Cushion Challenge

I found these vintage wooden chairs at my local Goodwill for $25. I thought they would look great around my dining room (which often doubles as my GoGo Craft work table). Since I spend a lot of time there I want to cover the cushions to protect the seat and also give them a pop of color. I decided that for this sewing project I would challenge myself to only use materials that I already have in my supply closet. Putting these boundaries on a project is budget friendly and also a great way to stretch my mind creatively. Here are 3 discoveries/tips I want to share from my sewing challenge.

1. I used a paper grocery bag to make the pattern because I ran out of pattern paper.

The brown paper is a sturdy weight but still thin enough to pin to fabric.

Cut the bag open at one side so it lays flat.

Trace the seat onto the paper with a pencil.

2. This vintage cotton floral fabric came from a previous shopping trip to the Alameda Flea Market.  There wasn't enough for all 4 cushions so I ended up combining it with this solid light weight wool that I had purchase last year at SCRAP in San Francisco. When combining different types of fabrics, a good rule of thumb is to use either all knits (stretchy fabric) or all wovens (non-stretch fabric) of a similar weight within one project.  Knits and wovens react differently and are difficult to sew together.

It's not a perfect color and fabric match, but it works.

This cushion is reversible.

3. I didn't have enough grosgrain ribbon for all 4 chair ties, so I cut off the selvage edge and used it in place of the missing ribbon.

A great way to preserve the origins of this vintage fabric. Plus I love that font!

Run a line of straight stitching along the cut edge of the selvage to prevent fraying.

I hope you find some of these ideas useful for your next sewing project.

-Amelia Strader

Founder/Owner GoGo Craft

Tutorial: Upycled Makeup Bag

Turn your old jeans into a makeup bag

Upcycled Makeup Bag

This bag makes a great travel pouch to take on your next vacation or camping trip, all you need is an old pair of jeans and a few sewing supplies.  I'm calling it a makeup bag but you can fill it with whatever you like. Follow this tutorial to learn how to make the bag, then decorate it however you want; embroidery, applique, buttons, fabric paint, or stamps.  The possibilities are endless!  Get creative.  The perfect sewing project for everyone from beginners to advanced crafters.

Happy Crafting!
-Amelia Strader

Visit my website for more info about my business, GoGo Craft- a mobile craft workshop based in San Francisco.

Use Men's or Women's jeans

Materials Needed:
Denim Pants
Scissors
Ruler
Tailors chalk
Shank button
Thread
Pins
Sewing machine

The width of the pant leg determines the width of the bag. 

Using tailor's chalk and a ruler, make a line marking where to cut the pant leg.

Cut off the pant leg along the chalk line.

Turn the pant leg inside out and pin.

Sew the pant leg closed 1/2" from the cut edge.
(hand sew if you don't have a sewing  machine)

Turn the pant leg right side out.

Fold down the pant hem to create the bag flap.

Cut off the waistband below the seam.

Cut the waistband on the buttonhole side.

Insert the waistband piece into the center of the flap.
(This becomes the bag closure)

Pin to the top flap layer ONLY to secure.

With matching thread, sew the waistband piece to the flap at the pant hem.
(Make sure not to sew the flap closed)

Hand sew the edge of the pant hem to the waistband piece.

Optional: Using tailors chalk, mark where you would like to add the
decorative topstitching.

Sew along the chalk line with contrast thread.
(I used gold thread to make it sparkly)

Add a button and your bag is complete!

Visit my website for more info about GoGo Craft.

The Ladies of LIDL

Usually my blog posts are about the latest GoGo Craft project or event, but I'm changing it up to tell you about the amazing women of LIDL (short for Ladies Independent Design League).  This is an amazing group of artists, illustrators, photographers, and crafters that meet weekly to discuss ideas, projects, business, or just life.  I am proud to say that I am part of this group, and these women are a constant source of inspiration and support in my life.  

Read on to see what these talented gals have been up to this week...

Cindy Ann

Things have been clicking into place for Cindy Ann and she has some exciting thing on the horizon.  Read more here.  And for those of you in the UK you can now get your hands on her cards at Must Get A Card. 

Jen

Jen's in Istanbul! She's busy filling her sketchbook with drawings inspired by some of the city's amazing sites (it's even possible her 2012 calendar will have a lot of Byzantine and Ottoman influences). Check out her photos here.

Mati

Mati is excited to have her lucky elephant art displayed in NYC on Pier 1's windows! She never thought when she started to be an artist that she would ever have her art blown up larger than life in NYC!! Mati's husband Hugh reported yesterday on a shopping trip to Pier 1 to get a basket, "Wait, that's my wife's art all over the gift cards!". Yay! He brought one home for Mati to see :)

Stef

Stef has been getting ready for The Instant Magic workshop coming to Teahouse

next weekend.  Along with preparing for her first wedding Photoshoot this weekend!

Steph

Having just done a couple of 2-day craft shows in a row, Steph is stoked to be gearing up for her next event: Hello Etsy with CCA! She'll be teaching an Etsy Shop Tune-Up workshop and leading some rad crafting tables with her fellow I Heart Art: SF volunteers on September 18th in San Francisco.

Willo

Photo Credit: Stephanie Renee

Willo's been having a blast consulting cool clients like San Francisco designer feistyelle, who makes beautiful laser-cut felt jewelry, and tech startup Stitch Labs - who's revolutionizing inventory management for small businesses.  She's also putting the final touches on her latest WilloToons Connect episode, that launches next week, and it's going to be amazing! 

Amelia

Photo Credit: Stephanie Renee
Yup, that's me.  Just one of the photos from my "grownup" portrait session with the talented photographer Stefanie Renee.  Not only did Stef make me feel totally relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera but hanging out with her was a blast!  This week I've been gearing up for my first workshop in the SpaceCraft: Mini Plushie series, launching this Monday, Sept 12th from 4-5:30pm at the Visitation Valley Public Library Branch.  Come join me if you want to learn to make a retro spaceship, astronaut, or alien plushie for FREE!