Raised Chain Band Scissor Sheath -- Part Four

In this video, I show how to make the scissor sheath once the design is finished. You can applique the sheath to a chatelaine or you can add a ribbon, chain or other hanger to hand your scissors conveniently around your neck.

Raised Chain Band Scissor Sheath -- Part Three

This third video shows how to do the chain portion of the Raised Chain Band.

Raised Chain Band Scissor Sheath -- Part Two

This second video shows how to make the straight stitches that are the basis of the chains that create the Raised Chain Band. With traditional Raised Chain Band, the straight stitches each accommodate one chain, in my interpretation, each straight stitch accommodates several of the chains.

Raised Chain Band Scissor Sheath -- Part One

This is the first part of a series of videos which shows how to prepare the fabric, how to do the raised chain band stitch and finally how to assemble the finished stitched design into a scissor sheath.

This first part shows a video of how to prepare the fabric.

Creating a Scissor Sheath -- Written Instructions

To create your scissor sheath

• This sheath will fit small embroidery scissors.
• Find the vertical centre of your 4” square of evenweave fabric and mark it with a basting stitch.
• Go up about ¼” (or a bit more) from the bottom centre of the fabric, move over about 1/8”. If you are using 28 count, come up at the third hole from the centre. Mark this hole. Mark another hole, 1/8” on the other side of the centre.
• About a ¼” (or a bit more) from the top, mark a hole about 7/8” on either side of the centre (about 25 holes).
• With the same basting thread, stitch a long stitch going from the top marked hole to the bottom marked hole on each side of the centre.

Stitching the bars

• Prepare two strands of embroidery floss in the needle and near the centre bottom secure with a pin stitch.
• Go up at one of the bottom marks and down on the other bottom mark. Make parallel stitches three threads apart (skip two holes and enter the third hole). To determine where to start and stop the stitches, follow the long basting stitch. I found that I went up three and out one hole for most of the bar stitches. Every once in a while I went straight up three without moving out one (the stitch will come up and go down directly above the stitch below it). Whatever you do on one side of a stitch repeat for the other side. Be as precise as you can but do not obsess about it.
• Repeat this pattern until the bars are 1 ¾” wide (the top of the long side basting stitches).
• Secure the thread on the back, within the stitching area.

Stitching the chains

• Prepare four strands of embroidery thread in your needle. You can mix and match your strands of thread.
• Come up just above the centre top and follow the instructions for forming the stitch all the way to the bottom.
• Finish and secure on the back.
• As you add more chains, you will be stopping before you get to the bottom as you run out of room. Stitch until there is no more room on the bars, and then finish off on the next stitch.
• Fill the cut off triangle with chains.

Assembling the sheath

• Remove the stitched design from the hoop. Cut, leaving a generous ¼” at the sides.
• Sew one piece of 4” square fabric (lining fabric) to the top of the embroidered design. Sew just outside (about 1 mm) the edge of the design.
• Put right sides together and put pins through the four corners of the design. Draw pencil lines on the back of the lining, connecting these lines. Draw another line about ½” in from the lining bottom. Cut off the excess, ¼” beyond this line. The lining will be shorter than the sheath to allow the lining to sit well within the sheath.
• Finger press the seam allowance toward the backing fabric and lay these joined fabrics, right sides together on a 4” by 8” piece of fabric (lining/backing fabric).
• Sew together just outside the design lines and just outside the drawn line. Leave a turning opening on one side of the lining fabric.
• Turn right side out. This will be somewhat difficult to turn. Press.
• Close the turning hole, and push the lining into the sheath.
• Appliqué to the chatelaine.

Technical Difficulties should be my middle name.

I promised a delightful group of ladies that I would have information on my blog for them by then end of this week, barring any major technical difficulties. Unfortunately, there were major technical difficulties. First, there were camera difficulties. These were solved by a trip to the local camera store, money changing hands and new equipment arriving in our home. Then, I had to learn to use the new equipment.

Then there were software difficulties. These were solved with several hours of research, then tracking down a copy of the necessary software within the city, then sending my sweetie to buy said software. Then new drivers and other updates needed installing. The new software needed installing, The new software needed learning.

Then there were transfer difficulties. Getting the footage from the new camera onto the new software actually takes longer than the film that was shot.

Needless to say. Even though I have devoted all the time I have had over the last few days to this endeavour, I have not been successful in getting the necessary information into a format that is useful yet. I hope to have something up by the end of the weekend. Until then, I will post the instructions for the scissor fob that this is all about in a separate post.

Stashbusting Tutorial is up at SewMamaSew!

I am quite excited about my tutorial for the "Soothing Eye Mask" being up on SewMamaSew's wonderful blog. Thank you to everyone who has downloaded it and to those who have left comments. I love to get comments!

If you like my tutorial, please go vote for it at SewMamaSew.

The tutorial that I posted on Sunday, here was inspired by and created for the Stashbusters group. Stashbusters is a great on-line group that encourages its members to use up what they have in their stash first (and for some members, only) rather than buying fabric just for the sake of buying fabric. You can find more information about the group at the Stashbuster Website.

Soothing Eye Mask Tutorial

Below, you will find link to a tutorial for sewing a soothing eye mask that can be used to relax or to relieve eye strain or sinus pain. The soothing eye mask can be used warm, cold or at room temperature.

It is a quick and easy gift to make or you can make one to pamper yourself !

The tutorial is available by clicking on this link (it is in PDF format).

I was prompted to post this tutorial thanks to the wonderful, SewMamaSew and their Scrap Buster Contest.

I hope you enjoy the tutorial, 

Magda