Projects on a Budget

In this economic climate, we are all thinking about what we can and cannot afford to make, what fabrics we can and cannot buy, what notions etc.  Well how about coming up with some ideas for projects on a budget?  THIS FEATURE IS NOW OPEN WORLDWIDE.  Here's the idea.  You head on over to Abakhan Fabrics and pick out £20 worth of anything that takes your eye.  We send it to you free, you make, photograph and write a tutorial to go on my blog.


So here's what you need to do:

1.   You can now be anywhere in the world to participate in this challenge!
2.   Leave a comment on this post telling me what you would like to make using £20 worth of anything from Abakhan.
3.   In a few days from today, I will choose a winner who will have one month to choose their booty from Abakhan, make something and write a tutorial.
4.   Don't be disheartened if I do not pick your idea this month, there are always other months.
6.   The item can be anything at all - clothing, quilted or non quilted items - anything crafty at all really.
7.   Be as original, as traditional, as creative or as simple as you like.
8.   And this month's theme is In The Garden - whether it's a picnic blanket, some garden chair cushions, a barbecue apron or anything else you could use out in the garden.

Comments

  1. My idea is perfectly practical and also good as a gift. It is a cutlery roll - one that has pockets for knives, forks, spoons and a serviette, it is rolled up and tied with fabric strips. We use ours on picnics and al fresco get togethers.

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  2. I urgently need new uphosted pillows for the bench on my balkony, that´s what I would like to do...

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  3. I would like to make a cool bag. I saw a lovely one at John Lewis but at £38 way out of my budget.

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  4. I would pick a bargin bundle with 50% low volume light colors and 50% darker colors and then make a paper pieced string blocks and lay them out as stars. £20 will go a long way :) Summer nights here in Denmark can be quite chilly, so we all need a quilt to wrap ourselfs in when sipping a good glass of wine on the balcony at night with our loved one. Should we by any chance have a perfect warm summer, we'll be needing the same quilt to lay on the grass while reading a good book. A 7x24 quilt so to speak...

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  5. I would make a blanket with some water proof bottom (normally the grass is wet here) and that you can roll and it has ties to carry around). Also but maybe non-garden related... that cupcake fabric made me want to make little aprons for girls (maybe with matching chef hats? I need to find a pattern for that!)Loved doing the previous project on a budget and want some more! ;)

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  6. I spied the Fat Quarters English Floral Purple Bundle and I think it would work great for a little garden table cloth :) (with the cheap waterproof nylon for backing!)

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  7. Hello Lily,

    There are two things I would like to try out. A baby's summer dress made from fat quarters - the birds and spots pack in red would be lovely. Also a tea cosy and matching quilted tray cloth in the wildflower fat quarters. Tea goes cold in the garden even in summer. That gives us change out of twenty quid and two separate projects, so two months' worth of tutorials.

    Love,
    Muv

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  8. I would like to try andnmake a circular table cloth, with a hole in the middle to go on to an outside table that holds a sun umbrella.

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  9. I need to make a dress for my GD to wear to her aunt's wedding this summer. I have the pattern and would pick a floral and a solid to make the dress from. I like the cotton coral and the retro cerise but can't figure out how to see them together in comparison to make sure they match.

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  10. How about a garden quilt? Something you could have a picnic on outdoors in the summer and enjoy inside in the winter to brighten up those dreary, cold, days. Have a super day!

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  11. A noughts and crosses quilt for games in the garden when we finally get a summer!

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  12. I think a little garden tepee for kiddies to play in out of the sun. A waterproof bottom would keep them off the dew. Super cute for a present. I have seen them for sale, but they are always out of my price range.

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  13. Great idea! We recently turned our dining room into a 3rd bedroom because we can't afford to move into a bigger house. I then grabbed an old trestle table and turned our back deck into our new 'dining room'. At first I felt stuck in our tiny house, but we love eating outside (weather permitting) and it's given me so many more ideas for living resourcefully with little. :) I would make a new table cloth for my new dining table. :)

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  14. I'd like to make sandwich covers that can also unfold and be used as place mats! There are all sorts of summer concerts that take places in parks throughout the summer, and this multi-purpose item would really come in handy!!

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  15. A quilt for taking on picnics and throwing over the ground, or over a bench or around the shoulders of you and your loved ones if it gets cold.

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  16. I would make a set of pot holders that could also be used as trivets. Using a couple of complementary quilting patterns to suggest a set or sets. I know I never have enough pot holders.during the holidays when a lot of large meals are made and served. Maybe if there is enough fabric left over a centerpiece could me made for the table as well.

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