The happy pillow

The other day I was browsing through Target and came across this pillow by Dwell Studio.  It was love at first sight!  From the rosette flowers to the color combination, it possessed all that I needed for my bedroom.  I tried to walk away, but it kept calling me- beckoning me to take it home.  Eventually, I justified the notion of letting it ride along in my cart while I shopped.  Every time I looked at it in my cart, I smiled.  The next thing I knew I was walking out to my car with the pillow in hand.  

It's happy here.  We're happy here.

Nightie night!

Jamie

Yarn Button Tutorial

Today, I thought it would be nice to show you how to make that cute yarn button featured in my Hooded Scarf sewing pattern.  I've had a few emails asking if I made the button and if so, could I share how.  The answer to that question is no I didn't make that particular button, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.  

Ahh I couldn't resist.  

Anywho moving on.  As I was saying, I didn't make that one, it was an extra button from an Anthro sweater of mine, but I do know how to make them.

As you can see, you can make these buttons with many different types of yarn and embroidery floss colors (yellow button).  I prefer a mohair type of yarn, because I like the look of it and you can thread it through an embroidery needle.

Materials needed...

Yarn - About 2 yards will be enough for this project.  If you have too much yarn it will be difficult to wrap around the plastic ring.

Needle that is big enough to thread the yarn through.

Plastic ring - I used a 1 1/8" plastic ring found at Michaels.  However, the Anthro button has a center bar (I felt it), so I believe they used a belt buckle or something.

Directions

1.  With one end of the yarn, tie a knot around the ring.

2. Begin to wrap the yarn around the ring.  When you wrap the yarn, be sure to wrap the little yarn tail from the knot.  Do not cut the yarn once you have finished wrapping the ring.

3.  Once you have wrapped the entire ring, begin to fill in the center by stitching a Satin Stitch.  First, begin where you finished wrapping the ring (see #1) and insert the needle into the opposite side of the ring, making sure that you stay within the ring (see #2).  Next, pull the yarn through so that the yarn is taut.  After pulling the yarn through, insert the needle next where you began (#3). Pull the yarn up and through nice and tight again. Repeat these steps making sure your stitches are close together. Work your way to the opposite side of the ring.  If you find your ring is not thick or has some holes, repeat the stitching across to the other side again. 

4. When the button is nice and thick, decide which is the front and which is the back of the button.  Bring the yarn towards the back and begin to weave it through the yarn on the button (careful not to weave to the front of the button), making your way to the middle.  If you are going to sew the button to a sweater or some type of loose knit, you can use the yarn tale to do so.  Simply stitch the button to the loose knit using the yarn tale.  However for most fabrics, the yarn may be too thick to stitch with.  If this is the case, tie a knot and cut off the yarn tail.

5.  Thread your needle with matching thread and tie the thread to a couple strands of yarn.  Make sure the thread is centered and secure.

6.  Stitch your button to the fabric.

That's it!

To give you an idea of how they look on a sweater, here's the Anthro sweater from the original button.  

Cheers,

Jamie

Turn Signal Biking Jacket

I'm not sure if this has made the blog rounds yet, but I had to share this (via www.instructables.com).  It's a biking jacket with led lights as a turning signal.  Here's the link to the tutorial.  I love it even though I don't bike.  I should start.  

Happy Friday!

Website updated?.... Check!

My website, Jamiechristina.com, is updated. I changed practically everything on the site; from the design to the about page.  I also added some new features, like a products page for purchasing.  Other new or improved features on the site include...

~ An updated list of shops that sell my patterns.

~ A wholesale info page.

~ A corrections page for any revisions or tips on my sewing patterns.  There is already a revision regarding how to make the waist ties longer on the Pretty Ditty Apron pattern.

~ A FAQ page.

Wrapping up the list of new features is the website mailing list, which is basically a way for me to keep you up to date on stuff like new products, corrections, and press.  If you'd like to sign up here's the link.

Cheers,

Jamie

New fabrics and the Italian trim is back!

A couple of Phat Fabric things on the agenda today.  First off, new fabric...

I'm not much of an animal print person, but this Zebra print (called Zebe) is really making my eyes feel good!  The scale is large and it's not black and white - it's black and ecru, which I like.  I've already made an apron out of it and I can't wait to share. 

Next up is another Alexander Henry print called Cameroun Jungle...

You could say I was in a black and ecru mood when I purchased these prints for the shop.  Again, a large scale with whimsical floral/jungle motifs.

A little something to change up the mood...

This fabric is called Splatter and is part of the Van Gogh collection for Free Spirit fabrics.  It's 100% rayon poplin.  Perfect for Spring.  I would love to make a light weight cape out of this fabric or a simple fabric bobble scarf.
Here's the link to the new fabrics.

***

I have good news for Italian trim fans.  They are back in stock!  Last week, I introduced the new trim section and within 48 hours sold out of almost all of the trims.  Here is the link to the new trims.

This week I will be working on updating my Jamie Christina website with new features and goods.  So, if it gets a little quite here, know that all is well.

Happy creating! 

Jamie

The flower fields

On Easter, we went to the Carlsbad Flower Fields before visiting our families.  This was my first visit to the fields, which is strange considering I lived near them for a significant amount of my life.  I guess I took it for granted until I moved away.  Well, that and you have to pay to view the fields.  That also seems strange to me, but we payed and enjoyed our visit.

Notice my daughter.  Notice the dress.  Notice it is Easter.  Remember the Easter skirt I made her?  Well, she had other plans... Grrr!... sigh... 

Where were we?  Oh yes - the flowers...

A lovely day!

Jamie

How to go from cardi blah to cardi HOORAH!

This was a lot of fun to make!  All you need is some cute trim, needle, thread, cardigan and about 15 minutes (depending on your hand stitching skills).
Here is my Anthro inspiration (link).

 The before and after...

Materials list:

• Cardigan - I used a Mossimo cardigan that I purchased from Target a few years ago.  That's why I don't throw things away (ahem sweet husband of mine).
• Trim - I used a little more than a 1/2 yard of the Nylon lace (link).  Important note on the trim you choose: Make sure you can cut into the trim to allow the trim to separate along the bottom edge (see step 2)
• Needle and thread

And we're off...

Step 1.  Measure the amount of trim you need by pinning the trim to the neckline.  Do not simply rely on measuring with measuring tape.  You need to see the placement of the pattern.  If you are using the same trim I used, or one similar, make sure you have placed the motifs so that you do not end up with a full circle on one side of the neckline and a half circle on the other side.  If you find that you end up with a half circle on one side, then adjust where you begin the placement of your first motif.  Either move it back or forward to allow for more or less room (cut off excess if less room).  Once you know how much trim is needed, cut off the excess.  Re-pin the trim to the neckline if you unpinned it to cut off the excess.

Step 2.  The trim is not cut as a collar, yet we are sewing it on as a collar, so you will have to cut into the bottom of the trim to allow it to expand with the circumference of the neckline.  However, you do not want to cut all the way through the trim.  Notice below that I cut around the circles and stopped where the larger circles are joined.  I also made sure that each motif had the same amount of small circles (4 small circles).  If desired, you can add fray check to edges that are cut.

Step 3.  Thread your needle (I double threaded it for extra strength) and bring your needle up from underneath the first motif.  Pick up a couple of threads from the trim and insert it back into the trim and through the sweater.  When I brought the needle through the sweater I tried to just grab a few threads making sure I didn't go all the way through the sweater.  I didn't want the beige thread to show on the wrong side of the sweater (sometimes it did).

Step 4.  Continue to stitch the trim to the sweater. Stitch the tops of the circles and continue to stitch down to where the circles join, then back up the circle (see white line path in pic below).

Step 5.  When you get to the last motif, finish it off, tie a knot, and smile.

Enjoy =)

Jamie