Kindle Cover Tutorial

Materials
One old binder
batting
main fabric
binding/closure fabric
1 large button
1/4" wide elastic
thread to match

Step 1:

Dissect the old binder.  Cut it open and remove the cardboard from inside.  Cut these pieces into 2 pieces at 8 1/8" by 5 1/4".  (I traced my kindle and cut the cardboard about 1/4" bigger around.)

Step 2:

Cut the main fabric into 2 pieces at 8 3/4" by 11 3/4".
Cut the batting into 1 piece at 8 5/8" by 23"

Step 3:

Layer the batting and cardboard, keeping the cardboard 1/4" from the edges.  The batting will wrap around both sides of the cardboard.  Sew down the batting keeping the stitching up against the cardboard (but not through it).  Do this next to both pieces of cardboard.  Then stitch all the way around the outside with 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 4:

Layer the fabric on both sides of the batting with right sides out.  Be careful if your fabric is directional.  Make sure they are both facing the same way.  Sew down the center of the 2 pieces of cardboard then next to each piece of cardboard in between them.  This makes 3 lines of stitching in the center, allowing the cover to easily fold to the back while reading.  Stitch around the outsides with 1/4" seam allowance again.

Step 5:

Create a loop closure with a piece of the accent fabric cut at 1" by 7".  Fold this in half with right sides out.  Then open and bring the edges into the fold line on both sides.  Refold in the middle with right sides facing out.  Stitch near edge.

Step 6:

Cut 2 strips of accent fabric at 2 1/2" wide.  Connect the strips into one long strip using a diagonal seam.  Fold this long strip in half with right sides out.   Open and fold 1/4" under on the short side, this becomes your beginning.  Attach the closure to one of the short sides of the cover on the opposite side that the binding is being sewn on.  Center the closure placing the unfinished ends of the closure on the unfinished edge of the cover.  Sew on the binding with a 1/4" seam allowance.  At the corners fold the fabric at a 90 degree angle to the seam you have just sewn.  Then fold into the opposite direction and begin sewing the next side.  Repeat for all four corners.  Then attach to the outside of the cover using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Tuck the end into the beginning to hide unfinished end.

Fold the binding over to the opposite side.  Pin and sew along the edge of the binding.  I do this from the same side I attach the binding to, so that it is a straight line.

Step 7:

Time to put the elastic on.  I positioned the elastic so that it would cover the corners without interfering with the buttons or screen.  I then sewed across it 3 times on each side in a seam that was already sewn, to hide the stitching on the outside.  Trim near the seam.  I used a lighter briefly on the edges to prevent fraying. 

Step 8:

Attach the button using the loop to determine the placement.  Hand sew the button to the front, trying to only attach it to the top layer of fabric and batting.

Voila!  Safe keeping for a very loved Kindle.

Heather

A Dress for One of my Cuties

Hmmm...  This weekend was a crazy one.  I have been trying to get ready to sew together a dress for Genavieve all week.  It has been rough, since my husband has been working nights all week.  I managed to get the fabric washed, pressed, cut and marked by Friday night.  So Friday, I worked on it a little, getting to the point where I had to get a supply.  This time it was single fold bias tape.  When will I ever learn to read the supply list thoroughly? 
Well, after a trip for groceries with a side trip to JoAnn Fabrics, the project continued.  I was able to get the dress sewn together, the yoke on, and the hand sewing complete. 

I swear I read these directions about a thousand times, just to make sure I was doing it right.  There were still a few errors and some reverse sewing, but overall happy with the outcome so far. 

Notice that the pattern doesn't have the word EASY written on it.  I am kinda proud of myself because it actually looks like a dress.  I am not normally a clothing sewer, but I love to make things for my little ones.

Now I just have to figure out where my 3 year old put my tailor's ruler so I can hem the dress. 
Heather

Fun with Fabric Flowers

Just a few days ago, I saw a video tutorial showing how to make fabric rosettes.  After I watched it I just had to try it out.  Francis and I spent half a day just making flowers from scrap fabric.  What fun!  We started with the fabric rosettes from the video tutorial at Craftaholics Anonymous.  They were very simple to make and slightly addictive.

I can definitely see some headbands in our future. 

Next we made some yo-yos with our Clover Quick Yo-yo Maker.  Boy, where these ever easy. 

These are going to become some little girl clips, as soon as I can make it to the store for some buttons.

Both of these projects were no sew or barely sew, but they were super fun and I can't wait to put them to use in the hair of all the girls wandering around here.  Francis made 3 yo-yos, she was so proud she had to share them with everyone that came over.

What a great way to unwind after a long first week back to work.

Heather





Progress

It's that time of year again.  Back to school for the Teacher, that's me!  This week has been full of meetings, meetings and more meetings.  How exhausting. 

Before I returned to school, I worked on the Snake River Log Cabin quilt.  I set a goal of 10 blocks for the week.  I made it!  The goal will definitely have to be looked at, because this week I made 0. Busy week.

This is what my 10 blocks look like when they are arranged.  Isn't it gorgeous!  For the next several months, my goal will be much smaller, more like 10 a month.  At least I will be making progress!

Heather

I Must Be Crazy!

The last project I bought on my Anniversary trip was a kit for a Snake River Log Cabin.  This quilt has THOUSANDS of pieces.  For 2 months now, I have been thinking - "What was I thinking?"  Only to remind myself that I saw this the year before and have loved it each and every time I have seen it.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can,...

So I started by figuring out how to organize my pieces.  Since I am frugal, I didn't want to spend money on silverware organizers or anything else.  I finally decided to take some empty cereal boxes from the cupboard and create my own organizers.

These are the organizers with the pieces that I cut out while trying to get ready for our Washington D.C. vacation.

Please notice the smallest pieces in the b compartment, they are only 3/4" by 1 1/2".  Again, what was I thinking? 

Yesterday my little girls spent the night with my mother-in-law.  Perfect time to dive into this project so that I would know what I was doing when everyone was around!  Thank you Meemaw.

Here is the one block that I finished yesterday.  It took about an hour and a half to put together.  Each block has 52 pieces and there are 64 of them. 

I also put these partially together.  Maybe I can finish these today. 

I can't wait to finish the quilt, but need to remember to enjoy the whole thing.  This is the kind of project that will make me a better and more confident quilter.  There will definitely be some smaller projects thrown in so that I don't loose interest in this quilt. 

I think I can, I think I can,...

Well I better get back to sewing.

Heather

Vacationing

It has been a few weeks since I posted, mainly because we were getting ready for our family vacation to Washington D.C.  The trip was fabulous and I found quilt inspiration all around me.

This is on the ceiling of the Lincoln Memorial.  I think it could be a simple quilt with some complicated quilting in the sashing.

This would be way beyond my quilting skill, but maybe something similar.

The fabulous floors in the Library of Congress also had many quilt worthy patterns.  This was my favorite. 

I must make some of these dresses that my little girls played with at Mount Vernon!  They were adorable and lucky for me, did not have a zipper in the back, just ties.

Our vacation was wonderful and much needed family bonding time.  There is so much to see there that even though we walked our legs off, we still had so much more to see.

Yesterday was spent cutting out the many pieces for a Snake River Log Cabin quilt, which I am sure I will be working on for many years.  There are finally enough pieces cut out that I can begin to sew it together.  I am so excited to turn my sewing machine on and finally get to sew something together again!

Time to get to it!

Heather

It's Fair Time

Last week was my local county fair.  My children are very involved in 4H and had many projects to get ready and take to the fair.  They raise goats and pigs for their animal projects.  They also take several static projects including decorated cakes and photography. 

This is my 8 year old walking in the parade.  She came home with half of her candy bucket so that she could have some of the candy.  I had to laugh at her logic, since I had already kept a stash in the camper.

This is my oldest daughter showing her market goat. 

My 16 year old showing her pig.

My youngest after a very long and exhausting day of fair!

Finally, these are the projects that I took to fair.  Some of them I have already shown, but some of them were made before I started talking about my sewing adventures.  There are three 1st, three 2nd and one 3rd place ribbons.  My children are always so nervous about getting their projects judged.  I never quite understood this until a few days before the projects were due. 

One thing I discovered when taking this picture is that I must really like orange and brown together.  Taking my projects to the fair to be judged has given me confidence in the quality of my workmanship. 

Heather