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Make a Fabric Origami Xmas Tree

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I promised the swapz group that I would share a tutorial on how to make a Fabric Origami Xmas Tree.  I have searched for an original of this design but have had no luck, so if you know the designer, please notify me.  There are a couple of versions on Pinterest, but neither appear to be by the original designer.  I firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due and will always credit the designer if I am able.  

I was shown how to make this by a friend and I made my adaptation to the method.

I like to hang mine in a doorway!




Finished Size: Approx 12″ x 10″

 
What you need:
 
A 5 and 1/4 ” strip of 2 contrasting  fabrics ( I used a Xmas fabric and a plain)- WOF (width of fabric)
A rule with 60 degree marking (to make equilateral triangles) OR a 60 degree rule 
Thread
Bells, beads, buttons etc for embellishment
 
Let’s Sew!
 
1.  Take the strips of  fabric  (I leave them doubled). You will be able to cut all triangles from one strip – the 11th will be formed with the folded cut off which is the left side in the photos.

Using a rule:  Find the 60 degree mark and put that along the long edge of the fabric.  You will need to turn the rule to continue completing the triangle (check next photos)

 

Using a 60 degree rule:  Place the 5 and 1/4 line along the edge.

 

You can see how you continue cutting – one up – one down (not leaving spaces that I have left to show you).  You can see that the 11th is formed when you start from the folded edge.

 

 
2.  Take one of each fabric and with RST (right sides together), starting about 1.5″ from the corner with a double stitch, sew to the corner and with needle down turn and continue up the other side, next corner, side and corner, finishing about 1.5″ after the corner with a double stitch.
 
3.  Trim the corners and turn to the right side. Push the corners out (carefully – I use the blunt end of a wooden skewer).  Press

 

 
4.  Using ladder stitch, close the opening.  Press

 

 
5.  Repeat this with all 11 triangles.
 
6.  Using a matching thread and tie a knot in the end.
Take one of the triangles and fold in half along one side and pinch – then repeat on another side.  

 

 
Where they cross, put the needle through and pull thread through to the knot.  

 

Fold each side and pinch to get the centre point.  Catch that point with the needle and bring it to the centre point.  Take a small stitch to secure and continue with the other sides.



 

 
Push the needle back through the centre and out at the knot. 



Fold a corner back to this side and stitch.

Continue to each of the other corners.  



Finish off.   I like to take the needle through to one of the edges and cut it off there.


That is the unit completed.  When you make the next one, make it the other way ie start on the other side.  This will help you decide which way you want your tree to look and the other one will be the trunk!

When you have decided, continue making the other 9 units.

Press the units and place in order. 

I am missing the top unit in this photo, but it will give you the idea!



You are going to join the units using a simple whip stitch – try to keep your stitches small.

Now it is time to embellish:  Use bells, beads, buttons – whatever you like!

Attach a little loop at the top for hanging and there you are – all done!

I have also made these for people in Aged Care – let’s them have their own little bit of Xmas decoration!

Please show me if you make one!

Until next time
Nanny xx

I will link up with Under The Xmas Tree at Clare’s Craftroom

Make a Serviette Holder

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Clare at Clare’s Craftroom is hosting a linky called Under The Xmas Tree and I thought it would be fun to join in so got to thinking and decided I would show you how I make a Xmas Serviette holder.
 
What you need:

 


Rectangle 9″ x 18″ of Fabric 1
Rectangle 9″ x 18″ of Fabric 2
Rectangle 8.5″ x 17.5″ of iron on wadding.  I used Vilene H640
One large button to trim

Finished size:  Approx 8 and 1/4″ x 8 and 1/4″

Let’s Sew!

1.  Take  Fabric 1 and the Vilene and centre the Vilene on the wrong side of the fabric.  Make sure you have the side with the little dots facing the fabric.  Press it to join.

2. Take both fabrics and with right sides together, secure the start with reverse stitches and sew  around the edge, leaving a 3″ gap for turning.  Remember to secure the end with reverse stitches

 

3.  Trim the corners and turn to the right side. Close the gap with a ladder stitch.  Press.

4.  It is now time to decide which way you will make the holder, so fold it in half.

and then fold the corner back.


Now try it the other way

Remembering that the serviettes will cover most of the back, make your choice.
 
I decided to make the second choice.
 

5.  Open the holder again and, starting at bottom of one of the short sides and using a matching cotton, top stitch about 1/4″ from the edge up that side, along the long edge at top and down the other short side.

 

 

 

 

6. Fold in half and starting at the top stitching line (remember to secure – I like to tie off and pull the knot to the inside), sew 1/4″ from the edge down the side and along the bottom to the other stitching line.  Finish off.


7.  Fold the corner back till you can only see about 1 and 1/2″ of the outside fabric. 


8. Attach button and add serviettes and you are ready to party!!



I hope you will share a photo if you make one!

Until next time
Nanny xx


TUTORIAL – Slow Cooker Lid Cover

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Have you noticed the revival of interest in cooking with a slow cooker?  Maybe it’s always been there and I just hadn’t noticed! Anyway, it takes me back to the 70’s when our ‘crock pots’ were well used and really appreciated.

Today I thought I would share a quick tutorial for a lid cover for your Slow Cooker so that you don’t have to resort to the ‘tea towel under the lid’ trick again and your cooker can look stylish and colour co-ordinated in your kitchen.

I picked up some microfibre towels at the ‘cheap’ shop thinking they were tea-towels but they turned out to be more a ‘hand towel’ size so they will be perfect for this project.  You can use any cotton fabric for this – maybe a cheap towelling tea towel, remembering that it is to be absorbent.

What you need:
Fabric – enough to cut double
Elastic – measure it around your lid stretched (you have to have it big enough to get it on!)
Thread

Let’s Sew!

Take your chosen fabric (I am using a double layer) and trace the lid shape.



I left as large a border around the lid as I could (determined by the size of the towel) but I suggest 2.5″ would be a good size.

With right sides together, stitch around the outside, leaving a gap to turn it through.


Turn through to the right side.


Sew a row of stitching around the edge, about 1/8″ from the edge, leaving a small opening big enough  to thread the elastic through.


Sew a row of stitching about 1/2″ from the edge. (check your elastic size). I shifted my needle to the left and ran the edge of my foot along the other row of stitching.


Thread the elastic (I just used a safety pin) and join the ends.

Finish sewing the edge.



Taa Daa – that’s it!  Wasn’t that just sew easy!!!

Now we will have the best dressed cookers around! 



Until next time
Nanny xx

When your legs just aren’t long enough…

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Have you ever found yourself wanting to do some cutting when you are away from your cutting table?

This happened to me during the kitchen reno.  I only had access to an ordinary desk:

You can see that that was never going to work!  Way too low!!  Oh my aching back!!

So it was off to the shops and look what I found:


A set of 4 Bed Lifts for $8.00 at the Reject Shop!  I raced back home, ripped them open:

 and lifted my desk by placing one under each leg! :


Perfect!!

Yes I actually bought 2 sets so I will be able to replace the paint tins AND as they are extremely light I might just have to sneak a set into the motorhome when we finally decide to do ‘the block’!

Have you ever found a cheap and easy solution to a crafting problem?  I would love you to share your experiences!

Until next time
Nanny xx

Converting a Regular Shirt to ‘Easy Dress’

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My Dad is in a high care Aged Care Facility and recently, the staff asked me if I could get him some ‘easy to remove’ clothing.  Dad had some new flannel shirts so I set about ‘converting’ them and I thought I’d show you what I did.

I just happened to see the shirts reduced to a few dollars in a sale, so decided to buy the same shirts that Dad already had to use in the conversion. 

My plan was to slit Dad’s shirt at the back, so that it could be easily removed over the head, without opening the buttons. The size of the armholes did not allow the shirt to be lifted , so I  needed to add a piece, to enlarge the armhole.  


So let’s sew! 

Take the new shirt (or of course, you can use any suitable fabric that you have on hand)



1. Cut out the sleeves, cut up the side seams and across the yoke so that you have separate pieces ie deconstruct the shirt. You will need the back and the sleeves and I will now refer to them as the back piece and the sleeve pieces.
2.  Take the original shirt (I will refer to this as D-shirt for Dad’s shirt) and a piece of paper and draw a triangle to fit under the arm so that it extends further down the side seam.

3.  Take the sleeve pieces and place the paper pattern on the folded side not the seam side and cut out, leaving a seam allowance. (If you are using fabric just fold it) Imagine that my paper is straight along the fold at the bottom ie don’t cut the fold! See 2nd photo

4. Do the same on the other sleeve piece.

5.  Take D-shirt and using the paper pattern as a guide, undo the seam under the arms:


6. Open the shape you made from the sleeve piece and pin it in the opened seam of the D-shirt, with the pointy ends going to the side seam and underarm seam, the longest  going down the side seam. 


7. Stitch and finish the seam with a zigzag or overlocker/serger. I just used a zigzag.  Repeat on the other sleeve.

8. Cut the back of D-shirt so that you have about 3″ of the yoke in from the sleeve seam at the top on the right hand side.

9. Undo the stitching on the yoke of D-shirt so that you can cut the slit all the way through: 
and continue opening it to the left to about 3″ in from the sleeve seam
10. Take the back piece and cut a rectangle the same width as the back of D-shirt from the slit to the same distance in from the other side seam. In the photo, D-shirt with the slit is at the top to demonstrate.



11. Take D-shirt and hem the left hand side of the slit – I’ve turned it back to show you – I just turned a 1/4″ and then again.



12. Join the rectangle  to the right hand side of the slit and finish the seam. 
Hem the other side of the rectangle with the same 1/4″ hem.

13. Now lay the added piece UNDER D-shirt to form a flap. 
Join D-shirt and the flap back into the yoke seam. Over stitch the yoke on the outside. (I’m sorry it is hard to see the stitching but you can see the seam where I joined the rectangle as I didnt worry about matching the check)

This is the finished shirt on my lovely model!  The sleeve looks a little odd

but when Dad is sitting or walking you will not notice it.
and the overlap is large enough to ensure that Dad’s back is well covered


The shirt is easily removed without undoing any of the buttons on the front.  I am really pleased with the result and it was certainly way cheaper than buying ready made. More importantly, it will still feel ‘normal and familiar’ to Dad. (Dad is blind)

What do you think?  If you have loved ones in the same situation, I hope I have inspired  you to give it a go!

Now I’m going to fix some polo shirts for summer!

Until next time
Nanny xx

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All content and images belong to Nannycraft4u unless otherwise indicated. You are welcome to link back to my blog, but you may not copy whole posts, tutorials or photos without my permission. Please give credit for my work and link back to the original post at Nannycraft4u.com If you use one of my ideas, I would love to know about it. Designs and tutorials are for personal use only.