Inspired to get the Sewing machine out ~ Jayne Loughlin

I’ve have a little tiny piece of fabric a lady gave me as she knew I loved Russian dolls. I never knew what to do with it as it is only a little piece. I needed a Air freshener to put in the car so thought I’ld make my own. Seeing Carolines owl I just had the urge to sew (my friends might be shocked ) I dusted the sewing machine off and away I went. It’s only simple but its useful and creative

First I was going to make a doll shape but it was a little too small so I decided to draw around the largest square shape with pencil using the Fiskars Shapecutter ‘Squares’ Template but the material was folded over double so one of the edges was placed on the fold this formed a rectangle piece of fabric. (photo below) Cut round the pencil lines.

  I then cut a shape out from my patterned fabric it was a Russian doll so really easy to cut out using Scissors. I tacked the doll on the plain material front, then I sewed around the edges of the doll with my machine in zigzag stitch. I then took the tacking off.

  Then I sewed the front and back of the squares together right sides facing adding a loop of ribbon inside too (See photo below) Also leave a little gap to fit filling in. Turn right way out.

 I put crushed pot pourri in the middle as I couldn’t think what else I had to fill it. I then sewed the gap up using a straight stitch with my machine and then sprayed the back of the cushion with vanilla oils too !

It is very simple but a very personal Car freshener. You could add anything to your freshener, Felt flowers, doodle shape, or just pretty fabric maybe buttons or a huge blossom…. Go and have fun and create a little piece of art that lots and lots of people might see passing your car ;)  x