Making zen online retreat

 

Last year when I had a Creators block I joined the #makingzen online retreat. It was such a great help and I got my creative flow back.

This year I have been asked by Kate Ward @zenstitching to be one of the speakers.

The retreat starts 2. May - 6.May

There will be presentations from more than 20 artists, including myself.

Making Zen is a online retreat for stitches and crafters to help them learn new processes, improve technique and get inspired through a wholistic approach that nurtures creativity.

All the presentations are for free for 24 hours.

You  can upgrade to lifetime access  that also will include great bonus materials. All for a very reasonable price.

You'll get your free ticket 🎫 and more information over at the Zen Stitching website.

Use the affiliated link to support your artist 

Making zen online retreat

How to add extra length to a pair of jeans

 

My sister has very long legs and never seems to find well fitting jeans or trousers.

So when she got two pairs of jeans passed on to her, she asked me if I could help.

Of course I could, it even sounds like a lot of fun to me. 

I'll show you how to add length to jeans or trousers here. 

The first pair I added a extra piece of fabric into the leg. 

First I ironed the jeans as it is important that it's a clean cut. Then measured where to cut and how much. Marking it with a dissolveing fabric marker. 

Carefully cut off the bottom of the jeans 

Find some fabric similar to the jeans 

I have used fabric from another pair of jeans that were donated to me. 

If you have some that fit perfectly just cut out the entire piece. Mine didn't so I made 4 pices an sewed to and two together. 

Open up the side seams of the jeans you are adding length to. 

This will make it easier to add the extra fabric. You don't need to open it up all the way, just a little bit, both at the bottom and the top of where you cut the jeans 

Sew the new pieces to the jeans 

Trim off excess fabric so it will fit the legs 

Sew the cut off bottom of the leg to your added piece of fabric 

If you only want a piece of fabric, you can close the side seams and you are done. 

This works well for sweat pants and children's trousers. 

But I don't think it's particularly good for women who don't get long enough jeans. 

You want something that looks good right. 

So my plan was to hide it under some ribbons. 

Making some really fancy jeans for my little sister 

I tried different ribbons and lace until I found something I was satisfied with 

Pinning the first one in place, the rest I just put next to the other. 

Make sure you get the ribbon at the exact same place on the other leg and repeat the process 

When the ribbons are all in place, close the side seams and you are done 

Close up of the finished leg 

I think this one turned out pretty well 

My sister was very happy with them and think this definitely will be next years fashion 🤔 

Jeans are now about 7 cm longer 

And fitted my sister perfectly. 

Check out part 2 for how I altered the second pair 

Dorset buttons

                    DORSET BUTTON 

the Dorset button are made using a ring and for example pearl cotton embroidery thread. I often use a thin crochet thread as well. 

You can use different kind of rings wood, metal or plastic. Metal rings must be rust free. Rust free washers works fine. You can even use curtain rings to create larger buttons. 

You need to know Blanket stitch and Back stitch in order to make this button. 

There are a lot of different patterns f

or Dorset buttons but today we are covering the most common one the Dorset Cartwheel Button.

I used a plastic ring this time as I had a few at hand. 

Secure the thread by making a knot, I use to put the tail under the blanket stitches after. 

Blanket stitch around the hole ring 

Make sure you are making the stitches tight together so there is no gap between the stitches. 

Turn the ridge off the blanket stitches into the middle of the ring 

Now it's time to make the spokes wrapp the thread around the ring until you have 8 [my ring is tiny so I used 8 but you can add more if you want to] threads all crossing in the middle. 

Secure the middle cross with a x stitch. [both the top and bottom threads] 

Now you should start weaving around the strands of threads doing back stitch 

Keep going with blanket stitch until you have filled it all the way. Secure ends on the back 

You can use the Dorset button as any other button and they also makes great jewellery 

I made earrings out of mine 

Just created a hoop for the earring piece on the back 

Next time I want to try Yorkshire buttons 

I found a great pdf download over at this Blog

Make your own fabric covered buttons

 Fabric covered buttons are easy to make from scratch.

Materials needed

Fabric [some scrap fabric will work fine] 

Scissors

Sewing thread

Embroidery thread [for the shank]

Batting or stuffing

Piece of plastic container like an ice cream box

Pen 

Beads and various embroidery thread if you want to make it even more special.

When you have gathered your supplies

Start with drawing circles on your plastic container as big as you want the button and cut them out. 

Find the fabric you want to use and cut circles about 2cm larger than the plastic circles. Cut out a circle of batting fitting the plastic circle or use stuffing. If you want to embroidery some thing or add beads now is the best time. I added running stitch using embroidery thread on two buttons and two with colorful fabric. 

Sew running stitch around the edge of the fabric circle. 

Place the batting in the middle of the fabric circle then the plastic circle on top 

Put the batting and the plastic circle into the fabric circle and pull the thread knot or other wise secure ends. 

Now your button should look like this on the front side. 

Cut another fabric circle for the back 

Fold in edges and sew it to cover the back of the button using ladder stitch or wip stitch 

Then it's time to make a shank 

Make a few loops using embroidery thread 

Blanket stitch all around the loop 

Now your button is ready to be used 

Easy Peasy right 👍

Crochet button

In need of a fancy button but only have boring once. 

If you know how to crochet you can make a cool button by adding some crochet stitches

It's also possible to use embroidery stitches

The first button is made from a boring ordinary button

I used double crochet through the hole in the button 

2.  Doble crochet [3 stitches in the gap between the holes] 

3.chain 7 skip one stitch, double crochet in the next chain 7 skip one. All the way around fasten off. 

Need a button, but only have a bead. 

Just crochet around it and make a shank.

You can also use stuffing instead of a bead 

Start with a magic circle or chain 4 and make a circle. 

2. 2 double crochet in the previous stitch 

8 stitches 

3. Double crochet in the first 2 double crochet in the next repeat. 

4-5 one double crochet in each stitch 

6. Decrease by Crochet 2 double crochet together one double crochet repeat 

7. decrease by do crochet 2 stitches together repeat 

Make a shake 

Making a few loops and blanket stitch around

Or Slipstitch into the button, chain 4, Slipstitch into the button

Double crochet 8 stitches over the 4 chain stitches fasten off.