the knot. Hold the thread tight about and inch from the fabric with your other hand. Place your needle in front of the tight floss – be sure it’s in front – not behind.

Wind the floss around the needle twice (or once for a tiny knot), Don’t twirl the needle to wind the floss – wind it around the needle with your non-needle hand,

Keep the tension of the floss and put the needle back in right next to (not in the same hole – but very close to it) where you began. Keep the thread tight with your non-needle hand and pull the coil downward towards your fabric. Pull the needle through to finish the knot.

hexie update:

I add a few every day- I’m moving from the multicolor scrap area into a pale section and starting a dark blue group too, Lots of people are making hexies! Check out #hexiesforsanity to see. And I found a printable sheet of templates here.

Scandalous doll pattern update: Just about there and it is awesome. The hard part for me was the head – I changed my mind over and over but finally settled on a solution I’m super happy with. Stay tuned. And get some fabric – muslin or any light cotton.

What are you working on? Come across any cool projects, recipes, awesome books or ideas you’d like to share? Please leave them in the comments.