Mother's Day Gift Tutorial

Perhaps she'd like a little fabric house ?

Mind you, I didn't make this one for my Mother - my Mother associates 'handmade' with being too tighty arsed to buy something, and anyway she'd rather have twenty quid to go to the bingo.

Template,

I've written the measurements for mine, but you can enlarge if desired, particularly if you are making one as a softie as shown at the bottom of this post.

Place two layers of fabric right sides together ( I used quite a stiff calico for my inner fabric), pin and stitch around the template leaving a gap for turning as shown

I forgot to take a pic after I had sewn mine silly me, but after you have stitched, cut out leaving a small seam all around. Turn right side out and close gap. Now machine stitch along the line of every junction (is that the right word ?) in other words where the base meets the walls,the back wall meets the roof, and where the roof bends, these points are marked on the template as solid black lines. This will makes it easier to fold your house when it comes to sewing it together. (If you understand what I just wrote there, you're a bloody genius, but you'll see what I mean when I show you the next pictures).

Next..

Embroider any little details you wish to,

Can you see my machine stitched junction lines ? the one above is very wonky but that doesn't matter it's an old wonky cottage.

I only embroidered through the top layer of fabric, so I could draw some housey details inside (at Molly's request, this house is for her)

Next stitch (I used ladder stitch) the walls together, and then just the back section of the roof . For fastening, sew a length a embroidery thread to the roof and a little button to the front and wrap your thread around to close. Like so -

Stitch a little birdy button to the roof if you have one.

A little pink hamster lives in this one

but you could fill yours with foil wrapped chocolate hearts or diamonds or anything you think your Ma would like.

Alternatively make one from felt and use as a pincushion, or make a larger one as a toy for a child (and, handily, because they're nice and soft, you can also throw them with great force at a child and you won't do them any serious damage).

Just cut each part of the house out of different colour felt or dyed felted blanket and blanket stitch together. Don't forget to stuff it of course otherwise there will be no fun in throwing it.

This one's called Brian

he has a big heart.

I hope you have a fun weekend everybody, back soon.

Oh I nearly forgot, a few people asked for the crochet flower pattern, I got mine from The DK Pocket Encyclopedia of Needlecraft ISBN 0 86318 302 6 , so I'm afraid I can't put the instructions up here. There are some lovely tutorials on the web though, so if I were you, I would while away an hour or two trawling the net tonight (with the obligatory glass of vino of course).

Ciao !

Comments

[Antoinette]

Greetings from the U.S.! I've been lurking for months and love all your posts and tutorials. This house is adorable! What a great idea for gift-giving. Thanks for passing everything on.

Back to lurking...

[Alix]

As ever, ta very much.
Love that it's decorated inside too.
Does your mum blog too? Would be a great to get both sides of the story.

[Melissa]

You are brilliant! I love your amazing house design! I think I shall make one for my daughter to keep her quiet in church. Wouldn't it be cute to make a whole family too?

[Lera]

LOVE this! Thanks for sharing!

[Lori]

I love this....I think it would be an adorable mother's day gift!

[suzee]

It's just lovely. It's rare when I actually make something demo'd in a blog, but I really think I will make this!

Thanks.

[Jess]

These are too, too lovely!
Thanks for the tutorial.

[Gina]

Very cute. It would also be cute to put little straps on it, sort of like a purse for the little ones to carry.

[Rachel Meeks]

I love this. I think I will be making quite a few of them. Thank you for showing us how!

[Marta]

Thanks for the tutorial, don't know about my mother but my daughter will surely love it.
I think I'll make a little handle because she loves all kinds of bags (she got it after her grandmother). (Just saw that Gina had the same idea)

[méri]

Lovely! Thanks.
I'll try making one with my granddaughter.

[French Knots]

More likley to throw a house brick that a soft house at my bickering children today!
A great idea, I'm going to make one and keep it for myself!

[kristena]

That's so cute! Thank you for sharing the pattern and tutorial.

[anouk]

Absolutely adorable!
I'm going to make one for my daughter and me!
Thankyou for sharing the 'how to's'!!!

[amy]

thanks for the tutorial! And your mom? She's funny. I see where you get your sense of humor from!

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

Oh wow! Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial - I can't wait to play at making one of these! Lucy x

[Rachel L]

That's so cute! I love Brian especially. Your posts are always so amusing, you have a great sense of humour!

[Danita]

I love it! I remember doing that with boxes when I was little :)
Thanks for sharing!
Danita

[Michelle]

Thanks, Lyn. That is stinkin' adorable. Gotta go make two now, wait, make that three, no, four... there's Mom, the two kidlets, and I think I need one, too!

[Susan]

How cute. My daughter is obsessed with dogs, so I think I'll decorate one as a dog house for one of her stuffed animals.

[Trevlyn]

Those are so precious! Thanks for sharing!

[rebekka]

Could that even be any cuter? no.

[Lily]

This is great, I love the idea of making a big one!

[Carrie]

Thanks so much for the detailed directions and pictures!
Love it!

[Tora]

The houses are really cute! I must admit I feel kind of shocked by your little story about your mom.. Keep on with the lovely handmade things you make, anyway!