2011 Tutorial Round-up: Tooth Fairy Pillow (November 2011)

(dated November 2011)
written by Pamela Pilon of Bibmababy Online
(ETSY, FACEBOOK)
Appeared in Home Grown, Parenting in the North Magazine (ISSUE 5)

Back in November, I released a tutorial for a Tooth Fairy Pillow, an ideal presentation to swap teeth for cash. You could also alter this pattern to make a Soother Fairy Pillow. Just a little imagination is needed. * Click on the images for a larger view.

PREPARATION TIME

Approximately 1 hour

WHAT YOU NEED

• Printer to print out the Pillow Pattern Pattern available HERE
• ½ meter for tooth (quilter’s cotton)
• 5 inches x 5 inches for pocket (quilter’s cotton)
• 5 inches of bias tape
• Batting
• Fabric pencil
• Ruler
• Rotary cutter and mat or scissors
• Sewing machine, needle and coordinating thread

CUTTING YOUR MATERIAL

• Exterior Print -Cut 2 of the pillow patterns
• Pocket
  - Cut 1 pocket
  - Cut 1 strip of bias tape, the same width as the pocket

POCKET

* Unless otherwise noted, all seams are a ¼ inch allowance.

1. Sew the bias tape to the long edge of the pocket square. Backstitch at both ends.
   
2. Cut excess tape.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Fold the short sides under by ½ inch. Press.
   
   
4. Fold the bottom of the Pocket Square under by ½ inch. Press.
   
   
   
5. Using one of your tooth cutouts, print-side facing up, place your pocket square in the center of the tooth. Pin in place.
6. Stitch the pocket beginning at the top left corner, going down the edges at ⅛ inch, and come across the bottom and then finally up the right side. Leave the top unstitched and remember to back stitch at the beginning and the end.

ASSEMBLING THE TOOTH

1. With print sides together, pin in place.
2. Stitch the raw edges together, leaving a gap open (as noted on the pattern) to allow to turn the pillow inside out and backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitch.

STUFFING THE PILLOW

1. Turn the pillow right side out through the gap you left in step 7.
2. Using batting, stuff the pillow by tearing small pieces of batting and stuffing into the roots of the tooth first. Packing it in tightly.

FINISHING TOUCHES

1. Pin the hole closed and stitch using a needle and some thread.

Note: You can also alter this design by folding over a ribbon to create a loop and stitch the raw ends into the hole using your sewing machine and top stitching it closed.

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You can find all these tutorials and other great articles in Homegrown, Parenting in the North (FACEBOOK, WEB, ISSUE).

2011 Tutorial Round-up: Toddler Bag (October 2011)

(dated October 2011)
written by Pamela Pilon of Bibmababy Online (ETSY, FACEBOOK)
Appeared in Home Grown, Parenting in the North Magazine (ISSUE 4)

Back in October, I released a tutorial for a Toddler Size Trick or Treat Bag, perfect for Halloween treats! Why not look at this bag from a different angle,... choose a different fabric and you've easily got yourself a great lunch bag, something to replace your purse, a wet bag for your pool swimwear, oh even just a toy bag to carry your child's favourite things to daycare!

PREPARATION TIME

Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes

WHAT YOU NEED

• ½ meter for outside (quilter’s cotton)
• ½ meter for lining (quilter’s cotton)
• ¼ meter Fusible Fleece
• Fabric pencil
• Ruler
• Rotary cutter and mat or scissors
• Sewing machine and coordinating thread

CUTTING YOUR MATERIAL

• Exterior Print - Cut 2 rectangles 12 inches x 15 inches
• Lining - Cut 2 rectangles, 12 inches x 15 inches
• Straps - Cut 2 rectangles, 5 inches x 17 inches of print or lining
• - Cut 4 strips, 1 inch by 16.5 inches of fusible fleece

ASSEMBLING the EXTERIOR of the BAG

* Unless otherwise noted, all seams are a ¼ inch allowance.

1. Sew around the sides and bottom of the exterior print. Backstitch at both ends. (Note: Zigzag stitch both seam flaps if you want durability.)

2. Press side seams open.

CREATING BOX CORNERS

3. Measure 2 inches by 2 inches on the bottom corners of your bag. Mark a dot at the point where the measurements intersect. Do this on both sides of the bottom of the bag. This should leave you with 4 dots.

4. Put your hand in the bag at the corner and pinch the side and bottom seams together.

5. Line up your side and bottom seam into a triangle.

6. Pin at 2 inches from the corner.

7. Stitch a straight line. Backstitch at both ends.

8. Trim the excess.

9. Repeat this process on the other corner of the bag.

ASSEMBLING the LINING

10. Repeat Steps 1-2 with ONE EXCEPTION. When sewing around the sides, leave a 5 inch opening at the bottom to allow you to turn your bag inside out after sewing the bag and lining together.

11. Repeat the Box Corners (Steps 3-9) for the Lining.

BAG ASSEMBLY

12. Turn the lining inside out and stuff into your print bag.
(The print bag should still be wrong side out.)
The right sides of the fabrics should be facing each other.

13. Match the side seams and edges together.
Pin and sew with a ½ inch seam allowance around the entire top of the bag.

14. Turn the bag right side out through the 5 inch gap you left at the bottom of the lining.

15. Topstitch the hole closed.

16. Insert the Lining back into the back, iron the bag mouth and topstitch ½ inch from the edge.

MAKING THE STRAPS

17. Take your 5 inch x 17 inch pieces and iron ¼ inch edge on both ends.

18. Fold the strap in half lengthwise.
Iron flat to create a crease in the middle.

19. Open the strap, and fold each raw side to meet at the middle crease. Iron Flat.

20. Open the fold and place 2 strips of the fusible fleece, placing one on each side of the crease.

21. Refold at the crease, hiding the strips of Fusible Fleece.

22. Iron as per instructions on your package of Fusible Fleece.

23. Refold at the crease to hide raw edges and sew on all sides at 1/8 inch.

24. Repeat steps 17-23 to make another strap.

25. Attach one end of each strap to the bag at 2 inches from each side and 2 inches down (this will meet cleanly with the box corners).
Choose which directions the handles will be facing at the point.

26. Sew the strap onto the bag using a box pattern and then sewing an “X” in the middle of the box for strength.

27. Do the same for all 4 sides.

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You can find all these tutorials and other great articles in Homegrown, Parenting in the North (FACEBOOK, WEB, ISSUE).