Hot water bottle cover tutorial for Braintree Clothing

Now that the nights are drawing in, it’s tempting to stay indoors and keep cosy and warm with a good book.

So to keep out the chill I’ve made this soft woollen hot water bottle cover, which is simply finished with a decorative trim and blanket stitched edge.

I bought my fabrics from the Cloth House in London. They have a beautiful range of materials and vintage trims to choose from. 

You will need:

Wool fabric

Cotton thread

Scissors

Pins

Sewing machine

Embroidery thread/needle

Trim

Paper

Iron

Step 1: Make the template:

Make a paper template by tracing around your hot water bottle, adding an extra 6cm (approx) all the way round, this allows room for filling your cover with the hot water bottle and seam allowance. Make three copies of this same template. The first (A) will be the front. The second (B) cut off the bottom by 12cm to create the back top template. The third (C) cut off the top by 17cms to create the back bottom template. These two pieces will make up the back opening of the cover.

Step 2: Cut out your patterns:

Lay and pin your templates onto your wool - I've used this lovely aubergine brown wool from the Cloth House.

Cut out all three pieces. 

Step 3: Sew: 

Press and pin a 1 cm fold along the straight edges of pieces B and C.

Sew down these folds.

On the front edge of piece B sew on your trim. 

Step 4: Sew together:

Place piece (A) front side facing up, then lay  (B) on top and then lay piece (C) on top of (B) facing down with right sides together and  all outer edges aligned. Pieces (B) and (C) should overlap by about 3/4cms.

This will become the opening of the cover.

Pin all the edges together.

Sew the layers together around the pinned edges with a ½ cm seam allowance.

Out of the curved sections cut little notches and snip off the corners for a neat edge when turned out.

Turn the entire piece inside out by using the opening.

Press the piece flat.

Step 5: Embroider:

I've used a contrasting pink embroidery thread which looks great with the wool I've chosen.

Using the embroidery thread sew around the edge of the cover using a blanket stitch. Make sure you sew through all the layers. Don't worry if this isn't perfect, it all adds to the handmade charm.

Your hot water bottle cover is now ready to use.  Simply fill your hot water bottle and insert it into the opening. 

Have a go at this project and share your pictures. Just tag your photos on Instagram with the hashtag #BThoughtful_Makes and the user names @btreeclothing and @foundandsewn. 

tote bag tutorial & a seasonal recipe

I love shopping at my local farmers market and produce store, so I thought my next sewing tutorial for BraintreeClothing would be a classic tote bag, perfect for filling up with seasonal goodies.

Braintree kindly sent me two lovely striped men's shirts to upcycle into this tote bag. You could of course use any fabrics new or old.



Materials:
Fabric (I’ve used two different striped linen shirts)
Cotton webbing  (Navy 2 lengths 3 x 122cms)
Cotton thread (cream & navy)
Sewing machine
Scissors
Pins
Tape measure



How to: 
To start with, cut out your pattern pieces.
You will need two body pieces (pale stripes)  41 x 46cm , two lining pieces
(dark stripes) 41x 46 cm and 2 pocket pieces, 21 .5 x 35 cm.
I've cut my fabric out of two men's shirts, using the front, back panels and sleeves.

Hem the top of the body and lining pieces by folding down the top (short) edge by 2cm, Iron and sew along the top, repeat this with the two pockets.

Sew on the pockets.
Centre your pockets by Ironing the two body pieces in half lengthways, do the same with the two pockets. Open out  a body piece and lay the pocket  on top, matching up the creases and bottom raw edges.  

Pin and sew on the pocket, leaving the top open. Repeat on the second body piece.



Sew on the handles.
Take one length of webbing  (122 cm) and with the body piece facing up, align the webbing to the bottom raw edge, keep the webbing straight and cover the pocket seam until you reach the top, pin as you go. At the top make a loop for the handle (40cm appox) making sure you don't twist the webbing, carry on down the other side to the bottom raw edge.

With everything in place sew around all sides of the webbing attaching it to the fabric.

Repeat on the second body piece.

Sew the bag together.

With the body pieces face to face, match up the handles and the edges, pin it all together and sew around the three raw edges.  
Turn inside out and with an iron press sides and corners.



Lining
Put the two lining pieces face to face, neat hem at the top. Pin and sew around the raw edges.
(Do not turn out.) Insert the lining in to the bag, matching up the side seams, to attach the lining pin along the top and sew around the opening.

Give your new tote a press and you're ready to shop...

Remember to share any of your makes with us by uploading your images to Instagram including the hashtag #BThoughtful_Makes
  

This is 2 North Parade Produce Store in Oxford. Co-owned by my boyfriend Pete.

 'We work closely with local farmers, producers and suppliers who focus on the quality, integrity and provenance of their produce. Giving the customer the fresh taste of every season and the best artisan foods for your table'

I asked Pete to share his favourite seasonal recipe..

At the moment it's the asparagus season, we have freshly picked local asparagus delivered to the shop every morning, it's fresh, delicious and makes a great, quick, seasonal supper.

There are so many great ways to eat asparagus; with homemade hollandaise, butter and lemon, in a risotto, tossed in a mixed salad with mozzarella, but my favourite is the fresh, rich, salty contrast of asparagus, eggs and bacon.

Asparagus soldiers with soft boiled eggs.

You will need:
12 medium asparagus stalks, woody ends removed
12 slices of thinly sliced pancetta or bacon
olive oil
free range eggs
sea salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 220C. Wrap your asparagus stalks in the pancetta (or bacon) with the tips poking out, and place in a roasting pan. Drizzle with a little olive oil and roast in the oven for 10 mins, until crispy.

While the asparagus is cooking, Carefully place the eggs into lightly salted boiling water, for 5 minutes, drain, cut off the lids and put them in egg cups. Serve with a good pinch of salt and pepper.

Dunk your asparagus soldiers into the soft egg and enjoy.

spring days

Spring seems to give me lots of motivation, must be the lighter, longer days, and recently my days off have been spent at home and in the garden. 

Here's a few things I've been up to...

Working on a very exciting new sewing project...more on that to come. 

I made this delicious Squash and Spinach Tart from the lovely Anna Jones cook book, 'a modern way to eat'. I have never made my own pastry before and it was surprisingly easy. 

Spending time, helping out at my boyfriends produce store. So many lovely things in that shop!

I keep rearranging things at home, decluttering, trying to get a simple, fresher look. I really love white ceramics, the two beautiful white handmade vases are from the lovely Illyria Pottery in Oxford. 
The White SylvaC flower vase I found in a charity shop for 50p a few years ago.  

I'm still starting most days with 10 minutes of meditation using the Headspace app. I'm really enjoying it 

My favourite flowers, Anemones and Ranunculus on the mantelpiece, a gift from my boyfriend.

I'd love to know what you have been up to lately... Have a lovely Easter Weekend.

summer bunting

I've been in my sewing room, making lengths of spotty bunting for a garden party we are having for my grandparents. It's their 70th wedding anniversary and to celebrate we have arranged a vintage tea party for them. 
My mum and I have quite a selection of pretty vintage teacups, plates, teapots and handmade tablecloths which we are planning to use on the day.
If you have visited my artweeks open studio, you will know what I mean..

I love looking through old black and white family photos and I found this tinted photo of them both on their wedding day back in 1944. My Grampy Fred looks very dapper and my Nanny Winnie looks so happy! Such a lovely photo. 

Well, I still have more bunting to make before the party, so I had better get sewing...you can never have too much bunting!

shop update

Did you have a nice Sunday?  I went to a car boot sale with my mum, no bargains unfortunately but we made up for it by having tea and delicious crumpets from the good and proper tea company who had their little van there. 

I wanted to let you know that I've added a few handmade purses to my Folksy Shop shelves. They are all made from beautiful soft silk and vintage broderie anglaise, which I love to work with.

These purses are ideal for keeping safe all those little treasures; jewellery, love letters, cards & loose change.

Well, I hope you like them....x 

 

Pink silk & white broderie anglaise coin purse 

 

 Midnight blue envelope purse 

 

Coin purse in pretty purple silk 

 
Clutch purse in purple silk 

wild flowers

Pink lace brooch- listed here

 

wild·flow·er also wild flow·er  (wīld′flou′ər)

n.

1. A flowering plant that grows in a natural, uncultivated state.

2. The flower of such a plant.

 

It feels like spring is a long way off today, but in my sewing room I have colourful flowers everywhere. I've been drinking hot chocolate, sat at my computer adding lots of lovely handmade flower brooches to my ' found & sewn' folksy shop.



Vintage lace brooch- listed here

Flower brooch-beaded vintage lace- listed here



I have quite a collection of vintage wild flower books. I love learning the names of wild flowers like Venus's looking glass, Penny royal, Wild candytuft and Cloudberry.  I have already signed up to the Wildflowers count this year where you can take part in the UK's only annual national wild plant survey.



Some handmade lavender bags, pin cushions and brooches on my sewing room shelf.



Flower brooch- black beaded lace - listed here

handmade gifts

 

Over the last few weeks I have been using every spare moment I have to get stitching and sewing, creating new pieces for my Christmas exhibition at The Old Fire Station in Oxford. It's on until the 23rd December and there are lots of other crafts for sale too.

I've made a lovely new range of one of a kind handmade gifts; from lace beaded brooches, velvet pin cushions, sewing cases, purses, lavender bags and festive bunting. So if you are looking for some present buying inspiration, why not pop in and have a browse. I'll be there this Sunday 8th from 11am -1.30pm. 

If you can't make it, have a look in my Etsy shop.



These needle cases have everything you need for a spot of sewing; pins, colourful cottons, needles and safety pins. All are handmade with linen, floral cotton and vintage lace. 

j

I'm planning to make a lot more of this festive bunting to string up around the house over Christmas and New Year. Each one is handmade with vintage music sheets, lace, buttons, bells, gold glitter and silk ribbon. They look so pretty hung up in my sewing room, but now they are packaged up for sale in the exhibition.