A few new crafty ideas

[Dingle]

Well new for me that is!

After knitting since the year dot, paper crafting took over when I had my DD. That was over 8 years ago now and yesterday as I wandered through the little crafting section at Dunelm Mills, I came across a sewing book that I couldn't resist!

Now my poor sewing maching has not been used properly for years, it's dusted off for the occasion stitched card but that's about it!

So...please help any stitching ladies. What measurements are fat quarters, jelly rolls, cakes...I am an old fashioned gal who is used to buying fabric by the meter.

Next, I don't want to spend a fortune (especially until I know my sewing skills are actually good enough- they will need a bit of dusting off too)so where can I get some pretty, small print,gingham,polka dot etc fabrics at a good price.

Any advice will be much appreciated-thank you.

I am a beginner sewer too...

A fat quarter is a quarter of a metre/yard, the metre of fabric is cut into 4 quarters rather than being cut into long lenghs of 25cm across the width of the fabric. (does that make sense?)

A jelly roll is made up of strips 2.5 inches wide and the width of fabric long. I kept seeing these and wondering what on earth you can do with them, but if you google there are some amazingly simple but impresive quilts and other makes you can use them for.

The cakes I think are 10 inch squares, again there are lots of patterns out there. Charm packs are usually 5 inches.

This is a good place to start (there are projects on there too, not just quiltsmoda bakeshop

Some great things on here - sewmamasew if you go into the blog there are even more links to great projects.

My first make was this - buttercup bag although I used the photocopier to make mine larger and interfaced the lining.

And lots more ideas and help on here

Have fun!

LOL...yeah, quarters make sense!

I am busy painting at the mo but will investigate the links later-thank you!