BossyOz

After more than ten years I've decided to cancel the bossyoz.com domain, so from 1 APRIL 2022 you'll find me at the free website address  https://bossyoz.blogspot.com/ . In fact, EVERYTHING on my website is ALREADY on blogspot/blogger, but I've got the bossyoz.com domain showing as the address so there is no exporting / importing to be done. I'll check internal links after the shift, but fingers crossed all should work smoothly.  To confirm, my patterns, external blogs and quilting & sewing t-shirts remain in their usual places as below.  ACTION: Please update your bookmark to  https://bossyoz.blogspot.com/ BossyOz: Useful links BOOKS, PLANNERS & T-SHIRTS FOR SALE: Quilt Block Designer Journal - 24 blocks (4 pages per block):  https://amzn.to/3vWUjY1 Quilt Block Planner - 40 blocks (2 pages per block):  https://amzn.to/2Qi7T7E Quilting and sewing t-shirts:  https://amzn.to/3lRv0Sx UK Quilters United by a common thread, edited by Julie Passey,...

I have designed a few different quilting and sewing related t-shirts which are available for sale on Amazon UK (a select few are on Amazon US too). Below are some of them.  Quilting and sewing related Sew far sew good.  Woman, man and youth fits. Available in ten different colours. White text, lighter / colourful t-shirts,  https://amzn.to/2XrjoNU Patch by patch quilters create loving hugs . Available in 24 different colour combinations. Woman, man and youth fits. (£2 per sale goes to Quilts for Care Leavers, Q4CL ) White text, darker t-shirts,  https://amzn.to/3eASvO1 Blue text, lighter t-shirts,  https://amzn.to/3lgPdk6 White text, long sleeved t-shirts,  https://amzn.to/3tk0R0t Sewing Granny, Quilting Granny and Granny's Little Helper . 10 different colours for each of the Granny designs and nine for the little helper. Woman / youth fits. Sewing Granny,  https://amzn.to/2Xwc1Vz Quilting Granny,  https://amzn.to/3xJFpE8 Granny's Little Helper,...

The Quilt Block Planner is now live on Amazon globally and it has space for a whopping 40 quilt block designs  Similar to the Quilt Block Designer (link below), the Quilt Block Planner is for 12" x 12" (or 6" x 6" blocks if you like 1/2" grid lines!!).  The main difference is that the Quilt Block Planner has two pages per block (a 12x12 grid page and a notes page) which means that this version includes space for creating and documenting 40 blocks in each notebook.  Direct links to my notebooks / journals:  Quilt Block Designer Journal - 24 blocks (4 pages per block):  https://amzn.to/3vWUjY1 Quilt Block Planner Notebook - 40 blocks (2 pages per block):  https://amzn.to/2Qi7T7E Other quilting related things I sell on Amazon: Quilting and sewing t-shirts:  https://amzn.to/3lRv0Sx UK Quilters United by a common thread, edited by Julie Passey,  https://amzn.to/3w0PSeu UK Quilters United by a second thread, edited by Nina Danielsson,  https:/...

With the colder season upon us in the northern hemisphere, I have lowered the price for the footmuff pattern and tutorial to just £2. The instructions include a generic size to make, as well as take you through how to make one that fits exactly to the size of your own buggy / pushchair / stroller. Make sure you fill in your email address correctly. Once your payment has been approved, a link will be displayed so you can download the PDF immediately. You'll also receive an email confirming your order (please check spam/junk). Useful links My  original blog post  with reviews (2011):  http://www.bossyoz.com/2011/08/tutorial-cosytoe-footmuff-bunting-bag.html Updated blog post  (2018)  http://www.bossyoz.com/2018/06/refresh-of-footmuff-pattern.html Link to  shop  location:  https://ukqu.co.uk/shop/patterns-4/footmuff-for-pushchair-pdf-downloadable-pattern-and-tutorial/ Other names: cosytoe, footmuff, bunting bag, pushchair bag

= = =   Currently £4   = = = Almost seven years ago, I posted a tutorial of sorts, showing how you can make your own customised footmuff (also known as cosytoe, bunting bag, pushchair bag, etc). It has by far been my most popular post, attracting over 50k hits. After receiving a request to contribute to the Baby Feature (#babyfeatureUKQU) on the UKQU website , I have now updated the tutorial and turned it into a downloadable PDF pattern with images explaining the various steps of the process. As usual, it has taken longer to get the pattern and tutorial written up than actually making the item itself! Feedback on  my original tutorial  can be found in the comments section on the original post. Get your copy of the pattern To make your own customised footmuff, please head over to my UKQU shop ; whilst you are there, don’t miss the opportunity to also download some of my free patterns to make the UKQU logo (appliqué and FPP); just make sure you cli...

It didn't take long until the original flimsy seat for the doll's pushchair had been broken. Someone I know very well beat me to repairing it and did it "bloke style"......  silver tape and staples! Taking the original seat apart to use as a pattern would have been super easy, so I decided to make a new cover rather than try to mend the old one; after all it was now full of staples and sticky icky tape... However, when doing a google search, I came across a brilliant tutorial by Jaime at Pretty Prudent ( click for the link ). It even has standard measurements for the seat; perfect if you don't have the pushchair, but are making it as a surprise for someone else! For the new cover, I wanted something childish, but not too pink and girlie... Please ignore the measurements in the picture... This blue sweet fabric from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory series (Roald Dahl) was perfect. For the back, I used a pink fabric with red tiny dots from IK...

Sometimes it is just easier to make your own rather than go out hunting for the right size in the shops!   These have special double layered thermal insulation in the middle and then one side made from cotton fabric and the other with super soft brushed cotton.

This is a common combination of useful gifts for a newborn and the mother! The simple feeding apron, or more jokingly sometimes called " the hooter hider ", provide the mother (and the nursing baby!) some privacy whilst feeding in public. Once you get the hang of it, it is really useful and makes sure you don't hesitate to breast feed when the baby is hungry, no matter where you are!  There are also two covers for the soft packs of wetwipes (see TUTORIAL here ), and finally a really useful odds and sods bag . The bag is lined and easily takes a few diapers / nappies, a bottle, wipes (in their cover!) and a burp cloth. As the baby gets older it also works as a first bag for kindergarten / nursery with spare clothes and perhaps a cuddly. 

This cover fits UK standard packs of soft packs of baby wipes., e.g. the Pampers packs with 56 wipes. Approx finished size is 18 x 11 x 3 cm (7 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 2 1/4 inch) If this is the end of the tutorial, please click the link below saying READ MORE >>

With the colder season around the corner (for those of us in the northern hemisphere), you may like to check out my tutorial for making your own cosy bunting bag for your pushchair. Bunting bag tutorial Other words for this: cosy toe, foot muff, bag, stroller, pram,

This vintage fabric was a donation and I decided to create some items which we can sell at the charity Christmas Fair. The little hook is great for little hands to hold and shake (bell inside!).

I know it is August, but it is already time to prepare for the annual charity Christmas Fair in November.   I am really struggling to find inspiration, and there are so many other things I like to do before Baby 3 arrives. I have however managed to "help" the local fabric shop to get rid of some of the Christmas fabrics from last year... A definite win-win as they gave me a rather good price. Thanks!

Progress is slow, but steady... I have now managed to get 35 log cabin blocks done. Centre piece was cut as 3'x3'. The strips were cut 2'. I can't honestly say that I have managed to sew 1/4' all the time, so they are a bit wonky... (or let's blame the camera distortion!) I 'think' I like some white/creme to break it all up, so I am contemplating making some of these blocks. The centre piece is cut 5'x5' and the strips 3' (not sewn in the picture below). It is the same heart fabric as centre piece as in the log cabin ones. If I manage to decide on the backing fabric soon (most likely the pink in original post linked below, third picture, furthest to the right), I might make some blocks with that fabric in the centre too, and white/cream around. For original post - click here .

With the recent cold weather and snow, I was feeling sorry for little J sitting in her pushchair. Not certain if she'd accept the footmuff I made for her brother, I made her a water proof fleece blanket. Super simple! Two pieces of fabric, one water proof and one fleece, stitched together right sides facing.  Turned right sides out. Stitched the opening closed. Done. When summer comes, I am looking forward to using this for picnics in wet grass. Summer, mmmmm...

A friend of mine back in Sweden has just started up making fleece hats (including dino ones!) and hand warmers for the pram (stroller, buggy, push chair...). If you are based in Sweden and would like to order any of these, please make contact with her. She also does customised colours / models. Web: www.bizzi.se   Please let her know you found her via BossyOz if you are ordering anything!

The Christmas Fair at the Swedish Church in London opens to the general public tomorrow Thursday. Then it's closed on Friday, before opening again on Saturday and Sunday. Just make your way to Harcourt Street (close to Edgware Road, Marleybone and Baker Street stations) in London. This year I have made and donated only child related items as they sold well last year. The other  ladies have all been busy making Christmas related items. I am going to be in the stall tomorrow morning through to early afternoon. Please come by and say Hello! or Hej! My items include: Long-eared soft cuddly fleece rabbits, wetwipe covers, crinkly squares, pencil rolls and fleece hats have all been delivered ahead of the VIP opening tonight and the general opening tomorrow. 

Today, I have finally managed to create something for the Christmas Fair!!! I made some covers for packs of wetwipes as the ones for pocket tissues  Kickssons made last year sold really well. Hopefully these will be popular too! If you are interested in making these, but don't fancy 'winging it', please come back as I am preparing a tutorial for this simple but fun little project.

As easy as it gets!

Another pencil roll, this time in brushed cotton fabric with dinosaurs and an orange and red dotted lining fabric. This one, and another similar one, is most likely going to the Christmas Fair at the Swedish Church in London.

I am in the process of making some colourful bunting / flags for the children's room. This is a great way to use lots and lots of scrap pieces of fabric, but rather slow to stitch together and then turn right sides out, press, stitch on ribbon.... Patience has never been my strong side...