Sewing Projects

Sweet Feet

Freshen up shoes and clothes with these sparkly lavender sachets. They make great gifts for friends, for yourself or even for Mother's Day!

MATERIALS
* Scraps of pink fabric for feet at least 23 x 12 cm (9 x 5”)
* Assorted coloured fabric at least 15 cm square (6”) for large squares
* Fabric remnants 10 cm square (4”) for small squares
* 1.5 m(1 ½ yd) sequin trim
* bugle or other beads
* scraps of ribbon
* lavender petals for filling

Steps to sew

1. Using the template, increase to size indicated by photocopying and then cut out 4 feet from the pink fabric making sure there are two pairs.  

For each of the drawer sachets cut two 15 cm squares (6”) and two 10 cm squares (4”).  

HANDY HINT: If using small scraps of fabric the front and back do not have to match – simply use a contrasting fabric.

2. With right sides together pin the front and back of feet together.  Then take a length of ribbon, approx 18 cm (7”) long and making it into a loop sandwich it between the two pieces of fabric at the heel with the loop inside the sandwich.  Stitch from point A to point B taking a 6 mm (1/4”) seam.  Be careful when sewing round the ‘toes’ – you may find it easier to ‘hand turn’ by turning the balance wheel by hand stitch by stitch so that you can control the speed.  Clip and snip round all the curves.  Turn right way out.  Press to neaten.

3. With a teaspoon fill the feet with lavender until they have a nice plump feel to them but do not overfill.  Then hand stitch the openings closed.

4. Following the guide on the template hand stitch, making the stitches small and tight, through both layers of fabric and lavender filling to create the shape of toes.

5. Again following the template, with a pencil lightly draw ‘toenails’ on each foot and then fill in this shape by hand stitching on small beads to give the effect of nail varnish.

Sewing and decorating the squares

6. Decorate the fronts of the squares BEFORE sewing them together.  Take the front of each square and measure in 15 mm (5/8”) from the edge on all four sides and mark at intervals with a pin. Then using the sequin trim or beads sew on to your own design. 

When sewing on the sequin trim use small stitches bringing the needle up underneath one side of the trim and making sure the thread goes under the sequin bring it down on the other side, repeating this at intervals every one or two sequins.

HANDY HINT:  Attach sequin trim with fabric glue to hold it in place prior to hand stitching in place

7. With right sides together pin and sew round all four edges on the squares taking a 1 cm (3/8”) seam allowance and leaving a small opening in the middle of one side to turn through and fill.  Clip and snip the corners of the squares, turn right way out.  Press to neaten.

8. Using a tea spoon fill the squares with enough lavender petals to make them plump then hand-stitch the opening closed.

Smart Idea

Make the sachets almost any shape - hearts, circles and even triangles! Add trims, fringing or tassels to suit the person and purpose.

Stockist information

Look out for small off cuts on sale in fabric stores or use off cuts from other projects.  Beads and sequin trim can be found at most craft and fabric stores.  Lavender petals can be purchased from stores that sell pot pourri.

This project by Jackie Gulliver is reproduced by kind permission of Sewing World magazine. For details of the magazine, visit: www.sewingworldmagazine.com