A few gift ideas

Yes, Christmas may be over for another year, but January and February are the busiest on our calendar for birthdays, so here are a couple of ideas, and they're quick, easy, made with relatively small amount of material ie: inexpensive; and also suitable for the male contingent. Well, lets face it, there aren't many makes out there which are aimed at the male half of the population.

So first off is a football apron, for the cooking soccer fan.

For this you will need a metre of heavy weight calico (I made two aprons out of a metre with material to spare), about three metres of bias tape, three metres of 1 inch webbing and a cushion with the club badge of your choice. For the ladies apron, omit the webbing, but use another 1 1/2m of bias tape.

• Cut out your apron shapes- I did this by cutting around my apron.

• Make your badge pocket by cutting around the shield leaving a 1/2" seam allowance. Pin and sew right sides facing onto another piece of calico leaving a 3" gap for turning. Turn and press, folding the open edges in then place in the desired position on your apron and sew in place, leaving of course the top free- it is a pocket after all!

• On the gents version, hem the bottom by turning and pressing twice then sewing in place. After that edge the sides and top with the bias tape. Before you sew it down, place your straps and neck strap under the tape. Tuck it under the tape then fold towards the outside of the apron so the raw edges are hidden. (I tried it on to get the right lengths.)

• On the ladies one, the bias tape makes the straps and neck strap, so firstly edge the bottom, sides and top V with the tape, then take about 3m of tape, fold it and press it, the mark the middle the 13" out each side of the centre point. These points attach to the top of the apron, then pin the binding to the remaining sides of the apron and out to make the straps.

And that's it.

Next is a Kindle case, made for my dad. Yet to be sent to my dad actually. It is will be on its way very soon, promise! I used to read books in large quantities, so once upon a time, a Kindle would have been a good idea, but since my reading time is now limited to when I'm in the bath, I figure that may be asking for trouble. This case has been made for a Kindle that measures 4 1/2" x 6 3/4".
You can tart this up in any way you want. I set to it with my embroidery machine to personalise it.

So firstly, cut two rectangles, the front 6" x 8 1/4" and the back 6" x 11 1/4" from your main fabric, medium weight interfacing and felt. Iron your interfacing onto the fabric. Sew a strip of Velcro onto the back piece of the felt about an inch from the top then place it right sides together to the fabric and sew together, leaving a gap for turning. Clip the corners, then turn. Do the same with the front piece omitting the Velcro at this point. Once both pieces are the right way round, press them, the place on top of each other, lining up the bottom and fold over the top flap to place the other piece of Velcro. After this is sewn in place, stitch the sides and bottom together, tucking the open edges in. 

This would also work for an ipad or on a smaller scale an ipod or similar. I just added an inch and a half onto the actual size of the device you're making it for.

Perhaps a Valentines gift for the man in your life?

Take care. xx