I woke up this morning to fog and mist rolling up from the surrounding forest like something out of a Stephen King movie. Halloween is in the air. For the last two years here on Sew4Home, we've gone all out with Halloween projects for you and your little goblins to make and enjoy (and as an excuse to buy numerous bags of mini candy bars to use in the photo shoots). This year, we focused our Halloween creativity on the recent Haunted Hostess Apron: It's A Graveyard Smash. But, while we're eating a few of those little Snickers bars (yeah.... we bought another bag anyway), we want to remind you about the Nine Terrifying Tutorials lurking in our pages.
Moda Fabics' Lil' Rascals Storybook Bedroom: Learn-to-Spell Alphabet Bunting
R is for Rascals. This super cute Alphabet Bunting tutorial not only creates a banner that looks great, it's also a secret learn-to-spell game. All the pennants have a front and back so you can put a different letter on each side. And, they're easy to string and re-string, so you can make lots and spell out a new word every day. May we suggest: I LOVE SEW4HOME?! This dandy little decoration is just one of the eight projects in our new Storybook Lil' Boy's Room Series sponsored by Moda Fabrics and featuring the nostalgic Lil' Rascals collection by Chloe's Closet .
Michael Miller Fabrics' Citron-Gray Nursery: Tissue Box Cover
ScrapBusters: Quilted & Beaded Obi Belt
Wide, tie-front belts - sometimes called obi belts, are a top fashion trend this season. Our unique design is a great way to use a few of your favorite pretty scraps. Choose a fabric with a dramatic motif, like the striking Gypsy Bandana we used by Pillow & Maxfield, because you'll use long quilting stitches to outline and accent the designs. Complete the bohemian look with sparkling beads and large accent buttons to provide a huge amount of interest in a very small space.
ScrapBusters: Binky Leash and Bag
Summer seems like the prefect time to pull up some projects that will make the most of all those pretty pieces in your scrap bag, bin or box. This week's ScrapBusters Series brings you five great little-bit-o-fabric ideas, starting with today's perfect baby gift bundle of two binkys on their own little leashes and a matching drawstring carry bag. This project is at the very Tip-Top of the Cutie-Pie Ranking & Rave Scale. For those of you unfamiliar with the C.P.R.R.S., a project's ranking consists of the combined number and volume of "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhs" generated at baby showers. It's an independent ranking, so don't even try to find it on Google.
Fun In The Sun: Terry Towel Coverup & Matching Beach Pillow
Back in the day, your 'beach towel' was simply a ratty bath towel that had seen better days and which Mom allowed you to drag outside. Today's beach towels are colorful terry cloth works of art in jumbo sizes. We used one to make our simple summer beach wrap. A clever cut allows you to make optimum use of the towel's bound edges, and leaves you the perfect scrap to create a matching pillow. To add a splash of summer fun, we braided three colors of polka dot knit to create the wrap's wonderful ties. It's all super quick to make, so you can be lounging by the shore in style before all the good spots are gone.
Travel Accessories: Satin Lined Sleep Mask
Project made from your scrap stash: gentle on your wallet. Soft padded mask lined with satin: gentle on the eyes. No slip headband to keep it in place: gentle to the hair. Blocking out the world while you travel: gentle to your soul. The pretty piping that curves around the entire edge of our sleep mask adds a special zing of style, but does also make this a slightly more intermediate project. You could leave out this step to make it faster and easier.
Pretty, Pretty Patchwork: Accents & Aprons
Two things we love here at S4H: 1) all kinds of aprons, and 2) cute accent pieces that add a splash of personal style wherever they land. Do we have some that feature pretty, pretty patchwork? Of course we do! We picked five little lovelies for you to try. Be sure to use those new patchworking skills you've been learning all week long. All five projects are very beginner friendly, but even seasoned sewers will love the end results... and you can spin off with your own custom style.
Summer Travels: Luggage Tag
All those black suitcases, spinning 'round and 'round on the luggage carousel... the signs are right: 'Many bags DO look alike.' However, you'll be able to spot yours in an instant. 'That's mine! The one with the cool tag!' Our good friend, Alison Newman of Sponsor, Janome America created this adorable luggage tag out of recycled materials. You can follow her re-make and re-use lead, utilize scraps of fabric you have from other projects, or find something new at the fabric store. The clear window is perfectly sized for a business card, so it would also be a great ID tag for a briefcase, laptop bag or iPad sleeve.


























