Inspiration

I've been in a very crafty mood lately and scouring the internet for new inspiration. I think with summer winding down and the kids heading back to school soon the creative part of my brain is in full gear. I am constantly looking for new ideas to organize my small craft space and recently bought this magazine for ideas. Oh how envious I get when I see the studios some of these artists have! I keep thinking one day I too will have my own space; my little oasis away from curious little hands and the constant sounds of television background noise!



I've also been looking for ways to store my knitting and crochet needles and even though I did find a roll-up at Michaels for them It was plain and just not shabby enough. I did however find something to make on Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion website! These can be stitched up in no time!




How to make it:
NOTE: Knitting Roll-Up measurements are in parentheses.
1. Place the two 5” x 20” (8” x 21”) rectangles of checked fabric wrong sides together. Baste or pin to keep in place.
2. To make the binding, fold the 3” x 20” (3” x 21”) strip of floral fabric in half, wrong sides together; press. Open the folded strip, fold the raw edges in to the center; press. Fold the strip in half again; press.
3. Wrap the folded and pressed binding around one long edge of the checked fabric rectangle. Pin to hold in place. Edgestitch along the bottom folded edge of the binding, making sure that you are catching both sides of the binding in the stitching.
4. Place the two 10” x 20” (17” x 21”) rectangles of floral fabric wrong sides together. Baste or pin to keep in place.
5. Place the bound checked rectangle on top of the floral rectangle, matching the raw edges at the sides and lower edge. Baste or pin the sides and lower edge in place.
6. Using an erasable or washable fabric marker and a ruler, mark the pocket divisions on the checked fabric. Starting at the left edge, markings are at 3”, 5”, 7”, 8”, 9”, 10”, 11”, 12”, 13”, 15” and 17” (1-1/2”, 2-1/2”, 4-1/2”, 6-1/2”, 8-1/2”, 10-1/2”, 12-1/2”, 14-1/2”, 16-1/2”, 18-1/2”, 19-1/2”). To make the individual pouches, stitch along the marked lines, backstitching at the upper (bound) edge of the pocket to secure.
7. Add the side binding. Fold and press the two 3” x 10” (3” x 17”) checked fabric strips in the same way as in Step 2. Bind the side edges (all layers) of the roll-up as described in Step 3.
8. For the upper and lower edges, use the two 3” by 21” (3” x 22”) strips. Before folding and pressing the strips lengthwise, turn under 1/2” at each end of the strip; press. Then fold and press in the same way as in Step 2. The turned under ends of the strip create a neat finish at the corners of the roll-up. Attach binding following the instructions in Step 3.
9. Make the straps from the two 3” x 33” (3” x 26”) strips of checked fabric. Fold under the short ends of the strips 1/2”; press. Fold the strips as for the binding, but edgestitch the long end open. Mark a spot 8” (12 1/2”) from the end of each strip. Pin in place along one short outside edge of the roll-up, about 3” in from the top and bottom edges. Stitch in place along the lower edge of the binding. Stitch button in place (or affix with French knots) between the straps, about an inch from the short edge.
10. To close up the roll-up, roll from one end; wrap the straps around the rolled tube and tie loosely to secure.



I hope you have a wonderful week ahead and leave you with this cute little wooden sign.



Peace,
Ann