Craft-A-How-To contest Winners 1st Q 2009

Craft-A-How-To Contest

1st Quarter 2009 Winners

1st Place

Title: "A Long Distance Veil"
Created by: Jackie Denison
East Haddam, CT 06423

I made this veil for a co-worker of my sister, who lives in Florida.

Materials:

1 yard of white illusion or shimmer tulle
9 yards Diamond Lace Trim (L2302WH)
1 pair white Bridal Bouquet Swirl Lace Appliqué (L2737WH)
1 pair white Bridal Daisy Lace Appliqué (L2703WH)
1 metal 3” clip barrette
1/3 yard white satin ribbon ¼” wide
White thread (sewing machine and hand sewing)
Hot glue gun
Scissors, rotary cutter, razor knife

Directions:

Covering the barrette to hide the metal: Using the hot glue gun, glue the satin ribbon under one end of the barrette. Now overlap and wrap the ribbon around the barrette, until you reach the other end. Snip off any extra ribbon and glue the ribbon under the other end of the barrette.

Cut the tulle to length: I made the top layer 24” long and the bottom layer 32” long. This gave me an overall need for 56” of tulle. Cut the tulle at 56”. Fold the tulle from top to bottom so the top layer is 24” and test the length. You can shorten the lengths is you would like. (You can also make them longer, using the same test before you cut the tulle.)
Cutting rounded edges: Fold the tulle directly in half, from top to bottom. Then fold the tulle in half from left to right. You should have four loose corners on the bottom right hand side. Make sure they are all lined up. Using a large round object (a tin cover, a bowl, or a pan), place it on the bottom right corner, with the circle touching the right edge of the tulle and the bottom edge of the tulle. This will provide a uniform, rounded edge. Using a rotary cutter, cut along the edge of the round object. Be sure to push down hard enough to hold the tulle in place and cut through all four layers. (If you do not have a rotary tool, use a cutting board with a razor knife. Use scissors as a last resort, since these do not leave as smooth of a cut with tulle.)

Gathering the top of the veil: Unfold the fabric. Fold the fabric from top to bottom so you have the desired length for the top layer. Mine was 24”. Pin the material together along the folded edge to keep it from moving. Using a sewing machine and white thread, put a basting stitch one inch from the fold. (If you do not have a sewing machine, use a needle/thread to hand stitch a large running stitch into the top of the veil.) Leave six inches of thread on either end. Once you have put your stitch in, begin pulling one end of the thread. Continue pulling to gather the top of the veil. About half way through, tie off the side you are not pulling. Then continue pulling to gather the material. Make the gathering as uniform as possible by sliding the material toward the knotted side. When the gathered portion is about one inch longer than the barrette, tie that end off as well.
Attaching the Diamond Lace Trim: Beginning on the bottom layer of tulle, pin the lace trim all the way up to the gathered edge. I pinned it so the middle of the lace trim was at the edge of the veil. The scalloped edge hung off the veil. Continue pinning the trim until you reach the other end of the gathered section. I needed a little over four yards. At the end, cut the trim. Try to cut and place the trim so you do not need to cut into the middle of a scalloped piece. (Cut between pieces to avoid unraveling.) Using a sewing machine, sew on the lace trim. Try to avoid the sequins by sewing just above the scalloped edge. Use a small zigzag stitch. Line up the edge of the tulle with one of the middle crisscross lines. Use this as a straight guide while you sew, zigzagging over the line into the veil. (If you do not have a sewing machine, you can do a whip stitch over the same crisscross line. Just do not pull too tightly, or you will pucker the tulle.) After you have sewn on the trim, you must tack all of the flowers onto the fabric. You can do this by hand with a quick knot above each flower to keep it from flopping down. You can also do this with your sewing machine, just be careful not to catch the pearl. Repeat this same process for the top layer of tulle.

Attaching the barrette: Using a needle/thread, begin by inserting your needle into the ribbon the barrette. Place the barrette at the end of the gathered tulle, about ¾” down.The barrette should be just above your basting stitch. Continue to stitch into the barrette and gather tulle each time.Remember you have an extra inch of tulle to gather while you are hand sewing. Be sure to keep a little extra on the ends, so you do not see the ends of the barrette. Tie off when you reach the other end of the barrette. Look at the barrette afterwards and be sure that it is level to the top of the gathering.You do not want a crooked barrette.
Attaching the Bridal Daisy Lace Appliqués: You must attach these appliqués by hand. Pin them over the gathered tulle. Be sure they cover the edges of the trim on each side. Also be sure that there is no gap in the middle of them. They may overlap slightly. I used one upright and I flipped the other one over, as this gave it a fuller look. Begin sewing from the edge where the lace trim meets the flower. Use a basic whip stitch, staying over the white embroidery. Do not go too far into the tulle, as you do not want to pucker the gathering. Just catch the top edge of tulle. Continue sewing until you get to the end of the second flower. Tie off and sew the middle of the flowers down. Leave the bottom of the flowers loose for the time being.
Attaching the Bridal Bouquet Swirl Lace Appliqué: Using the side of the swirl with the flower on the end, place the flower slightly under the Daisy appliqués so it looks as if they are flowing out from the top flowers. This takes a bit of placement. Once you have the tops pinned, put the veil on someone or a stuffed animal if no one is available. Put the veil over the shoulders and place the swirls off to the sides where you want them to fall. You can do this with the veil spread on the floor, but you should still put it on someone or something to look at it before sewing. Once the swirls are in place and pinned, begin by hand sewing the Daisy flowers over the swirls. Once you have the first two inches of the swirl attached, you can do the rest with your sewing machine. Use a straight stitch or a very narrow zigzag stitch. Only sew on the embroidery part of the swirl. Avoid all sequins and pearls. (You can also continue sewing this by hand, using a whip stitch at the edge of the embroidery.)

Care: You have now completed the veil It may be somewhat wrinkled. Using steam and medium heat, place the veil, one layer at a time, between two pillowcases or t-shirts. Do not iron directly on the tulle. When you are finished, you can hang the veil on a metal hanger, using the barrette.

2nd Place

Title: "Funky Trim Bracelet"
Created by: Nyla Grace
Tampa, Fl 34292

A bracelet using 3 different trimmings and fringes.

Materials:

10” Elastic strings – 2 pieces
1.5” Safety pins – 36 pieces
IR1824FS - Sequin Beaded Trim / Fuchsia – 1 yard
IR1830FS - Tusk Sequin Fringe / Fuchsia – 1 yard
IR1978FSM - Crystal Fringe / Fuchsia Multi – 1 yard

Directions:

Cut trims in 3” length. That will give you 12 pieces of each trim.
Slide the ribbon gimp of the cut trims through each safety pin needle. So we have 3 sets of 12 pins with the same trim.
Make a loose knot at one end of both the elastic strings.
One at a time, insert one end of the safety pin into the first elastic string. Do it alternately through the top and bottom ends of the pins. Also alternate the type of trim.
When all pins are strung, make a loose knot at the other end of the string to prevent the pins from unraveling.
Insert the second elastic string through the other end of the safety pins.
Untie the knot at the end of the second string and tie both ends together.
Untie the knot at the end of the first string and tie both ends together too.