I also promised him a fabric door stop, and, indeed, set to on cutting up an old pair of jeans many months ago. Well, he graduated last week, so the door stop is no longer needed, but I got round to finishing it all the same!
The instructions say to fill the door stop with 1Kg of rice but I am not so sure about that, have you ever used rice as a stuffing, is it suitable? 1Kg of rice only fills up less than half of the door stop, so I have stuffed the rest with the innards of an old cushion to fill it out a bit more, but I am not convinced that this is the best way to fill this. All suggestions gratefully received!
I was pretty pleased with the piping as with the denim and piping there were several layers to get through in the last round of sewing. I was a bit nervous turning it out in case I had managed to miss anywhere, but thankfully it all seems to be fine!
As it is no longer needed as a door stop this will be my entry in to the Crafter's Apprentice Something Old Something New competition, whilst I think of somewhere to use it.
One of the joys of being back in the UK is the opportunity to visit fabric stores in person, so when I discovered that our local John Lewis store had a sale on, I knew which department I would be making a beeline for on my next trip into town. Joel Dewberry fabrics half-price - yes, please!
In another piece of good fortune I discovered today that Sarah of Silly Banana Sewing pulled my name out of the hat in her recent giveaway, so a charm pack of Make Life by Sweetwater for Moda is winging its way to me too! I have just discovered the joys of charm packs, so I am really looking forward to using it. Thanks Sarah!
Linking up to Sew Modern Monday, and Manic Monday
Ahh, the best laid plans and all that! Still, glad you finished them eventually :oD As someone who has had the misfortune of getting weevils, I would avoid using food products in anything that's going to be lying around, especially something like this that these beasties love! When I'm putting weight into the bears, I get aquarium pebbles, which are small and smooth and dead cheap! I get the ones that aren't artificially coloured, so it doesn't matter if they accidentally get wet. I'd top up with toy stuffing once I was happy with the weighted bit :o)
ReplyDeleteI wondered about rice and little animals, so I've always avoided it, but have never found a satisfactory alternative. What did you put in your draught excluder? I once made one with polyester filling, but again, it wasn't right. LOVE your applique!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your new fabric, can't wait to see what you make it into!
ReplyDeleteLove that door stop. Little pebbles? Lucky you to be getting a Make Life charm pack. That is the only Sweetwater fabric I don't have.
ReplyDeleteI just got back from the UK on a business trip and saw my first John Lewis store on this trip! I of course had to visit the haberdashery department! (and the Olympics area) : ) Love the dragons!
ReplyDeleteLove the door stop - very cool!
ReplyDeleteNice score on the Joel Dewberry fabrics! They are fab!
That's a fab doorstop!! I've bookmarked that pattern and intended to make something with the van... I need a doorstop desperately so that might be the answer!
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's right to half fill with rice for the weight, then stuff with polyfil, it'd be too heavy completely filled with rice.
The draft excluder is beautiful and your doorstop looks great! I think Katy's suggestion of pebbles is good :)
ReplyDeleteThe doorstop is really great. I've only once tried sewing through piping and denim and it was really difficult - yours is immaculate:-) It always worries me when I read about rice as a stuffing about what happens if it absorbs damp!
ReplyDeleteI would echo concerns about little critters and/or damp with the rice. The piping and appliqué are just wonderful and we won't talk about how green I am re. your John Lewis trip!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fiona, believe me I know how you feel :)
DeleteLovely makes! I made a door stop and needed 3 big bags of rice to fill it. If it is not going to be damp rice should be ok, I have heard people using dried peas and sand. x
ReplyDeleteOohh me again, forgot to say, is it ok if I borrow a photo again for the monthly make? x
ReplyDeleteThe door stop is so cute! You have much patience, all those tiny little pieces! The piping looks fantastic. Great score on the Joel Dewberry fabrics, the colors are so rich.
ReplyDeleteDid you embroider those dragons?! Awesome!!! Nice find on the Joel Dewberry, too. Fun!
ReplyDeleteLove the door stops!
ReplyDeleteNice dragons, I lov'em. The doorstop is beautiful, and your machine applique, excelent. Fillings? I've never made a doorstop, but maybe I'd use small pebbles, or dried soybeans, no bugs eat'em!
ReplyDeleteYour doorstop with the little VW bus is wonderful! Filling? I have heard of using cat litter, its clay and heavy, seems it would work and not be too costly.
ReplyDeleteSaw your entry mentioned on Wendy's blog (Crafter's Apprentice) and came over for a peek - that's a FANTASTIC door stopper --- what an excellent upcycle! I bet it was a bit tense with the thick denim!
ReplyDelete