About justelly1

I work as a chemist, because I love science. My fav TV show is Doctor Who (my profile photo has been made last year, when we went to the 50th Doctor Who Anniversary in London) Another hobby is photography. Unfortunality my time is very limited for hobbies :( No matter what, I'm starting with sewing

DIY Make a pillow look like a gift – Tutorial

Posted on May 27, 2018 by justelly1

I saw those pillows on Pinterest last year. I liked them so much I wanted to sew them.
Actually, they’re meant for Christmas, which will last forever until next time hehe
But I always forgot to do this tutorial. Better late than never 😀

Something fun about it. I found the pillows on Pinterest first with my cell phone. Then I bought the fabric (canvas) and the zippers, copied the picture to my iPad and took it with me to my sewing course. Only when I wanted to show the teacher the now larger picture on the tablet, I saw that the pillows are not sewn but knitted.

My cushions have the approximate size 24 x 16 inch.
If you want to copy my tutorial, you have to make the bows bigger or smaller depending on the size of your cushions.

First start with the ” bands “.

Sew the band together on the left side. Then turn it to the right. Lay the band so that the seam is at the back and iron it. I then triple-stitched both edges.

Sew the two bands to the fabric you cut for the pillow.

Here comes the bow. Sew together on the left side and turn to the right. Decorate the edge with the triple stitch. Then sew the bow together

Now the bow should also look like a bow. Press the middle together with your fingers and sew together.

To make your pillow look even more like a gift, it also needs the bands on the bow.

I have tried it with different widths and have decided for this width.

Because the strip on the bow looked too wide, I folded it in half. Place the strip around the bow so that it is the same length at both ends.

Now hold the strip tightly around the bow and mark it with pins.

Sew on 2 strips of velcro on the back side at the marking. Don’t cut the velcro too small so you have some room to adjust later.

Because I also want to attach the bow to the pillow with velcro, I put a piece of velcro on the back of the ribbon. Always make sure to take the “hard” part of the velcro for it!

If you want to wash the pillowcase, simply take off the bow and the fluffy part of the velcro won’t damage your other clothes.

Now you have to decide WHERE to put your bow on the pillow!!!
Just try different places and where you like it best, make a mark and sew the counterpart of the velcro.

If you need to shorten the band from the bow, do it now and sew the ends.

Then you can sew the pillowcase and zipper.

Your pillowcase is DONE 🙂

You want to know how I made those three pillows with the Christmas songs?

I found a free font on the Internet called “Christmas”. I mirrored the writing and printed it out in enormous size. Then I applied the writing and decorated it a little, depending on the song.

Whoever made the knitted pillows on Pinterest, thanks for the inspiration ❤ ❤ ❤

DIY Your own window seat (Tutorial)

Posted on May 22, 2018 by justelly1

I live in a small apartment with a sloping roof. This means that almost all walls are slanted at the top.
Unfortunately, this also means that you can hardly buy any finished furniture. That’s why I taught myself to build my furniture to match my apartment.
Today I describe how I built myself a bench under the window…

First you have to measure the place very accurately. And I mean VERY EXACTLY!!!
I used a laser measuring tool for this.

For the height, I calculated about 15 – 16 inch including the seat cushion.

Then you buy the wood panels you need. For the sides, the back and the bottom I used laminated panels. For the top and the front I used spruce or fir. I don’t remember because I made the window seat months ago and I’m just posting now. I bought the wood panels in a shop that had sawn the wooden panels according to my wishes.

I started with the wooden front.

I wanted the front to look like it was made of three pieces. That’s why I sawed 2 lines into each front piece with my saw.

I wanted the window seat to turn white, but no bright white. And I wanted to use chalk paint because it looks so matt. On the Internet I found a retailer in the Netherlands who had sold chalk paint white as “historical white”.
I had a little sample sent to see if I liked the color. The color was perfect for me.

Sand between each coat after the paint has dried.

Also paint the lid with the chalk paint. I painted the front and lid 3 times so that the white completely covers the wood colour.

Finally, you have to seal the paint.

The next step is to dowel the sides and the bottom together. I started with the front, then the two sides and finally the back part.

Here you can see what mistake I made in the first part: First I doweled the front part, removed the dowels and then painted the front. What do you want me to say? After drying the paint the dowels didn’t fit anymore and I had to make a new front part.
So first paint the wood and then dowel it!!!!

When the glue dried, I strengthened the inside of the seat with metal angles.

I have glued the edges of the laminated wooden boards with edgings.

In the hardware store I found protection for the wooden floor that I glued under the seat. I can’t remember what it’s called.

I attached the lid with piano hinge.

I found the seat and back cushions at Ikea 2 years ago. They are designed for outdoors but they fit perfectly and are very comfortable. Under the pillow I put this one on the wood to prevent the pillows from slipping. It’s for carpets, but who cares

Here the first window seat. I needed a total of three of them. I also use them as storage for my tools and handicrafts.

My window seat for Christmas. In the next post I will write a tutorial how I sewed these pillows 🙂

Spring and Easter. Yes I know. Too many pillows. Next year I won’t use all of them

and today 🙂 I love these pillows. I didn’t make the design, but I liked it so much that I copied it.

Say hello to spring (photos)

Posted on April 18, 2018 by justelly1

This winter was damn long and cold!

Until two weeks ago I left the house in a warm winter jacket.

And it was 77 degrees today.

Yesterday I drove past my favourite park and saw that everything was colourful.

A good reason to take the camera and take pictures on a sunny day.

I’m about to start with my favorite flowers: Daisies 😀

The next two photos look like I changed the color. But the tulip field really looked like this!
Many other visitors of the park took pictures with their mobile phones because the colours red, yellow, orange were simply amazing.

I don’t know what kind of tree it is. But some of the trees with pink flowers are in the park and you can see the pink from afar.

A lonely pansy at the house ❤

That dandelion reminded me of my childhood. After school, I used to pick dandelion for my hamsters in the meadow.

Yeahhhh it’s 2018 !!!!

Posted on January 1, 2018 by justelly1

I wish you all a Happy New Year ❤ ❤ ❤

This time I was lucky with taking photos of the fireworks. The last time it was so foggy you couldn’t see 2 yards away!

Do I have plans for the New Year? Not really hehe. Maybe do more for myself. Last year, I gave away at least 90% of the things I’ve done.

Everybody knows that for sure. You’re planning things, but then something happens 😀

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2017 by justelly1

Merry Christmas

Joyeux Noël

Buon Natale

Feliz Navidad

Frohe Weihnachten

Vrolijk Kerstfeest

God Jul

Boas Festas

I don’t know most of the flags, but I liked the idea of a Christmas tree for everyone.

Snowman jacket with a knitted tube scarf

Posted on December 24, 2017 by justelly1

This is my last DIY project this year for Miss M.
Originally I wanted to sew a jacket with Christmas flannel at the beginning of December. But I just forgot!
I have 3 different flannel fabrics which are related to winter / christmas.
So I talked to Miss M.’s mom and she picked out the snowman’s fabric. This jacket can also be worn after Christmas.

But only sewing the jacket without appliqué would be sooooooo boring!!!!!
First I thought about taking the snowman from the flannel. I like the flannel fabric but I didn’t really like the snowman for the jacket.

On the internet I found free cliparts with snowmen and printed one of them.

The idea with the scarf came to me very late and I was afraid I would not get the delivery in time.
But luck for me, the knitted tube came on Monday 🙂

Here’s the jacket from the front. I’ve stitched a few snowflakes on it.

Here you can see the flannel lining. I like it very much – otherwise I would not have bought it – but I don’t like the snowman so much to apply it.

I didn’t apply anything to the back of the jacket. At first I wanted to do the snowman too, but unfortunately I didn’t have enough time.

Now a closer look at the snowman. I have sewn the scarf only in a few places to make it look more real.

6th December – Saint Nicholas Day tradition

Posted on December 6, 2017 by justelly1

Did you also put your boots in front of the door on December 5th in the evening? And there were candy in your boots in the morning?

Or did your parents order a Santa Claus in your house who always knew what you had been doing all year? And fortunately there were always small gifts anyway?

When I was little I was terrified of Nicholas because he knew all my secrets!
Later I found out it was a friend of my dad’s hihihi 😀

Even though I have been too old for Nicholas for a long time, I still love this tradition.
That’s why I sewed a panel and hung it on the door this weekend.

Let it snow, let it snow (photos)

Posted on December 3, 2017 by justelly1

I woke up this morning and it was all white outside. Snow everywhere!!

All I had to do was to find my woolly hat and gloves (it happens to me every year. One is surprised by the cold season hihi)

I took my camera and made photos.

boats are waiting for the next summer

here you can see how little snow has fallen. But enough for a snowman ❤

here are my so-called ugly shoes 😀 . They don’t look nice but my feet stay warm and dry

Sweat jacket with bunnies and dot dot dot

Posted on November 15, 2017 by justelly1

And another jacket for Miss M.
A few months ago I sewed her a skirt with dots.
I found the lining fabric on eBay and the mushrooms with the dots brought me to the idea to sew a suitable jacket for the skirt.

I didn’t have to think long about the motive for the application. I copied a piece of fabric and printed it in different sizes.
Okay, the colors are very spring-like but I hope she’ll like it anyway when she gets it tomorrow 🙂

Here the front of the jacket