A MONTH OF TUTORIALS!!!

Hmmm..... bandwidth. Even though my lovely web hosts kindly upped my allowance for this month (to THREE TIMES my original plan) I'm already getting warning messages that it's nearing bandwidth capacity for the month. Luckily there's only one day left and we start again with a shiny fresh clean slate, so there's little danger that I will be pulled off the web again - at least until next month.

And now Optus are on my back about blowing out my bandwidth allowance at home!!! (It's all this blogging business, you know...?). I've had to upgrade my internet plan. Ah well, better than the huge "you've blown out your bandwidth" bills I've had for the last few months.

..SO.....

I've started clearing tutorials off my website, as they're the biggest bandwidth gobblers. Watch this space, because August is going to be my MONTH OF TUTORIALS!!!

I've started with a brand NEW one for using the new Eyelet Pliers we now have in stock. (Since I started it last night it's appeared below the other post I did last night ...which is below the ON MY DESK one I did tonight - the one with the fab GIVEAWAY!!).

I'm also linking OUT to Living Creatively for and Whip Up for tutorials for my bibs.....

laptop computer sleeve.......

.....and pyramid purse.

So are Blogger going to cut me off now...?

Eyelet Tutorial

It appears that our new Eyelet Pliers don't come with instructions, so here's a quick tutorial to show you JUST HOW EASY it is to set eyelets with them. 1. Mark the spot where you want to place the eyelet.

2. Punch or cut a small hole in the centre of the marking.

TIP 1: The easiest thing for the job is a SADDLER'S PUNCH, pictured above (we'll have them on the website within the next day or two. BTW- they're handy for making PURSE FEET holes, too!). Or you can try any other punching/cutting tool that you know will make a less-than-6mm hole in your fabric.

Tip 2: It's better to err on the side of the hole being too small, rather than too big. You don't want a wobbly eyelet that's going to fall out within a week or two!!! A 4mm hole will do the trick for a 6mm holed eyelet.

3. Push an eyelet through from the right side of fabric.

4. Place a washer over the back of the back of the fabric (where the cylindrical end of the eyelet is poking through). Make sure that the RAISED curve of the washer is facing up, and press it down over the fabric so that you can clearly see the end of the eyelet poking through the washer.

5. Line up the pliers with the flat side of the pliers on the FRONT of the eyelet (on the right side of fabric) and the side with the LUMP in the middle goes to the BACK (washer) side, as shown in the pic below. I know this LOOKS wrong, but it's not. Double-check that the eyelet and washer are still aligned and..... 6. SQUEEZE! Check that the centre of the eyelet has rolled sufficiently over the the washer to make the eyelet secure.

TIP 3: Eyelets prefer a bit of thickness in the fabric. The thinner your fabric the more the eyelet will crack as it rolls over the washer. The more it rolls and cracks the rougher the back of the eyelet will be. This isn't necessarily a problem - just something to be aware of if the back of eyelets are placed where they could rub on skin or delicate fabric.

Left: This is the back of the eyelet on a strap with interfacing in it

Right: This is the back of an eyelet in a thin fabric strap (same fabric but no interfacing)

And this is the FRONT of the eyelet.... swish, huh?

I don't know about you, but I LOVE a bit of metal on a bag....