Now that I have a handful of lip balms to give away, I like to also hand someone the holder to put it in. I carry mine on my purse so I never have to dig for it. My grandkids have fastened them to their backpacks!
I first went to WalMart and Pinterest to get ideas. I bought a few to take apart. I basically experimented to find ways to end up with all the seams turned to the inside and still be possible with my sewing machine. After taking a few apart, I sketched out my pattern.
You might think I have a special pattern to make this holder. Ha! Let me show you what I use:
As I made a few samples I refined the process. So, here are the steps with pictures:
Step 1: Your materials
A piece of fabric 2 1/2″ by 12″; a piece of fabric 2 1/2″ by 3 1/2″; a 1/2″ D-ring
Step 2: Make the D-ring attachment
Using the 2 1/2″ by 3 1/2″ piece of fabric, fold the two ends to the center, then fold the piece in half. Top stitch the edges together.
Step 3: Attach the D-ring
Insert the tab through the D-ring and fold in half. Stitch close to the D-ring (I had to use my zipper foot to get close enough).
Step 4: Fold the 2 1/2″ by 12″ piece almost in half, leaving 1/4″ to fold over. Stitch the edge folded over and top stitch along the other folded edge.
Step 5: Attach the D-ring tab to the folded edge (on the right, above), stitching close to the D-ring. This is the inside of the holder.
Step 6: Fold the holder in half, right sides together. Stitch the sides with a 1/4″ to 3/8″ seam.
Step 7: Turn the holder right side out. I use a stick that came with my stuffing to help poke out the corners.
Step 8: Top stitch the sides with a 1/4″ to 3/8″ seam. (Depends on how big your lip balm is. Some lipsticks are larger around so the smaller seam is necessary).
I use a carabiner clip to attach my holder to my purse, and I include one with each holder I give away.
This works great to fasten my holder and all my grocery tags to the outside of my purse so I don’t have to hunt for them!
This same holder pattern could be enlarged to handle an essential oil roller ball or a small flashlight. Experiment!! Have fun! If you have questions, leave a comment or send me an email directly at marykisner@comcast.net. Enjoy!
Several years ago, I discovered the fun of making covered button magnets. The fun was in the making! Transforming a piece of fabric into a neat useful item appealed to me. I ended up making hundreds of them! Yikes! I put them on my refrigerator and file cabinet. I sold them at yard sales and flea markets. I gave them away to anyone that looked interested. With every memory bear, necktie pillow and necktie wine bag I made, I also made a few magnets to match!
Magnets to match the memory necktie pillows!
I even took photographs of favorite pets and printed them on fabric…and made them into magnets.
Who me? Am I in trouble? But I’m so cute!Daisy looks so innocent!
Needless to say, I still have many magnets left to do something with, mostly because I keep making them! Did I tell you they are fun to make? At the end of this post are detailed instructions if you’d like to try this yourself!
I came across my left-over pile of magnets yesterday and decided I needed to try to find a way to incorporate magnets into other projects.
Many of these are from leftover necktie material.Finding fabric with small individual prints of characters make these magnets unique!
TIC-TAC-TOE Game
I started with the idea that magnetic game pieces might be useful for kids when traveling in the car (hopefully soon that will be possible!). In the pile of magnets I found enough Penn State magnets in two colors that could make a simple tic-tac-toe game.
Then, in the cupboard I found an unused toaster oven baking sheet. Bert located some tape for me. It was so sticky I couldn’t cut it with scissors; however, I found I could make a snip on the end and rip the tape in strips. Not very professional looking, but it worked for me!
Who knew tape could rip like this?
And now I’ve made a travel tic-tac-toe game!
Tic-Tac-Toe anyone?
Sewing Case
Next, I had seen some fellow quilters with small metal boxes that had a magnet in the lid. That provided a place to secure the needle when handling fabric pieces. I had a few heart-shaped metal boxes that could work. Of course, one magnet could decorate the top! This one was made from a very classy silk necktie.
This heart-shaped box is about 4″ long, 4″ wide and 2″ deep.
Then I put two plain magnets inside the lid (no glue needed). Now I had a place to rest my threaded needle and extra pins. This looks so much better next to my chair in the living room where I do hand sewing.
A safe place for my pins and needle!
Now to find more ways to use these magnets! If you have any suggestions, please let me know! Send me suggestions at marykisner@comcast.net. If you see me at the next yard sale at the Boalsburg Fire Hall (and I know ahead of time) I’ll even hand you a few magnets for free!
NOTE: Do not place magnets on your computer or other electronic devices; Do not place magnets near your credit cards. Important data may disappear!
If you’d like to see how to make covered button magnets yourself, here are the general instructions:
How to Make a Covered Button Magnet
Supplies you will need:
Buttons to cover. On Amazon this is how they are listed: 25 Buttons to Cover-Made in the USA-Cover Buttons with Flat Backs Size 75 (1 7/8″)
2. Small Disc Magnets. On Amazon, this is how they are listed: Anpro 120 Pcs Strong Ceramic Industrial Magnets Hobby Craft Magnets-11/16 Inch (18mm) Round Magnet Disc for Refrigerator Button
3. Tools to make the buttons:
Fabric Covered Button Template Set: On Etsy.com search for coverbuttoncity. The set of templates is $15.25 at this time.
Covered Button Assembly Tool: On Etsy.com search for everythingribbons. A single tool is $2.00 (I used the one for 1 7/8″ Buttons)
E6000 glue (tiny tubes work great!)
Small piece of sandpaper to scratch the back of the button so glue sticks.
4. Circles of fabric (your choice) made with the 1 7/8″ template.
Steps to make the covered button magnets:
Place the fabric circle right-side down, centered over the clear plastic tool.
2. Place the button blank (face down) on top of the piece of fabric and press on the button blank to squash the fabric into the tool.
The clear plastic tool is under the circle of fabric. Button blank is face down over the center of the fabric.
3. Use the pink tool to flatten all the fabric pleats down. Flip the button over (still in the tool) and make sure the picture on the fabric is where you want it. If it off center, you can push the button out of the tool and arrange the fabric again.
The pink plastic will press down the pleats.
4. Place the button back on top of the fabric and press firmly into the fabric covered button. It should hide all the pleats and snap into place.
Ready to snap the button back on.Finished button ready to pop out of the clear plastic tool.
5. Now push the button out of the holder.
Finished button!
6. Using the small piece of sandpaper, gently scratch the surface of the button back where the magnet will be glued. This helps the glue adhere better to the shiny button.
Button back ready for glue.
7. Put some glue on the back of the magnet. (I consider the side of the magnet with the tiny hole as the back.) Place the magnet on the back of the button. Watch it for a minute to make sure it stays centered. The magnet tends to drift if the table surface isn’t quite level. Within a minute you’ll know if the magnet will stay put. You can adjust the location for the first 30 seconds or so by just pushing the magnet carefully to the center.
8. Let the magnet sit for an hour or longer to let the glue dry.
HINT: If you are gluing multiple magnets at the same time, space them at least 2-3 inches apart. The magnets will attract each other and pull them off center before they dry.
WARNING:
Do not place magnets on your computer or other electronic devices. Do not place magnets near your credit cards.
That’s it! If you find other uses for these cool magnets, send me an email at marykisner@comcast.net.
I know it’s still snowing but this is the time of year I need a touch of Spring color in my life. Usually I pull out a forsythia wreathe that has seen better days. It looks similar to this one, except mine has been squished between the doors over the years.
I learned with my first two door quilts that because my door is a dark red, the decoration needs to be light. Thus, on the Christmas stocking the only thing that showed up a distance was the cuff. However, on the Valentine one the heart showed up beautifully from a distance. See the difference?
So, since I decided to decorate with small quilt blocks, I chose a yellow background for the Spring quilt. The quilt pattern is called Dutchman’s Puzzle,Dutchman’s Wheel, or sometimes Wild Goose Chase.
When seen from a distance, the shape really stands out. Take notice, Mr. Snowstorm…your days are numbered!
If you have any suggestions or comments, please email me at marykisner@comcast.net or leave a comment on this page. Thanks!
Recycled neckties that have been prepared by opening them up, removing the inner padding and pressed flat can now be treated as small bits of beautiful fabric. Remember, necktie fabrics are usually not color-fast so while you will not be washing them be careful to not sew them into a project that will need to be washed.
However, you will need to reinforce each piece of fabric with lightweight interfacing using a steam iron and a damp pressing cloth. The colors won’t noticeable fade but your ironing board will be at risk of staining. Always have a piece of muslin or an old handkerchief ready to protect your ironing board!
This is one brand of interfacing that works!Necktie with interfacing ironed on.
You will probably want to cut the tie into 2 or 3 pieces to do this ironing, depending on the size pieces you need for your project. If you are making a 12″ pillow cut the tie into pieces about 14″ long. Once all your pieces are stabilized with interfacing you are ready to lay out your projects. Treat your tie pieces just as you would any other fabric!
Samples of projects
Of course, pillows are most common:
Pillow made with small squaresPillow made with strips
Wine bags and small cosmetic bags use the same principles:
Four or five strips can make this wine bagOne novelty tie can make an interesting picture!
I’ve even explored using left over pieces in crazy quilt projects:
I ended up putting this in a frame!Three crazy quilt blocks from neckties!
Keep your eyes open for free collections of neckties…you never know what you might be able to use them for!
Better question…why would I want to do that? I might have had that question on my mind 10 years ago. I was volunteering for a local Home Health and Hospice organization. I was offering my services to make memory bears from a loved one’s clothing after they passed. I must have made over 100 bears during that time. However, one family asked if I could make something out of a collection of neckties and my quest to find an appropriate item began.
Some neckties can be very colorful and unique. However, there isn’t a lot of fabric in a tie. It is often not washable or colorfast. While some items are made with whole ties sewn together side to side, like a skirt or throw, they end up quite heavy. I did not get enough ties in that first batch to make anything large.
The inner lining of neckties tends to retain odors from the wearer or cleaning solutions. This is often a layer of wool felt or polyester fabric. I found it was just easier to take them apart and remove the inner lining that retained odors. This gave me tie-shaped fabric pieces about twice the width of the tie tapering to much smaller at the other end. Ties are cut on the bias (diagonally across the fabric) which makes them too stretchy to work with and is made in three pieces so two seams are about in the middle of the tie. Adding an iron-on interfacing was essential to use the fabric in other projects. To make something I was limited to small pieces or strips of varying weights and colors.
I knew I could not make a bear out of bits and pieces of fabric. A little research on Pinterest for memory items showed many folks had made pillows out of neckties, along with other small items composed of strips, squares, or freehand shapes. The photo below shows a pillow made from four neckties. The back of the pillow was a piece of polyester satin. This made a very nice memory pillow for the widow.
Pillow made from neckties
Once I figured out the process to convert a necktie into small but useful pieces of fabric, I was challenged to find other ways to use neckties. First, of course, I cranked out a bunch of pillows just for fun! This pile I mailed to a niece in California who works as an Activities Director at a gated community. She used them as prizes and gifts in her activities. Obviously, I was focused on making squares from the neckties at the beginning!
Too many pillows!
Where do I get neckties to recycle?
I have obtained neckties from friends and acquaintances who have cleaned out attics and closets. Sometimes garage sales have a few for sale. Thrift shops, like St. Vincent DePaul’s, and Goodwill usually have a collection. I have paid as little as $1 to as much as $4 per tie. That can be very expensive if I’m not careful. Sometimes specific name brands are worth much more. Check eBay to search for specific names if you find something you like. Used Jerry Garcia ties often cost $15 or more (in a Thrift shop!) so if you find one in a pile of free ones, you might want to consider donating it back to the shop so they can benefit from the sale. I hate to cut up a collector’s tie!
Sometimes one novelty tie can make an ordinary bag really different!
Right now I’m creating a series of quilt blocks that I can hang on my front door instead of a wreath. I’m limited with only a few inches of clearance between the door and the storm door, so a fluffy wreath ends up getting squished between the doors. From that, I will find an assortment of broken twigs and other materials on the floor! So, time for a new solution!
Christmas time door quilt from neckties.
I started at Christmas time with a Christmas stocking made of assorted recycled neckties. In January I decided to try a quilt block using the Cathedral Window pattern. That should look OK until after Valentine’s Day. The next one will be a spring quilt block of some kind…still under construction!
This all started with being frustrated trying to find a door decoration that would work! And…of course…it’s keeping me busy during this continued lock down situation. That’s a win/win! See you next time! If you’d like to chat about this post with me you can email me at marykisner@comcast.net.
