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Sew Your Own Appliquéd Christmas Bunting Tutorial

Sew Your Own Appliquéd Christmas Bunting Tutorial

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, tra la la la!

There’s still time to top up your bank of Christmas memories & sew some fun festive bunting for the family to enjoy year after year…

This easy project is a brilliant little scrap buster. We’ve provided some cute (and FREE!) appliqué templates for you which can can request here

We’ve gone to town with the applique shapes & you can choose from Rudolf, a Christmas tree, present, a stocking, some holly, a bell, a gingerbread man, a bauble, a star – will you use them all?!

We’ve also suggested 2 finishes for your flags – pinked & stitched or turned & top stitched… choose whichever tickles your festive pickle!

We have used calico for the bunting flags- it’s economical & a great neutral background to showcase any colour scheme to help your scraps sing!

You Will Need:

Make life easier with:

A sewing project for : Beginners

Approximate sewing time: Sew it in an afternoon!

Important Notes:

  • ¼” (0.5mm) seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise directed.
  • For steps using machine sewing, straight stitch, backstitching at the start & end using stitch length 2.5 unless otherwise stated.
  • When topstitching – use a 3-3.5mm length & stitch approx 3mm from the seam
  • Prepare your fabrics as per manufacturer’s care advice
  • Read through the instructions fully before starting  

Request the templates:

[mailerlite_form form_id=5]

Sewing Equipment You Will Need:

Make it easier with:

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Important Notes:

  • 1.5cm seam allowance throughout, unless directed.
  • For steps using machine sewing, straight stitch, backstitching at the start & end using stitch length 2.5 unless otherwise stated.
  • When topstitching – use a 3-3.5mm length & stitch approx 3mm from the seam
  • Prepare your fabrics as per manufacturer’s care advice
  • Read through the instructions fully before starting 

Sew Christmas Bunting

The template pieces we have put together can be downloaded above.

If you have a laminator laminate your template pieces as it will make it easier to trace around them. Cut out your template pieces.

  1. Cut a 25cm strip of calico and mark your flags as shown in the photo. Cut along your marked lines to create your flags.

Top tip: Use a pinking blade in your rotary cutter for an attractive rustic finish.

2. Prepare your appliqué pieces by tracing round your appliqué shapes on the smooth side of the Bondaweb paper ensuring you leave a few millimetres around the outline when you cut them out.

3. Iron your Bondaweb shape to the wrong side of your fabric and then cut along your drawn outline line.

4. Score the paper of your Bondaweb with a pin and carefully tear off the paper revealing the adhesive

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5. Iron your appliqué pieces onto your fabric flags taking care to place the layers of the appliqué in the correct order.

6. Carefully stitch around the edge of your appliqué. Popular choices of stitch are blanket stitch (pictured) zig-zag stitch and running stitch but you could use others depending on the look you are after.

7. Decide the look of your finished flags and choose the appropriate next step.

8. Turned & topstitched: With right sides together stitch your flag with a 5mm seam allowance. Closely trim the point of your flag and turn the right way. Press and topstitch.

Pinked & Stitched: With wrong sides together stitch your flag with a 5mm seam allowance.

9. Iron your bias binding in half which will make stitching it easier.

Place your flags at equal intervals along the bias binding (ours were approx 10cm apart) placing the flags within the fold of the bias binding and pin or use Wonder Clips (which make this part *much* easier) and sew.

And you’re finished, well done!

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial and have a wonderful Christmas!

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New pattern alert! 🚨 Wanna make your own custom IKEA KALLAX storage boxes?

New pattern alert! 🚨 Wanna make your own custom IKEA KALLAX storage boxes?

Do you have cube storage units around your home? We absolutely love them here at The Studio, crammed full of haberdashery goodness!

Ikea Kallax Fabric Storage Box

Ready made storage boxes can be quite boring & might not match the decor in your home. We were super excited to team up with Makower to bring you the pattern for these beautiful boxes! 

Ikea Kallax Storage Boxes

 

Fabric Storage Boxes

It’s a completely free pattern available to download and is suitable for IKEA Kallax unit and lots of other cube furniture out there, measuring 12 ½” x 14 ½” x 12 ½”. 

 

PInterest Sew Your Own Fabric Storage Box

Even if you don’t have the cube storage units, they’re a great storage solution for any shelving for toys, magazines, anything you can think of!

 

The boxes are super sturdy as they have Buckram inside and even have a little PVC label pouch at the front so you can be super organised! If you’re worried about sewing a huge cube, don’t worry! It has a flip up base to make it easier to manage on your sewing machine.  

We have put together a kit with all of the bits and pieces you need to make the storage box or if you’d LOVE to use the fabrics we used, we have Henna available on the website too.

Loving the fabrics we used? Henna is a brand new Makower fabric collection featuring bold blooms and geometric prints. Designed by Beth Studley, these fabrics are inspired by Henna body art and feature mandalas, florals and chevrons. The bold colours are sure to make a statement on any project!

We can’t wait to see your storage boxes and what you make with Makower’s Henna collection!

Learn All About Digital Print Fabric

Learn All About Digital Print Fabric

 

Have you ever heard that digital printing on fabric is more eco friendly?!

Were you curious about Digital Print Fabric & wondered what it even is?

We’re here to help! Grab a coffee & learn all about digital print fabric and the print industry!

Digital Print Fabric

So what’s the explanation for this method being more environmentally friendly…

It’s all about energy consumption!

Digitally printed fabrics can be less wasteful than screen printed fabrics because the printing process involves:

    • Minimised ink usage

    • Less water is used due to screens not needing to be washed between colours 

    • Smaller print runs are possible

    • Reduction in unnecessary waste is likely 

All of this combined means that less energy is used, resulting in a smaller environmental impact.

It all contributes, every little bit helps!

digitally printed fabric

 

Fabrics that have been printed using a digital fabric printed DO indeed look different from other printing methods in textile manufacturing, that are traditionally seen in the textile industry… the colours ARE brighter… the images ARE sharper and as a matter of fact the print can often look photographic!

This vibrancy is achieved because the printer and printing inks used are similar to an inkjet printer like you use at home (albeit a LOT bigger!).

As well as more colours being used to create some visually VIVID fabric!

Digital fabric is precise & consistent much like screen printing allowing for printing machines to create sharper edges.

Ink jet is also less likely to bleed – giving you the crisp AND the sharp!

digital fabric is precise and consistent

 

 

Have you considered trying digital printed fabric before? 

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this fabric!

 

 

Halloween sewing project ideas

Halloween sewing project ideas

The countdown to Halloween is on… only 8 weeks left! But that’s plenty of time to plan your Halloween Sewing. Read on for some Halloween sewing project ideas & inspiration

To save you some time searching the web for Halloween sewing project ideas?we’ve got you covered.

Here’s a round-up of some of the best Halloween project ideas to get you started!

We think we have the BEST Halloween fabric selection around to complete all of your spooky Halloween sewing projects… Check out our Halloween fabric choices here

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Halloween Sewing Project Ideas

 

Looking for inspiration on what to sew this halloween? Our roundup of some free halloween sewing tutorials is just what you need!

We’ve got easy and fun halloween crafts, halloween decor with step-by-step instructions using some gorgeous halloween themed fabrics.

So grab a pen and paper and jot down these ideas!

Halloween Bunting

Easy Halloween craft decorations are one of our favourite things to do!

Our FREE halloween bunting tutorial is super easy and is a great way to get in the Halloween spirit.

You can hang it indoors or outdoors!

Fancy some different shapes bunting flags? Then download Dashwood Studio’s free project Trick or Treat Project here

How about the ultimate speedy sew by using a Halloween bunting panel? Riley Blake’s Mad Masquerade Bunting Panel is the perfect way to spook up your Halloween festivities in a jiffy

Halloween Cushions & pillows

 

Another great and easy Halloween house decoration are cushions and pillows!

Pop them on the couch or bed for that extra festive kick.

Check out the FREE projects below!

Mystery Manor Free Halloween Projects

Mystery Manor from Andover Fabrics comes with 3 free projects! A quilt, cushion & table runner. Check out the fabrics here and free pattern here

Memory Pillow using Amor Eterno

 

Honouring the Mexican traditions of Day of the Dead where those that have passed are remembered, this memory pillow would make a lovely keepsake using Riley Blake’s Amor Eterno.

Luna’s Web Pillow

 

Get your scissors to the ready and make this amazing Spider web pillow: Luna’s web pillow. Grab the free project courtesy of Art Gallery Fabrics


Making Costumes? Then you might find our Guide to Net & Tulle helpful


 

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Free Halloween Wall Hanging Projects

 

Add a touch of spooky to your walls with these fabulous wall hangings!

Mad Masquerade Wall hanging : Goodbye Feet

This is a super speedy sew and makes great use of the panel in the Riley Blake Mad Masquerade collection

Halloween Quilts

You’ve still got time to make a warm and thick handmade Halloween quilt if you want to keep cosy this Autumn.

Here’s a few few free Halloween patterns available

Mad Masquerade Panel Patch Quilt

Perfect for Alice in Wonderland fans, this edgy Halloween collection Mad Masquerade is a quick & easy Halloween quilt.

Grab the Mad Masquerade fabrics here & the free tutorial here

The Watcher Quilt (The Watcher by Libs Elliot)

The amazing panels in Libbs Eliot “The Watcher” makes for a great shortcut… nobody will ever know you didn’t piece the skull!

Grab the free project and these amazing fabrics here

Bad to the Bone – Scrappy Circles Quilt

 

Perfect your Drunkard’s Path technique!

This lovely quilt is available for free over on the Riley Blake blog and shows off the collection Bad To The Bone beautifully

Wishing you a happy Halloween! We’d love to see pictures if you make any of these projects

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Go Super Size with Extra Wide Fabrics!

Go Super Size with Extra Wide Fabrics!

Ever heard the term “wide backs” and wondered what it means? No – it’s not a dressmaking alteration for the broad shouldered!

Some of you beginner seam-stars out there have come across some fabrics on our website which are a huuuuge 106” wide and might think, why on earth would you need a piece of fabric that wide?! Well you’re in luck! In this blog, we’ll be going through why we need extra wide fabrics and inspire you with what they can be used for.

Quilt Backing Fabric

Hey Quilters! What if I told you that you never had to piece the back of a quilt ever again?! You may have started a quilt top and thought, oh no, what will I put on the back? The extra wide fabrics we have to offer on the website are perfect for this. It’ll save you SO much time, seem way less daunting, look really professional and can work out cheaper. Don’t just think about the back either! You can use extra wide fabrics for the front and applique over the top or practice your free motion quilting without hours spent on piecing blocks.

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Wide Fabrics for Curtains and Home Decor

Think about those super size projects! Curtains, duvet covers or maybe something you’re upcycling. We have lots of gorgeous designs to choose from to suit any home.

HUGE Fabric Scraps!

Don’t forget when you have finished with your main project, you’ll have some super wide scraps to play with! Why not make some binding for your quilt that matches the back? Maybe you could make a cushion to match? OR start a whole new quilt!

Where can I buy Extra Wide fabric?

We have a huge selection of extra wide fabric to choose from at our sewing superstore, Plush Addict. We’re based in the UK and will ship your order the same day if you order before 3pm, so you can get sewing in no time!

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