SIO Tips no. 74 - Sew and Sew: Keeping it trim!

Getting to the end stages of a project is exciting but it is important to take the time to finish things off properly so your work looks polished no matter what you are making, whether you are sewing up a new dress or making a soft toy.

My number one tip is to trim your seam allowances after sewing, making sure to snip around corners and curves as you go. Press the seams out once you've finished trimming so that the fabric doesn't bunch up or look bulky when you turn it the right way out.

This makes the most of your careful pattern cutting and gives you professional results every time.

Be My Valentine

Get back to the true meaning of Valentine's Day and show your loved one that you care; not with big expensive gestures but with a little effort put into making a card by hand.

You don't have to be super creative or great at drawing to make this cute little origami Heart box.
I found the link on Pinterest ages ago and bookmarked the tutorial page, planning to find the two colour stiff paper in the meantime. What I ended up with was some thin red card, which was a little too thick to get really neat folds but I used the back of a spoon to make the folds crisp and jazzed up one side of the card with angled stripes to make it a little more masculine. (This one will be presented to my hubby in the morning).

Follow the instructions to make your own in the video on this link: www.origamispirit.com/2012/01/unique-ways-to-keep-romance-alive-part-1-of-3/ 

It's deceptively simple and perfect for those who are new to origami - decorate your own paper to make it really special and leave your loved one a message inside this Valentines day.

I cut a square of white paper to fit neatly inside to write my note on. The red of this card is great but I think it looks nice to have the contrasting bottom colour.

The main thing is to have fun and be a bit silly.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

SIO Tips no. 73 - Sew & Sew: Using your pins

One nifty trick has seen me through many sewing projects (thanks Mum!); it's very simple and makes sewing using a machine so much easier.

When sewing by hand most people pin their project together with the pins pointing away from them running parallel to the edge of the fabric. This can mean they get in the way when machine sewing and slows the whole process down. 

Try pinning at right angles to the fabric edge instead, this means that you can sew right over the pins and pull them all out easily once you're done. 

Make sure the heads of the pins are on the outside so that they don't go under the foot of the machine, you only want to sew across the thinnest part.