Make A Pillowcase For An Oddly-Shaped Pillow

I have this oddly shaped pillow that I love to sleep on. The problem is that the pillowcase is so unsightly that I don't want to leave it on my bed. It is also not possible to buy pillowcases for these pillows. What is a girl to do?! Well, I simply had to make my own. In today's blog I show you how to take measurements and draw a 'pattern' for an oddly shaped pillowcase. I also show you step by step how to sew it yourself.

This is the pillow that is badly in need of a pretty pillowcase. I know there are a lot of these on the market for snoring. I have never had any complains about this particular problem. Probably because I sleep alone. However, they are also brilliant for backaches as they keep the spine straight and keep their shape well.

I decided to cover the pillow in this 100% cotton fabric as it matches my bedclothes beautifully, I already have it in stock, and cotton breathes well.

Put your tape measure at one end of the pillowcase.

Wrap the tape all the way around the pillow and take the measurement at the other end. I got 94 cm.

Now add 6 cm for rolled hems. This brings the measurement to an even 100 cm (or 1 m).

Measure the width of the pillowcase. I got 47 cm. Add 1,5 cm seam allowance for each side. It brings the total to another beautifully rounded 50 cm.

Cut a stretch of cloth measuring 100 cm x 50 cm. Wrap this around your pillow to make sure your measurements were correct and that it will fit.

Now stand the pillow up on the fabric so the oddly shaped side rests on the fabric.

Use dressmaker's chalk to draw a line all the way around the pillow.

When you are done you should have an outline resembling the shape of the pillow.

Add 1,5 cm seam allowance all around this shape.

Fold the fabric over so you can cut two of these shapes for the two ends of the pillowcase.

Cut along the line for the seam allowance.

Take the long strip of fabric and fold the short ends over 1 cm.

Fold it over again to create a rolled hem. Pin in place. Do this on both ends of the fabric.

Sew the hem.

Fold the fabric over and line up the ends. Find the center points on both sides of the fabric. Mark the centres with pins.

Fold the end pieces over as well and find the center points.

Laying the pieces with right sides facing, line the centres up and pin.

You should line up the center of the side that curves inward, with the wrap-around piece. The outward curve should be where the two ends meet.

Pin all the way around and overlap the rolled hem ends.

Here is a close-up of the ends.

You will now need to sew very carefully all the way around the pinned sides.

When you are done, set your machine to overlocking, or zigzag and finish the seam so it won't fray.

Do the same on the other side of the pillowcase.

Turn the pillowcase right side out.

Cover your pillow and you are done! Finally my pillow matches my bedroom!

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.
You may prefer to follow the traveling blog, A Pretty Tourist.
For more crafty ideas and great product reviews, visit A Pretty Talent on Facebook.
If you are in a literary mood, follow Miekie's musings, stories and poetry on A Pretty Author - Miekie.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making life PRETTY.
You can subscribe to any of these blogs and receive regular updates by email. Simply register your email address at the top of the applicable blog.

Brew Your Own Spiced Tea For Colds & Flu

I had been struggling with a tight chest and incessant coughing for going on two weeks when I finally couldn't take it any more. I lay in bed and wondered what more I could do to put an end to all of this when a recipe for spiced tea came to mind. I tried it and immediately felt relief. I am not claiming that it has healing properties, merely that it should bring you relief. I share this recipe with you in today's blog. Bonus is that it is actually delicious and now my guests ask for it simply for its taste value when they come to visit.

You will need a sachet of Rooibos tea.

Brew the tea in some freshly boiled water.

Remove the teabag and add roughly 1-2 ml ground cloves.

Add 2-3 ml ground cinnamon.

Add 3-4 ml ground ginger. I love the taste of the ginger and that is why I add a little more of this.

Add a healthy squirt of honey. I would estimate roughly a tablespoonful (12,5 ml).

Add a squirt of lemon juice (also roughly 12,5 ml), or use freshly squeezed lemon juice.

It might be a tad sour. Sweeten with more honey, or even sugar to taste.

Enjoy as hot as possible. Keep a teaspoon handy and keep stirring as the spices will sink to the bottom of the mug. You actually want to get the spices into your body, so you will need to give the cup a good stir, every few sips.

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.
You may prefer to follow the traveling blog, A Pretty Tourist.
For more crafty ideas and great product reviews, visit A Pretty Talent on Facebook.
If you are in a literary mood, follow Miekie's musings, stories and poetry on A Pretty Author - Miekie.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making life PRETTY.
You can subscribe to any of these blogs and receive regular updates by email. Simply register your email address at the top of the applicable blog.

Cardmaking On A Shoestring: Birthday Card For A Boy

In the previous blog I shared a couple of ideas with you on making cards on a shoestring budget. I continue with this idea in today's blog, although we will be making a birthday card for a boy this time. Once again the design I use is taken from my book Designs By Miekie 1.

When my niece and nephew demanded we do a card project, they selected these two designs from my book. I printed the designs, but drew dot-to-dot pictures for them to redraw. The result was that I was left with the printout of the designs. Not wanting these to go to waste (how frugal am I?!), I chose to use these printouts for the two blogs in this shoestring series. You can read all about the project I did with this kids by following this link.

 I cut the designs apart. I will be working with this design in today's project.

I will start by coloring the picture using my Derwent Coloursoft pencils. These are very expensive pencils, but you can use any cheaper version with equal success for this kind of project. You really don't need artist grade pencils for what we intend to do.

I start by colouring the background a muted green, resembling grass.

The wheels and eyebrows are done in shades of grey and black.

The lawnmower itself is done in red with the eye in green. The eyeballs and teeth are coloured white.

I then use rubbing alcohol to smooth the colouring lines. This can be obtained from a good pharmacy and is inexpensive.

Much better.

I carefully cut along the frame to get rid of the white edges.

The picture is now coloured and ready to be used on the card.

I find a 12" x 12" craft sheet matching the colours in the picture. I will use this to fold the card from.

Fold the craft paper in half to form a card.

I cut the top off my card, making the card 19 cm tall.

I now go in search of a sheet of plain A4 paper in a colour contrasting with that of the card, but coordinating with the colours in the design. I will use this paper to matt the picture to.

I measure the picture and cut the matting to be 1 cm larger in both width and height.

The picture is mounted to the matting and then to the card. I use double-sided tape for this. Note how I worked off center to make things a little less predictable and more interesting.

I have a set of alphabet punches that I can use to punch the lettering for my card out with. These are expensive though. A pretty handwriting and a calligraphy pen can have great results for the wording as well.

I also punch out the age of the intended recipient.

The lettering is mounted on the card using 3D double-sided squares.

I again opt to use inexpensive foam rubber stickers to finish the card off with.

Two fabric butterflies add a bit of interest.

An apple-shaped button completes the card.

A fun card to present to a birthday boy and it did not break the bank.

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.
You may prefer to follow the traveling blog, A Pretty Tourist.
For more crafty ideas and great product reviews, visit A Pretty Talent on Facebook.
If you are in a literary mood, follow Miekie's musings, stories and poetry on A Pretty Author - Miekie.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making life PRETTY.
You can subscribe to any of these blogs and receive regular updates by email. Simply register your email address at the top of the applicable blog.