DIY Life

I am in desperate need of a kitchen apron. I have been cooking since I was 8 years old, and I have always absentmindedly wiped my hands on my clothing, even though there is always a dish towel nearby. Yup, I need an apron.

DIY Maven on Curbly has written a fabulous tutorial, complete with awesome pictures, teaching us how to turn large cloth napkins into a kitchen apron using a sewing machine. You'll need several yards of ribbon for tie strings and for the apron collar, and of course, some basic sewing skills.

This apron is perfect, not just for the kitchen, but also for gardening. The pockets in the apron could hold your kitchen gadgets, or your gardening tools. Of course, I always absentmindedly wipe my dirty hands on my clothes when I am gardening too.

Check your local thrift stores for some awesome napkins. Mine always seem to have the prettiest sets of fabric napkins on hand, and for the price they sell at (6 for $1.00), there are plenty available to make as gifts for my gardening and cooking friends.

Last week I painted the outside of my front door.

I left the inside of the door alone, so that my kitchen would stay light and bright. I am glad I didn't paint it, since last month I had to move some furniture around to make room for my new freezer-on-the-bottom refrigerator, and the front door is constantly being bumped against the microwave stand. I am desperately in need of a doorstop to keep my door from being marred.

Elizabeth Hartman has a downloadable PDF tutorial on how to make a nine-patch bean-filled doorstop. Choose your fabric, have 5 pounds of dried beans on hand, and sew up that little gorgeous number.

What's really nice about the fabric doorstop is that it has a handle so that you can carry it around and use it for different doors in your house. I also think it would be great to knock out a burglar, should you happen to be so unfortunate as to have one visit.

In any case, I love the doorstop. It's perfect for all my door-opening-and-closing needs.

[via: Whip Up]

I love strawberries, both as a food and as a motif.

Recently, two separate summery strawberry stitching projects were posted over at WhipUp within a couple of days of each other: a pattern and tutorial for felt strawberries from Mr. Monkeysuit, and a felt jam-jar topper with a strawberry applique by Amy at Lucykate Crafts.

Even though they aren't by the same person, they seem like a perfect pair to me! You'll find further suggestions for this adorable project, including links to supplies, after the break.

I love to cuddle, so I can usually be found hugging a pillow if my 3-year-old or my husband are unavailable to be squeezed. Pillows are so comforting, and I just can't own enough of them.

Any project that requires time sitting at the sewing machine gets put on the back burner for me, especially in Summer. I found the perfect no-sew pillow project over at Craft Bits. All that is needed to make the pillow is fabric, filling, scissors, and plenty of patience.

You can use down feathers or other loose filling to plump up your pillow. Polar fleece is a soft, super cuddly material that doesn't fray. Lycra and knit fabrics do not fray, either. Young kids who know how to make knots would be helpful for this project; keeping them occupied on a rainy day.

I admit, even though I know how to sew, it takes a special project for me to actually pull out the machine and get to work. Usually, those projects are gifts, like baby slings in drawstring pouches.

The inspiration to sew may just have crossed my computer screen, with the adorable little girl clothing patterns and tutorials collected by Whip Up.

What little girl doesn't love a twirly skirt? This one is easy to sew, and the tutorial has very clear instructions and helpful photos; if you can sew a straight seam, you can please a little girl in your life.

The only possible drawback? The sizing is European, so you need to know the height of the wearer.

Now that you are wrapping your sandwiches in an eco-friendly vinyl wrap, you can go a step further and carry those wrapped sandwiches in a neat woodgrain oilcloth lunch bag, courtesy of Derek and Lauren over at Design*Sponge.

To make the lunch bag, you'll need 1/2 yard woodgrain oilcloth, scissors, a sewing machine, thread, a ruler, and Velcro sticky dots. Derek and Lauren cut the pine woodgrain into three pieces, then sewed the pieces together. After turning the bag right side out, they attached the Velcro sticky dots, and the job was complete.

While many of the commenters like the oilcloth bag, a few think that the lunch bag really isn't eco-friendly at all. I think the bag is awful cute, and would argue the fact that if you use the bag every day, then it really is environmentally friendly, simply because you aren't using and tossing a paper bag every day.

Look adorable -- and express your patriotism at the picnic! -- with this easy and stylish no-sew red, white, and blue hair sash.

If you dread donning predictable holiday attire, you can whip up your own originally designed homage to the Fourth of July in about an hour. You'll get full credit for being patriotic and part of the gang, but you'll have the satisifaction of doing it your own way.

You could even make these for the kids, the dog, and grandma, and turn out a matching do-rag for the hubby and anyone else who shares your distaste for manufactured stars and stripes garb; after the Fourth, you can still use these instructions to make yourself a great headband. You'll find complete instructions after the break, and a demonstration in the gallery below!

Recently, I've written about projects you can make using fabric scraps, from fabric flower cards to hair curlers. More, more, more, you say!

How about fifty more? That's how many fabric scrap projects TipNut has compiled. Is a diaper case something you've been needing? Maybe an iPod cozy or even a rag rug is more what you are looking for.

I love the trim boxes: cute fabric boxes on a small scale that you can use to store any tiny things that tend to get away from you. But the first thing I am making from this list is the fabric envelope -- no sewing and so classy!

Will you make the door draft dodger, or the layered fabric photo mats? Tell us about your favorite project using your fabric scraps.

You will need: a canvas drop cloth, upholstery fabric for the appliqué designs, and some other decorative fabric for the trim. You will also need a few sewing essentials: fusible web, iron, sewing machine, and scissors. Interested? Check out the step-by-step instructions here.

I have to admit the finished product looks amazing, atlhough I don't think it would work well in high-traffic areas of the house. A piece of non-slip foam backing underneath would be a must for safety's sake.

For more rug-related advice, check out Debbie's post on rug flipping.

Bandanas: they may keep the sweat off your forehead and look darned cute around your dog's neck, but they can actually be useful with a little creativity.

Anna has posted about bandana projects before, including no-sew window valances, toddler clothing, and pillows. If you are looking for a few more creative projects that use bandanas, here are some that might interest you:

Using two bandanas and some fabric scissors, you can create a bandana tote bag that requires no sewing.

Some canvas strapping and four bandanas are all you need to sew this star-spangled bandana tote.

If you can fold a bandana, then you can make this unique bandana visor.

Ten bandanas, some denim scrap fabric, eyelet lace, and two yards more fabric will get you a bandana baby blanket, something not every baby on the block will be sporting.

Bella Online has more ideas for bandana sewing projects: another tote, small appliance covers, and a ragdoll bear or kitty, just to name a few.

With all of these bandana ideas, you've got to have a favorite project that you are going to start working on -- this very minute. Which is your favorite?

Back in September, Francesca Clarke gave us 8 uses for wire clothes hangers.

When I read her excellent post, I decided to find ways to reuse all of my wire hangers. I bought wood and plastic hangers to replace all the wire hangers I had in the house.I like using the wood hangers, and plastic hangers come in many colors, so it is easy to not get bored with them. However, I prefer the look of fabric coat hanger covers.

Notebook Magazine has the perfect project, including a pdf template to download for making your own pretty hanger covers. A commenter suggests putting a button on each end to keep any straps from sliding off the hanger.

Covering plain hangers with vibrant colors is the perfect way to get rid of small fabric scraps and any extra ribbon you may have lying around, not to mention buttons that have no mates. Fabric covered hangers would also make perfect gifts.

[via: Craft]

Last year, my neighbor bought a new patio set, and I inherited their rusty, out-of-style set. Now that summer is near, it's time to spruce up that patio set and breathe some new life into it. I've purchased new seat covers and will start sanding and painting soon. But to really give it some flair, I want to add some colorful pillows.

Obviously, being made for the outdoors, the fabric needs to be water-safe. Martha Stewart Living recommends using inexpensive vinyl tablecloths. I think it's a great idea. A reader also suggested using shower curtains. So this weekend, I'm on the hunt for a cute vinyl tablecloth or shower curtain that will make my patio set pop with color.

My grandmother loved to quilt. But she was an old-school quilter. Her quilts were for use, not beauty. The stitches were quick and imperfect and, since the quilts were made with whatever fabric scraps she had, the colors often clashed. But her quilts were made with heart.

She made a Sunbonnet Sue quilt for each of her granddaughters and an Overall Sam quilt for each grandson. After 35 years of use, mine is faded and torn, but I love it just the same. And, somehow I think my grandmother would approve.

A true classic, the Sunbonnet Sue pattern is traced back to the early 1900s. You can make it in the traditional manner, or try any of the new varieties including holiday patterns. Freequilt.com has links to many free Sunbonnet Sue patterns... enjoy!

When "Partners in Crime," the first official episode of Doctor Who's current season, aired in the UK back in early April, a friend suggested to me that crafty types would soon be all over the alien of the week. Because they're made primarily from human fat, the Adipose are a bit icky in concept. In action, though, they're adorable: little white globules with limbs, quirky smiles, and sweet dispositions.

Erika, of My Imaginary Boyfriend, engineered a great Adipose sewing pattern, and she's offering it for free; detailed instructions for making it up can be found on the Livejournal community Crafty TARDIS. The pattern calls for white polar-fleece (1/2 yard makes several dolls), stuffing, an iron-on transfer pen, black and white embroidery floss for the face, and a few other supplies.

We've written about Doctor Who-related crafts before, but this is much cuter than a crocheted Dalek. Still, I wonder how long it will last, given the news that the BBC is sending trademark-related take-down notices to some people who post free knitting patterns based on the show. You might want to grab it while you can, if you're interested.

(Also, see CraftyCrafty's take on the controversy.)

[via Jenny at Craft.]

Sometimes I just can't help myself. I see a gorgeous fabric beckoning me from the remnants table and there is no way I can leave it there. I also buy extra material when doing a sewing project, mostly in case I mess up, but for all of those "just in cases" that speak to me as I am over-buying.

The result is an abundance of fabric at my house, usually about a yard or so of each pattern. Do you share my plight? If so, never fear; there are fabulous projects that require a yard or less of fabric. So make sure you have matching thread and get that machine ready for action!

For the kitchen / entertaining

• Make a table runner. Here's an easy pattern you can follow if you have some material for backing and some fusible fleece or interfacing.
• Create a placemat set. There are instructions to make matching placemats for your table runner, and it becomes more economical to make both when buying the other supplies you will need.
• Fashion a set of cloth napkins. If you want to make them fancy, try this pattern for cloth napkins with a binding edge. They look very high-end.
• Sew pockets into a strip of material and make a caddy to take along silverware for picnics.
• This wine bottle cover uses just under a yard and makes a beautiful presentation of your gift of wine