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Clean Your Machine for 2015

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It is important to keep your machine workings clean of lint and dust that just seems to accumulate…..

So Let’s Clean!

What you need:


In your machine tools you should be able to find these:  a brush and a screw driver 

Make sure the machine is turned off.
Remove the Bobbin Cover
Make sure the needle is wound to its highest point (or now might be a good time to replace it) and remove the Foot out of the way.
Take a screw driver and remove the screw holding the Face Plate. 
 
You can already see dust!
Remove the Bobbin
and then the Bobbin Casing

Now we really see the mess!


Take your brush  – I always say if you needed a vacuum cleaner it would be in your tool kit – and brush away!

and check down anywhere you can see
 

and the other side

Even on the Feed Dogs
That looks better!  Now I’m pointing at an arrow that shows us how to replace the Casing
There is another arrow on the Casing
When they are facing each other, we know it is in the correct position

 Replace the Face Plate

Tighten the screw
Replace the bobbin, the bobbin cover and the foot
 

Give the outside of the machine a wipe over with a soft cloth and

now you are ready to start your sewing in the new year!

‘HAPPY NEW YEAR’
 

Thank you for your support in 2014 and I hope we can share many more experiences in 2015.

Until next time
Nanny xx

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


Sew Along – Make a Standard Pillowcase

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Now that the Quilt Along for Charity has finished I decided to contact Pillowcases for Oncology Kids to ask how we could best help them.  I was delighted to receive a reply from both Brittany and Neil (Brittany’s grandfather) and the response was a positive one for the suggestion of Christmas pillowcases.  Brittany also suggested that they were in need of some that were suitable for teenage boys.
 
I’m sure we will be able to help out!  I can’t make promises about how many we can make, but Neil told me about a lady who has supported them from the start.  Just before I phoned Neil, this wonderful lady had dropped off 374 pillowcases!!!!  Individually, the same lady has made a total of over 800 since Brittany started!!!!
 
So let’s see how many we can make over the next month – let me know when you finish one so we can add it to the overall tally – and happy sewing!!
 
What is Pillowcases for Oncology Kids?
 
“Set up by 17 year old Brittany, we create and donate pillowcases to oncology kids in 
hospitals around Australia.
Brittany was 6 months old when she was diagnosed with a rare GERM CELL tumour; she had treatment for 3 years, and was given a 0.01% survival rate. She is now a gorgeous 17 year old who still has a long way to go, but has decided to help put a smile on someone else’s face by creating “PILLOWCASES FOR ONCOLOGY KIDS”.
She knows how hard it is, and that sometimes you have a long road to travel. She also hopes that one day no one will have to go through what she has to.
 
Brittany used to have a particular pillow/pillowcase that she took to hospital all the time she was receiving treatment, hers was navy blue with tiny red cherries on it.
 
What started out as a small pillowcase drive to collect/create handmade pillowcases 
that she could donate to Oncology Kids in Hospital, (she was able to donate approx. 
120 pillowcases to Westmead just after her 15th birthday in September 2011) has now  escalated to something she wishes to continue 365 days a year and donate pillowcases not only to Westmead Childrens Hospital, where she received and continues to receive her treatment, but to hospitals all around Australia and overseas. 
 
We have delivered over 10,000 pillowcases to date.”
 
 What sort of fabric do I use?
The pillowcases are to be made from 100% cotton.  
Neil explained that when the pillowcases need washing, the 100% cotton ones can be washed at the extremely high temperatures required.  They  also become lovely and soft with use.
 
Is there a ‘theme’ for the pillowcases?
Any pillowcases are gratefully received but: 
We will be concentrating mainly on Christmas themed pillowcases – let’s help make sure that all the children receive a pillowcase this Xmas!!  and
I would also like to gather some pillowcases for teenage boys.  Speaking with Neil earlier today, he suggested “anything macabre – skulls, coffins, real Halloween sort of stuff – that seems to be what they are ‘in to’!!”
 
What if I can’t sew or don’t have the time to sew – how can I help?
 
You can still help by donating 1m of 100% cotton fabric (1m will make 1 pillowcase) and someone else will make it up for you.  I have already had offers of both fabric and sewing so thank you!!  If you would like to help, please message me at Nannycraft4u  or email me at nannycraft4u@gmail.com
Where do we send the pillowcases?
 
Please forward your washed, ironed pillowcases to:
SE Qld:      PO BOx 250
                  Maleny  Qld  4552
 
NSW :        22 Lacebark Grove
                  Worrigee  NSW
 
SA:            Teresa Lane
                                         27 Bywaters Ave,
 
                  Willaston SA 5118,
__________________________________________________
 
So Let’s Sew!
 
We will start with the Standard pillowcase!  
 
Note the Boo Designs pattern makes a pillowcase a bit larger than the required size so I have put the measurements suggested by Pillowcases for Oncology Kids.
 
1. Cut out 2 rectangles – one  50cm x 75cm and the other  50 cm x 94cm. Now is your fabric directional?  Does it have a picture or writing that only has a right way up? Mine does –

so put the larger piece (the back) face down on the table making sure that the writing or picture is the right way up.

Place the smaller piece (the front) on top, making sure the writing is still the right way up.
 
2.  Fold over 1cm on this short side of each piece and press.  I just pressed it with my fingers – it doesn’t have to be exact!!
3. Fold again and sew close to the edge.
 
 
4.  Now turn the back piece over,right side up, keeping pictures up the right way, putting the hem to the left. Matching the raw ends, place the front on top, up the right way and face down so they are right side to right side.
 
 
5. You are now going to fold the back OVER the front until it reaches the hem on the front.
 
 
 
6. Now sew around the 3 raw sides, starting and ending with some back stitches.
 
7. Finish the seam with an overlocker/serger or a zigzag and trim.
 
I told you it was easy!!  You have now made a beautiful pillowcase that will delight a child spending Xmas in hospital – thank you!!  
 
Make sure you give it a good press and please take a photograph to share with us.
 
If you are only able to make one pillowcase, that is wonderful, and it will be just as gratefully received as any other but, if you are able to continue helping out, that would be wonderful too!
 
We will look at some different ‘styles’ as we go to help use up the off-cuts.
Until next time
Nanny xx
 
 
 

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