Sew Simple Tabi Socks with this Quick and Easy Way to Make Toe Socks

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Abi

If you’ve ever admired Japanese Tabi socks or just fancied wearing socks with your toe shoes or sandals then this is the tutorial for you! Japanese Tabi style socks are not only stylish they’re also super quick and simple to sew, all you need is a regular pair of socks to alter! I whipped up several pairs of these recently when the kids were wearing flip flops as part of a costume and given that it was the end of November I didn’t want their toes freezing off. Cosplay considerations aside they’re also an extremely fun and practical sock design so give them a go today and sew simple Tabi socks with this quick and easy way to make toe socks.

What You’ll Need (this has to be one of the shortest lists I’ve ever written for a tutorial)

A pair of socks

Scissors

Matching Thread

That’s literally all that’s required, I suppose you also need a pair of feet to measure them on but you’re bound to have all the materials required at home right now.

Step 1

Put your pair of socks onto the recipient’s feet and mark (using a pencil or tailors chalk) a line between the big toe and the rest of the toes.

Step 2

Remove the socks, and carefully cut along your line using scissors.

Step 3

Turn the socks inside out and stitch close to the edge (just like in the pic) using either a sewing machine or by hand.

Step 4

Turn the socks back out the right way, pop on the recipient’s feet and feel smug at your speedy and stylish accomplishment.

Sew Simple Tabi Socks with this Quick and Easy Way to Make Toe Socks

Step 5

Make all your socks into toe socks and wear them with all your flip flops! Or just so you can waggle your toes around the house while feeling all toasty and warm!

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How to Reuse Coffee Sacks and make a coffee sack bag

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Abi

It’s been quite a while since I last posted a tutorial and with the summer holidays in full swing that (hopefully) means extra time on your hands for getting crafty. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to reuse coffee sacks and make a coffee sack bag!

I love old coffee sacks with their rustic charm but finding a use for them can be harder than you think. They’re made for strength which means the material can be quite rough with a largish weave. They’d make great looking cushions but you might not enjoy leaning against them but their hardwearing nature makes them perfect for a shopping bag tote!

What You’ll Need

1 Coffee Sack

Colourful/patterned fabric to use as lining

Fabric to make bag handles (needs to be reasonably strong, not a lightweight cotton)

Step 1

Give the sacks a good wash, it’s easiest to do this in a rubber tub outside if you can, then peg up on a washing line to drip dry.

Step 2

Once dry cut out two large rectangles from the sack, both the same size as each other. The actual size you cut will depend on the design printed on your sack and how large a bag you want to make. As long as both rectangles are the same size it doesn’t really matter.

Step 3

Using your lining fabric cut another two rectangles the same size as those made from the coffee sack.

Step 4

Now take the fabric you have chosen for the bag handles and cut two identical long rectangles of fabric (length is dependent on how long you want you handles). Fold each long rectangle in half and iron to make a centre crease. Unfold the rectangle, fold each of the cut edges into the centre meeting the ironed crease, iron into place and then refold in half. This should enclose the cut edges. Sew along the open side.

Step 5

The handles can now be sewn onto the right side of each coffee sack rectangle along the top short edge.

Step 6

Next sew the top edges of the lining fabric rectangles to the top edges of the coffee sack rectangles (right sides together). The handles will hang between these two layers.

Step 7

You can now sew the whole bag together. Unfold the lining and coffee sack piece that you sewed together in the last step. Lay with the right side up onto a table, then lay the other coffee sack/lining piece on top so that the right sides of the fabric are together. It will make one large rectangle which you sew all the way around leaving a gap at the bottom of the lining.

Step 8

Before turning the right way we’re going to give the base of the bag some structure. To do this you need to squash each of the four corners to make a triangle and then sew straight across (see pic), do this to each of the corners. If you’re unfamiliar with this technique then check out this tutorial on the sewing directory. Trim off the excess fabric.

coffeesack8 Now turn the entire piece the right way out through the gap left in the lining. Sew closed the gap in the lining and push inside the bag.

Optional Step: Once the bag is complete you can top stitch around the top edge of the bag to give a good finish and extra rigidity.

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Easy Paper Decorations for Christmas

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Abi

With Christmas so nearby you’d be forgiven for thinking that time had run out for crafting but today I’ll show you how to make some quick and Easy Paper Decorations for Christmas. They’re also the perfect craft to keep the kids busy now that the Winter holiday looms! All the supplies were given to me by Bostik as part of their craft ambassador program.

What You’ll Need:

Paper (cut into long thin strips roughly the same size)

Blu Tack Fine & Wide Glu Pen

Plastic Gems

Thread

Paper Flower

This is the simplest of my two decorations and super quick!

Start by laying strips of paper over each other to form a cross, keep laying until you have a star shape made of 6 strips of paper (3 of each colour).

Using the fine and wide glu pen stick together two opposite strips of paper (see pic). Continue until all the red strips have been stuck together to make three petals. Repeat with the green strips of paper.

Glue a gem into the centre of the flower, tie on some thread and you’re done!

Paper Star Decoration

A variation on the same theme but a little more involved.

Start by laying 3 strips of paper side by side. Pop a little glue in the centre of the strips and then lay 3 more strips at right angles to make a cross shape. Continue laying 3 strips until you have a star shape.