Embroidered bunny pincushion tutorial

Embroidered Pincushion tutorial

I do love to do simple embroidery, small projects that are quick and oh so cute.

I've had such a lot of fun using this simple bunny to embellish my work, pincushions, pocket detail and whatever really, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Cut one 7'' square of white or cream fabric, cotton or linen, either will be lovely. Transfer the design onto the fabric making sure you centre it, I find it easier to just trace my design with a soft pencil, but use the method you prefer.

Cut one 7'' square of lightweight fusible batting and press it onto the back of your work after you have transferred the design.

 Using an embroidery hoop to hold your fabric embroider the outline of the bunny using two strands of DMC embroidery floss. The eye is done with a French knot and the nose just a small straight stitch. To do the tail just use a series of bullion stitches, now these don't have to be perfect to create a good look just as long as they look like a fluffy tail.

The leaves and flowers are done using lazy daisy stitch and just one strand of DMC thread.

To make up the pincushion 

Trim your embroidery to a 5 1/2 '' square making sure you have the embroidery exactly in the centre.

Back: cut one patterned fabric  5 1/2''  square

(Peeps) Small borders: cut four 1 1/4'' x 5 1/2'' from patterned fabric

Larger borders: cut four 1 1/2'' x 5 1/2'' from contrasting fabric

Fold the small borders or peeps as I call them in half lengthwise and press, position the top and bottom peeps 1 3/8'' from the top and bottom raw edges of your embroidered front. At this stage before attaching these you can add a trim, it can be lace or ric rac etc, stitch it in place so that the folded edge of the peep will cover it.

 Having the folded edge toward the centre and the raw edge toward the outer....stitch the top and bottom peeps in place using a 1/4 inch seam.

Now attach the two side borders using the same technique. 

Place the outer border right side facing down on top of the first border 'Peep'
lining up the seams and stitch  in place using a quarter inch seam, press open.

Stitch the top and bottom borders in place using the same method, press open and at this stage you may have to trim the edges slightly to bring it back to the original 5.1/2 inch square.

Place your front face down on the back piece and using a quarter inch seam neatly sew the two together leaving a two and a half inch opening for turning.

Trim the corners carefully, turn through and stuff with fleece.

Using a slip stitch sew the opening closed, you can see I've added a little decorative tag just to finish the look.

Below is my hand drawn rabbit image, print it out on A4 and use to create something sweet.

Happy sewing 
Glenis

Bunnies and Cream..soft toys and other projects.

Playing with fabric

Have you ever seen such sweet fabric, bunnies, strawberries, flowers and gingham, all the elements to delight the maker.

When this fabric first came out I thought how absolutely delightful and I bought it of course . It was the soft colours and checks that first drew me in although the other designs from the range are just as lovely.

This of course is my 'Bobby Bunny pattern' and how gorgeous it looks in this fabric.

Other little projects are these sweet pincushions, so simple with the hand embroidered bunnies on the front.

Bunnies and Cream fabric

Just showcasing this sweet line of fabric by designer Lauren Nash, I have also used some Sweet Orchard fabric by Sedef Imer which is also one of my favourites.

Happy sewing

Glenis

Simple Easter treats

Easter treats, it's all about presentation 

Sometime the simplest things turn out so well, ribbon, tulle, little mini eggs and the sweetest gift tags. That's all it takes to transform a small bag of foil wrapped Easter eggs into a gorgeous gift. I love to present well, even the smallest gift can be elevated into such a delight.

This is the fourth year I have tulle wrapped my eggs, different ribbon and cards but the same idea.

This year I thought to share it with you.

Cut out the stiffish tulle into 12 '' squares 

Choose 1 '' wide organza ribbon and cut into 24 '' lengths

Print out your choice of image onto light weight card, this year I found this darling free image on Pinterest kindly shared by Kelli and I think it makes these.

Trim the cards and clip the corners with a punch if you have one. This is the only card making punch I own and it truly finishes off the look. I then tied narrow ribbon to my cards about 9 '' length, I went with the palest of blue as my theme is pink and blue.

Put the eggs in the center of the tulle and draw up the four corners, tie the pink ribbon and attach the tag. Fan out the top of the tulle so that it looks lovely, trim ribbon ends if they need it.

Happy creating

Glenis

Dear little cot quilt

Dear little cot quilt 

  This lovely quilt, so very simple in it's design has made up just how I  imagined, the gorgeous fabric is the star here.

  The soft pink and dandelion fabric from 'Dear Stella Design' is beautiful and I knew it would be just right for our granddaughters quilt.

Just a series of 5'' blocks (70) and a 5'', wide border at the top trimmed with a little cotton lace, very simple.

 I used one of Minki Kim's  Sew illustrated designs to add the little patch on the back, it just finishes it off.

Well 'Lola Grace' you are just a few days old and we are going to treasure getting to know you.

Happy sewing

Glenis

Bunny soft toy 'Bobby Bunny'

Meet Bobby Bunny

My all time favourite softy is a bunny with big ears and a sweet face..so here he is, Bobby Bunny.

I do like to design toys and I really did fall for this one, cute in natural linen or bejeweled in roses, either way delightful. His little jacket has foxes leaping over it, I thought that was fun...Bunny is definitely in charge.

The little roses are a sweet touch with Easter in mind and for a lot of you spring has sprung although not for us.

This little fellow was the inspiration for Bobby definitely more gender neutral, he is made from pure linen and I didn't add any batting to his ears so they hang down kind of floppy like.

Hopefully these bunnies inspire you to have ago and make one for the treasured little one in your life. My Patterns are just me telling you how to do this, all photos are taken as I make them.

Happy sewing 

Glenis

Colour Kitties, soft toys

Colour Kitties, my latest sewing pattern

I do love to make toys but it's the designing process that I love most, new ideas clamouring to be heard, made real, an idea that becomes touchable, shareable..that's what I love.

Do you remember the little Golden Book 'The Color Kittens' it was published in 1958, I read it to my children and grandchildren...we love it. Well my kittens don't look like the ones in book but it was the colours that inspired me, the little story is all about the colours of the world and how the kittens 'Hush' and 'Brush' made them.

Of a purple land

In a pale pink sea

Where apples fell

From a golden tree 

 Just one of the lovely verses in the book.

This pattern is reasonably simple, just using fabric and colour to create the fun look.

The little ruffle is just raw edged and cut on the bias, I thought it gave them theatrical look.

You can find my pattern here and I am hoping you might give it ago.

Glenis