Movember Moustache Pillow

Movember Moustache Pillow

This month is Movember, and if you haven’t heard, it’s a month dedicated to raising awareness for men’s health issues, from physical to mental and all aspects in between. To help call attention to men’s health, men are encouraged to grow a moustache, and start a conversation with those around them.

Some men have the ability to grow facial hair easily, and others not so much. I have joined the no-shave November club this month (although due to filming obligations, I started my shaving vacation a week early), and I suggest you visit Movember.com to learn how you can help educate others about men’s health issues. Along with hanging up my razor for the time being, I teamed up with Missouri Star Quilt Co to create this moustache pillow!

Movember Moustache Pillow

Let me tell you how much I love this moustache pillow! It’s everything you are looking for in a facial follicle-themed creation, with cozy minky and a  cuddle-friendly design that make it the addition to your bed or couch you never knew you needed!

Movember Moustache Pillow

Read on below to learn how to make this fan{tache}tic project for yourself or that special guy in your life. To help you get started on your super ‘Stache pillow, we’ve included a FREE moustache template that you can download HERE

Moustache Pillow

Supplies needed:

1 yard of minky or cuddle fabric  (We really liked the Cuddle Embossed Rose 60” Minky by Shannon Cuddle)

Moustache Pillow Template 

4 bags of Poly Fil

Scissors

Pins

Step 1: Gather supplies and print off and tape together the moustache printable

Step 2: Fold 1 yard of minky/cuddle fabric vertically (on the long so that it is approximately 60 by 18 inches and pin together, right sides together (with the fuzzy side facing in)

Step 3: Print off your moustache template. We printed off two templates so that we could cut out the complete moustache, but you can easily flip the template after you finish cutting one side if you would like.

Step 4: Pin the pattern to the fabric. We pinned our moustache about every 3 to 4 inches, and used a few more pins around the curves to keep everything in place.

Step 5: Cut out your ‘stache using a pair of fabric scissors. 

Step 6: With the right sides still together, start sewing! We used a serger on ours, but you can use a standard sewing machine. We recommend you use a zig zag pattern for extra security.

Step 7: Sew around the entire moustache, but leave a 6-inch opening so you can stuff it. We used almost four entire bags of Poly-Fil so we have a nice, full ‘stache

Step 8: Hand sew the opening closed using a blindstitch, and you are ready to rock your moustache pillow!  

Step 9: Have some fun! What good is a moustache pillow without a ‘stache selfie?! Be sure to share yours with me on the Man Sewing Facebook or Instagram using #mansewing #movember

Movember Moustache Pillow

Movember Moustache Pillow

I hope that this tutorial for your very own moustache pillow will help you create something that will serve as a reminder to take care of yourself, and to encourage the other men in your life to do the same!

Movember Moustache Pillow

Buffalo Plaid Quilt

Buffalo Plaid Quilt

Buffalo Plaid Quilt

Inspired by lumberjacks, cowboys, and Scottish warriors, the Buffalo Plaid Quilt is quite possibly the manliest quilt of all time.

This is the quilt you reach for after a chilly wood-chopping session. This is the quilt you sleep with in a snow cave carved with your bare hands. This is the quilt that will keep you warm after a long day of wrestling bears and alligators. It’s rugged stuff.

Buffalo Plaid Quilt

Of course, with a soft-as-butter flannel backing, it’s also super cuddly, and strip set construction makes it a cinch to put together. Click HERE to watch the tutorial.

(A big thanks to my pal, Shea Henderson, for sharing her awesome Buffalo Check pattern with me. Click HERE to take a peek at her website, Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio.)

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!

Patchwork Infinity Scarf

Make a Patchwork Infinity Scarf with Rob!

Make a Patchwork Infinity Scarf with Rob

I love making handmade gifts for my friends and family, but it can be a struggle to come up with something cool for the hard-to-buy-for crowd. But this year, I’ve got a pretty good solution!

Make a Patchwork Infinity Scarf with Rob

My Flannel Infinity Scarf is stylish, practical, and totally customizable. Your fabric choice can make this project great for men, women, or even teens. It’s easy to make and super soft. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!

 

 

Free Motion Quilting: Seasonal Pumpkins and Holly

Seasonal FMQ: Holly and Pumpkins

Seasonal FMQ: Pumpkins and Holly

Rev up those sewing machines and get ready to stitch, cuz I’ve got two new FMQ motifs that are going to rock your holiday socks off!

Seasonal FMQ: Pumpkins and Holly

Pumpkins and vines are perfect for all kinds of festive quilt projects. So crank up your favorite Halloween/ Thanksgiving/Christmas mix tape, and have a blast whipping up these cool little designs! Click HERE to watch the tutorial! 

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!

Reflective Stars Quilt

Make a Reflective Stars Quilt with Rob!

Make a Reflective Stars Quilt with Rob!

Half-square triangles are as basic as it gets, but that doesn’t mean they are boring. Those little easy-to-make blocks are so amazingly versatile, I’ll never stop building with ‘em.

Make a Reflective Stars Quilt with Rob

Today’s project, Reflective Stars, is a modern mashup of simple and complex design elements. But because we’re using half-square triangles, construction is a cinch! Click HERE to watch the tutorial.

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!

Streamline Wallet made with Cork Fabric

Make a Streamline Wallet with Rob

Cork fabric is made from the bark of the cork oak tree. And the cool thing is, these trees are able to regenerate their bark, consuming massive amounts of carbon dioxide in the process. Talk about “green!”

Make a Streamline Wallet with Rob

The fabric is waterproof and stain resistant. It wears like leather and is super lightweight and durable. In short, it’s the perfect choice for my Streamline Wallet.  Click HERE to learn how to make this cool little project!

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!

Fidget Quilt

Make a Fidget Quilt with Rob Appell

Make a Fidget Quilt with Rob

A fidget quilt is outfitted with a variety of textures and moveable parts: prairie points, ric rac, pockets, velcro, zippers, you name it! It’s purpose is to occupy restless hands and soothe anxious minds – all while keeping your legs warm.

Make a Fidget Quilt with Rob Appell

Fidget quilts can provide tons of comfort to individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and fiddling with those little parts and pieces is great exercise for the mind as well as the hands. (They are also great for kids and adults with ADHD, ADD, or autism.)

These quilts are super fun to make, and they bless the lives of those who receive them. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!

Sharkapalooza Shark Applique FREE Printable

Create a Shark Appliqué Design with Rob Appell of Man Sewing

msqc_Pin_625x980

I knew the first ever Sharkapalooza Week at Missouri Star Quilt Co and Man Sewing had to be special, and what better way to celebrate this fintastic week, than with a FREE  Shark Applique Design download!

To make this project, I grabbed my trusty Shark Applicutter, a Colors of Moda–Blues Fat Quarter Bundle, and some Heat N Bond Feather Lite and ironed on some fusible before I dove into cutting! Once I had all of my pieces ready to go, I went directly to my sewing machine…I couldn’t wait to see this shark come to life! After sewing the appliqué, I used a remaining fat quarter as a backing, added some batting and created a shark sandwich! Then came my  favorite part, the free motion quilting! I added some splashes and waves to give our Shark friend a fun place to hang out!

Shark applique_website_small

 

I had a whale of a good time creating this applique design, and I’m sure you will too! I turned my Shark Applique into a 18.5” by 17.5” wall hanging, and I think this design would look great on nautical-themed quilts, pillows and more!

If  you want to see how the project came together for me, check out this stop-motion video on my Man Sewing YouTube channel!

Download your FREE Shark Appliqué PDF here!

Walking Foot and Stitch in the Ditch Sewing Tutorial

Learn how to use a walking foot and stitch in the ditch with Rob! Appell of Man Sewing

Learn how to use a walking foot and stitch in the ditch with Rob! Appell of Man Sewing

Stitch in the ditch is a style of machine quilting that simply follows the seam lines of the quilt top. The trouble is, all those layers of fabric and batting can really bog down the operation.

 

Learn how to use a walking foot and stitch in the ditch with Rob! Appell of Man Sewing

My advice? Swap out your presser foot for a walking foot. The walking foot is like “4-wheel drive” for your machine. It gently guides the top layer of fabric in sync with the feed dogs, so everything stays smooth and properly sandwiched.

Click HERE to learn how to stitch in the ditch with your walking foot!

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!

Folded Fabric Yoga Mat Bag

Folded Fabric Yoga Mat Bag

Folded Fabric Yoga Mat Bag

A few weeks ago I demonstrated how to build a thick, sturdy Folded Strips Bag out of jelly roll strips. Today I’m expanding on that concept with a Folded Fabric Yoga Mat Bag. The strips are folded and stitched together the same way, but this bag is designed to fit a rolled up yoga mat.

Folded Fabric Yoga Mat Bag

In this tutorial, I’ll demonstrate how to install a zipper and attach circular ends to your bag. Click HERE to watch!

Check out a new tutorial every Monday!