Thursday 21 November 2013

T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Christmas is just around the corner and the kiddies are all catching up at our place for a Christmas party next week. It's actually the mums that are catching up... the kids are just lucky we bring them along!! Haha, just kidding. We did the same thing last Christmas (seems like years ago) when the bubs weren't even walking yet. They all sat in a row with their cute little outfits on. This year, we'll be struggling to get them to sit together in one spot - and I think we're all just gonna stick them in Christmas t-shirts because they'll spend most of the time paddling in the little pool with no pants on! So cute!!

So, I bought plain white t-shirts for my two rugrats and thought I'd jazz them up myself with something Christmassy. They were only $3 at Target (bargain!!) and I found the perfect Liberty of London fabric in bright red with green/blue/pink/yellow patterns. It looks kind of Alice-in-Wonderlandish and is part of the Liberty Lifestyle - Bloomsbury Gardens Collection. The name is Virginia and the colourway is "Rich Red Blue". I think mum actually bought it at Purl Soho in New York a couple of years ago, with the hopes of making a dress for Isla... but it kept getting pushed to the back of the line - I think because it always looked so Christmassy to me. And so now I have the perfect job for it!

I decided on a Christmas tree for Isla's t-shirt because I really wanted to use the pom-poms I got at Calico & Ivy recently. The colours match perfectly and pom-poms are so girly (in my opinion :o). I made up a template to match her size 3 t-shirt and got busy. Here's the tutorial.

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T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree

Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

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You Will Need

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

T-Shirt

Fabric

Pom-poms

Fusible webbing

Graph paper (or a pattern/template)*

Drawing tools --> pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, pen, marker

Cutting tools --> sharp scissors, rotary cutter and cutting mat*

Sewing tools --> needle, embroidery thread, pins

Equipment --> Sewing machine*, iron and ironing board

* These items are not essential but would definitely make your job easier.

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Step by Step Instructions

Step One --> Design Your Christmas Tree Template

1) First, put the t-shirt on your bub.

Important Warning --> make sure your child is clean and does not have spaghetti sauce on their face or hands - unless you bought a red t-shirt, in which case it wouldn't matter ;o).

2) Work out the approximate dimensions of your tree based on the free space on the front of the t-shirt.

Remember that the sides of the t-shirt will wrap around the body so you may lose sight of your tree if you make it too wide. And if you're like me and you like to tuck the t-shirt in (so much cuter), you wouldn't want to design a really tall tree and the bottom half be lost.

Using a ruler and Dora The Explorer as a distraction to get her to stand still - I worked out that the perfect space on Isla's t-shirt was 6"H x 8"W. I marked this outline on my graph paper to help me draw my tree. You can draw your tree free-hand or trace a template straight on to the fusible webbing if you have one?! I didn't have a template and I wanted my tree to be symmetrical - so I used graph paper. If you want to use graph paper too, here's a great way to get a symmetrical tree.

3) Draw an outline of the space you have to work with on graph paper.

4) Draw dots in the shape of a tree. These will become your outer tips of your branches.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

5) Draw dots back in towards the centre of the tree to create the outline of each branch.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

6) Mark your numbers to follow like a dot-to-dot puzzle.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

7) Connect the dots.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

8) Copy the design on the other side to complete the tree. And there you have your template!

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Two: Trace Your Christmas Tree Design On To The Fusible Webbing

1) Trace your design, making sure that you draw on the correct side of the webbing.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Three: Cut around the template, leaving a ¼" gap

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Four: Iron the template on to the reverse side of your fabric

Read the instructions specific to your fusible webbing for info on iron temperature etc.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Five: Once cooled, cut the template out with sharp scissors and work out where you want to place it

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Six: Separate the paper backing from the fusible webbing

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps
 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Seven: Stick it in position and iron it to secure it in place

Don't panic if it doesn't line up perfectly the first time - it's removable until it's ironed on to the t-shirt.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Eight: Attach The Pom-Poms

1) Pick your 9 pom-poms for the tips of the branches.

I cut mine from the pom-pom garland I bought at Calico & Ivy recently, but you can buy them individually. I picked a yellow pom for the top to represent a star and went with red, green, and pink for the rest.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

2) Thread a sharp needle and come up carefully through the tip of the branch, then through your pom-pom.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps
3. Then go back down through your pom-pom and the tip of the branch.
 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps
 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Step Nine: Blanket-Stitch* The Perimeter of the Tree

* I'll start by saying that this step is optional. I wasn't going to bother at first because it will probably only be worn once and the tree is secured well enough by fusible webbing and at the tips by the pom-poms... BUT I love the look of blanket-stitch AND I love hand-stitching. So I added this step in case you love the look of it too. Oh and note, if you love the look but don't love hand-stitching - blanket-stitch using your sewing machine prior to Step Eight: Attach the Pom-Poms. I personally find it easier to blanket-stitch by hand when I'm working with t-shirts because you don't have to worry about manouvering the t-shirt under a sewing machine to avoid sewing through the back (and we all know how I feel about sewing machines ;o)!

** If you don't know how to blanket-stitch, there are some great easy-to-follow tutorials out there on the internet. I learned through a gorgeous book called Stitched Gifts by Jessica Marquez.

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps
 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps
Step Ten: Split-Stitch the Tree Stump

1. First, draw a template of your little tree stump. I used a magic pen - the ink disappears when ironed :o) ($4.50 at Carols of Midland!!), but you could use a regular pen as long as you cover the ink with your stitches (so you have to get your template perfect the first time).

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

2. Thread your needle and split-stitch over the template. I used 4 threads so that the stitch would stand out. And you could use a simpler stitch like back-stitch if you like. It would look just as good. I prefer the textured look of split-stitch, that's why I use it almost all the time ;o).

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps
 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Finito!

 T-Shirt Tutorial --> Christmas Tree Appliqué In 10 Easy Steps

Happy Stitching xx

 

Saturday 16 November 2013

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread

It's no secret that I love working with embroidery hoops! And linen!! And Liberty of London fabric!!! Ok, so I love working with a lot of things, but these are definitely in my top 10... :o)

So I couldn't resist making a whole Christmas Tree out of them. Mum gave me the oval hoop in the middle and I built my tree using 125mm and 200mm hoops from my own stash. I'm so happy with the shape!

I'm really happy with the colours too - although they are not the red/white/green of a typical Christmas palette. I picked my favourite Liberty fabrics and ended up with a red/green/yellow/blue palette instead! And it works!

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So, I started with the Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop that sits in the middle of the tree. The baubles are so adorable and work perfectly in the portrait layout of the oval hoop! I was initially going for a more realistic look with them piled on top of each other, but I tried it out before I stuck them down and found that a lot of the prints were hidden/covered up. So I spread them out instead.

* Prints (clockwise from the top) are D'Anjo, Garla, Judy Rose, Delfie, Kaylie Sunshine, Margaret Annie, and Rania is in the middle.

Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop
Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop

I split-stitched strings in a creamy colour to mimic twine, and I tied a bow using embroidery thread in coordinating colours. I was originally going to use a big twine bow, but I love the colours of the embroidery thread and it looks so vibrant and pretty! And I think it still looks a bit rustic too, so I'm happy with it!

Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
Christmas Baubles Embroidery Hoop

Next, I made the Christmas Tree Embroidery Hoop and it worked out great - thanks to my 'magic pen'. Well, it's technically mums 'magic pen' but I use it that much that I have taken ownership. It's called a Pilot Frixion Ball pen and it draws on fabric and disappears when heated (ironed). Magic!! She got it at Carols of Midland if you're interested in having such magic. It is useful for almost every project, whether I'm drawing reference grids or lines to help with appliqué, or free-drawing shapes for embroidery.

Here, let me show you what I mean. See here, I drew a grid to make sure that my tree was in the centre and all the fabrics strips were in line. And then in the next pic you can see that once ironed - the ink is gone!

* Prints (from the top) are Xanthe Sunbeam, Margaret Annie, n/a, Mitsi, Betsy Ann, DAnjo, Rania, Pep, Garla, Kaylie Sunshine, Emma & Georgina, and Reuben Kelly.

Christmas Tree Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
Magic pen gridlines that disappear when heated.
Christmas Tree Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
Christmas Tree Embroidery Hoop

Next I made the HO! HO! HO! Christmas Embroidery Hoop using just the Reuben Kelly print (purchased at Calico and Ivy). I traced the letters using my trusty Fiskars stencil, and ironed them in place using Vliesofix (both from Spotlight). Then I split-stitched a cute border and voila!

HO! HO! HO! Christmas Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
HO! HO! HO! Christmas Embroidery Hoop

Next up is my four smaller hoops that represent four more aspects of Christmas that I love - Christmas stockings full of treats, Christmas presents full of joy, Christmas candles that fill the air with the scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and the words "Merry Christmas" that warm my heart.

* Prints (clockwise from top left) are Emma & Georgina (red Kona top of the stocking), Betsy Ann, and n/a.

Embroider Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread
Clockwise from top left: Christmas Stocking, Christmas Present, Christmas Candles, and Merry Australian Christmas Embroidery Hoops

I just have to give a special shout-out to my beautiful hand-stitched Merry Australian Christmas Embroidery Hoop. I love this hoop. It was my first attempt at stitching words... not too bad I think. I was going to use a stencil but thought it would look more personal if it was 'my writing'.

And the motif was my interpretation of a Red Flowering Gum - a Eucalyptus tree native to South-West Western Australia. It's a beautiful tree with masses of red pom-pom-like flowers when in bloom.

Not bad for a first attempt!

Merry Australian Christmas Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
Merry Australian Christmas Embroidery Hoop

Hmmm, what's left? It must be the Christmas Star Embroidery Hoop! This one's a beauty.

It's lucky that mum found a patchwork star at the last minute because I was going to use a gorgeous little Liberty fabric-scrap wreath I made last week. I had always wanted a star in the top hoop - to make it a true Christmas tree - but this wreath was too beautiful to leave out (or so I thought :o).

* Prints (clockwise from the top) are Lesleys, Reuben Kelly, Betsy Ann, D'Anjo, Emma & Georgina, Rania, Kaylie Sunshine, and Delfie. And the star pattern came from the Gem Stars Quilt in the Splendid Quilts magazine.

Christmas Star Embroidery Hoop by Rhapsody and Thread
Christmas Star Embroidery Hoop

I finished that star hoop yesterday and finally got to piece the whole tree together. It looks amazing.

Here are some closeups:

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread
Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread
Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread

And the final shot of my Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree:

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread
Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas xxx

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Suppliers:

Calico & Ivy --> Liberty of London tana lawn and the 100% linen background fabric.

Spotlight --> Embroidery hoops and thread, Vliesofix, twine, stencil.

Carols of Midland --> Pilot Frixion Ball Pen.

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Saturday 9 November 2013

Inside The Craft Cave This Week --> I Started Christmas Crafting!

This Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree is a project that I am SO enjoying making for Christmas this year. I absolutely love working with embroidery hoops and I was inspired to make this shape after I saw a similar looking decoration using silver rings in the Spotlight catalogue.

I rummaged through my hoop collection and came up with this layout, using 125mm and 200mm circular hoops and a 200mm x 300mm oval hoop in the centre.

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread
The hoop layout for my Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree project

I wanted all of the hoops to have a linen background, to keep with my rustic Australiana Christmas theme we're doing this year. And I dug out all of my Liberty of London fabrics that had any red or green in them.

I started with one of the large round hoops, and decided to make a fabric scrap Christmas tree. It was fun to make and looks great - but it needs a trunk, which I think I'll make out of twine...

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread
The mini Christmas tree hoop

Next I did the other large round hoop and I used one of my favourite tools - my alphabet stencil! I picked the ribbon look Reuben print and I think it worked out really well. I might still satin stitch a border if I have time.

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Tree by Rhapsody and Thread
The HO! HO! HO! appliqué hoop

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I'm also working on a Christmas Burlap Table Runner for my hall table in the entry. This was actually a project that I've had on my mind for ages - ever since I bought the scarf kit from Calico and Ivy... gosh, it must have been at least 12 months ago! I had seen the scarf on display in the store and loved the look of it (Liberty of London fabric scraps sewn in stripes on burlap - very rustic and pretty at the same time) and the simplicity of the project. But when I got home and got out the burlap out, I didn't like the stiff texture of the burlap and decided that I would never wear it so I added the fabric scraps to my collection and stored the burlap for my future table runner project. And so this is it!

I picked the stripy Reuben print again because I love the colours and the look of how the stencil worked with the HO! HO! HO! hoop above. And I stencilled Merry Christmas on to Vleiseflix to help iron the words into place on the burlap. I haven't decided yet whether I'll do a continuous border around the edge or maybe separate the words with an embroidered picture of some sort. Again, it will depend on time.

Christmas Table Runner by Rhapsody and Thread

This is how the letters turned out once cut out.

Christmas Table Runner by Rhapsody and Thread
Christmas Table Runner by Rhapsody and Thread

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And the third project I'm slowly nibbling away at is the family Christmas stockings. As you can see, I've picked my fabrics, traced my template and decided on linen for the tops. At this stage, I'm planning on embroidering our names... but I'm not sure if I'm going to have the time. I might appliqué the letters using my trusty stencil again!! So much easier.

Family Christmas Stockings by Rhapsody and Thread

I did manage to get the front of my 'stockings' cut out this past week. From left to right, the stockings are for Dad, Mum, Isla and Logan and I've used (don't know yet), Garla, Emma and Georgina, and Reuben prints respectively. And I've since decided that I need to make a "Nanna" stocking as well. So I'll get my hands on some more of Nanna's favourite Liberty fabric at the moment - Betsy Ann (red) - and make one for her too. It will save me wrapping her bottle of scotch! LOL

Family Christmas Stockings by Rhapsody and Thread

So yeah, that's kind of it. I've been collecting gum nuts and leaves, and thinking about what to do with the other hoops in my tree.. We'll just have to see how productive I am next week!

 

Saturday 2 November 2013

Got My Christmas Fabric Stash From Calico & Ivy!!

Calico & Ivy stash by Rhapsody and Thread
The stash!

We are always SO excited to go to Calico & Ivy and we NEVER walk out of there empty-handed! Our mission today was to find Liberty of London fabrics that would work with our Australiana Christmas theme (and I think mum wanted some Liberty fabric for her next quilt project too).

Mum and I both love Australian flora. Every chance we get, we're whipping out our cameras and snapping away until we've covered every angle of a flower or branch of some bush or tree. All with the dream of one day producing our own fabric to make our crafts with. Like Christmas crafts - how great would it be to make all your decorations with your own design and colour theme?! That's the plan anyway, maybe next year... Definitely not this year!

I still can't believe that there is less than 8 weeks to go. Eek! There are so many things to do and not enough time in the day with 2 beautiful babies keeping me on my toes. But it's those 2 beauties that inspire me to make this Christmas a truly special one. This year will be Logan's first Christmas and the first time that our family will be celebrating together as a complete (as in no more children) unit!

So my priority is Christmas stockings for all of us, and being the matchy-matchy type of person that I am, I like the idea of having coordinating decorations for the tree and table. BUT my dilemma is what fabric to use. I've searched everywhere for Christmas fabrics that don't have snowmen, reindeer or gingerbread men all over them. I'm not saying that they're not pretty, but in my opinion they are not very typical of an Australian Christmas. I think all three of those American Christmas icons would melt in our 40C heat. Hence the idea of creating a more typically Australian Christmas fabric range. But, like I said, not enough time. So, we figured we would look at what Calico and Ivy had in their Liberty of London stock to see what might work.

This is what I decided on - I'm so excited! I know they are not 'Christmas' fabrics, but I think that is what makes them perfect for me. I like things to be a bit different so that I can make them my own. And this colour range is perfect. It has red and green, but also gold and blue - which to me symbolise the sun and the sea! They also have a bit of a masculine edge to them, which works because I'm making stockings for boys too.

Calico & Ivy stash by Rhapsody and Thread
Christmas stocking fabric and pom-pom garland for the kids

This next batch is mums pick for her next quilt - loving the reds and blues!

Calico & Ivy stash by Rhapsody and Thread
More Liberty tana lawn

And these little fat quarter sticks were irresistible sitting there on the counter. I'm going to use the far left for Justin's Christmas stocking, and the rest will go in mums quilt (unless I pinch them when she's not looking!).

Calico & Ivy stash by Rhapsody and Thread
Liberty tana lawn fat quarter sticks

Oh and I nearly forgot these gorgeous designer felts by Heather Bailey. This was actually one of the reasons I wanted to go to Calico and Ivy. I've hunted everywhere for decent quality and colour felt for my projects, with no luck. But I saw the felt baskets last time I was at Calico and knew that they would have the Australiana colours I want for my Christmas flowers. And here they are! My inspiration is the Red Flowering Gum and I can't wait to see if I can make them using this gorgeous felt.

Calico & Ivy stash by Rhapsody and Thread
Designer felt by Heather Bailey

And that's it! Now I'm ready to get cracking on my Australiana Christmas Projects!

xx Tab