E-book Reader Cover

A while ago we got an E-Reader and I've been wanting to bring it to work to read at lunch, but have been hesitant without some sort of case to protect it. We could have bought one, but of course I thought making one would be better, and more fun. Here's how it went!


This is my design/pattern/notes and instructions that I made up.
Very high tech as you can see!

   
I've been on a stripey fabric kick lately, so I picked one of my favourites and a complementary fabric to make the cover. 

I decided to use an elastic to keep it closed - like a Moleskine. 

   
An after several attempts and much figuring out, I got all the layers and elastic pinned together inside out.

I made the inside in two halves with another strip of fabric in the middle so that I could slip in some hardboard and padding to protect the Reader. Once the layers were all cut to size and inserted, I sewed it in place which secured everything, as well as closed the pocket and the elastic to hold down the Reader. 

And here is the finished product!!

I was pretty happy with how it turned out considering I didn't have a real pattern or anything to go off of. 

Now I just have to get some E-books...

Free Motion Scroll

I managed to make a few Christmas gifts this year, and this was a project that had been on my mind for a while in different forms. It all started out just over a year ago when I was at a quilt show and came across a booth that sold antique sewing stuff. With my mum having a collection of old machines and bobbins etc, I took a look to see if there was anything neat. What I found were a few pairs of bobbins/spools that were pretty nice and about 4" tall. I immediately thought of making some kind of scroll with them.


After much brainstorming and doodling in my notebook on and off for the year I decided to just get on with it and decided to practice my free motion sewing and make a little scroll for my mum to hang in her sewing room. I had jotted down "I love you sew much" in my notebook, my brain works in very punny ways sometimes, and decided that would be my message. I measured and drew out a template in Illustrator, then I wrote up the message and messed around with the sizes, fonts and spacing until I had something I was happy with. I printed it out and traced it only my fabric with a water soluble quilting marker. Then I just started free motion embroidering.


I outlined some letters, tried zigzagging in places.


I used various colours of threads. Sometimes layering them, sometimes using variegated threads.


And basically just tried all sorts of things that I had been too chicken to try, but figured I had nothing to loose. It was a bit like a sampler in fact! 

 I attached a back with some snaps on it, so that I didn't have to sew through the front, and in case it ever needs to come off the bobbins, and was done! And in the end despite all my procrastinating and worrying that it wouldn't turn out, well, it wasn't so bad! So next time, I'll just try and jump in!