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Sunday, September 28, 2025

Fussy Cut Slippers Tutorial

                                      How to Make Some Cozy Slippers


    The fun part of making these slippers is choosing the 28 fussy cut  hexagons that make up the upper top of  the slippers.  Fourteen 1 inch hexagons are needed for each slipper.  This cute fabric is called 
Home Sweet Home by Elea Lutz for Poppie Cotton Fabrics.

When you are pleased with the placement of your hexagons, English Paper Piece your hexagons together into 4 rows, as shown in the picture.  (A row with 5, 4, 3 and then 2 hexagons.)

Place your slipper top on batting and quilt or top stitch to your liking.  



What makes sewing the slippers so easy is the free pattern generously offered by www.sewlover.com. Use the 2 pattern pieces in this free pattern that you can find and download here

  To make a right and a left slipper, just turn the pattern right side up and then wrong side up when cutting your pieces.  Make adjustments for your foot size before cutting! The pattern size is in CM but it works out to USA size 6.5 - 8, although it can be adjusted easily. 





Extra Tips: 

1.  For the slipper uppers, cut the batting slightly bigger than the finished piece.  I used fusible batting to prevent any shifting. Start quilting from the bottom middle of the upper fabric, to make sure it looks even when finished. Sandwich the quilt top, two pieces of batting, and the backing fabric together. 

2.  Optional: Add Dritz Anti-Skid Gripper Fabric to the bottom of your slippers, to prevents falls.

3. I purchased double-fold binding at JoAnn, but if you want to make your own, there are lots of  youtube tutorials.

4.  Add extra layers of batting to the soles of your slippers to give them more cushion.   Purchasing and adding Dr. Scholls shoe liners makes it even easier.  

 


Starting with the slipper soles, make a quilt sandwich using the quilt top right side up, layers of batting and then the  anti-skid gripper fabric facing down. 

Quilt the entire sandwich with straight-ish lines. 







Position the upper on the top of the sole as evenly as possible and clip in place. Stitch the upper to the sole using a 1/4″ seam allowance. 

Open up the rest of the binding strip and pin or clip the raw edge of the binding strip to the raw edge of the slipper.   Stitch the binding to the edge of the slipper, taking your time around the front and back curves. 



Saturday, September 27, 2025

Post-It Note Holder Tutorial

 Post-It Note Holder Tutorial   

 

3 inch square little "Diddy"

        A few months ago, I was sewing this little     "diddy" and when I posted it on Instagram,         someone asked what I was going to make with it.   I had a spark of an idea that might make a cute   gift....something to hold a small pencil and a pad   of Post-It notes.   

  The image below is my first little Post-It Note   holder.   I have since made several more and   have improved a few things.    I like how  it can   now stand up on it's own or just as easily be   slipped into a purse.    



Closed Post-It Note Holder






Open Post-It Note Holder

Side View of Post-It Note Holder



 Here is my Tutorial for a Post-It Note Holder:

This finished project is 4 inches by 4 inches and can stand up on your desk.

Use a 1/2 inch seam allowance throughout.   

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Along with your selected  3" square, you will need to cut the following: 

  • One 6  x 11 inch piece of fabric for the outside of your Post-It Note holder 
  • One 6 x 11 inch piece of fabric for the inside  of your Post-It Note holder  
  • One  5  x 6 inch rectangle of fabric (for the inside pocket) 
  • One 4  x 9  inch  piece of fusible cotton batting
  • One 3 1/2" square and one 3 3/4" square of extra firm stabilizer - Pellon 926

 
Materials Needed

Stitch your 3" square to the bottom half of the 6"x 11"  piece of fabric for the outside of the Post-It note holder, centering it in the middle of the bottom half.  Press.  This becomes the outside  front and the back  of your Post-It Note holder.    

 


   Then place your piece right side up on top of your 4 x 9 inch piece of fusible cotton batting.   Fuse the batting to the wrong side,  making sure it is centered on the back.
   Now is when you want to embellish your piece with extra quilting  or embroidery stitches.  To add some dimension,  quilt around the 3 inch square - like a little mini quilt!  Maybe you have a cute button to add?  or a piece of lace? or a little EPP shape to applique on the back?
  When you are happy with your hand stitching, set this piece aside for now. 
 

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Sweet Scissor Keeper

 
Sweet Scissor Keeper


This might be my most favorite free pattern ever!

It is from Emma Jones Vintage Sewing Box 
She is a wonderful designer from the UK.  The link to this pattern is here.  The front of her scissor case has an English Paper Pieced Flower, which is also included in her pattern.

I replaced the flower with a cute piece of fabric.  This makes it a quick and easy handmade project that needs no sewing machine - just a relaxing evening with a needle and thread in your hand, while watching a good movie.  

inside scissor keeper


I finished this bunny last night.  Isn't it perfect to show off a favorite scrap of fabric?  It is ideal for a small 3 1/2" pair of scissors but the pattern is so easy to enlarge if you need a travel case for a larger pair of scissors.

It is also wonderful for holding clips, embroidery bobbins and thimbles!  All those small items that are hard to find, once you lay them down!

I added a fabric stamp to the back.

Materials Needed:

  • 8" x 6" Fabric for the front exterior of the case 
  • 8" x 6" Fabric for the back exterior of the case
  • 8" x 6" Felt for the interior 
  • 8" x 6" Foam  to add structure  
  •  Bias binding 32" long, 1 1/4" wide (when the folds are opened out) 
  • A small snap fastener 
 

Instructions:

1. Print out the templates and cut out 2 oval shapes from the felt and foam.  Now cut a front piece and back piece.

2.  Make a sandwich by stacking your front, then your foam and then the felt on the back and pin or clip to hold the 3 layers together.

3. Take your bias binding, unfold the edge and line up with the raw edges. Hold in place with clips all of the way round, making sure to turn in one end of your bias to hide the raw edge, and to overlap the other end inside.  Hand stitch in place using 1/4" seam allowance.  

4. Turn the binding to the wrong side and stitch down in place.  

5. Sew a snap fastener onto the felt side, at the top, in the middle.

6. Repeat steps 2-5 and layer up your back fabric, foam and felt for the back of the case.  (First I added a fabric stamp on the back.) Attach the binding and add the other half of the fastener. 

7. Place both halves of the case together with the felt sides facing each other. Use clips to hold in place.  Stitch the two halves together, leaving an opening at the top wide enough for your scissors to fit in