September's Life Update: 10 free Sewing Projects

Hi readers,

I've got a slightly different post to share with you all today. Originally, this post was about sewing projects you could do with kids during the summer holidays, but now summer is over and most of the kids have gone back to school. I still wanted to write this post though, so I thought why not aim it slightly more at Christmas? So below is a list of free sewing projects that I've done with the young people I work with at the youth center, which you can do by yourself or with family and friends as a fun weekend activity or you could make them for Christmas presents!

I used wool felt in all these projects expect the first one, which I used fabric. You could use anything you like to make these, but I find felt a lot more easy to work with -especially if children are doing the sewing. Also, I just noticed in editing this that all but one of these projects is a soft toy! But most of the patterns can easily be changed to make key ring charms or pillows or however else you want to change them. I think I just find it easy to make soft toys with the kids as they have basic sewing skills and of course, my work being a charity, we don't get a lot of money/supplies for arts and crafts.

I've included the links to all but one of the projects, so you can get the instructs and patterns. I hope you enjoy and find this post useful.

1. Hair Scrunchies

I found out how to make these from someone at work. She was teaching the Thursday craft group of 8-12 year olds how to make scrunchies and hair bands. Seeing how easier it was, I really wanted to make my own and so I give it ago a few days later and now I'm addicted. I'm always in need of scrunchies because I end up mis-placing them! So, being able to now make my own and use whatever pattern of fabric I want is really great. It's a good way to use up strips of fabric and I think they'd make nice small gifts for people with long hair.

Pattern: https://snapguide.com/guides/make-an-easy-hair-scrunchie/

YouTube Video I found useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN-GpWWhjvk

2. Steggie

I found this little guy whilst looking for a triceratops because that's what I really wanted. I thought he looked too nice to pass up on though and so I got the pattern. I was meant to be making a big one to go with this small one, but I've not got around to it yet. Whilst the body parts are easy to do, sewing the spike plates on is a bit tricky. But he turned out well.

I've not made this with the kids yet, but I'd like too.

Pattern: http://nuno-runo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/stegosaurus.html

3. Minion

For weeks, the young people I work with on Tuesdays have been asking to make Minions. So I found a simple pattern for a small toy one and I give it ago. There are lots of bits to sew on, but you could glue them on. The kids really loved making them and made their own spin on them with one girl covering the bare 'bum' of her's with a white felt strip with penned in 'censored' Which was so funny. Since taking this photo I added in white dots over the eyes and buttons on his overalls. The H on the pocket originally stood for my name, but then I decided to name him Hogarth, which works well.

There are no instructions for the pattern because I think it's in Spanish, but it's not that hard to figure out what the shapes are and where they go.  

Pattern for Minion via Pinterest: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/8f/3c/0e/8f3c0ec0c0529146a9b04e43148b7119.jpg

Pattern for clothes: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/6d/ed/20/6ded20a2fc4c6ec40abf7e3d3cf61cd3.jpg

4. Mermaid 

This is another thing the kids had been bugging me for. It took my ages to find an easy pattern that was all in one piece - which I prefer and find it easy for the kids to do. I struggled so much that in the end I went with this one. The pattern is in Spanish- I think and so it was a little bit of a trail to work out the best way to fit the pieces together.

In the end, I went with sewing the tail, body and hair together on both the front and back then pinning them together and sewing it all up. Some of the kids choice to sew the three pieces with their matching parts together first then sew them to each of the other parts, but it was kinda tricky to do this.

Also I found the stars that are used to cover her chest not right for the kids, so we made 'bikini' style tops. Actually, mine never really got finished, I was going to give her a small skirt - to cover up my stitching and also put the flowers in her hair. To be honest, I'd like to try this one again and spend more time on it.

The pattern is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bonifrati/5425111743/sizes/l/in/gallery-lucienerosi-72157625867910218/

5. Ladybugs / ribbon bugs

I adapted this pattern to suit my needs as you'll see. It turned out that all the ribbon I had was Christmas themed and since we made this in June, I didn't think it'd be fitting. So I cut the wings and other bits out of felt instead. These were easy to make, but the kids didn't get into them as I'd hoped. I'm happy with the way mine turned out though.

Pattern: http://www.patchworkposse.com/ribbon-bugs-stuffie-free-pattern/

6. Horse/Unicorn/Pegasus 

I made this like last year because I wanted a unicorn but couldn't find a pattern for one. So I took this simple pattern of a horse and once I had made it just cut out a horn and then I also decided to add some wings. I think it was My Little Pony inspired. For the mane and tail, I decided to use some rainbow fur I had left over and it work well, though attaching it was a bit tricky.

I've not made this with the kids yet because it took me awhile and I found the sewing of the legs hard. I think most girls would like this though, so maybe in the future we'll make them.

Pattern: http://simmy.typepad.com/echoesofadream/2007/05/thank_you_so_mu.html

7. Fish and Seahorse

This is the one I don't have the pattern for. I couldn't find it because I realized that I'd just googled patterns for sea creatures and then picked the best ones. I made like a goldfish and the seahorse like two years back and I also started another goldfish which as you can see I never got around to finishing. Sewing the whole thing with sequence was taking forever.

So make this just find some plain images of the sea creatures you want, print them, cut out the shapes from felt and them just sew them together and decorate. I also made these smaller and the kids made key ring charms out of them.

8. Panda

I was watching Kung Fu Panda the other day and decided I wanted to make a panda soft toy. I love pandas and they are one of my favorite animals. I found two very different patterns, but I went with easiest for this post. Plus, kids can make this very easily and if they are not a fan of pandas it's easy to change the colors to make whatever bear you want.

I'd love to make this one bigger and out of micro-fleece or another soft fabric, so that he could become a pillow. That'd be really awesome. I love how he turned out and do think I'll be making him some friends soon.

Pattern: http://mollychicken.blogs.com/my_weblog/2005/11/anna_panda.html

9. Fox

This little guy would make a really nice pillow/cushion. Or maybe a pin or a key charm. I found him really quick to sew up too. He's sitting on my desk with my panda right now, but I sure wish I'd made him bigger because he'd be another good soft toy for snuggling with. He's be great for fox lovers.

Pattern: http://littlewhiteschoolhouse.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/free-fox-softie-pattern.html?m=1

10. Day Of The Dead Doll

It's nearly Halloween! So, when I came across this doll I knew I had to make her. She took me awhile and I do think that glueing the bones ect on would have been easier, but I do find hand sewing relaxing. I'm really pleased with how she turned out as I struggled to get the pattern pieces the right size just due to my computer. She's not as complicated as she looks to make either, it's just the time needed.

Pattern: http://www.aestheticnest.com/2014/10/craft-day-of-dead-doll-free-pattern.html

Surprise bonus; knitted Dragons.

Lastly, does anyone remember the knitting patterns I brought in Leeds? Well, my mum has been busy making these guys! She also made the rainbow hedgehog, but I forgot to take a photo of it it. I so want to make a small hedgehog by myself at some point though and aren't the baby dragons so cute?

This all for this week, thanks for reading and please come back soon. Feel free to share you thoughts below. 

It's HALLOWEEN!

Hey readers,

Time is so against me today and I already know that this blog post isn't going to be going up until very late night tonight. I've to leave in like 20 mins to go to play DD. It's the first game of the new season tonight -how very fitting!- and I as I don't know how long the new style of play and the new rules are going to take I don't know when I'll be home. But we'll see!

Above is my pumpkin for this year! He's an awesome fire dragon. And yeah some inspiration did come from DD! but I like my pumpkins to be different. He took awhile to make, I started at 7pm and finished about 11.15pm. The design was pretty easy, though the tips of the flames were a bit tricky. I also accident put a hole in the pumpkin when scooping it out. Luckily, it was in an area I needed to cut out, but once I started that I found that the hole had created a crack right across the pumpkin! That was really upsetting and give me some difficulties in carving out the wings. But he does look pretty cool.

Back from a very good DD night. And there's been no tricker or treaters so all the chocolate and left over biscuits for me! Though I've got blueberry muffins for tomorrow as well. I saw a few people dressed up and having nights out. Manchester was it's normal busy self and the weather is so awful all rainny, windy and cold. It feel like winter already!

Back to Halloween anyways. I still think that it's not as big in Europe as it is in the States. In Britian we do have all the shops selling tons of Halloween releated stuff a month in advance, a few people throw parties, schools and clubs get creative. But when you go out on Halloween nights, the streets that should be full of tricker or treaters and the houses that should have pumpkins and garden displays,just are not. There'll only be a handful of kids for every few streets and even less houses displaying pumpkins. I'm still not sure why this is so, maybe the stigma of Halloween is still clinging? Maybe unlike Christmas this is holiday that people just can't get into? For whatever the reason, I still think it's a shame.

 

My Favourite Halloween recipes

Pumpkin Pie

I follow a traditional family recipe for this and it's not a normal 'pie' it's more like a cheese cake. But it's still amazing!

500gm Pumpkin - cooked (Steam it for about 30-40 mins)

2 packets of ginger snaps

100gms melted butter

1 digestives

Tablespoon of Mixed spice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg

3 eggs

200gm caster sugar

100gm brown sugar

500ml double cream

 

Break up biscuits with rolling pin and then spreed into glass baking dish and mix with the butter. Set to cool.

Then mix all the other ingredients together beside from the cream. Add in cool pumpkin, mix and then add cream. Mix some more and pour over biscuit base. Then in preheated oven at 180 degrees, put it in for 15-20 mins and then turn down oven to 160 degrees and cook for 40 mins. Set aside for an hour or so. Then serve warm or cold with cream.

So awesome.  

 

Halloweenie ginger cookies

Basic gingerbread men mixture, but add in mixed spice, Cinnamon and nutmeg. Then use Halloween shape cookie cutters and a range of icing pens to decorate. I got sprinkles and ghost/bat sugar shapes. 

Crumble gravestone cookies

So simple to make just basic butter cookies and then cut into 'headstone' like shapes. Using icing pens to decorate. I love making mine all individual and write fake epitaphs on them.

There's tons of other Halloween recipes out there like the chocolate moose graveyard and the chocolate fudge spider cake I made last year. I think that's why I really like this time of year, because there's so much good cooking to be done!

Also the traddtional scary movie night. I'm having mine with my boyfriend tomorrow, as I've been playing DD tonight and baking for all the afternoon. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a classic must watch! I've also got Interview With a Vampire and Queen of the Damned. Should be fun.
As for me, I wish you all a Happy Halloween!



Easter Sunday Walk

We found this starfish

Yesterday, I hit the beach with my dog, parents and youngest brother. We tend to go on long walks during bank holidays, because we like doing family things together and at home spending this time together can be hard because everyone wants to do there own thing in their own space. So, my plan was to go to Bolton Abbey, but they were having a huge Easter egg hunt and it was decided that to avoid the young kids-speically with grumpy Sandy-We'd go to St. Anne's in Lytham instead.

Being use to such chances of a sudden weather change, we all dressed warmly. I was glad of my jumper once we hit the beach, it was so windy that the warmth from the sun was almost lost most of the time. The beach was busy with walkers through, people who'd braved the weather to take their dogs out or they kids to ride the donkeys.

Sandy had fun digging



The dragon kite

Mum got this kite for her birthday, being a lover of dragons and kites. Now adays we spend much of our camping hoildays flying kite and it seemed fitting to give the dragon his first flight on the beach.

He was a site to see! All those bright colours against a blue sky and the wind carried him high, so that he could be seen across the beach. He was easy to fly as well because he only had one string. The best part was though, when you pulled on the string his wings flapped, so he gainned more air time! He'll be coming on holiday with us for so now.

I've still got easter eggs to eat, which is a good thing. I'm still trying to loss weight at the minute, but its sort of had a set back because my other brother has decided to take up all the time on the Wii fit, so its hard for me to get a look in now. I'll keep trying though!

I've nearly finished Treasure Island now. I've got more into it then Dorian Gray-which I give up on, it was taking too long. I've got another book that goes with Island and its Captain Flints and Sliver's story, though I'm not sure how that's going to be because it was only published in 2009.

Oh, my Easter nest cakes are nearly ready....time to carry on with the bank holiday!