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. 

 

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

Gifts to Comfort

  

             Gifts to Comfort

   So, service projects are always fun during the holidays, right?    

Last year my husband and I really enjoyed ourselves, staying up into the wee small hours of the morning,  sewing miniature quilts for the Cache County Humane Society.   

You can see a little more of that adventure HERE. 

About October of this year, this cute PATTERN caught my eye.  

It is found on the very fun blog named Wee Wonderfuls.   It is a free download.   Very generous.  

This blogger's delightful book is also called Wee Wonderfuls and can be found HERE. 

 It is definitely on my wish list.

How cute would these be to donate to a shelter, along with a warm blanket for a child?  I was sold on the idea, for sure.   The pattern was quick to download and print off.  

When I showed my darling husband the printed copy, he jumped right in and traced the pattern onto muslin scraps. 

When our family got together at Thanksgiving time, I had already made little kits (the plastic zipper pouches I found at Walmart for $1.97, in the cosmetic bags section of the store).  All that was left was to pop in an embroidery needle and some floss.   How could anyone refuse to grab one?  

We had a lot of fun and good conversations, watching movies and stitching away.  As you can see, everyone's doll turned out a little different.   

When Thanksgiving was over and I got home, all that was left to do was to sew the doll to another piece of fabric, turn right side out and stuff a little batting inside.  I am still in the process of doing a little blind stitching to close the  open seams.

I found these cozy inexpensive blankets at Wal-Mart. The dolls look cute tucked into the blanket label.   Something is missing, though, don't you think?   It definitely needs a candy cane tucked in, too!