Charity sewalong: June 2018

Leave a comment

Magic Moments – Grandies

elderly-photo.jpg

Grandies was born to put a smile on the faces of a group of people often forgotten by society. This program reaches across Australia, focusing on the elderly, the grandmas and grandpas who may either be at home alone or in hostels or nursing homes with no family nearby to support them. Their teams of volunteers take time out of their busy schedules to give time back to these Grand Oldies (Grandies) to make them feel cared for, honoured and valued as important members of our community.

Sewalong brief

We would like to support Grandies by creating knit beanies and mittens, which will provide comfort and warmth this winter to a number of elderly men and women Australia-wide.

mitts-beanie-grandies.jpg

If you would like to get involved simply download the free sewing patterns below.

Add some embroidery

If you have an embroidery machine, why not embroider these mittens or beanies with the Magic Moments logo to help support the Grandies Charity.

Or feel free to decorate these with an embroidery design of your choice.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed projects to Magic Moments—Grandies. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Postal address: 228 Forest Acres Drive, Lake Macdonald Qld 4563

OR

Drop your projects into your local Echidna store.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Magic Moments—Grandies sewalong will run from 1–30 June 2018.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of prizes throughout in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project this month and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community!

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

Create a ‘shabby chic’ apron

Leave a comment

This project will teach you how to decorate an apron using lace, fabric, your machine decorative stitches and applique techniques.

To create this project you can use any style sewing machine. I have used a Brother NV110 sewing machine.

shabby-chic-apron-01.jpg

What you will need

Apron

You can sew your own basic apron using the pattern from our May Charity Sewalong. I have purchased this apron from a Daiso Japanese store for only $2.80. You may also be able to find aprons like this from $2 stores across Australia.

Materials

  • Download the Applique Shape Patterns (PDF, 400KB)
  • Hot Melt Web for the applique
  • Range of matching fat quarters for the applique
  • Lace style 1 – 2 x width (plus 2 inches) of the bottom of your apron and 1 x the top width (plus 2 inches).
  • Lace style 2 – 1 x width (plus 2 inches) of the top of your apron and 1 x the width of the pocket (plus 2 inches)
  • Lace style 3 – 1 x width of your pocket (plus 2 inches)
  • Fabric – 6 inches x (2 x width (plus 2 inches) of the bottom of your apron and 1 x the top width (plus 2 inches))

How to create your apron

First you need to get together all of your fabric, lace and applique pieces. Start cutting out your applique shapes from the fat quarters. You can choose any colours for these applique shapes but I would suggest you choose a white fabric for the circle and then style your cupcake shapes differently.

Continue reading →

Create simple applique using Embrilliance software

Leave a comment

In this project you’ll learn how to create a simple star applique design using Embrilliance StitchArtist software then apply it onto a garment. This project is perfect for 4″ x 4″ (100mm x 100mm) embroidery hoops, using machines like the Brother NV180 sewing & embroidery machine.

applique-jacket
We’ve used BurdaStyle Vintage Nina Jacket sewing pattern to create a jacket using sweatshirt material

Creating the applique design

  1. Open Embrilliance and select the hoop size for your machine. This design will only be small, therefore you can select the 4″ x 4″ (100mm x 100mm) hoop.
  2. Hit the Program Preference icon and select your hoop size from the preferences.Preferences.jpg Continue reading →

Charity sewalong: May 2018

Leave a comment

blog-pic-apron-headway-adp-sewalongHeadway ADP

An acquired brain injury, like a stroke or traumatic injury can impact any of us at any time. These injuries often cause symptoms like seizure, verbal impairment and physical disability and can affect everything from our decision-making and memory tasks to our organisational skills and behaviour.

This month’s feature charity is Headway ADP, whose specialised services help people with an acquired brain injury redevelop the skills and functions they need to reintegrate into the community. During May you can help brighten up their cooking class activities with these fun aprons for clients to use.

SEWALONG BRIEF

Download the 1 yard magic apron pattern (PDF) from SewCanShe website. Sew in fabric of your choice.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed aprons into Headway ADP’s head office. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Headway House
6 Percy Street
Bankstown NSW 2200

OR

Drop your aprons into your local Echidna store.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Headway ADP sewalong will run from 1–31 May, 2018.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of prizes throughout in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project this month and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community!

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

Charity sewalong: April 2018

Leave a comment

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

blog-image

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital (AZWH) is one of the busiest and largest wildlife hospitals in the world.

Their dedicated wildlife veterinarians, vet nurses and volunteers work around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick, injured, orphaned and displaced animals and native
wildlife.

This month you can help the hospital and their animals by sewing these vibrantly-themed cage covers in various sizes! The covers attach onto the doors of the hospital’s bird and reptile cages to create a private environment where animals can get the rest and recovery they need.

SEWALONG BRIEF

Sizes and fabrics

The hospital has asked for bird and reptile cage covers in numerous sizes listed below. All covers you make will be used and greatly valued. Covers are rotated and washed regularly in warm water for disinfection so make sure your material is pre-washed and shrunk before you measure and sew.

Reptile cages

  • Use fish or desert print fabric OR sandy desert coloured fabric
  • Sizes (width x height)
    • 570mm x 350mm
    • 1190mm x 290mm
    • 1140mm x 460mm
    • 320mm x 740mm
    • 880mm x 380mm.

Bird cages

  • Use bird, trees or plant-print fabric  OR  some green fabric with a bright coloured embroidery thread
  • Sizes (width x height)
    • 490mm x 605mm
    • 850mm x 760mm
    • 1150mm x 760mm
    • 1050mm x 1230mm (upright)
    • 820mm x 270mm (make 2 curtains)
    • 1370mm x 980mm.

Pattern instructions

  1. Measure fabric in the dimensions listed. Before you cut:
    – Add 9cm to the height of your fabric (5cm to form a top flap that will hook the cover onto the cage door and 2 x 2cm turned edge seams at top and bottom).
    – Add 4cm to the width of your fabric (to allow for 2 x 2cm turn-and-turn edge seams on both sides)
  2. Press in top and bottom of fabric 2cm. Use the crease as a guide to sew a turn-and-turn edge. For each edge, fold in the cut edge of the material half way to the crease, then fold it over again to meet the crease. Pin and stitch across from end to end.
  3. Fold down 5cm of fabric from the top edge (right sides together) and pin in place. This will form the flap. Stitch down each side of the folded flap with a 2cm seam allowance.
  4. Turn right side out and press the side edges of fabric 2cm each. Stitch down edges using a turn-and-turn seam (same as in step 2).
  5.  OPTIONAL: Place the embroidery design in the lower left hand side of the cover. The design is available as a single 13cm x 18cm design, or in two parts of 10cm x 10cm. Print out a template to see where it sits well for you.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed covers into Echidna Sewing Head Office for us to pass onto the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Echidna Sewing
56 Neumann Road
Capalaba Qld 4159

OR

Drop your cage covers into your local Echidna store.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital sewalong will run from 1–30 April, 2018.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of prizes throughout in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project this month and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community! We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

March charity sewalong

2 Comments

THE TEA-CUP COTTAGE

image-small

The Tea-Cup Cottage offers disability support services that help people to live the life they want and to achieve their goals and aspirations. The cottage was established in 2010 by Director Alexandra Shaw, who sought more choice and control over the disability support and services available to her own family. Tea-Cup Cottage now has 4 respite houses and their caring philosophy focuses on the present and future needs of each individual, whether receiving respite care, in-home care, high-care or day services.

This month you can help Alex and her team brighten their clients’ days with these adult-sized bibs. Cute and comfy, with a towelled backing, ‘pelican-bib’ pocket and embroidered logo, these bibs are a real treat for clients and their carers.

Watch Alexandra’s story

SEWALONG BRIEF

Download the Adult Bib pattern from craftsy.com. The pattern is free—to download it login with your Craftsy account, add the free pattern to your cart, and proceed to the checkout at no charge. If you haven’t used Craftsy patterns before it’s easy and free to create a new account.

To make the pocket:

Use the printed pattern from pages 21, 24 and 27 to make the pocket. Do not cut the excess off from the top of the pattern as you can use this for your seam allowance.

  • Embroider the logo onto the pocket (optional, see instructions below)
  • Sew a turn-and-turn edge on the top of the pocket.
  • Pin the pocket to the bottom of the bib and baste stitch. This will keep the 2 layers together as you sew the other layers together.

To make the bib:

Print the pattern on pages 21-31. Create the bib using batting in between 2 layers of fabric or by using a bath towel as a backing (we’ve used a beautiful fluffy new towel that cost just $6.99 in KMart).

If using batting, stitch some decorative stitches down the bib to keep the 3 layers together (otherwise the batting may come away from the sides during washing).

To fasten the tie:

If you used towelling to back the bib, use a press-stud to fasten the neck tie.

Otherwise you can use an 8cm piece of velcro strap, with the hook on the bib side, and the loop on the neck-tie.

Logo & pocket options

Embroider the logo

Download the Tea-Cup Cottage logo embroidery file (ZIP, 45KB). Use Hemingworth thread in Misty Blue (or a very close thread colour like Summer Sky, Iceberg Blue or Frosty Blue) and embroider the Tea-Cup Cottage logo file onto the ‘pelican-bib’ pocket (we’ve placed it  toward the bottom left, if you’re facing the bib).

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed bags into Tea-Cup Cottage. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Alexandra Shaw
Tea-Cup Cottage
17 Honeygem Place
Birkdale QLD 4159

OR

Drop your bibs into your local Echidna store and we’ll send them on to Tea-Cup Cottage.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Boomerang Bags Sewalong will run from 1–31 March, 2018.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of Universal Magazine prizes later in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community! We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your Sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION

February charity sewalong

Leave a comment

BOOMERANG BAGS REDLAND CITY

Every year around 50% of the plastic shopping bags we use end up buried in landfill. While a small portion are recycled or repurposed the remainder are unaccounted for—lost in our environment where they ultimately wash out to sea through drains and waterways. Sadly, much of the marine life that lands on your dinner plate is likely to have consumed plastic!

Boomerang Bags are changing all this!

Founded on the Gold Coast, Boomerang bags is global movement of volunteer groups whose dream is to reduce the use of plastic bags worldwide. Each group around Australia and the world works tirelessly to sew and recycle pre-loved textiles into fun, reusable fabric bags—which communities can use as a free, sustainable alternative to plastic shopping bags!

image.png

Join the movement in this month’s sewalong!

This month we’re calling for your help make to the Boomerang Bags dream a reality! By sewing one or more bags from material you already own you can help Boomerang Bags Redland City reach their goal to distribute 250 sustainable bags at their community’s upcoming green expo.

Sewing as many bags as we can this month will not only help at the expo but continue to help Boomerang Bags reduce plastic bag use throughout the year.

SEWALONG BRIEF

Download the Boomerang Bags Echidna Sewalong Pattern (PDF) and embroidery file (ZIP).

Use material you already own to create the bag from the pattern. You can use anything from curtains to pre-loved clothing and scrap material as long as it’s clean and in good condition. When cutting out the pocket, use a pale/light-coloured material. This will contrast with the red Boomerang Bags logo which will be displayed on the pocket.

Logo & pocket options

Embroider the logo yourself

Download the logo embroidery file. Use Hemingworth thread in Christmas Red, Candy Apple or Pomegranate (or similar thread colour) and embroider the Boomerang Bags logo file onto the pocket. Then sew the pocket onto the bag as shown in the pattern.

OR

Leave the pocket blank and unsewn

Cut out the the pocket from a plain, light-coloured material, but leave it blank. Sew the bag, but DON’T sew on the pocket. Instead, send the blank pocket in with your bag, unattached. Boomerang Bags will screenprint their logo onto the pocket and sew it onto the bag once printed.

Creative options

Make a patchwork style Boomerang Bag. You can even use spare pieces of material you’d usually throw away. Leave a 1cm seam where you join any patches and check that any joins and stitching are sturdy and will wear well. Don’t forget to save your scrap pieces up and make a patchwork bag later in the year.

SENDING IN YOUR DONATIONS

Send your completed bags in to Boomerang Bags Redland City by 14 March 2018. Be sure to include your name, postal address and contact details with your donation.

Boomerang Bags Redland City
Sharr Ellson
23 Sylvie Street
Thornlands Qld  4164

OR

Drop your bags into your local Echidna store and we’ll send them on to Boomerang Bags.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CREATE THE PROJECT?

The Boomerang Bags Sewalong will run from 1–28 February, 2018. The charity is always in need of bags so you can also sew and donate bags and fabric all year long.

PRIZES

We’ll be giving away a number of Universal Magazine prizes later in the year. To enter, simply take a photo of your finished project and post it to our Echidna Sewing facebook community! We’ll also be giving away a number of prizes at random throughout the year, and your Sewalong project is eligible for one of these prizes no matter which month it’s sent in.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Sewalongs are a great way to get inspired by what everyone creates, while giving to a worthy cause. If you’re new to sewing and embroidery this is a great chance to get involved and have fun no matter what the outcome. Any excuse to put your sewing and embroidery machines to good use is a great one.

SEWALONG BADGES

If you have your own sewing/embroidery blog you can save the following badges and post it on your blog entry, linking back to this page.

MORE INFORMATION