Tutorial: Crochet Basket Pattern

Materials

2 x 50gms Creative Cotton Aran

4mm crochet hook

Decorations of your own choice

Method

Begin with 6ch, join into a ring with a sl st.

Round 1:1ch, 6dc into ring, join with sl st.

Round 2: 1 ch, 2 dc into each st, join with sl st. (12 sts)

Round 3: 1 ch,* I dc in next st, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (18sts)

Round 4: 1ch, *1dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (24sts)

Round 5: 1ch, *1dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (30sts)

Round 6: 1ch, *1dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (36sts)

Round 7: 1ch, *1dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st* repeat, join with sl st (42 sts)

Round 8: 1ch, *1dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st* repeat, join with sl st (48sts)

Round 9: 1ch, *1dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (54sts)

Round 10: 1ch, *1dc in next 8sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (60 sts)

Round 11: 1ch, *1dc in next 9 sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (66sts)

Round 12: 1ch, *1dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (72 sts)

Round 13: 1ch,*1dc in next 11sts, 2dc in next st*, repeat, join with sl st (78 sts)

Round 14: dc in back loop of each st, to mark edge of base.

Continue to dc all 78 sts for each row, joining with a sl st until desired height is reached, including turn back. Work an edging if desired. Fasten off and sew in ends.

Suggestions for decoration: Ric Rac, Bobble braid, embroidery etc.

Finished size of basket  is approx. 6” diameter, and 6” high with top rolled down. Size of basket can be altered by working more or less rounds for base and/or sides.

Abbreviations:

ch – chain

sl-st – slip stitch

dc – double crochet

st - stitch

sts - stitches

Here, there and everywhere.

I thought that it would be a great idea to do a bit of a round up of all the places that you can find and connect with everyone at the Owl and Sewing Cat. 

Firstly there is the blog! You can subscribe to our RSS feed by clicking here or alternatively add your email address to the box in the right hand sidebar to have our wonderful words delivered direct to your inbox.

We have a regular newsletter and if you would like to receive it you just need to add your email address to the box in the right hand sidebar.

I have also created this little button for people to add to their own websites if that is something that they like to do! Please feel free to use it, but link back to here if possible.

We have a Facebook page which we keep updated with all of the wonderful items that are made in our classes and any news such as information regarding new fabric lines that have come in. Please come and 'Like' us and share your makes on our pages. We love to see what you have come up with.

We are on Twitter as well, you can keep up with our tweets here.

Finally, we have just started to use Flickr to save photographs of items made in the store and by us at home. I will work on setting up groups so that people can add their own pictures, we would love to see anything that you make using our tutorials.

I think that just about covers it for now! If you blog about making and sewing (among other things) and would like us to add you to our blog roll please leave a link in the comments. If you let us know who you are on twitter we will follow you there too.

Happy sewing,

Kelly

Introducing...Kelly

Hi

My name is Kelly and I work for Tracey at the Owl and Sewing Cat. Over the past month or so I have been revamping our website and this blog and between Tracey and I we have loads of great ideas for the future.

I thought that it would be nice to put a face to a name so here I am. I can be found once a week in the shop tapping away at my keyboard. My main role is to update all of our beautiful fabrics for sale and keep all the information on the Owl and Sewing Cat website up to date including the sewing workshops and all other items for sale.

I will write and send our monthly newsletters (to sign up complete the box in the right hand sidebar) and I will also be keeping this blog up to date which I am really looking forward to as I love writing and crafting and sewing and then writing about it.

If you Tweet us or like us on Facebook and spend some time chatting with us then it might be me or it might be Tracey. Either way we love to hear from you and see what you have been making.

Please leave us a comment to let us know what you think of the blog and we would love to hear any suggestions or requests for posts. I am keen to make this a place where we can share our achievements (and disasters, I can be a bit of a bodge-it seamstress at times). If there is anything you would like a tutorial for, or a demonstration then please get in touch.

Happy Sewing,

Kelly

Tutorial: Simple Tote Bag

Requirements:
2 pieces of fabric 15” (38cm) x 19” (48cm) for main bag
2 pieces of fabric 3.5” (9cm) x 27” (68cm) for straps
Sewing machine
Tape measure
Scissors
Needle and thread
Pins


1. Take the two rectangle pieces of fabric and place them right sides together and stitch around the three sides taking a ¾” (1.5cm) seam allowance and leaving the top edges un-sewn. Zig zag the outside edges together or pinking shear, to neaten them and then turn rights side out and press.

2. Fold over and press 1 inch (2.5cm) from the top edge and then another 1 inch (2.5cm) to make a double hem along the top edges. Then pin in place.

3. Next step is to make the handles, by taking the long strips and fold them in half lengthways with the right sides together and press. Then stitch the long edges together with a 3/8 inch (1cm) seam allowance. Turn the straps the right side out by attaching a safety pin to one end on the single fabric and push it through until it comes out the other end and is then turned the right sides out. Now press the straps flat with the seam on the centre of the reverse and topstitch along both long sides of the straps for a neat finish and to stop them twisting.

4. Using pins mark the handle positions on the bag’s top hem, placing them 3” (7.5cm) in from the side seams. Then take the straps and pin them in place tucking them under the top hem of the bag. Once pinned in place double check that the straps are not twisted and machine stitch the hem around the top and bottom edges a foot width away from the edge, therefore reinforcing the handles at the same time.

5. For some more fun add ric rak, decorative trim, labels or buttons onto the anchor points of the bag.


We would love to see any bags that you make. Email us a picture or add to our Facebook page.

Tutorial: Envelope cushion from two fat quarters

Requirements 

Two co-ordinating fat quarters (a fat quarter is 50cm x 56cm) 
One 16” cushion pad/insert 
Pins 
Tape measure 
Thread 
Sewing machine (or hand sewing needle) 
Fabric scissors 
Pinking shears 
Trims as required ie. Pom poms, rik rac, buttons etc. 

1.Place the two fat quarters together with right sides of the fabric facing each other. Then stitch the two fat quarters together down one of the shorter edges and then press open. At this stage add any trims that you would like, on this example we have used pom poms along the centre seam. 

2.Decide which fabric you would like to have less of showing on the front and then cut a 3” strip of the end of this fabric as shown below. 

3.Fold the fabric in half lengthways and trim the width down so it measures 16.5” wide as shown. 

4.Take one of the shorter edges and turn up by 1cm and press all along the edge and then turn up again by another 1cm and press so that the raw edges are hidden, as shown below. Then stitch along this edge, to hold back where you have pressed. Repeat this with the other short edge. 

5.With right sides facing up, mark with a pin on the bottom edge, 5.5” along from the seam (where the two fabrics are joined) on the fabric that you want the least of, as shown below. Then repeat on the top edge. 

6.Measure 16” along the bottom edge from the pin and mark this point with another pin and this will mark out the front of your cushion, and then repeat on the top edge. 

7.Take the shorter side and fold over from the pins as shown. 

8.Take the other side and over lap from the pins across as shown. This forms the overlap of the envelope cushion. 

9.Pin the top and bottom edge and stitch along where pinned 1cm from the edge ensuring that you stitch right to the corners.

10.Trim the two side raw edges with pinking shears to avoid fraying. 

11.Turn the cushion so that all the right sides of the fabric are on the outside and then give a final press with the iron. Insert the cushion insert/pad through the opening and your lovely cushion is finished.

Tutorial: Pencil case

Rebecca has written us a great tutorial on how to make a fab back to school pencil case. Click on the link to see full instructions and photographs.

Happy Sewing!

Introducing Rebecca our new blog writer

Hi my name is Rebecca, I’m 13 years old and I’ve been going to the 'Owl and Sewing Cat' for a while now, I got to know Tracey early at my time there, probably for my lack of my straight stitching and my fast pace sewing machine but I would like to think most of all for my interesting colour schemes. 


 I have been asked to write this blog to ‘inspire’ people of my generation with ideas for sewing projects and I really hope I can. The first thing I thought when I was asked to write this blog was ‘Well what do we really use?,’ I thought this first as I’m finding it hard fit anymore bunting or cushions into my room I need a sign that says ‘DUCK’ every few metres for passers by to avoid the risk of accidental bunting strangulation! 


So what do we really do? 
School. 
That is what came to my mind I know everybody hates to think about school in the middle of the holidays but unfortunately this horrid place is where we spend most of our time. 
And what do we do at school? 
Classes. Another horrid fact. 
And what do we do in Classes? Work. 
Now what items would you consider to be associated with work? Pen, Ruler, Rubber……… Pencil Case! 


Who would not want to go back to school with a Single Edition, personalised pencil case? So we have configured a pattern for a great pencil case that will easily fit a 30cm ruler, pens, pencils, and what ever else you may need. Hope you Enjoy!