Yo Yo Maker Tutorial

Here's a remake of the video promised yesterday. It shows how to make yo-yo's (Suffolk Puffs) using the (Clover brand) Quick Yo Yo Maker.

Check yesterday's blog post (if you missed it) for ideas on how to use yo yo's for all sorts of embellishments and hair ornaments.

You may have noticed....

I'm a bit of a fan of a bit of a yo-yo embellishment, especially since I discovered the Clover Yo Yo Maker. Before that, I was calling them Suffolk Puffs and making them with bits of cardboard and lots of fussy edge-turning. Some of them were a bit wonky.

I discovered that with these little gadgets, I could make perfectly uniform, evenly gathered yo-yo's - without having to think about it - and I could stitch them onto everything.

And stitch them, I do.

I also combine them with buttons and hair ties....

...and hairclips.
I particularly like doing lots of arty-farty free-machine embroidery all over the top of them - this time to tart up a simple A-line dress. ( It kind of takes the lolly-sweet out of them and makes them a bit funky, don't you think?)

Until recently, I only stocked the small and the large sizes (but I secretly owned all the other sizes). I've now added the EXTRA large size (which makes 60mm yo-yo's) to the shop.

I promised someone a visual tutorial (yes Chrys - that'd be YOU!) - AND I MADE A VIDEO - but I'm going to have to edit or re-shoot it. I think it could be made better. Stay tuned, folks!

What to do with those little leftover bits of bias binding

After all the hats and Tulip Dresses I made in the Summer (and some secret-book-business sewing), I seem to have a lot of spare bias binding bits.... and they're cropping up on lots of little winter pinnies.

The green corduroy dress is from this book and the purple one is a New Look summer pattern (forgotten the number but it's something like this) in a bit of cotton coat-weight fabric.

The orange corduroy Tulip Dress got the yo-yo treatment with it's bias tape detailing. (I also made a small beret to match). I'm yet to photograph these garments ON THE CHILD....

...because she's being as cooperative in front of the camera as she usually is.

But I can assure you, she looks very cute.

Better...?

A few yo-yo's later....

And I'm still not sure. I think these fabrics work better in different proportions.

Leah, the wee girl and I are all hoping to be better soon, too... A dreaded lurgie has descended upon the studio.

...

Oh, and if you're in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne and looking for a (FREE) school holiday program for sewing, look here....

A Fresh Summer Crop

These kid's hats and bags look remarkably fresh and perky on a day when the rest of Melbourne is feeling withered and droopy.... (43 degrees today and hotter tomorrow... yikes!).

I yo-yo'd this hat to within an inch of it's life - they're placed randomly all around the crown. The centres of the yo-yo flowers are made with self-cover buttons. (My... haven't self-cover button kits progressed since 20 years ago...? So easy now!). And the binding is made with an 18mm bias tape maker.I made up the Evening Bag as a kiddie bag to match the hat. More yo-yo's and buttons.... It also has flat o-rings in the strap and a template plastic base. The bag closes with a magnetic catch and the lining has a zip pocket.
I forgot to do a complete shot of the other hat - just lots of yo-yo close-ups!?? This hat has a wider brim and its crown is appliqued with daisies of diminishing size over the top and around the side - there is ... you guessed it! Yo-Yo's from here to next week!

The co-ordinating bag for this hat is the Small Slouch. It makes a cute kiddie bag. I appliqued a big daisy on it (and ...ummm... put a yo-yo on it... Is it my imagination or is there a pattern forming here?).
I also put double o-rings in each side of the strap. I like this look, and I think kids would like fiddling with the rings (at least I know MINE would!).

Now - I've had enough of this stuffy office - it's the hottest room in the house! I'm off to seek air conditioning ...or move to Minnesota, or something.

All Dressed Up

I've been making new bag samples to take to the Stitches and Craft Show in (eek!) March.

The Dress Bag is a particular favourite of mine. It's called the Dress Bag because it's the right size to take out with you when you're dressed up! Think lipstick, phone, keys, money... all you need dangling from your wrist when you're looking gorgeous at a party or the races. It's simple to make, needs very little fabric and can indeed be dressed up for any occasion.... it's very versatile, and I like a pattern that's versatile.

Here's some detail of the rose on the front. It's a bagged-out bias strip that is hand-stitched into place.

It appears that I'm on a bit of a detachable strap bender.... (Swivel hooks are a marvellous thing!!). The purse can be a wristlet or a clutch purse. It can also have a zippered gusset closure (with a plastic rectangle zipper pull).

This one - in Flutter-By and Full-Moon Forest (both by Moda) has been around since last November, but it fits in here because it shows the flap....

...and an alternative closure - magnetic catches (snaps). It also shows the optional inside zip pocket (and a little patch pocket on the other side that I added just for fun).

And here it is all ready for a spring garden party in a gorgeous Sandi Henderson print... I put the yo-yo maker to work and included a flat o-ring in the strap. I think that's all the decoration it needs.
...Oh.. and there's a zipper pull on the zipper.

We still have these plastic zipper pulls, some oval ones and a few of the brass teardrop ones left (finite resources!). We're on the lookout for more supplies of the discontinued flowers and hearts.

Watch this space for more of my new Stitches and Craft samples.... and hopefully a new pattern before too long!

Sewing up a storm...

...of the force-9 variety. I've been having a lovely time with an old fashion-industry friend in my studio. We both have lots of projects on the go and have done ABSOLUTELY NO TIDYING since before xmas!!! It's a whirlwind of ideas and a flurry of cutting and sewing action. Garments are appearing as if by magic (...and the studio looks like it's been hit by two hurricanes).

I made this towelling art smock for the wee one, using the trusty 18mm bias tape maker to make the bound edges.

I also pulled out all the knit fabrics in my stash and made a ton of simple little leggings and shorts for my girl, and a simple t-shirt or two for myself. This little dress was whipped together without a proper pattern - a test run that kind-of worked. (shame I didn't iron it before photographing it!).

In order to make it look less like an accidentally-successful-test-run I did a simple bit of couching (zig-zag over yarn) and discovered something new with yo-yos...

You can pass off a slap-dash attitude as "rustic charm" and machine stitch them roughly into place!!! I really like the textural effect, and will be using this method again. I'll even use it on a properly thought-out project.

Other projects on the to-do list....

Unfortunately I think it's a bit unrealistic to expect to finish all I have ear-marked.

I hope you're all enjoying your holidays and wish everyone a happy and creative 2009!!!