Archive for April, 2010
Thursday, April 8th, 2010
When I was at Sew Expo, I found some super fun Echino fabric by Etsuko Furuya, at the Pacific Fabric & Crafts booth. Japanese fabric always so inspiring for me. Last year I put some Echino fabric on my Amy Butler’s Birdie Swing Bag. I LOVE it when a vibrant fabric inspires me to get into my “sewing room”.
I took my fun new fabrics and made new slipcovers for my tired throw pillows in my family room. It was so fun and easy and I love the way the great graphics contrast my dark brown sofa. It makes the whole room feel fresh and new. Download these free step by step instructions for pillowcase slipcovers from Bernina here.
I also took one of the large scene fabrics and spread it over an artist canvas, making it into a quick wall hanging for my daughter’s room. This was very easy to do. I bought an inexpensive wood framed canvas at a local art supply store and used my husbands staple tacker to get a more heavy duty professional staple. (An office stapler can work too but you are more likely to have to pull staples out and re-staple to get them to lie flat.) Then I measured my fabric, making sure that I left plenty of extra on the edges to wrap around canvas side and making sure that the scene I wanted would be positioned correctly. I ironed my fabric and then lined it up on the canvas. Then I pulled the fabric over the edges to the back side and stapled the fabric to the wood frame, making sure the fabric was pulled taut and even as I stapled. Voila, my daughter has a new wall hanging for her room. Easy, fun and sew satisfying.
-Carmen
Tags: decor, home, pillows
Posted in Crafting, Home Decor, Projects and Techniques, Sewing | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
It feels like Spring has finally arrived, and none too soon! We still have a way to go before it completely warms up here in the Puget Sound, but in the meantime here is a ‘cozy’ Easter project that is quick, easy and egg-stra special to make. (Sorry, could not resist.)
Materials Needed:
- Scraps of fabric, 7″x4″
- Fusible Interfacing, medium to heavy weight
- 1/4″ elastic, 2.5″ long
- Vintage button
- Trim, if wanted
Process:
- Cut scraps of fabric into 7 inch by 4 inch rectangles.
- Fuse fusible interfacing onto fabric following manufacturer’s instructions. This project is great for using up old, boardy interfacing, or interfacing scraps, as you want enough structure to support the egg. The example in the photo utilizes two layers of tailoring weight interfacing. If you are using home decorator or similar fabrics, you may be able to omit interfacing.
- Cut trim to fit one long edge, minus 1/2 inch (6.5″), if using trim.
- Pin trim, aligning raw edges, along one long edge, leaving 1/4 space on either end.
- Fold the 1/4″ elastic in half and pin 1/4 of the way down one short edge, aligning raw edges.
- Fold the rectangle in half, right sides together. The trim and the elastic should be inside, pointed away from the raw edges.
- Stitch across the short end holding the elastic, and then across the long edge. This should create a tube with one open end.
- Carefully trim the corners and turn the tube right side out. Gently square corners and press.
- Turn under the raw edges of the open end, and press. Edgestitch end closed.
- Check for fit around your favorite egg to determine button placement.
- Stitch button in place and enjoy!
This is a great way to use up all sorts of scraps of trim, fabrics, buttons and interfacings. Consider beading, embroidering or other embellishments.
Have fun!
–Katrina
Tags: easter, holiday, seasonal
Posted in Crafting, How To Guides, Projects and Techniques, Sewing | No Comments »
When I was at Sew Expo, I found some super fun Echino fabric by Etsuko Furuya, at the Pacific Fabric & Crafts booth. Japanese fabric always so inspiring for me. Last year I put some Echino fabric on my Amy Butler’s Birdie Swing Bag. I LOVE it when a vibrant fabric inspires me to get into my “sewing room”.
