See my post on Arcade Artist's retro pixel art Dr Who magnets over at www.geekcrafts.com.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
GC: Tutorial Tuesday - Reverse Stencilled Tote Bag!
Here's a neat idea! lets think 'outside the stencil'.
That's exactly what jennieingram did when she had to quickly step into the Dr Who Swap on Craftster. Round 5 of the Dr Who swap that is... these swaps are hugely popular, they're going to go on forever! Round 6 is crafting away as I type!
Jennie has shared a tutorial on how to achieve this effective technique on her blog, and also on Craftster.
But wait, there's more! Turns out Jennie is quite an avid Geek-Crafter and tutorial writer. Check out her Doctor's Companion Charm Bracelet and her tutorial on how to make Laminated Paper Bookmarks including a sonic screwdriver and a golden snitch.
Monday, May 09, 2011
GC: Reader Submission! Wookie Wear - Chewbacca baby Mitts and Booties!
SO, last week we had international Star Wars Day, which was celebrated on a host of different blogs across the galaxy.
Cheryl from Sew Can Do got in on the action too and brought her geek-crafting skills to the party. Check out these ADORABLE Chewbacca baby Mitts and Booties!! She knew that we'd be interested in seeing her work, so she hit us up on the "Submit a Geek Craft" link at the top of the page.
On another note: Small world, a friend of mine bought me a baby Yoda Hat from Cheryl's Etsy Shop, The, Green Hedgehog, in preparation for my growing tummy monster. I'm also really lucky to have recently received an awesome amigurumi Wampa from Craftster user SilentBlair in the "One Tiny Thing, Star Wars Swap". Star Wars Babies FTW!!
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
GC: Tutorial Tuesday - Monsties!
I'm just getting crochet-envy now! Check out these adorable Amigurumi mini-monsters (or Monsties, if you will) Created by crocheting blogger and fellow English person EssHaych AKA Sarah from Essex.... I went to university in Essex... small world... anyhow....You'll have to know something about crochet (unlike me) but she's offering the pattern for how to make these cute little critters for free over on her blog! She's also put together a bright, clear photo tutorial to help you make those pesky legs.
These are just adorable. If I lived in a Studio Ghibli Film I would completely have a little group of them following me around everywhere I go...
Monday, May 02, 2011
PM: Whole Lotta Baby Dress - Tutorial
Lets have another look at that dress:
not pregnant? don't panic! you can still make this dress and be (almost) as awesome as us pregnant ladies!
Whole Lotta Baby Upcycled T-shirt dress TUTORIAL
You will need:
- 2 Large Mens T-shirts
- some scrap stretch jersey fabric (or another T-shirt)
- A T shirt/vest that fits you comfortably (Template t-shirt - with similar stretch properties to your donor T shirts)
- A sewing machine (or even better - a Serger!)
- Stretch fabric needles
- Dressmaker’s chalk
- Suitable scissors
- Pins
Put on your template T shirt and draw a line where your bump begins (or your empire line - under bust - this is where your skirt will flare out from) and where your bump ends (or your hips - where your body is widest when you are not pregnant! this is where your skirt will be attached.) decide how long you want your skirt to be
a) for best results use needles specifically designed for knit or stretch fabrics, ballpoint needles will work, needles which are specifically labelled for jersey fabric, or labelled ‘stretch’ are good. Regular needles will punch through the fibres of the fabric, possibly causing bigger holes or ripping/weakening of the fabric.
b) 99% of the people following this tutorial probably don’t have a serger.... that’s sad because sergers LOVE t-shirt fabric! if you’re using a regular sewing machine you should use a zig-zag stitch (here’s a video that might help) Zig zag stitch stretches, straight stitch doesn’t.
Steps:
1) using your template T-shirt, trace around the T-shirt that will form the top of your dress, down to the 'top bump line’
2) from the 'top bump line’ carry on the line straight down to form a square edge against the bottom bump line.
3) add seam allowances (I didn’t have enough spare fabric for regular seam allowances so I just sewed along the construction lines)
4) take your 2nd t-shirt (which you’re going to make your skirt out of) and pin together front and back of the T-shirt. Draw a rectangle the width of the bottom of the top piece, and the length of the desired drop of the skirt (from bottom bump line), plus seam and hem allowance.
Are you pregnant? - make the maternity dress by following step 5a .... not pregnant? make a regular dress by following step 5b
5a) create a curve at the bottom of your rectangle, this will form your front hem shape and stop your skirt from rising up as your bump grows. My curve extends the front middle hem by about 2.5/3 inches. Cut this shape (which should give you 2 if you’ve got front and back pinned together) - flip the whole thing over and trim the back skirt piece so that hem shape there is straighter. You can check and tweak this later so don’t worry too much about straight hems at this points.
5b) Cut your rectangle shape (which should give you 2 if you’ve got front and back pinned together) this should give you your front and back skirt pieces. You can check and tweak the hemline later so don’t worry too much about straight hems at this points.
6) sew together your top t-shirt and the rectangle skirt pieces (right sides facing!!) at under bump line (or hip line)
IF YOUR WORK LOOKS LIKE THIS YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!! - step back form your work, sit in the corner and chant 'right sides facing'for 5 minutes....
7) draft your ‘wedge’ you need a wedge of fabric to help form your dress... mine is red. it needs to be the length of your empire line/over bust line->the bottom of your hem, but other than that it’s up to you how far you make your dress to flare out at the bottom. Don’t forget to add seam/hem allowances. It also makes it easier if the top of your wedge is clipped a little so you can see where your hem allowance ends.
8)sew in first side of wedge (remember right side facing!)
9) match up your side seams right from the armpit down to the bottom hem, pin it all together paying special attention to where the wedges begin and the skirt flares out.
10) sew side seams right sides facing. Turn right side out, try on give yourself a little clap, check hems/fit etc and tweak as necessary.
Finishing
I’ve got a serger, so I just whipped out my 3 stitch serging stitch and ran across the bottom hem, I also finished the neckline and sleeves with bias tape.
Alternatives - you can hem the bottom hem or leave it raw (t-shirt fabric doesn’t fray), you can also use this technique for finishing the edges with scraps of fabric you may have cut off the T-shirts in the process of making the dress.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
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