Fall In Love with Wonder Clips: Sewing Hacks

If you like to sew, don't wait to try this popular sewing tip! Did you know it is easier and faster to secure fabric together with clips versus pins? And once you try Wonder Clips, I promise you'll never want to go back to pesky pins again!

This sewing hack is something I wish I had tried YEARS AGO! Once I tried Wonder Clips, I loved them so much that I will never go back to pinning raw edges together again!

Disclaimer: this post includes an Amazon affiliate link. As an Amazon associate I will receive a small commission when you purchase through my link. Thank you for your support!

*These cute & colorful Wonder Clips are the ones I bought (& also a pack of all red clips). These are the perfect substitution for pins! You've got to try these! 

Here are: 

6 Reasons You'll Love Wonder Clips Instead of Pins:

1. No more painful pokes! Ouch! We've all had them!

2. No more blood spots that ruin your fabric (yes, it has happened to me!)

3. Save time securing fabric together (it really does take less time to clip raw edges of fabric together with clips versus pins!)

4. No more awkward maneuvers trying to pull pins out of your fabric while it's under your sewing foot, it's as easy as one quick "un"clip prior to going under the presser foot.

5. If you have larger hands or fingers, or arthritis, it's much easier and less painful to use Wonder Clips versus pins.

6. Wonder Clips secure fabric beautifull, are easy to use and are literally my favorite new sewing accessory of all time!

Don't wait to poke yourself one more time with pesky old pins ha! Once you transition from pins to Wonder Clips, you'll fall in love with them just like I did!

SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO USE WONDER CLIPS!

---

About the Author:

Shannon Sorensen is an experienced seamstress, blogger and business owner.  She has sewn and sold many different types of handmade goods over the years. Shannon is the founder and CEO the popular sewn product based business, Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin.

On the shelf

We survived the week watching my sisters 4 boys while she was out of town - whew! (we actually had a lot of fun) and are back to our old routine. I went out to check on my consignment items and had a few new things to add to my shelves.

It's cherry season here in the Pacific Northwest, so what better time than now, to add some colorfully sweet cherry bibs and burp cloth sets?

I decided on adding bright green ribbon for an extra pop of color and style

I couldn't decide whether I liked the bow in the middle or to the side, so I made them both

I also added what I call my Pale Pink French Ruffled Apron to the rack. I love the feminine, dainty details.

The consignment season lasts through the end of October, so at the end of the month I'll need to refocus from summer to fall and make a few changes in my inventory.

Can you believe it's already August 1st? I tell you, when I flipped my calendar and saw that school starts this month, it made my stomach flip too. Back to my school jobs in a few short weeks. Yikes! I have to block it out. Summer has just begun here in Seattle! For now, I'll enjoy it while I can!

Linked to:

Tea Rose Home

Flaming Toes

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Carolyn's Homework

The Creative Itch

A little apron glam: ruffles and polka dots

I am still in a pale pink phase.

I love that it's soft, wispy and delicate.

And polka dots? I'll always love polka dots. There won't be a day that I don't love polka dots.

And ruffles? Oh, don't get me started on how I love ruffles....seriously.

This little beauty will be added to my collection at the shop where I'm currently consigning...hope there's someone out there who will fall in love with it as much as I have.

Too fancy for the kitchen?

Nah.

Linked to:

TeaRoseHome

ShabbyChicCottage

SomewhatSimple

AGlimpseInside

HouseofHepworth

Fingerprintsonthefridge

Mygirlishwhims

ShabbyNest

Setting up shop

Where have I been?

In a nutshell, at my sewing machine.

My routine's been a little like this:

Wake up.

Sew.

Go to work.

Come home from work.

Sew.

Sleep.

Sew (in my dreams)

Wake up.

Sew.

You get the drift.

I've been busy, busy, busy getting ready as a new consignee for opening day at Remlinger Farms Market & Northwest Craft Showcase, where my pillows, baby bib/burp cloth sets and aprons are now for sale.

I'm not sure how I feel about the pillow display. It's a cute idea, but the pillows are a little smashed and not really showcased. I'll have to see how they sell and see if they'll adjust it if needed.

They created a table display for my bibs and burpcloth sets and it ended up like this.

I only ended up with two aprons (mine are the light pink ones). I just didn't have enough time to sew more, unless you count the ones I finished while I was dreaming. Okay, that doesn't count, but it is on my list.

Here are some better shots of my bib and burpcloth sets. I created a pattern of my own and like the way it turned out. I've had a lot of good feedback on them, so hopefully they will do well at this shop. I haven't added them to my etsy shop yet, but it's on my to-do list....but what isn't?! haha

And we can't forget the boys...minus the ruffles, of course.

I have an etsy order to finish and mail off as well, so the sewing continues...but that's definitely okay with me!

Fairface Washcloths for ultra sensitive skin

Since I started making these washcloths, they are the only ones I use.

I have very, very sensitive skin and even regular washcloths irritate my face.

The combination of soft cotton flannel and absorbent terrycloth have such a softer feel than regular washcloths.

I love to use the cotton flannel side, with a gentle cleanser, on my face because it feels so soft and smooth and doesn't irritate or redden my sensitive skin.

I've seen others make similar washcloths for babies. But people, all things gentle, soft and soothing don't just have to be for babies!

So I cut them larger (between 9x9 - 9.5x9.5) so they're the perfect size for adults and teens but can always be used for children and babies too.

It's one of those things that I couldn't keep to myself, so I'm happy to offer them through my etsy shop in convenient packages of 2.

I hope you love them as much as I do!

Linking to:
TeaToseHome
BubblyNatureCreations

More half-moon placemats

Another round of half-moon placemats. The other set worked out so well for our table, that I had to have another one. You never can have too many placemats, can you?

I saw this brown and white damask calico fabric and knew I had to have something in my house with it.

I really love the pattern. For some reason I think of Hawaii - is there a tiki or pineapple in there somewhere?

And I decided that since placemats are meant to spilled on, what better backing than coordinating terrycloth?

The idea of using terrycloth really came from growing up with six siblings, and many spilled glasses of milk.

I remember it like it was yesterday, the tip, the audible group gasp, and the chaotic napkin swoop as my mother ran to the sink for a towel in hopes of keeping it off the floor. Inevitably, it was the very day she had spend hours mopping that blue and white linoleum. It was clean while it lasted.

And, I have to say, the terry cloth does work to soak up those spills. As luck would have it, on their very first use, my husband bumped his water glass. Napkin swoop diverted.

And I decided, that since they're so pretty, they can even stay out all day.

Linked to:

SkipToMyLou - Made by You Mondays  SewChatty - Made with Love Monday  Making the World Cuter

TeaRoseHome  BubblyNatureCreations

Perfect placemats for round tables

I love our little round glass table. It feels like eating in a quaint cafe and it's perfect for our small space.

For months we've been using rectangle shaped placemats on our round table, because it's all we had.

And while it works just fine, I knew it could be so much better.

And I was right.

I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before.

Semi-circle placemats, also called half moon placemats (which sounds cooler, especially to us Twilight fans) fit perfectly on round tables.

I made a pattern from recycled newspaper by measuring the circumference of the table and shrinking the size down to what I wanted.

For the material, I decided to re-purpose the rest of the Anthropologie tablecloth. You know, the one I used to make that snazzy, colorful apron? Is it weird that my apron will match my placemats?

Anywho, for a little flexible padding I also cut a matching piece of cotton batting for the middle.

I love how they turned out.

Our new half moon placemats will be beautifying our little round table at every meal.

Linked to:

SewMuchAdo SomewhatSimple CreationsbyKara BlueCricketDesign AGlimpseInside LifeAsLori PaisleyPassions Tearosehome

Basic fleece camera case and/or case liner

Sorry for the lack of posts. This past week has felt like an eternity. Has it for anyone else?? In my "off sewing hours" I work for an after-school program. It was a hard week back for the kids and honestly, for the staff. Vacations are wonderful but sometimes the reality re-entry is a little bumpier than expected.

Anywho, as I get back into the swing of things, I wanted to share a quick project with you. Got some extra fleece on hand? I love little projects that use up spare fabric. And yes, it's the same fleece I used to make my little pink fleece hat. Hey, sometimes you use whatever you have on hand, right??

A few weeks ago, as we were packing up to visit family for the holidays, I realized I didn't have a small case to keep my camera in.

My requirements were to be soft, thick enough to give cushion, and have a very basic design.

I'm sure there are camera case patterns out there, but I decided to wing it for a custom fit.

I laid out my camera on a piece of fleece and fit the fabric around the camera and strap.

Tucked it in all cozy

and cut off the excess fabric

I decided to cut a flap for the closure, so the piece ended up looking like this

I folded over the fleece, pinned the raw edges together and sewed a straight stitch all the way down the open side and bottom (leaving the flap open).

This is what it looked like after sewing it together, and turning it right side out. Looks cute enough to be a barbie sleeping bag.

For an easy velcro closure, I cut and secured two pieces of velcro with pins and sewed.

And here's the finished case, with my camera tucked securely inside.

Like I said, it's very, very basic and probably more like a liner than a case (since fleece can get wet). But it worked perfectly for me. With my camera in this protective case, I tucked it safely in my purse for easy access to some fabulous holiday picture taking!