Book Review - Zakka Sewing: 25 Japanese Projects for the Household

If I remember correctly, this was one of the first books to come out in English about Zakka.
Often with sewing books, you tend to find some obvious projects (totes, etc.) some ingenius ones and some odd ones that seem to be about doing a project for the sake of it. This book definitely has, what seems on the surface to be a mix of these. However when I read about the projects in more detail I was charmed by the snippets of Japanese culture and how it influenced the projects. For example, there's a piece about how people in Japan like to cover their paperback books with a sleeve to keep them clean and private. True it has a tote project but I think the real beauty of this book is that in presenting these ideas, it also teaches the reader about the ethos behind Zakka. I am fascinated by Japanese culture so find it really interesting.
I also loved the esthetic, so fresh and contemporary. It's well organized and I found the directions clear, with useful illustrations.

Creating a Handmade Childhood: Log Cabin Pillow

I am so pleased to get another nursery project finished! It's getting harder and harder to get on the floor to measure and cut fabric these days. I actually did the design for this pillow over a year and a half ago then stuffed it in a draw.  It's funny to think that one day it was to end up as an accessory for a nursery. 

Log cabin is the pattern and it's a lovely one to try, especially if you are new to quilting. You don't need a template or even a rotary cutter. Here are some good resources on doing log cabin from about.com. The pink fabric with cocktail olives is one of my own designs, and you can by the fabric at Spoonflower.com, it's called 'Cocktail'

Repurposed Flour Sack Laundry Bags

This project is so easy and requires so little skill, I am not even sure I can call it a craft project. Yet it is the simplest ideas that are often the best. These laundry bags are the perfect size for baby clothes and because they hang up save you much needed space.

I have a love of vintage flour sacks, the designs are usually fun and random, I mean look at the ones below. I bought these at a local vintage store for $7 each, but you can get them cheaper (and more expensive!) from EBay or Etsy. I personally would never pay more than $10 for one and even then it would have to be a pretty special flour sack!

You also need an embroidery hoop. I used an 8 inch because I happened to have one lying around. You could easily stretch to a 9 or 10 inch.  These sacks were  inches in width.
Ok here's the hard part :)

- get you embroidery hoop and separate the two pieces 

- put the hoop over the sack at the top

- open up the sack and fold a couple inches of the opening over the loop

- play around with how it gathers so that you can see the picture most clearly

- put the outside piece of the embroidery hoop over the opening with the screw at the back

- tighten the loop

I found that the screw sat perfectly on my door hook but you might need to add a loop depending on where you hang the bag.

You may wonder once it's full whether the bag might slide out of the hoop. I checked, it doesn't. The friction of the cotton and wood from the hoop create a nice grip and you just have to make sure you fold enough of the opening over. See below.

I plan to make a second one so that I can divide light and dark laundry. I will post more ridiculously easy flour sack projects soon!

Creating a Handmade Childhood: Patchwork Baby Quilt

The first baby project to be completed! It's a crib 'quilt'. Technically it's not a quilt because I didn't quilt it. It's a good feeling to create something for the little sprout, it's as if we are building a welcome for her.

The pattern is from Joann Fabrics. I will warn you that the instructions are a bit vague so if you're new to quilting, it may be difficult to follow. I used a natural grey linen to incorporate the zakka aesthetic I want for the nursery. I will be using the same linen for throw pillows and other accents which I hope will give the nursery some feeling of unity while allowing for me to play around with prints and patterns.

The fabric came from all over the place, Etsy or Fabric.com are good places to find some that may either be similar or indeed the same. The design of multicolored Spirographs is from Ikea. Once the quilt was assembled, I backed it with a type of quilting batting that doesn't need to be covered, you can get it here. It's beautifully soft and makes for a lightweight quilt.

Pimping My Boudoir 2: Throw Pillow

It's true, throw pillows are probably the cheapest and most effective way of giving your decor a facelift!  My sister-in-law is obsessed with them and has passed that obsession on to me.  I don't have a zipper foot for my sewing machine yet so decided to do a sleeve instead.  It worked well enough, but in the future I would make the overlap larger as the pillow is a little visible at the back.  Anyway, this is all good practice for making items to sell. 

Crazy Patchwork Valentine

So this is the card I made for my husband. It's in the style of crazy patchwork using fabric glue. I just stuck a bunch of scraps to some card then cut out the shape of a heart. I think I'll make some more cards like this.

Zakka Folder

Here is the first folder I tried to make to keep my crafty papers in. Unfortunately I didn't plan it well so I couldn't add pockets. I have a new method though so the next one will be perfect! I experimented with two types of applique. I like the button hole style but it takes a while.

I used extra thick interfacing to make th folder slightly more rigid.

Zakka Bag

Here it is, the bag is finally finished. The material came from some bedsheets a friend of mine was giving away, they matched so beautifully I couldn't resist making something with them. My friend went crazy when she saw the bag so I am going to make her one. There are a few modifications I would like to make: First, the lining material wasn't stiff enough so my bag is kind of floppy! I wanted it to be like an academic satchel. Second, I didn't include any pockets or dividers becaus I was too impatient, it definitely needs some as I am fishing around for my phone and keys a lot.

New Zakka Bag!

Working on a Zakka inspired satchel, stay tuned for more, pictures in the next few days - Zambian internet permitting!!!

Zakka Inspired MP3 Player Sleeve

My sister was the one who suggested making ipod sleeves. I don't have an ipod, but I have an MP3 player that is beginning to get a bit banged around after so much commuting. I've recently become obsessed with the Zakka style and wanted to do a little project.

I made the sleeve over 2 evenings, in total, it really only took a couple of hours.

I cut the felt pieces and made sure they would fit over the sides, with extra for sewing the seam. I then added the cute little shapes with simple running stitch. I blanket stitched the two pieces together in contrasting embroidery thread - 2 strands. After sewing two of the sides, I cut a hole so I can see the display and use the select dial. I then stitched this to add to the style and also to prevent the felt from stretching. I sewed the other edges and left a little gap on one side so I could reach the button that locks it.

I really like the felt, the colours are so bright and zingy! Plus it looks good with the thread. Next time I will back it with cotton to further prevent it becoming mishapen, and to tidy up the stitching.