An easy little clock

I saw the idea for making a cute little clock at Prudent Baby. I decided to decorate my clock differently and go with a sewing theme. I found sewing-related charms online and used those as the “numbers.” 

Honestly, as I put the clock together, I was sure there was no way it would work. It seemed so flimsy and cheap. I was surprised when it ticked away, just as it should! Who knew making a clock was so easy?

Supplies

(Click fabrics for direct links for purchase at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.)

Metro Linen Turquoise

OD Sundeck Black

Charms or numbers

Clock parts

Canvas
I started with 1/2 yard of fabric, which was way more than enough. You just need enough to wrap around your canvas. I also used a small piece of solid black fabric for my applique design. My canvas was 12″x16″ and I got it at Hobby Lobby. I also got my 1/4″ clock movement there. The sewing charms I got on etsy.com from a seller called Bohemian Findings.

The pattern

Visit the tutorial for the DIY Cozy Embroidered Clock at Prudent Baby for a look at their great tutorial. I have re-enacted the tutorial here with my changes.

The process

First, cut out an image you’d like to place on your clock. I am not sure where I found this image. It was saved on my computer from a long time ago. I printed it and then cut it out of black fabric.
Cut out a piece of fabric that is big enough to wrap around the edges of your canvas. I cut mine extra big for now.
As seen in the other tutorial, use some tape to mark the border of your canvas. She uses masking tape, which I didn’t have. I’m sure it worked much better than my double-sided crummy tape.
Trace a circle the approximate size of the imaginary face of your clock. I used a small plate. Place your fabric cutout and pretend clock face within the boundaries of your tape. Get an idea for placement and pin.
Next, applique your design on your fabric. To applique, you don’t have to have a special stitch function or foot. It’s definitely easiest to use a clear presser foot for better visuals, and it must be able to accommodate a zigzag stitch.
Set your machine to a very short zigzag stitch. Mine was almost set to zero length. It will be pretty narrow, as well. 

Position your needle so that when it’s in the right position of the zigzag, it just barely hits the fabric you are appliqueing onto, just touching the outer edge of whatever it is you are appliqueing.

Start doing a zigzag around the edge. Whenever you need to stop and turn the fabric a bit, always make sure that your needle is in the right-most position, lift the presser foot, turn the fabric, and lower the presser foot.

Go slowly and take the curves and corners with care.

It’s really easier than you think it will be!
This part is also mentioned on the other blog, but I still managed to get confused, which is why there are a bunch of extra, incorrect folds on my circle. 

In this step, you want to create 12 equidistant folds around the circle, to denote where you’ll place your “numbers.”

Fold your circle in half (left). Then in half again (quartered) (middle). Then, fold your quarter of a circle into thirds, the first step of which is shown at right.

And fold your other side in, too. Then open it up and you have 12 equal folds. Like I said, I messed up at first and have some erroneous folds in mine. I marked the correct folds with a pen and also pins. Also mark the center of the circle — make sure it goes through to the fabric below.
I decided more or less how I wanted to position my charm “numbers.” 

Hand sew them to your fabric. I sewed right through my paper and carefully tore it away after.

Now start stapling your fabric to the canvas. Wrap it around and staple to the wood using a heavy duty staple gun.
I never get the corners just how I want them. I tried a few different ways and then decided this worked best for me. I cut away the excess fabric (left), folded in the edge (center) and then folded again and stapled (right).
The rest of this is pretty much covered on the other blog post where I got this idea. You need a piece of cardboard to support your clock parts. 

As you can see, we drink only the classiest wine in our home. Nothing like a nice glass of Two-Buck Chuck. I’ll just turn that around and we’ll pretend you didn’t see that.

Glue the cardboard into the back side of your frame behind where your clock will go. Just glue to the wood frame.

Remember how you marked the center of the clock face before? Now stick a pin all the way through. Mark on the cardboard where it comes out.
You’ll take the screw part of your clock movement and stick it through from the back to the front. You’ll have to poke a hole all the way through. I had to cut with scissors to make it big enough.
Add the clock hands according to the directions on the package. Mine sure seemed flimsy, so be careful! It was fairly easy to do, but it seemed like the hands were sort of flopping around a bit. I couldn’t figure out how to fix that and figured my clock probably wouldn’t work, but once I popped a battery in, it worked!  

My big problem, you may have noticed is that my clock hands are gold-toned and my charms silver-toned. Doh! By the time I started the project, I was way past returning these to Hobby Lobby and trying to order something else. I’ll just hope nobody looks too closely.