Smocket

Today I made the Child's Smock or Smocket (as it has a pocket) from The Mayfly's Pattern. I was really pleased with how it came out, I used a plain linen fabric for the front, with a pocket made out of corduroy, in a heart shape, and a pink lining fabric. It as incredibly quick to make as well. My only comment is to maybe make the ties just a few centimentres longer, but as I haven't tried it out on my niece yet, I can't be sure if that really is needed. I am pleased anyway, and I am going to do a larger one for her older sister, who is nearly 4.

Doorstop Tutorial

Here is my tutorial for making a doorstop. I have come to the conclusion that a 10cm x 15 cm box shape is sufficient for a reasonably heavy door. This will hold just under 2kg of rice. I would advise you to test what weight your door needs to hold it open. I just used bags of rice - nothing fancy! Although maybe you could add in some dried Lavender for a nice smell!

Materials
Fabric measuring 45cm x 40cm

Fabric for handle (2) 5.5 cm x 15cm
2kg Rice
Medium Size Freezer Bag
1x 10cm Zip

Step 1
Draw out your template on tracing paper (it is a t/ cross shape) or direct onto the material with tailors chalk. I use a 2.5cm seam allowance. So the total width is 45cm x 40cm height. I use the offcut of fabric to make a handle. The fabric for the handle is 5.5cm x 15cm.

Step 2

Cut out the doorstop and the fabric.

I then take the time to iron/press all the seams, this makes it easier to match them up.

Step 3

Make the handle. This needs to be 3.5cm wide, once made. Sew the 2 pieces of fabric (5.5cm x 15cm) together, right sides together, with a 1 cm seam allowance. Your parallel rows of stitches will be 3.5cm apart. DO NOT SEW THE NARROW ENDS. Turn inside out, press.

Step 4

Sew the bottom of the doorstop first. With right sides together, sew in the zip (you don't actually have to have a zip, but as rice is perishable (after quite a few years) you might want the ease of being able to get it out quickly). It is tricky to line up everything correctly, so do take your time.
Only sew the zip for 10cms (the length of the bottom of the doorstop), for ease of cutting etc. Just stitch to the fabric inside the seam lines. (I hope this makes sense)
Now sew the other side
Now, match up a side at at time (working inside out, with the right sides together) to form the rectangular box shape, working from the bottom (where the zip is) upwards.

Step 5
Before you sew up the top, you'll want to insert the handle.

I attach the handle to the top of the material, it should be placed against the right side of the material. Pin in place. Do measure this, to put it in the middle. It should be 3.25cm away from each side. (Remember to ignore the seam, to get the accurate place). Do give a bit of give in the handle, just enough so you can pick it up with your hand.

Step 6
OPEN THE ZIP (so you can turn it inside out)
Sew the top sides together, I tend to sew the handle a few times, to make sure it's well in place.

Step 7
Turn inside out

Step 8
Insert a plastic "freezer/ sandwich" bag into the doorstop. Fill the plastic bag with rice/ beans. Do up zip.

Step 9
Put by your door.

This is the first time I've ever written up instructions for anything that I have designed myself. Depending on comments/ feedback/ plus my own critical feelings I will probably add to this or clarify points to make it better. Please post a comment if it's not working, so I can help you out!

Flickr Groups

I've been using Flickr for quite a while now, but have just joined the Last Minute Fabric Gifts and the Bend the Rules Sewing groups. Really great ideas, and useful to see how other people's projects have come out.

Purses & Pouches

These are the two zippered pouches that I made today. The green corduroy one from Cynthia Treen's book. I was pleased with that. It was v quick to make, her instructions are very very clear, and I find the illustrations easy to understand. There's no lining in this one so I didn't have that extra hassle, but I do need to overcome that. Looking at it, I could make it longer to make it a pencil case. The shop I bought the material from is in Hove, called Fabric Remnants, and it is closing down, so everything is pretty good value. Zips were 30p, and the corduroy was £6 a metre, I only got 1/4 though!

The stripey pouch, was harder, I didn't like doing the lining by hand, that seems to not give as good a finish as machine sewing, that was the Bend the Rules book, which I didn't see any bending of the rules in this pattern! Still the more things I make and do, the better I'm going to get.

Zippered Purse

I thought I'd try the zippered purse in the Bend the Rules Sewing book, which went ok, but you had to hand stitch in the lining, which didn't give me the neatest or strongest stitch. So I think I would adapt the pattern to machine sew in the lining for a more satisfactory product, and it would be faster to make as well. But I think it's good to follow patterns, and work out how to make them better for yourself, as everyone has their preferred way of working.

Post

Today I got a parcel from Amazon which I had been expecting, it came alot sooner than their 2nd October delivery date (thankfully). I bought Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing (angry chicken blog) and Cynthia Treen's Last Minute Fabric Gifts. They both have some great projects in them. I've already made my son a tiny bunny rabbit from Last Minute Gifts, he'll see it when he wakes up.

I have my fabric bucket to make next, then I'm going to try the zippered pouches, both books do them, so I'll see which one to go with. Will post the results!

Muffin Recipe - Louise's Recipe

FRUIT MUFFINS Makes 16
4oz Butter or margarine
10oz Sugar
1 tspn Vanilla Extract
2 Large eggs
2 Cups of SR Flour
1 tspn ground cinnamon (optional)
Pinch of salt
2 tspn Baking Powder
Half cup of milk (anything but skimmed)
1 Pint of berries
2 tspn demerara sugar

Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy and add eggs one at a time,add vanilla
Fold in flour and baking powder with the milk - do not over mix, batter should be mixed but lumpy
If using blueberries crush half a cup and mix in first
Mix in the fruit
Fill muffins nearly to the top and sprinkle with sugar (also can mix inhalf a tspn of cinnamon to the sugar topping)

Bake at 190 degrees c for approx thirty mins

STORE UNCOVERED

VARIATIONS
*Strawberry and white choc:200 grams of white choc chunks
Lrg punnet of strawbs - chopped (use them from the fridge - the colder thebetter)
*Raspberry and choc - same as above just don't chop the rasps (works reallywell with frozen rasps)
*Banana and Pecan:3 small very ripe banana's squished in at the egg stage150 grams of pecans (or walnuts - both work well)
*Choc chip and macadamia nut:200 grams of roughly chopped macadamias150 grams of chopped plain choc

The variations go on.....have a play!