Call on members of the family to be involved in your wedding preparations and ask them to make something! It will not only be a unique contribution but so much more treasured.

Ring pouch

Gather your supplies
Fabric to match groomsman's suit; 30cm cord or ribbon; small sharp scissors; safety pin; small charm; silk ribbon.

Here's how
1 Cut fabric to 22cm by 10cm. Fold in half (inside out) and sew along sides, leaving a small seam. Turn the top over 2cm and sew a channel for the cord. Turn the pouch the right way out, and carefully cut a small slit with very sharp scissors for the cord to be threaded through and tied.

2 Attach one end of ribbon or cord to a safety pin and thread through the channel. Tie off the ends with a tiny knot to prevent fraying. Decorate with a small charm (available at craft stores) and a silk ribbon bow.

Tip: As an alternative you can tie the ribbon on the outside of the pouch. Simply attach the cord at the back to prevent it separating and tie in a bow around the front.

Ring purse


Gather your supplies
2 coordinating fabrics; ribbon; press stud or button

Here's how
1 Cut 2 strips of coordinating fabrics 21 x11cm. Have the strips of fabric right sides facing and sew along 3 sides leaving the top open. Turn the right way out and iron flat. Tuck the top ends inward and slipstitch to close. Iron flat.

2 Lay the side with the inside fabric facing upwards, then fold the bottom end up, stopping 6cm from the top. Sew down each side with a matching thread. Iron the top flap down.

3 What you use to secure the flap will also be the decorative trim. Consider ribbon or a press-stud, or sew on a button and a ribbon tie.

Ring cushion

In blue organza with white flowers
Finished size 24 x 24cm. Seam allowances are 1cm.

Gather your supplies
Blue cotton fabric; matching organza; white patchwork cotton with snowflake pattern; Vliesofix; calico, wadding; sequins; leaf-shaped beads; 50cm 10mm-wide satin ribbon; clear button; fabric pencil; glue.

Here's how
1 Cut 2 x 26cm squares of blue fabric measuring and 2 squares of organza.

2 Trace 12 petal shapes and 4 stalks onto Vliesofix. Iron onto white patchwork cotton. Cut out shapes and peel off backing.

Iron shapes onto blue fabric - 3 petals and 1 stalk to each coiner of cotton square about 8cm diagonally in from edge.

3 Lay blue cotton face up and place 1 sheer square over the top, then stitch a straight line across the centre horizontally and then vertically to create 4 quarters. Lay second sheer square face down on top of these and then second cotton square face down.

4 Sew around the 4 sides, leaving a 15cm gap at the bottom edge to insert the cushion. Turn right way out (the 2 organza squares should be on the outside top and bottom).

5 Cut two 25.5cm squares of calico Sew together around the edges, leaving about 15crn open on 1 side Turn right side out and stuff with wadding to form a flattish cushion. Slipstitch opening closed. Insert calico cushion into blue cover. Slipstitch gap closed Sew around all 4 sides creating an edging of 5mm. Using a zipper foot will make this much easier.

6 Glue on sequins and leaf-shaped beads to each flower. Cut a 50cm length of 10mm satin ribbon. Find the middle of the ribbon and place in the centre of the cushion. Hand sew to cushion from front to back, anchoring the thread at the back using a clear button and pulling to create tension. This will give the cushion some shape and a depression in the centre on which to rest the rings. Tie the wedding rings to the cushion by threading on each end of the ribbon and tie a secure bow.

Embroidered organza cushion

Gather your supplies
Green satin; embroidered organza; 24cm square pillow or wadding; 200cm green cord; strong green thread

Here's how
1 Cut two 26cm squares from green satin and one 26cm square of embroidered organza. With sheer square sandwiched between the 2 plain squares and with the right sides together, sew a 1cm seam around the edges, leaving a 15cm gap on the fourth side to insert filling.

2 Tum right-side out and iron flat. Insert filler or pillow and slipstitch closed. Then slipstitcli coordinating green cord around edge, tucking the ends into the seam at the centre of the bottom edge.

3 Create a 3-petal shape with the cord and thread strong green cotton through each loop to secure. Thread through the cushion from front to back and secure with a button. Pull tight enough for indentation and finish off.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens, November 2003