in place. Rub it to smooth it over the curves, and leave the excess fabric as is for now. 4 Paint another two or three coats of modge podge over the outside of the case leaving each coat to dry properly. Cut away the excess fabric. 5 Repeat the process with the second fabric to line the inside of the case. Cut small notches at the curves so the fabric stretches more easily. Finish off with two to three coats of modge podge again and cut away the excess fabric once it is dry. 6 For the floral pincushion, cut a circle of about 10cm from the third fabric. Tack around the edge of the circle, 5mm in from the edge, and gather it in a little. Fill it with polyester stuffing, pull in the gathers and sew it closed. 7 With matching thread, insert the needle from the centre of the base up through the pincushion, take the thread down over the edge and up from the base again. Pull it in slightly so it makes a groove. Continue in this way to form a flower. Tie off the thread. Work a button in the middle of the flower to complete the pincushion.
This elegant swan will take pride of place in any sewing room. YOU WILL NEED ♥ templates below ♥ floral print fabric ♥ dressmaker’s carbon paper ♥ pencil ♥ thick cardboard ♥ iron-on interfacing ♥ matching coloured sewing thread ♥ polyester toy stuffing ♥ black beads for eyes TO CUT Enlarge the templates to the required size. Cut out the paper templates. Fold the floral fabric in half and cut out all the pieces. You will need two pieces of the swan’s body, four wings and one base. From the interfacing cut out two wing pieces. From the thick cardboard cut out one base using the sewing line on the template for the cutting line. TO SEW 1 Using the dressmaker’s carbon paper, transfer the sewing lines given on the templates onto the wrong side of the fabric pieces; these will be used for the seam allowances. Sew all pieces with the right sides of the fabric facing. 2 Sew the main body pieces together,
leaving the lower edge open. Clip the seam frequently around the curved edges. Press the seam allowances along the lower edge in place, then turn the seam allowance over to the right side. 3 Turn the swan through to the right side. Stuff the swan firmly using the polyester toy stuffing, pushing the stuffing into the beak and neck areas with a knitting needle. 4 Work a row of gathering stitches along the seam allowance of the lower edge, working the stitching 5mm from the raw edge. Place the cardboard base into the lower edge and carefully pull in the gathering stitches. 5 Sew the fabric base into the opening at the lower edge, leaving a small opening in the seam. Insert more stuffing into the body. Close the opening. 6 Apply interfacing to the wrong side of two wing pieces. Sew the wings in pairs, leaving a 5cm opening in the seam along the bottom edge of the wing. Clip the seam frequently around the curve and turn through to right side. Close the opening. Work the inside of the wings onto the swan’s body. 7 To complete, attach a black bead on each side of the head for the eyes.
Sewing line Cutting line
Wing
Body
Base
72 IDEAS November 2016