With nothing more than a needle, some thread, a few ribbons, and four buttons, you can revamp an old apron into a convertible one that frees up your hands to cut flowers. The pocket can also be used as a place to stash a pair of gardening gloves.
A hot-water bottle is one of life's little luxuries. A soft felt sleeve makes it even cozier -- and a great gift. Cut two pieces of 10-by-15-inch felt, sew three sides, and turn it inside out. Insert the bottle and cinch the top with ribbon.
Sources:
Cashmere blanket, by Umrao Cashmere, from abchome.com.
Woolen gloves keep hands toasty, but they can make for some slippery situations. To get a better handle on things, try this: Download our template, print, and cut out. (You may have to reduce or enlarge the image, depending on your glove size.) Trace template onto Ultrasuede fabric; cut out. Turn template over, and repeat. Sew onto gloves by whipstitching around edges of fabric using matching thread.
When you're hemming fabric -- whether for table linens, curtains, or clothes -- accuracy is important. Ensure good results and save time with this technique: To make a 1-inch hem, for example, draw a line on card stock, 1 inch in from an edge. Place the card stock on fabric, with line parallel to fabric edge. Fold fabric over card stock, aligning fabric edge with line; press with an iron. Repeat, folding and pressing again to encase the raw edge. Stitch hem to secure.
With just a little retrofitting, an old-fashioned Mason jar can become a new sewing kit with a built-in pincushion on top. To begin, separate the lid's sealer and screw cap. Trace around sealer on cardboard. Using a compass, draw another circle on linen or cotton, 1 inch larger in diameter than the first. Cut out both circles; make cushion by placing batting between fabric and cardboard. Turn screw cap upside down, and apply hot glue to inside edge of rim; quickly press cushion into lid until cloth protrudes smoothly above screw cap's opening and cardboard is flush against rim. Apply hot glue around edge of cardboard, fold over excess fabric, and press down. Glue top of sealer to cardboard. Fill jar.
While you have your eraser and fabric paint at the ready (after making game boards), why not give some plain-Jane napkins a little personality? Stamp a bright border in any pattern and palette you fancy.
