Taken In (24 page)

Zipper Flower Pins

MAKES TWO FLOWERS

Materials

one 24-inch metal zipper

small piece of felt

pin back

scissors

needle and thread

jewelry pliers (optional)

Instructions

Unzip the zipper and cut it apart by cutting the metal stop off the end. Remove the zipper pull.

Also cut the metal piece from the opposite end.

Cut three 6-inch zipper pieces.

Cut one 5½ -inch zipper piece for the bud of the flower.

Sew and overlap the ends to form a petal with zipper teeth on top. The seam goes in the middle.

After all three 6-inch pieces are done, stagger the petals like a star, then sew them together.

Cut a circle from the felt to form the flower base. Attach the felt to the back of the flower.

To make the bud, start in the center. Hand sew as you go, so it is tight, and continue to coil around.

Sew the bud securely to the petals. Press hard in the center as you go around and sew.

Sew the pin back onto the felt to secure the flower.

Hint: Use jewelry pliers to push and pull the needle and thread through the flower as it gets thicker.

From Shirley L.
via my Fan Page on Facebook:

  As we get older, and our vision decreases, knowing where to hold my fabric while feeding it through the machine can be difficult. To counteract this, I put a colorful piece of duct tape on the machine where I want the edge of the fabric to be in order for my seams to be straight. Since I have a hard time seeing the lines that are marked on the machine, this makes it much easier to follow the edge.

From Kat D.
via my Fan Page on Facebook:

  I keep an empty soda bottle by my cutting table and one by my sewing machine to hold broken or damaged pins and needles. Keeps me from finding them with my bare feet.

From Janet L.
via my Fan Page on Facebook:

  When making clothes for children, save the “scrap” pieces. When you have enough, turn them into a lap quilt.

From Charleen W.
via my Fan Page on Facebook:

  Clear, plastic boxes with handles help keep projects in order and are easy to carry around. Put all cut items, thread, and the directions together, then you will find what you need when you need it.

From Ian H.
via my Fan Page on Facebook:

  When cross-stitching, and a pattern asks for two threads, I only cut one and double it over, threading the cut ends through the needle. Then, I make the first stitch and catch through the loop left . . . that way I don’t have any knots on the back of my canvas.