Tutorial: Make a thrift store sweater hot water bottle cover

Wow- that title is a mouth full. I might have to re-think that. In the meantime, here's a little tutorial to show you how I made a cozy for my hot water bottle.

Today during a blissful two hours of only having 1/3 of my kids to tote around with me, I popped into another thrift store and hunted for a great wool sweater to use for this project. I found a great sweater! Just not wool.
It was a ramie/cotton blend, but I couldn't resist that fair isle design and the lovely embroidery on the chest. It reminded me of a sweater my Dad brought back from Norway decades ago.


I ignored the fact that there was a zipper smack in the middle of the top half, and because it was 50% off I figured that it couldn't hurt to try and make it work.

Here's how I did it:

Make a template.
Start by tracing your water bottle onto a piece of paper. (Please ignore the circle punch.)

Cut about 1/4" away from your line. (I folded my template in half before I started cutting to ensure that both sides would be identical.)


Since my sweater had that zipper, I had to start by ripping it out...

...then stitching the two sides together.

Place your template on your sweater in whatever way is pleasing, incorporating the elements of the sweater that are most attractive. Try to place it as straight as possible with the "grain".
Pin the template to the sweater.
Cut.

For the back piece, fold your template in half width-wise to give you a visual idea of where about halfway is.
Lay your template along the bottom edge of your sweater so that you have about 1"-1.5" between the bottom of the hem and your new halfway fold line.
Pin and cut.

Repeat the last step with the top half of your template, this time adding a little more distance between the halfway line and the hem. (Mine was about 3".)


Because I was working with a non-felted sweater, I chose to serge the edges of each piece to keep them from unravelling. If you don't have a serger you could probably just zig zag along the edges instead. This step isn't necessary if you use a sweater that's good and felted, though.

Take your shorter back piece and place it wrong side up onto your template, matching the edges.

Place the longer back piece on top of this (also wrong side up) matching the edges with the paper template.
Pin the two pieces together where they overlap.
Stitch the two pieces together on each side.

Lay your back and front pieces together with right sides facing and pin.

Stitch all the way around, pausing where the hems on the back pieces are and taking some back stitches to reinforce them.
Turn your cover right side out through the gap in the back piece and slip it onto your water bottle.


In theory, this should help to keep the water in the bottle warm longer by providing some insulation, as well as making it more comfortable by keeping the rubber off your skin.

It's also much, much cuter this way. :)

a little project brewing

Have you ever been wandering the thrift store and thought to yourself, "Hm. I wonder if they have a such-n-such...?", then turned a corner and found that very such-n-such? That happens very infrequently, but tonight I got to experience that wonderful, giddy feeling that comes when it does happen.

I've been wanting a hot water bottle but just couldn't bring myself to shell out $15 for one from the drug store. And frankly, I've been too lazy and forgetful to really hunt down a good deal. Then tonight while I was dragging my kids through our local Savers I came to that little section with random stuff hanging on the wall, like slippers and stethoscopes and massagers and shoe trees. I actually said the words out loud, "I wonder if they might have a hot water bottle...?" and then my eyes rested on this.

It's an old one, but never used!
In fact, it was still bolted to the box.
It even has the 5 year Guarantee Certificate with it. Ha!
I looked all over for a manufacture date, but all I could find to indicate its age was this handwritten price of $2.98. How long ago would a brand new hot water bottle have cost $2.98??
Anyway, I'm stoked. The rubber is still very soft and supple, not hard or cracking like I kind of thought it would be. I've been wanting to get one because my kids often ask to use our hot rice bags for their achy legs, but sometimes waiting that 3 minutes for them to warm up in the microwave feels like an eternity. Turning on the hot water is much faster. I've also thought how nice it would be to be able to put some ice water in one of these water bottles for instant cold therapy.

But to tell you the truth, the real reason I wanted one was so I can make a cozy for it. :) I'd seen some knitted covers on Etsy that were just darling, but since I'm not a knitter I thought I'd try making one from thrifted, felted sweaters instead.

Or there's this idea which I just LOVE.

Aren't those gorgeous??

I think I'll try the sweater cover first. Can't wait to show you!

Cute just doesn't quite cover it.

Nothing new from me today, but I HAD to link to this post by Corinne that I just saw on her blog, so September.

Can you believe the insane amount of cuteness that's oozing from this set of hoops??!



Look at the little chains connecting the three. I. COULD. DIE.

Seriously, I just cannot get over the utter adorableness. LOVE!


You'll find the free pattern for this darling fellow on her blog.

I embroidered him a while back but haven't tried adding the patchwork to the sides yet. In my opinion, it just brings the sweetness level way, way up!

Tooth pillow

My six-year-old has a dentist appointment today that we'd both hoped wouldn't be necessary. But she's got two reluctant baby teeth that just won't vacate the premises for the impatient adult teeth that have already come through.

So after more than two months of wiggling, jiggling, pushing and pulling with no success, the dentist has recommended extraction. *sigh*

She's VERY nervous and just the thought of this visit brings her to tears. So last night I tried to come up with a little gift that I could give her to help to ease her anxiety a little.

I've seen these all over Blog Land and just had to make one myself. It's a safe little place to put those precious baby teeth in anticipation of a visit from the Tooth Fairy.

Complete with a heart-shaped pocket for the safe keeping of teeth & money.

Hopefully this will increase the excitement level while decreasing the panic and dread. HOPEFULLY.

fabric scalloped bunting

Bye, baby bunting,
Daddy's gone a-hunting,
for to get a rabbit skin,
to wrap the baby bunting in.

My Mom used to sing us that song as children. Now I sing it to my kids. And every time I hear the word "bunting", that's what comes to mind.

I loved the idea of some kind of banner to string up in the corner around Finnley's crib. It needed something, and I figured this would be just the thing to fill up those walls.

I started by carefully selecting the scraps of fabric I wanted to use, then cutting each one into a sort of "U" shape and stitching them to a plain cream linen backing. You could easily make this a reversible bunting by choosing fabrics in a different color scheme for the other side. 2 in 1!!

Pinking the rounded edge made the curve nice and smooth once the pieces were turned right side out.

I couldn't resist doing a little embroidery on a couple of them.

Then each got sandwiched between some extra wide bias tape and stitched in place.

I'm in love with this bunting.

I found this sweet little canvas at TJ Maxx on clearance for $7. Isn't it darling??

The embroidered pieces repeat the sentiment I stitched onto the crib skirt.

It was amazing how quickly this project came together. MUCH easier than I expected. But I think what I really dig is how inexpensive this was. Practically free! All of the fabric came from what I had on hand, so the only thing I bought was the bias binding-- and even that didn't have to be bought, but I was just feeling too daggum lazy to make some. :)

Just for fun I added labels to this last picture indicating what other projects my scraps of fabric have been used for (click to enlarge). This banner has little bits of memories sewn into it, which makes me love it even more.


*EDIT: At the wise suggestion of my aunt, I re-hung the bunting higher to be sure that it would be out of Finnley's reach. If you make one of these, be sure to hang it so that your little one can't pull it down and become entangled.

Tutorial: Make an embroidered fabric photo ornament

Last night I finally sat down and made my baby's first Christmas ornament. I have a thing for photo ornaments, but I also wanted to incorporate some of the fabric I used for his crib bedding, as well as a little embroidery. Here's what I came up with.

Even if the ornament itself hadn't turned out well, how could it not be cute with that little face on it?


I didn't take photos while I was making it because I wasn't planning on doing a tutorial. But this morning I figured I could give it a try using (bad) drawings. Don't be fooled by all the steps. This really is a very easy project. So here goes:

How to make an embroidered fabric photo ornament.

You'll need:
sewing machine
thread
pins
scissors
fabric
thin, clear vinyl (optional)
pencil or disappearing ink marker
photo
embroidery floss
hand sewing needle
embroidery hoop (I used a 3" hoop)
hot glue gun
felt
ribbon


1. Using your embroidery hoop as a guide, cut 2 pieces of fabric for your front that are about 1" larger than the hoop.

2. Cut one back piece of the same size in a plain fabric (this will not show).

3. Lay front pieces together, right sides facing, and trace a circle in the center with a pencil or disappearing ink marker that is about 2" in diameter.

4. Stitch along your marked circle.
5. Trim away the fabric inside the stitched circle to about 1/4".

6. Clip notches in the seam allowance very close to the stitching, all the way around the circle.

7. Turn fabric right side out by pushing one side through the hole.


8. Finger press the circle, then press with an iron.


9. (This step & step 10 can be ommitted if you don't have or want vinyl to protect the photo.) Place a larger circle of vinyl over the fabric circle. Pin together carefully at the edges so as not to make any pin holes where the vinyl shows through the fabric circle.


10. Turn over so the vinyl is on the bottom and stitch close to the edge of the fabric.


11. Embroider whatever you'd like very near the hole (year, baby's name, etc.).


12. (No photo) Print photo of your subject to appropriate size for hole.

13. Center photo on the back piece and stitch along the top to keep in place.


14. Place front piece on top of photo and back piece, centering the photo behind the vinyl.


15. Carefully place into wooden hoop, tightening fabrics evenly on all sides.


16. (No photo) Trim excess fabric on back to about 1/2" and glue to the edge of the hoop with hot glue.

17. Cut a piece of felt the same size as the hoop and glue to back to cover raw fabric edges.


18. Add a ribbon to the top and hang on your tree to enjoy!