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Sunday 31 July 2011

Shabby flower tutorial

shabby fray flowers18

As promised, here is one easy step by step tutorial for the shabby fabric flower.
I created this fray flower 3 years ago, using remnants and scraps while making Marta's BD dress set, when I took all the pictures with aim to create the tutorial, but unfortunately some things never happen. At least not as firstly planned. But better late than never, right? And speaking about planned tutorials, I have also taken the pictures for the tutorial for these baby shoes and never had time to make the PDF pattern and write the tutorial. Well, some day:)

shabby fray flowers1

OK, back to this tutorial.....
If you don't like the fray, raw edges that gives this shabby look, you can perfectly use the 1.5" (4 cm) satin or acetate ribbon. Tulle looks great in this style too. Or even the knit jersey fabric strips to obtain great casual look(this is the great project to use with some old t-shirts that can easily be cut in strips)
You can create these flowers and use them as embellishments for garment pieces and/or accessory pieces, for clips, headbands, shoes, bags etc.
Sewing machine is very helpful, but optional, you can always use the basting stitch, sewing through the center of the fabric strip, leaving each of the thread ends long, pulling and gathering the fabric strip, trying to avoid gaping, creating the ruffled strip. And than you need to stitch it to the felt base, as following...

Needed supply:

1. 2 pieces of fabric cut in strips (around 1.15" x 48" (4 x 120 cm) for one flower, this length will depend on the ruffling) - the best for this project are the cheap polyester lining fabrics (fabrics that imitates silk like crepe, taffeta and satin that will allow nice fray, raw ends)
2. thread and needle
3. piece of felt for the base
4. clip or pin that will be attached to the flower base

Click on the smaller pictures to obtain the better view;)

shabby fray flowers2 To start, you'll need to ruffle the fabric strip. There are many ways to do it, but maybe the simplest with the sewing machine is to either gather with your fingers, ruffling it on your own or by setting the tension wheel on the machine so that one thread will be tighter than the other.



shabby fray flowers3 For the bases, you'll need to cut the felt(or other sturdy fabric), upon desired size of the flower. The peachy flowers shown in the first picture are made on the 3"(7 cm) diameter base. You can use any circular jar, plate or similar thing to draw the circle on the base.

shabby fray flowers4

Now you need to stitch the ruffled strip to the base, beginning from the edge of the circle going toward the center, creating some kind of the spiral.

shabby fray flowers5

Roll it up till reaching the center, cut the eventual remnants of the ruffled strip.

shabby fray flowers6

This is the finished flower, both sides.

shabby fray flowers9 shabby fray flowers10

Now you can attach the clip or whatever you prefer to the base and it's ready:)

shabby fray flowers13

shabby fray flowers11

shabby fray flowers15 shabby fray flowers14 shabby fray flowers17

Happy crafting:)
xo, Katarina

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Salento vacation

San Pietro in Bevagna, summer 2011

I am still having some Blogger problems, but at least I realised that it is the browser problem related to Firefox, so thanks to Safari, I am able to be back to the blogland:)

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

After just one week, it seems like we 've been there in some sort of other life, away from reality. Salento region of Puglia is one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, (the heel of the Italian boot) , just along the Ionian sea with beautiful sandy beaches and gorgeous architecture. Long sandy beaches are not among my favourite choices ( I am more pebbles and rocks person) regarding the sea cost, but it was fantastic for kids. The water was really so clean and looking in the crystal water under the sun, spoting the little fishes hunting under the water and the rainbowish reflections on the water, was sort of the inexplicable perfection.
San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011. Of course, not only that, but remembering those moments, provide some kind of serendipity and tranquility inside me. I was really enjoying all the colours (all the incredible shades of aquas and peaceful blues), smells, food, my kids happiness and some blissful moments of doing some hand embroidery and doodles. (yay for the friendship bracelets!!! you can even find the free tutorial here)

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.


San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011.

We visited some nearby cities, like Gallipoli, Manduria, San Marzano, Porto Cesareo and Porto Selvaggio (double gorgeous).

Gallipoli, Italy, 2011

Gallipoli, Italy, 2011

Porto Cesario, Italy, 2011

Porto Cesario granite, Italy, 2011

Porto Cesario, Italy, 2011




Bari, Italy, 2011.

Gallipoli, Italy, 2011

Gallipoli, Italy, 2011

We found so many shells and took them as souvenirs and reminder of another wonderful summer vacation.

San Pietro in Bevagna, Italy, 2011

Now, it's time to think about some work here;)
I am preparing many free tutorials, so hopefully I'll be back with the first one in a few days.
xo,
Katarina