Frayed Fabric Bangles from Ribbon Spools

I have several empty ribbon spools lying around my house.  I didn’t want to throw them out without giving some thought on if I could recycle or reuse them.

So I came up with the idea to take off the cover, wrap some fabric around it and create these bangles:

Supplies:

Empty Ribbon Spools

Fabric

Hot glue gun

Scissors or rotary cutter

Tutorial:

Tear the front and back cover of the spool off so all you have left is the inner ring:

 

You’ll want to make sure you tear off all the little extra papers that are still around the edges.

For the smaller spools I used a strip of fabric that was half of an inch wide (1/2”) and for the wider spool I used a strip that was 1 inch wide (1”).  The length of your strip will very depending on how much you overlap your fabric, but if you don’t have enough you can always add another strip to where you ended.

 

Adhere one end of your strip to the inside of your circle using hot glue. 

 

Then start wrapping the fabric around at an angle.  If you run out of fabric just cut another strip and start from the inside of your circle where you left off (be sure to adhere both ends with your hot glue).

 

And there you have it Frayed Fabric Bangles

 

*I did not treat mine with anything but I’m sure you could put a little Mod Podge over the fabric if you wanted

**FYI these are not water proof, they will probably ruin if they get really wet.

50 Followers!!! A little treat for you!!!

To celebrate reaching 50 followers and thank all of my loyal readers I’m going to make available my tutorial for No-Sew Stockings!

These do hold up a fair amount of weight and would make for a fun family activity. If you can tie a knot you can make these!

Materials Needed:

An old stocking to use as a pattern

1 yd fleece material

½” matching ribbon

Hot Glue (optional)

Fold your fabric in half and place your old stocking on the fabric making sure you have around 3 inches of extra fabric all around the stocking. Cut the stocking out about 3 inches from your old stocking (pin the old stocking in place so it doesn’t move on you. Then cut the fringe from the edge to where the old stocking is (be careful not to cut the other stocking). Cut the fringe all the way around the sock except for at the top. Then make the ribbon lacing slots as shown in the picture below (each cut is about 1/2” apart). (you can click on the picture to see a larger version)

Once the sock is all cut out, follow these instructions (click on picture for larger image):

Thank you again to all of my readers!

Hair Bow Holder

My friend Tana and I have been going a little crazy with making hair bows for our daughters and so my daughter’s  hair bow holder was over flowing.  It was just a quick one I made by covering up a piece of cardboard with some fabric and two lines of ribbons.  So I took this old frame I had and attached the ribbons to the inner layer of the frame and then covered the back up with some fabric (not the cutest fabric but it will work).

I first used hot glue to attach the ribbon, then I put a staple through it and then topped it with more hot glue.  Using the hot glue helped hold the ribbon tight and will hopefully prevent the ribbon from tearing.

I then stapled the fabric down and then covered each stable with hot glue and around the edges on the fabric.

Almost done….

Then I added another ribbon on the bottom so her headbands could hang with the bows.  I stapled one end down and then used Velcro to hold the other end.

Here it is!!!  Back in it’s home!!!

Collage Fabric Picture

I was inspired by Care over at Obsessively Stitching for this design.  She did an I-Spy Fabric Swap which I participated in and she sent me one of her I-Spy cards with my fabric squares.  So as I was doing some rearranging of my office again I found two frames that needed a purpose.  So I decided to use her I-Spy idea to whip up a couple of fabric collages to go inside the frames.  I used fabrics that I’ve used for projects for my two kiddos in the past and then some new ones that I plan to use in the quilts I’m going to make them for Christmas. 

 

Start off by drawing a square the size of the inside of the frame.  Then cut about an inch from that line.   You will use the line as a guide to where the fabric needs to cover.

Then just cut out random pieces of scrap fabric and arrange them so they fill the entire square area.

Pin the pieces down and then sew away.  I first sewed along the border and then just did random squiggles and loops all over.

Close-up of the stitching

Now cut out a piece of cardboard so it will fit in the back of your frame.  I then just used a little tap at each corner to attach the back of the collage to the cardboard.  You could also use a glue and permanently attach it.

  

I then trimmed the excess off.

 

Pop it into the frame and hang it on the wall.  Tada!!!!  It took me maybe 2 hours to do 2.

 

Make your own Chenille Strips or “Fuzzy by the Foot”

I based my method of making these Chenille Strips or “Fuzzy by the Foot” off of this tutorial here.

There’s two ways you can prepare the squares to cut.  The first way is illustrated in this picture.  Fold the fabric in thirds and then draw a straight line along the bias of the fabric.  Then cut a straight line from the end of the line you just made to the other side of the fabric creating a square.

The Second way is to just cut three squares of fabric all the same size and line them up on top of each other making sure you have the bias grain going the same way.  Then draw your line connecting one corner of the square to another dividing it into two triangles.

With all three squares together make your first straight stitch down the line you made.  Then line the last stitch up against the left side of the presser foot.  Now depending on how wide you want your strips to be is where you want your needle aligned.  I had my needle in the middle for mine and that made them 3/8” wide once cut.

Now keep going rotating from once side to the other making lines always lining up your last stitch to the left side of your presser foot.

This is what it will look like when you are done sewing all your lines.

Now cut down the middle between each of your stitched lines.

Here’s what one strip looks like

I used my strips to go around my appliqués for my Rock-A-Bye Quilt.  Find a starting spot and start pinning your strips on.  I only pinned the starting point of a new strip and then lined the strip up as I sewed.  Attach the strip by sewing down the middle (you are sewing over the stitching that is already there).  When one strip ends just line a new strip up against the last strip and keep sewing (pinning at the beginning of the new strip will keep it from sliding on you as you keep sewing.

Here’s what it looks like at the end of one strip and beginning of another.

Now take a comb or rough bristled brush and fuzz the strips.  This makes a little bit of a mess, but is so worth it.

Here’s what it looks like after a little fuzzing!

I had so much fun doing this and it made my quilt look so much better.

Before

After

If you are uncertain about any of the steps or I skipped something that you feel is important to help other’s understand please feel free to leave a comment or contact me by e-mail.

Super Kids

The kids like to have me tie blankets around them like capes so I decided to make them each one. I just used what I already had in my fabric stash! To make them I just measured the width of their shoulders and then added 1 inch for the top. Then I measured how how long I wanted the capes to be and I just slowly increased the width as I went to the bottom. Basically making an "A" frame shape. Then I applied the applique letter (these ones I used an adhesive and then did hand sewing around the edges). With right sides together I then sewed the two sides together (be sure to pin the ribbons between the two layers at the top before you sew them together). I left a small opening so I could turn the cape inside out. I finished with a stitch around the outside edge. As always if you have any question leave a comment and I'll try and answer them!

I even made one for the new baby to wear when he gets here. For now Teddy is sporting his cape!