Sometimes it’s nice to have a go to project when you just want to say “thank you” with a handmade gift. In my book, a handmade thank you gift is something quick and easy. No fuss. This is why a coffee cozy makes a great thank you gift. It’s both of those things- quick and easy.
Personally, I like to make them for my kid’s teachers at the end of the year as a small appreciation gift. Sometimes I’ll even buy a little mug (usually from the Dollar Store), and then make them a coffee cozy to go with it. Combine that with a thank you card and a Starbucks gift card, and you’ve got yourself a teacher who finally feels appreciated!
I don’t know about you, but if I were a teacher, (while I would appreciate their thoughtfulness) I think the whole apple themed everything gifts would get old real quick. I’m proud to say, I’ve never bought my kid’s teachers anything with an apple on it. No offense if you have, I just want to provide them with someone variety:)
If you sell at your local Farmer’s Market or craft fairs, this would also be a quick sew and has the potential to be a good profit maker. Feel free to use this free pdf pattern to make coffee cozies for gifts, craft fairs, or to sell finished coffee cozies on Etsy.
Ready to learn how to make a coffee cozy? Let’s get started! Watch video below for a step by step tutorial.
So you want to sew stretchy fabrics, but you don’t have serger. Is it possible to sew knits without a serger? Absolutely! And today I’m going to share a video with you to show you a side by side comparison of different stitches that can be used to sew stretchy fabric. This video will help you figure out which stitches hold up the best under stress, and which seams will look the best on a garment. If you do an internet search about how to sew knits, you will find a variety of testimonies saying that this stitch or that stitch is the best for sewing knits, but I think you will find that there are a variety of factors that effect the final outcome. The stitch is important, but there are other things to consider. Please watch the video below to learn more.
Print the free pdf below and keep it your sewing room as a reference.
Have you made the Parfait Dress sewing pattern from Colette Patterns? I realize this is not a new pattern. Colette Patterns started in 2009, and the Parfait Dress was released in that year.
It’s hard to believe that was seven years ago! Despite being one of their first patterns, this really is an awesome pattern. I appreciated all of the illustrations to help you along the way.
The professional drawings leave little doubt about what you should do next. The directions are very clear.
While the gathered and well fitted bodice was most certainly the most time consuming part of this sewing project, in the end it was also most definitely my favorite part of the dress. It accentuates the female figure in a tasteful and beautiful way.
On a side note, I also made the yellow shoes that you see here in the picture from my Ballet Flats Sewing Pattern. I love the idea of having a head to toe handmade wardrobe!
I used a Richloom cotton quilting fabric that I found at Joann’s. Looking back, I would make a different fabric choice next time, maybe voile or lawn. I think a more supple fabric would work better for the gathered bodice. In my opinion, the quilting cotton was just too stiff for this particular bodice. Quilting cotton doesn’t do the dress the justice it deserves.
As far as fit goes, I was amazed how well this fit right out of the box. I really didn’t have to alter much. I made this in a size 12. The only thing I added was a bit of length to the skirt.
There is an option to add pockets. I decided not to this time, maybe next time I will.
I cheated a bit with the buttons. I didn’t add button holes. You really don’t need to unbutton the straps to get into this dress, the zipper is sufficient. I just sewed the buttons on for decoration!! Any time I can get around sewing button holes, I’m all for it…. hehe.
Even though the pattern suggested using an invisible zipper, well…. I just used a standard zipper. Quite honestly, I don’t even own an invisible zipper foot yet. It’s coming, just not today.
Right now the weather is springy, so throwing a shrug over this dress on chilly mornings is enough, but in winter I wouldn’t hesitate to wear a long sleeve shirt under this dress to give it more of a jumper style look.
Would I make this pattern again? You bet! What Colette Patterns have you made lately? Let me know in the comments below:)
Why not make your own shoes to go with YOUR handmade wardrobe?
Have you ever wanted to make a fun little clutch that you can whip up quickly, but looks amazing? If so, you are in the right place.
In the picture above here, you can clearly see that I am ready for a night out with my hubby. I’ve got my cute little clutch in hand, my skinny jeans on, and my new red leather ballet flats on (that I made from my Ballet Flats Sewing Pattern). It’s a good day!
Let keep things simple. Click on the orange link button below to download the free pdf sewing pattern to make your own Two-Tone Clutch.
Here’s what you’ll need for this project.
Now that you’ve downloaded the pattern and gathered up your materials. Let’s get started!
So at this point you should have cut out: 2 top front accent fabric pieces (polka dot fabric), 1 lining strap closure, 1 exterior strap closure, 2 bottom front clutch fabric pieces (black fabric on top right), 2 lining pieces (yellow multi colored fabric, and 4 fusible interfacings pieces, and 1 strap interfacing piece.
Iron on the strap interfacing piece. Then place strap closure pieces right sides together and sew around, but not all the way around. It can be difficult to turn the strap right side out if you sew a complete “U” shape. Let’s leave some wiggle room to turn this right side out. We’ll sew the edge up in a minute.
To help our curved seam to lay flat when we turn it right side out, let’s use some pinking shears to trim off the excess seam. If you don’t have pinking shears, just make little notches along the curve of the seam with the tip of your scissors.
Just to confirm what the picture above suggests, turn the strap right side out, pin the open edge, and topstitch around the strap as I have done here in the picture above.
Lay the strap and bottom front clutch pieces right sides together. You can sew a basting stitch to keep your strap in place if you’d like, or you can pin it. Then as you see on the right side of the picture here, just lay the top pattern right side down and sew across.
Once your done sewing the front of the clutch and pressing the seam, topstitch across as you see in the picture below.
Below is a photo I took after I sewed on the garland. You can sew the garland on with your machine, or you can hand sew them on if you are new to sewing. I used embroidery thread for the garland hanging line.
Here’s a picture of how my garland hanging line looks from the back.
Time to add some stability and structure to this clutch!
We want more space inside of our clutch, so let’s make this clutch three dimensional by boxing out the corners.
I’ve turned the lining right side up and upside down to show you how the boxed corners should look once your done.
As I mentioned before, you will need to repeat step 8 for the exterior clutch as well. Once they are both boxed out, insert the lining into the clutch as shown below. When you look inside the clutch, you should be looking at the beautiful lining side of your lining fabric.
Let’s finish this pretty little clutch off with some 1/4″ double folded bias tape to hide those raw edges on top.
Now we are ready to slowly and carefully secure our bias tape in place. Start with the raw end (meaning: not the end you just folded in the picture above). Start where you see the pink binding clip in the picture below. Press and pinch the bias tape in place to secure it as you wrap it around the top. Secure with binding clips, pins, or bobby pins. Whatever you have.
After a few minutes the glue should be dry. Sew the bias tape in place.
Sew on your button.
Measure your button and then prepare to make a button hole. You can make a button hole with your machine or you can make a hand sewn button hole. Just do a quick search on Youtube for a tutorial on how to do it.
Congratulations, you’re all done! Please share what you’ve made with me on Instagram or in my Facebook group. I want to see what color combinations your coming up with and your fantastic creation!
