Karin Jordan Studio

Tutorial: Pocket Pillow with Owl & Appliquéd Flowers

This project arrived as a surprise in a box. Each member of the Sizzix design team received a package with identical contents — an owl die, a half square triangle die, a circle die and a small bundle of fabric. The only rules were that we had to use at least two of the dies and the project had to be 80% fabric from the bundle. I made this pocket pillow, fussy cutting the flower centers and using the wings from the owl die to create the leaves. It's a fun and easy appliqué project, and I'm waiting to see what my daughter stashes in the pocket!

I used wool felt from my stash for the owl; he's three layers of wool with the facial features and wings on top. How cute would it be as a Christmas ornament? Fabri-Tac was the glue I used; it's my favorite adhesive for fabric. Since I placed his pupils to the side he seems a bit fun and mischievous — just like my six-year-old daughter. :) After we'd finished our projects we learned that Sizzix has a new partnership with Walmart and that the dies and fabric we received would be exclusive to Walmart stores. It was a good challenge! For the full tutorial please visit the Sizzix blog here. 

From my family to yours, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

 

       

Craft With Kids: Boy & Girl Dolls

Whenever I can include my kids in a creative project, we all look forward to it. Mine are too young for the actual sewing of these dolls, but they took the lead in choosing all the felt and fabric. I never would have thought to add a bright pink pocket and tie on top of Grove in Vine by Alison Glass but it works! Leave it to the three-year-old boy. I'm curious to hear what their names will be. :)

The pieces of the dolls are all die cut using the new Sizzix Doll die by Kerry Goulder a k a Kid Giddy. There are a variety of options (belt, bow, buttons, tie, pocket, heart, glasses, pigtails) to help customize the dolls, and you can cut the hair however you like. Even better is that there is a how-to video where Kerry takes you through the process step by step, also keeping you company as you work. I highly recommend using a stuffing fork, especially for the arms, legs and head. The one Kerry and I use can be found here. 

I stuffed the arms and heads with bamboo stuffing I'd had for years and then I switched over to some Poly-Fil stuffing sent to me by Fairfield and it was a tremendous improvement. I shied away from polyester stuffing a while back as it made me sneeze; the Fairfield Poly-Fil didn't bother my nose! Next time I might try adding some weighted stuffing beads in the bum to help the dolls sit. Kerry recommends basting the head to the body and I decided to hand sew it on instead of trying to wrangle it through the machine. The only other thing I did differently was to turn the dolls right side out before adding the legs. I also turned under and pressed a 1/4" hem at the bottom of the body before adding the legs, which helped align the hand-sewn closure. 

 

        

 

Tutorial: American Girl Infinity Scarf

I was completely busted while taking these photos. In my attempt to get this doll scarf made and put under the tree before Christmas, I decided to take a few quick photos before wrapping. . . Annabel got home early and caught me! So we didn't wrap it and her doll Elise got an early present. The vibrant Nani Iro fabric, leftover from making this circle scarf, goes perfectly with her bright orange jacket. 

 Start with a single piece of fabric, 5 x 16" ish — it can be slightly wider or as much as an inch shorter. 

Right sides together, fold it in half lengthwise. With a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch along the top (raw edges) starting 2" from one side and stopping 2" before the opposite end. 

Turn the scarf right side out. If it's easier this can be a circle scarf with no twisting, but I chose to do a full twist. 

 After the twist, align the short raw edges — see the photo above where they meet in the middle.

Stitch along the edge with 1/4" seam allowance.

There will be a several inch opening. Press the edge flat and either hand or machine stitch the opening closed. I hand sewed the opening on the adult-sized scarf and machine stitched this doll scarf.

Easy peasy. In ten minutes or less, your American Girl doll will have a stylish new scarf!

There are a few other American Girl tutorials on my blog, including an easy pillowcase dress and a patchwork doll quilt. Annabel (5) is currently learning to hand knit and is working on a tiny scarf. It's fun watching her marvel at the knitting as it grows. 

       

Tutorial: Patchwork Quilt for an 18" Doll

The pattern and tutorial for Annabel's American Girl patchwork doll quilt is up on the Pellon web site. Finished size is 16 x 24", and it's a great beginner project for someone with basic quilting skills. It also includes some simple hand embroidery. Please go here to check it out and download the pdf.

I'm thrilled to have my first project for Pellon completed and am already plotting my next one. There are many wonderful tutorials by talented designers on the Pellon Projects page. Projects are organized by skill level and also by project type. Have fun browsing!

xo Karin

 

Tutorial: Pillowcase Dress with Ribbon Trim for 18" Doll

American Girl dolls are no fun without a change of clothes (or three!). When I made Annabel's pillowcase dress over the summer, I knew she'd be getting a doll (now named Elise) for her birthday. It was my intention to make a matching dress for her new doll friend. I'm not one to be all matchy matchy, but in this case I couldn't help it.

Granted, it's now October and Annabel probably won't wear it again until spring, but that's okay. She is thrilled that Elise has the same dress. I even added the ribbon trim at the bottom, just like on Annabel's. The best part? You can make this in less than 1/2 an hour!

To make this dress for an 18" doll you will need:

Cotton fabric for dress
Coordinating 3/8" ribbon
Download and print this pdf 

Step 1: Print and cut out the two pattern pieces along the solid lines. Tape the pieces together, being sure to match up the notches. Place the pattern on a fold as indicated on the pattern and cut around pattern. Repeat so you have front and back pieces of the dress.

Step 2: Assuming 1/8" seams for the armholes, notch along the curves, press and stitch. Repeat three times so all four armhole sections are sewn.

Step 3: Cut 2 20" pieces of ribbon. Wrong side up, turn neckline down 1/4" and press. Center one piece of ribbon on center of top, leaving 1/8"of fabric showing above. Add a few stitches on the ribbon at the center to tack in place. Repeat for other side.

Step 4: Fold fabric and ribbon down. Press and pin. Repeat for other side.

Step 5: Stitch along bottom edge of neckline as indicated in photo. Repeat for other side. Be careful to not sew into the ribbon as it will be need to be cinched it up when it's on the doll.

Step 6: Right sides together, sew the side seams with a 1/4" seam allowance. If you have a serger, you can use that, or you can sew a narrow zigzag along the edge to help avoid fraying.

Step 7: Fold hem up 1/4", press. Fold another 1/2", press, pin and stitch along top edge of fold. Be sure to sew around front and back of dress.

Step 8: Turn dress right side out. Place ribbon on top of hem seam and pin in place. Sew around dress along top edge of ribbon, tucking end under when where they meet. Leave an extra inch of length for the overlap when measuring circumference. I put the ends on the side seam of the dress. Repeat for bottom edge of ribbon.

You're done! Isn't she pretty? At $32 a pop for an American Girl outfit, I think so! This pattern can be adapted to make a longer dress, or narrowed and shortened to make a classy shirt with ribbon ties. The green dress in Elise's closet is also from this pattern. I used some scrap Amy Butler fabric from eons ago. Annabel was a very lucky birthday girl in that her grandparents gave her this lovely closet from Target to keep all her American Girl stuff organized. Have to say I'm pretty happy with it. Granted, our bedtime routine is now twice as long; now Annabel and Elise have to change into jammies.

Aaaaaand this is what happens when you're at school and your little brother messes with your stuff.

 

 

Yup. Broom Broom!

xo Karin

        

Pellon Project: Modern Patchwork Quilt for 18" Doll

It's been an exciting week! Annabel turned four yesterday and is now best friends with her American Girl doll, Elise. I finished her 16 x 24" patchwork doll quilt late Wednesday night and am pretty happy with how it turned out! I was up late enough that while daddy and I were playing with Annabel in her room, I took a 'pretend' nap and Annabel and daddy had to whip up a special soup with magical powers harnessed from four fairies and a rainbow in order to be able to wake me up. If you're tired, I highly recommend this way of sneaking in ten or 15 minutes of much-needed shut eye! 

The other fun and exciting piece of news is that I'm on the Pellon Design Team! This is my first project for them, and the pattern will be in their project section next week. Meanwhile, you can see my profile here.

Annabel was so excited about her birthday that she wore two colors of stripes and two colors of polka dots all together. We got our hair cut and she is now sporting her first fingerail polish. It's amazing how hard it was for her to sit still and literally watch paint dry! 

Have a wonderful fall weekend!

xo Karin

        

How to Turn an Ordinary Bear into Super Bear! With the Option of Adding 'B STRONG'

Give a stuffed animal super status at your house by making him or her a superhero costume! This pattern includes a cape, wrist bands, belt and mask.

This cute white bear was feeling a bit ordinary and was often overlooked by the kids. With some bias tape I had leftover from making Annabel's apron (see that post here), I was inspired to make a cape. The other accessories soon followed. 

You will need:

-Four colors of cotton fabric
-Bias tape or fabric to make bias tape
-Steam-A-Seam2 fusible web
-Felt for mask
-Elastic for mask (I used a purple beading elastic) 
-Small pieces of velcro
-Pins or clips (I love my Clover Wonder Clips)
-Rotary cutter and/or fabric scissors
-Ruler
-This free pdf
-Ordinary stuffed animal*

*The white bear in the picture is 16" high. You can enlarge or shrink the pattern to fit your animal!

Step 1: Cut two 7 x 7" squares of cotton fabric. One will be the outside of the cape (I chose purple) and the other will be the lining (the orange and white chevron). Wrong sides facing, place the two squares on a cutting mat. 

Step 2: Measure one inch in on both the left and the right sides of the top. Mark lightly with disappearing marker, chalk pencil or whatever pen you have. If you make the mark at the very top, it will be covered by the bias tape. With one end of the ruler at the bottom right corner, and the other end of the ruler on the mark you just made, cut along the straight edge. You'll be cutting through both pieces of fabric at once. Repeat for the left side. Now the bottom of the cape is 2" wider than the top.

 

Step 3: Make the bias tape or use bias tape that you've purchased. You will need 3 3/4 feet of 1/2" bias tape. A terrific tutorial on making bias tape can be found here at Made. Clip or pin the bias tape along the left, bottom and right sides of the cape. Sew along the three sides, being careful to tuck the corners in neatly as you go.

Step 4: Center the remaining piece of bias tape on the top of the cape. Clip along the entire piece of bias tape. Double fold the ends in and stitch down. Sew along the entire length of bias tape, making sure the cape doesn't come out as that part goes into the sewing machine.

Step 5: Print this free pdf. Cut the shapes out along the lines. Trace the shapes onto the fusible web, making sure to trace the letter backwards. I have included all 26 letters if you would like to use something other than 'B'. Trace one of the larger star and four of the smaller star (I added two additional stars after I took the above photo.)

Step 6: Peel off the blank side of the fusible web. Apply to fabric pieces, Press to adhere.

Step 7: Following the lines you traced, cut out all the shapes.

Step 8: Remove the paper from the back of the fabric. Arrange the circle, the letter and the two stars. Press to adhere. 

Step 9: Measure around the waist of your stuffed animal. Add two inches and cut a strip of that length by 2 1/4" inches wide. Fold the fabric, aligning the raw edges along the length. Stitch with a 1/4" seam, turn and press. Double fold the ends of the belt and stitch. Remove the paper backing, center the smaller circle and the star on the belt. Press to adhere. Add the velcro, making sure to size for fit.

Step 10: Repeat step 9 for the two wrist cuffs, but make the strip 2"wide instead of 2 1/4".

Step 11: Trace the mask onto the felt. Cut. Make sure the eye holes fit your stuffed animal. Adjust as necessary. Make two small holes in either side of the mask, put the elastic through the holes and knot it on the inside so that the knot is hidden. Be sure so it fits the head of your animal before tying the second knot. 

This bear was fairly neglected until he achieved superhero status. Now, Super Bear flies around during the day with the kids and fights crime at night.

My husband had the great idea to put the word "strong" under the "B" on the back of the cape, so that it would read "B strong" in remembrance of the Boston Marathon tragedy. His office is two blocks away from the bombing site, and we knew many people running or volunteering. If you would like to add "strong" to your cape, download the free pdf here. Use the same technique as described above, being sure to trace the letters backwards, cut them out individually and place them in a semi-circle under the "B". Enjoy your B Strong Super Bear!

I hope you have fun with this pattern!

xo Karin

PS - Leigh Laurel Studios now has a facebook page! Please visit and hit 'like'. :)

 

Meet Bunny Boo Boo: How to Make a Soft Bunny Out of an Old Sweater

This poor bunny spent a year as an old cashmere sweater, balled up in my fabric trunk. Then she spent two years as a body and a faceless head until I finally decided to give her life this past weekend! Annabel kept asking me why I hadn't finished the bunny. My response was that it had a 'boo boo' and that I needed to fix it. I have a pile of 'boo boo' projects that need attention. These projects are things I've started where I either ran into an obstacle or wasn't happy with how it was looking. I'm making an effort to finish these projects — either altering them in such a way so that I do like them, or fixing whatever problem arose. She's no longer the boo-boo bunny; she's Bunny Boo Boo! 

To make Bunny Boo Boo, you will need:

-Old cashmere or other soft sweater (this one had been my husband's)
-Ribbon (I used a piece that had been my grandmother's) 
-Two colors of embroidery thread - DMC 224 and 3371
-Stuffing (I used bamboo here, but polyester works well, too)
-Sewing machine and coordinating thread
-This pdf 

Step 1: Download and print the free pdf. Cut shapes out along the line.

Step 2: Pin the shapes to the sweater. Cut out two head pieces and two body pieces, making sure to leave 1/2" seam allowances (the lines on the pattern are the lines you will be sewing on).

Step 3: Wrong sides facing, pin the two body pieces together. Sew around the perimeter, leaving a three inch opening at the neck to turn and stuff. Be sure to backstitch the start and end while you're sewing so that the stitches don't pull out while stuffing. Repeat for the head, leaving the opening at the bottom where it will be attached to the neck.

Step 4: Embroider the face. If you'd prefer to stitch the face before you sew the head together, do so. I embroidered it after the head was stuffed because I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I stuffed the head! It was a bit more difficult, but I was able to put the features right where I wanted them. I left the start and end of the embroidery floss sticking out of the outer edge of the eye to create eyelashes. I used the same technique on the nose for the whiskers. The mouth is five large stitches. I wanted her to have a slight smile. :)

Step 5: Sew the head onto the body. Be patient! It takes a while to figure out how to do this so that the head doesn't flop around when you're done. I use a small ladder stitch and sew around the head in a big circle as I attach it to the body. Don't be afraid to rip it out and start over. Any mistakes can be hidden by a ribbon or scarf! 

Notes:

1) The head on the pattern looks ginormous!! It will be okay. I had to enlarge the head from my original sketch so it would fit the body when it was stuffed. :) All is well in bunny world.

2) You could hand stitch the openings shut before attaching the head to the body, but as it will be hidden, I didn't find it necessary. 

There's something extra comforting about having made this bunny rabbit out of my husband's old sweater and my grandmother's ribbon. She's especially enjoyable because I took a project that frustrated me and turned it into something I adore. I also have a boo-boo horse in a drawer. Do you have any boo-boo projects that need attention?

This project was inspired by the book Make Your Own Misfits. After I'd made a few from the book I wanted to try my hand at creating something from a sketch (one of my first, which is possibly why it sat in a drawer unfinished for two years!). To see the projects I made from the book please see this earlier post. 

I have a Pinterest board entitled "Upcycled Sweaters" and another board called "Softies." Please feel free to check them out!

xo Karin and Bunny Boo Boo

 

Introducing: Chevron Robots!

I am excited to share the first prototype of my Chevron Robot series with you! Chevrons have been popping up all over clothing and home furnishings for the past few years. Readily available, small-scale chevron patterns are perfect for creating your modern robot doll. 

I wound up enlarging and tweaking my original sketch a bit. 

Chevron Robot #1 in process. I cut out circles around polka dots for the eyes and for the knobs on his chest. 

I have some serious edits to make, and I can't wait to share them. I want to shorten his neck, so he looks more like the original drawing, and I'd also like to shorten the arms a bit. He seems to want a mouth that is a different print than his ears and head gadget. Perhaps he needs a chevron mouth? Or maybe a solid one? Variations are in the works!

It was super fun 'dressing' this robot. I am a big fan of Steam-A-Seam 2 Double Stick Fusible Web, which made it easy to add the eyes, mouth , chevron fabric and knobs to his chest by simply cutting and ironing. The appliquéd pieces could be topstitched, but I was happy with the look as it is. The creative process is always an interesting one. Prototypes are never perfect, but when I can create something that makes my kids smile, I feel successful.

Chevron Robot #1 needs a name. Please comment with any suggestions!

xo Karin

 

Another Giveaway! Book: Stuffed Animals

Hi and welcome to Leigh Laurel Studios. Thanks for visiting! I spend as much time in my studio as possible, often with a child or two under my desk. I sew, embroider, fabric paint, and use whatever craft supplies are on hand. Wednesday I have a column entitled "Craft with Kids," and Friday is "Free Pattern Friday." Sometimes I've found a great free pattern or tutorial online and put my spin on it. I include pattern notes to help you, particularly if I've run into a challenge! I happily share my failures as well as my successes. I also design things and include those in Free Pattern Friday. Please consider subscribing or following if you want to see what I come up with next! Mostly, I just try to have fun. :)

I love this book. In Stuffed Animals from Concept to Construction, Abigail Patner Glassenberg does a fantastic job of filling a hole in the craft book marketplace. Not only is it full of cute patterns, Abby explains why certain techniques work and how to avoid common construction pitfalls. If you ever plan on making a stuffed animal, this is an invaluable book to have on your shelf. For a thorough review and some inside photos of the book, please go here to Wild Olive. 

I'm linked up to the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day. There are hundreds of giveways to participate in, so have fun! To enter this  giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment here about the animal you'd make if you were to make a stuffed animal. Leave a comment by 8 pm EST on May 10th to enter to win this book. It's that simple! It's actually giveaway week, so I'll be announcing the winner on May 12th (Mother's Day). Winner will be chosen with a random number generator. Good luck!!!!

There is another giveaway from Leigh Laurel Studios. To see what it is, click here! 

Hope you're enjoying the week,

xo Karin