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

[Susan Jonsson]

I hate to admit how much I look forward to your new posts....I find you so refreshingly honest and hilareously funny....You really should write a book....(in your spare time of course)....Thanks so much for your gifts of laughter and inspiring do-able crafts. My Mom won't be getting this one either....because I want it for myself!

Susan

[Rachael Rabbit]

A wonderful gift and an inspiring tutorial!

[P-la]

Thank you so much! I just love this!

[Mama Urchin]

I love this idea and I think we might make one, or more, soon.

[Sherri]

So darling . . . thanks so much! My sweet mom is also not the hand-made gift type, but lots of my friends are...and my husband's name is Brian!

[Kitty]

Wonderful! i would make one for my mom, but i cant embrodier ^^;
i might try though, it looks LOVELY. ;)

[periwinkle]

thats a great idea, lovely house
Lisa x

[Wonders Never Cease]

I love this house. I was thinking it's too bad that my daughter is almost 18, instead of 4. But then I thought, why not make it for me? I just may do it! Very cute!

[muffin]

get me one ... now!

[Valerie]

Your little houses are so cute! I want to make one just like the first one! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

[Dawn]

What an adorable gift! My mother would take the money too!

[meggiecat]

I'm a sucker for little houses and this one's adorable! Thanks for taking the time to share your lovely tutorial.

[Kirsten]

What a darling house! Thanks for sharing the pattern. I hope your mom hits it big at bingo!

[Christine Kelly]

I LOVE the little house - it makes me think of an episode of Bagpuss where the mice mend and stuff a cloth house - I love your posts - they always make me smile!

[Christine]

Thankyou for the tutorial. I love the little cottage. I'm pretty tempted by the idea of hurling something at the kids too ;D
By the way either I'm a "bloody genius" or else I think the same way you do, because it made perfect sense to me

[belvedere beads]

ooh, thank you for the tutorial and pattern sketch. i think one with a handle on top to carry as a little purse would be perfect, i better get to it.

[Christine]

Thanks for the funny post and the great tutorial! I really love the wonkyness of the house.

[Barbara]

What a cute little house. Thanks for sharing.

[ilse]

As always, you make me smile ! I just love your sense of humor just as I like your little wonky cottage!
So cute !!
Thank you so much for the tutorial. its already on my to do list.

A very good idea just popped(? is the right word) into my head. Since you always give us (me) so many ideas and even share your tutorials. I would like to send you a little (thank you) gift.
Can you email me and give me your post address please.

[Pip]

How absolutely lovely of you to go to the trouble of doing this tute! It's super gorgeous! You are most clever and sweet and generous in your stitchyness! Thank YOU!

[joanie]

Very cute! My daughter would want me to make a family to go inside (pets too), then she'd want them all to have new summer wardrobes including new shoes, then probably some food to stock the kitchen with and it would go on and on until the house needed an extension.

[VaxGirl]

How sweet! I think it would make a cute sewing kit. Thanks!

[Steffen (3GIRLS & a goat)]

I think this is absolutely adorable, and I would just love to receive such a lovely present (sans any extra goodies inside).... well done

[Zepequeña]

Lovely!

[Jill]

I love the little house. You have such lovely projects! This is going on my must try list and I'll be directing a few friends to stop by and check it out too. Thanks for sharing.