Feathered Hairband

My friend asked me if I would make her a feather and bead hair-band to wear to an upcoming wedding. Err crafting with feathers and beads? Definitely count me in!
As it was going to be a case of trial and error I thought I would document how I got on and perhaps it would help if you wanted to make one.

My friend sent me this photograph to show me the sort of thing she was after but she she wanted it with black beads....

I decided to use white goose feathers and a plain, silver coloured, metal hair-band (rather than wrapping it with ribbon as in the picture and my friend was happy with that). Also I decided to do it all by sewing rather than gluing, I have been let down by glue in the past (glue, how could you?) and just felt sewing would be more secure.

Firstly I trimmed and stripped the feathers to the size I wanted as they were quite big. I wanted them to be about 8cm long so cut the shaft and stripped the barbs from the end (here's a link to a diagram of the parts of the feather courtesy of Ducks and Clucks http://ae7950.blogspot.co.uk/). I also tried to curve the feather slightly with varying degrees of success. I did this by running my fingernail along the shaft on the underside of each feather, sort of like the way you can curl plastic ribbon with scissors. This also made some "rotate" a bit but once sewn in place this wasn't to much of a problem (it's not really visible in the photograph).

I cut white fleece material into 2 triangular shapes with rounded corners. Originally I wanted to use white felt but the only felt I had was 4mm thick and that was far too thick. I think a thin felt would be ideal.

Also, I planned to use a plain metal hair-band but I then found one with a small flower design on the side and thought this would help hold the feather section in place due to not wanting to use glue. To be honest I think maybe a plain one would have been easier in the long run as the flowers got in the way for the later sewing. If you decide to make one I suggest using a plain band and glue the top triangle to the top of the band then sewing over it. Anyway I sewed the top triangle to the hair-band- narrower end facing down, with the bottom approximately 2cm above the ear.

It was then a case of sewing the feathers on. I started in the top right corner and worked leftwards. I stitched each feather about four times by stitching over the shaft, I then covered the stitches with the barbs of the next feather and worked along like this.

With the last feather in the row I only did three stitches missing the stitch near the top so that the first feather on the row below would cover the stitches, this row worked left to right. I carried on in this fashion until all the triangle was covered with feathers, mine took approximately 40 feathers. Don't worry too much about the bottom corner being very neat as this will be covered with beads.

I used 2 different types of beads and just sewed them on randomly closely together, roughly in a triangle.
(I must admit that I did sew the tips of an extra feather to each side of the beads to make it fuller but didn't photograph this sorry.)

All that was left was to sew the second triangle to the first underneath the hair-band, I whip stitched them together.

I think is something that looks better in person than in a photograph but my friend was happy with it and that makes me happy!

They're not the best photographs as well sorry.
Let me know what you think. Until next time, craft in earnest! Craftin' Ernest x

Key Keeper

Today's post involves an extremely simple tutorial for a handy little item if, like me, you are prone to losing things, I'm calling it a Key Keeper and it's inspired by a nifty little thing the local police gave out a few years ago. I'm terrible for losing things, in fact, the more I try not to the quicker I seem to lose an item.
Keys are a good example, so this handy crafted solution not helps prevent their loss but also makes it much quicker to find them in a large handbag (my favourite kind of handbag as you can pack it full of "stuff"). You can also use it for certain purses to help against pickpockets, if you can attach it to part of the purse - a zip pull for example.

All that's needed is a shoelace, 2 clasps, a needle and thread, scissors and a way of sealing the end of the shoelace again- I find either a lighter for a nylon shoelace or clear nail varnish/glue works well.
I've bought particularly snazzy laces especially but any old ones would do.

Cut off the aglet from each end, i.e. the coated ends (thanks to an episode of Disney's Phineas and Ferb for teaching me the actual name) and seal the ends. If using the lighter make sure you do it safely, it only takes a few seconds for the ends to melt and you don't want it to smoke. With the nail varnish, coat the ends with a thick layer and leave it to dry completely.

Thread one end through a clasp and sew it in place (I actually used a sewing machine but it can be done by hand instead).
Repeat for the other end.

Then you just attach one clasp to your keys (or purse if possible or even both) and the other to your bag! Easy peasy.

Here's an alternative using a split ring at one end instead...

Zip-Up Pouch Tutorial

I think this is quite a simple make but with really effective results. They make great presents for girls to use as make-up bags or for guys as wash bags. They’re always handy for people with children/babies and you can knock them up in no time.

All you need is two pieces of fabric the same size- one for the outside and one for the lining, a zip (which is at least as wide as the width of fabric), pins, thread and a sewing machine.

The pieces of fabric needs to be twice as long as you'd like the finished length to be plus approx 1.5cm for seam allowance. The width needs to be the same as desired finished width plus 1.5cm seam allowance again.

So for a finished pouch 20 x 15cm, you will need two pieces of fabric 41.5 x 16.5cm.

Line up the edge of the zip with the edge of the outer fabric along one end, with the top of zip facing the right side of the fabric. Place the lining fabric on top of the zip and outer fabric so the right sides of the fabric face each other, pin in place.

Sew all three layers together along the edge.

Repeat with the other ends of the fabrics, attaching them to the opposite side of the zip.

This will result in a sort of figure of “8” shape with the zip in the middle joining the two pieces of fabric.

Fold the outer fabric layer back on itself over the lining fabric so the top of the zip and the right side of the outer fabric is on the outside. The next step is to pin the layers and top stitch along the zip. Open the zip and sew along each side of the zip, through the outer layer, zip and inner lining.

Refasten the zip and unfold the outer fabric so that you have the figure of “8” again. 

Flatten the two loops with the zip sandwiched between. You can have the zip in the middle but I personally prefer it towards one end so sandwich it off centre (for example with the zip 5cm from the fold).

Sew the layers together all the way along one side. On the other side sew almost together but leave a gap of about 6-7cm. I find it easier to leave the gap towards the centre to help with the finishing step, so I sew from one end inwards and then the other end inwards leaving the gap. If you have placed your zip in the centre I would definitely advise you leave the gap to one side of the zip rather than in the middle.

It’s then time to turn it out the right way through the gap and if necessary press everything flat (I'm normally too lazy for this step so it has to really need it for me to do it).

All that’s left is to sew the gap up by hand, firstly the lining through the gap in the outer fabric. Then sew closed the gap in the outer fabric using a hidden running stitch.

Admire your finished zip-up pouch! I would say a button or two as an embellishment never goes a miss ;-)

If you do make one, I’d love to see it.

Craft in earnest, Craftin’ Ernest x

Darker Evenings Are On Their Way!

We're already the majority of the way through October. I feel every time I write I'm flabbergasted how quickly the time has flown by. The clocks go back this weekend too so the evenings will be darker- the prefect excuse to stay in wrapped up warm with some crafty project on the go. So much wool and so little time

Last Saturday I had a stall at an Autumn Craft Fair and my recently made clocks got their first outing and I'm delighted with the response. Such lovely feedback, people can be so generous. I've sold 5 and have orders for 2 more so will have to get busy making them, luckily buttons are not in short supply in my house ;-)  I made a few with applique features and I'm quite pleased with the end results and I have ideas for more buzzing round in my head.

From November the Christmas Craft Fairs start full swing with three booked already so, of course, I have to make, make, make in preparation.
I've been making bridal accessories too but can't show the end result until the bride herself sees and is happy with the result. Hopefully I'll be able to blog about it soon.

Also I have started on my first Chrimbo tutorial but I will share that closer to the festive period. Not long now!

Until next time craft in earnest, Craftin' Ernest xx