Miss Mary Sewing Classes in Perth

Zippy Pouch – The Easy Way

With so many allergies around these days we all know that certain foods are simply not allowed at schools, on airplanes etc. But at our school they are not allowed to have Bandaids! Yes you read that correctly…Bandaids!! Why? Because some children are allergic to the sticky stuff on the plaster. When those children fall down and gash their knees can’t they wear the thin tape with holes in it (that the school supplies)? And surely my children should be able to be use the bandaids that actually soak up the blood?! Well the answer is no, so I made this little zippy pouch for Miss Pre Primary for her to keep in her bag, so that if she falls again she can run to her bag and put her own bandaids on.

I quite enjoying making these zippy pouches. I make them in all sorts of fabric and often give them as gifts. If you would like a tutorial for these please comment. If I get plenty of comments I am more than happy to share.

Ladies Pattern – The Twiggy Top

I was feeling all inspired yesterday morning, so before class started I quickly drew up a pattern for a top that I can easily wear with jeans. After class I made it and I have to say it was super easy to make. I chose a light weight fabric, it is a Japanese Lawn fabric that I found at Spotlight last year. I had to make some quick bias binding strips to finish off the neck and armholes, it really is easy to do I promise. This will be a great Absolute Beginner Project, but I would love some of my current students to test this pattern. I have only made a Size Small at this stage. You will need 1.10m of fabric.

Easter Pot Holder

I am a little excited about the daily emails I am receiving from Dubai, South Africa, Barcelona, Ohio…all for my Easter Pot Holder pattern. I posted this on my first blog but now that I have my lovely tablet and mobile friendly website I can now post it here and you can find the pattern at the end of this post.

I originally posted this on the 5 March 2012.

I have just made a stack of these Easter Pot Holders for all the teacher assistants at the kids school. No doubt they will be inundated with chocolate, so why not give something a bit different.

I have used Insul Bright inside these. Insul Bright is a type of wadding which has a metallic sheet woven through the fibres. Most fabric stores sell this, it cost me around $10 per metre. Please note that this filling is not like the commercial grade and won’t handle extreme temperatures. It may be worth mentioning when gifting just incase someone burns themself.

As far as fabric choice goes, I used up my scrap fabrics. You can co-ordinate many fabrics when making these.

I like to use my Walking Foot to make these.

Here is a tutorial for you all to make too.

CUT FABRIC

Cut 2 egg shapes from your fabric.
Cut 4 pocket pieces from fabric.
Cut 1 egg shape & 2 pocket pieces from Insul Bright.

THE POCKETS
Lay on your table;
1 pocket piece from Insul Bright
1 pocket piece from fabric, right side up
1 pocket piece from fabric, right side down
Pin along top edge and stitch with a 1cm seam allowance.

Trim seam allowance close to stitching.
Press fabric and turn to right side.

Top stitch about 5mm from top edge.
Repeat for other pocket.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Lay on your table;

1 egg shape piece from Insul Bright

1 fabric egg shape piece, right side up

2 finished pockets

and finally the last egg shape piece with right side facing down.

Pin all around egg.

With a 1cm seam allowance stitch around egg, leaving an opening at the side of the egg.
Trim seam allowance close to stitched edge.
Turn through to right side. It is only a small opening, so please be patient at this stage while you pull the fabric through to the right side.

Press well, tuck in excess fabric, pin and stitch the opening closed. I also stitch the other side too, just so it looks even.

That’s it, you are done!

click here for Easter Pot Holder Pattern

Nutting it out

I am in need of changing my website over to WordPress and am still trying to nut it out. With school going back, the renovations well underway and sewing classes in full swing there is not much time to learn this new program. I am so stubborn, I know…I need to learn about what Im doing, I can’t just give it to someone else to do. Anything tech based I do love. I do like to read through a manual front to back to learn how to use new gadgets although these manuals are being replaced by online manual, tutorials and videos. I know it may be easier, however I feel I spend so much time on the computer already, I just want to get off it. The iPad doesn’t solve the problem either…I can’t help but get side tracked when Im notified it’s my turn for Words with Friends, oh and I’ll just check my Facebook while I’m at it, and I can’t forget drooling over Victoria Beckham’s outfit for the day on Instagram.

I know Ill get it soon, I have to, I have so much work I want to do. I have so many new ideas, I can’t wait to turn them into patterns!

I have been adding photos to Instagram, you can follow me @missmarysews I have been sorting through my store room that will be demolished in the renovation. I have so much stuff. Stuff I don’t want and don’t need. Well I suppose I could use it at some time, but what happens over time? I will need a room to store everything, just incase I need it. Exactly how much can you have? And at what point do I let it go? I think I might start bundling some bits and pieces and sell them off.

Trialling WordPress

It’s the festive season and I always find myself delving into the running of my business. Looking at things I can improve on, what direction I’m going in, new projects for the year, scheduled classes. I also look at my weekly schedule and set my work days, cleaning days, family days etc. Working from home is brilliant, however I find I definitely need to have set days otherwise I am unable to put in a productive days work, whether it be for work or home.

Im a lists girl. I love lists, the feeling of accomplishment is great and the fact that I can see so many red ticks (yes, I even colour code my lists) makes me feel good and gets me motivated.

My favourite to do list is the Kikki-K A4 Day Planner.

So one of the things that bothers me at the moment is that my website will not support mobile devices…ba barm. My service provider is terrible they never answer the telephone I am looking at running a new website. I came across WordPress, so thought I would trial it for a bit, if I can. I need to experiment to see if I am able to do this myself.