Inspiration...Christmas Pillow

 Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  I love decorating and will start the day after Thanksgiving and end around the epiphany.  This year I found this pillow cover:

This is the Nostalgic Tree Embroidered Pillow Cover from the Pottery Barn.  Price tag: $99.50.  Description: 50% cotton/27% linen/23% rayon, reverses to 100% cotton melange in solid color, zipper closure, accomodates 20-inch insert, spot clean.

I truly love the idea of making this pillow cover.  The embroidery would be a definite slow down for me because I am slow.  Here are generally instructions for creating a pillow cover:

1.  Size - I make mine the same size as the pillow insert so that the dog ears are less likely to show.  Example - this is a 20-inch pillow insert add 1-inch to the that to allow for 1/2-inch seam allowances.

2.  Decide how you want to do the zipper.  I have instructions for a lapped zipper here.  

3.  Generally instruction for how I decided on the sizes for the back are here.  

4.  How to create your piping here.

If you want to see the floor pillows that the created, do a floor pillow search.  I still have those pillow covers and forms.

Now for the embroidery, I think I would just free hand something and start embroidering.  Don't forget to locate little ornaments for the tree.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Applique Pillow

 As much as I love sewing clothing, I also do home dec from time to time.  This pillow is fantastic:

This is the Hollyhocks Embroidered Linen Cushion by Susie Watson Designs.  Price tag: L85.00 ($115-$120.00).  Details:  hand embroidered, linen, finished with pompoms, back is a dimity fabric, and feather pillow included.  Size: 40x54cm (~15 3/4-inches x ~21 1/4-inches).

This is a wonderful pillow.  It is well worth your time to check out the Susie Watson Designs website.  There is a ton of inspiration there.  Who knows maybe you will find something that you need.  

Here is my favorite way to add a zipper to a pillow.  As for the actual size of the pillow, you get to decide.  Just remember to add your seam allowance.  I prefer a 1/2-inch seam allowance for home dec items.  This is really where your creativity can shine.

Happy Stitching!

Home Dec Pillow Inspiration...

 Do you like to change up you decor from time to time?  This is a great pillow idea for the machine embroidery or hand embroidery.

The is the Gracre Floral Embroidered Lumbar Pillow cover from Pottery Barn.  Price tag: $79.50.  Details:  100% cotton slub front and back, zipper closure, overall size 26-inches wide x 16-inches high, machine washable.  

Recreating the pillow form is fairly easy.  I use a 1/2-inch seam allowance for home dec items.  So, just add an inch to the dimensions.  As for adding a zipper, you can follow instructions here. 

The embroidery is all up to you.  This is where you get to be creative.  If you zoom in to the picture at Pottery Barn, you can see that the picture that the embroidery actually looks like it is hand done.  

Not an embroiderer?  Pottery Barn would be happy to sell you the cover and/or the insert.

Happy Stitching!

Inspirtion...Holiday Pillow

 This inspiration could be a stash buster if you are a person who keeps your small scraps.  

This is the Pottery Barn Dress Patchwork Tree Lumbar Pillow Cover.  Price tag: $ 79.50. Details:  16" x 24", 24" zipper, cotton/linen/viscose blend.

This is such a fun pillow.  It is full of small pieces of fabric with tons of embroidery.  This is so full of creativity.  

How would you make this pillow?  I would use a linen fabric and cut two pieces that are 17" x 25" or 1" larger measures than the size of your pillow form. For the zipper, this would be a good application for an invisible zipper.  Follow these directions for excellent results.  For the applique, purchase some fat quarters in christmas colors or check out the small pieces in your stash, whichever works best for you.  This is where you get creative.  Use specialty stitches on your sewing machine or attach by hand the various strips to create your trees.  This is where you just have fun.  Hope you are inspired to creative something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Decorative Pillow

 I love throw pillows.  Here is one that is being shown in the Pottery Barn Holiday collection:

This is the Love Patchwork Lumbar Pillow Cover from Pottery Barn. Price tag: $79.50.  Details:  100% cotton linen, yarn dyed fiber, reverses to 100% cotton in natural, zipper closure, accommodates a 16-inch by 26-inch insert, machine wash.

Folks, this would be so easy to duplicate.  The only thing that you really need to decide on is the color scheme.  The applique could be hand drawn if you desired.  I would need a template.   Hope you are inspired.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Linen Pillow Covers

 Spring is in the air.  Seems like a good time to do a bit of a decor reboot.  Here is some pillow covers:

This is the Pottery Barn Carmelita Flax Linen Pillow Cover.  Price tag: $79.00.  Details: 100% flax linen, reversible, 22"x22", 20" zipper, spot clean.  Check it out online,

I am all for redecorating from time to time.  However, this pillow cover seem a little on the expensive side.  You only need about 3/4 yard of linen, a zipper, and thread to make it.  I will help you out a bit.  Here is a Flanged Pillow tutorial.  Linen fabrics can be found at this store.  Be sure to check out the daily specials and the doggie bags.  

Making your own pillow covers means you get to decide color, size, and style.  They can easily be changed out for the season, if you choose.  You get to decide if the pillow cover is washable.  Linen can easily be put in the washer, if you wash it before you start.

The pillow forms can be expensive.  The pillow forms at Pottery Barn are not a bad price.  Surprisingly.  

Happy Sewing!

2023 Project List...

 This year, I have decided to make a list of intended projects.  I do not think that I will apply time periods to them.  Just make the list and check it off.  Here is the list:

1.  Finish my son's quilt.  It just needs binding applied.

2.  New Christmas Tree Skirt - I have been saying this for years and have not accomplished it. This year is the year.

3.  Four Christmas pillows - these will be machined embroidered.  I have the fabric for one of the pillows. Need to locate trim for that pillow.

4.  Slipcovers - one chair, one ottoman, one loveseat.  I have 15 yards of fabric and one roll of cotton cording.  I know this will not be enough fabric or cording to cover all of these items.  I forgot to include the yardage for piping.  I have been working on the patterns.

5.  Fit the Willow Tank pattern. Add a couple of new tank tops for hot weather.

6.  Re-fit the fabrics-store.com Linen Tank.  This is probably my all time favorite tank.  It is a free pattern but is extremely well drafted.

7.  Fit the Love Notions T-shirt patterns.  There are two and I want to try both. 

8.  Finish a warm weather vest for my husband.  This was started in 2022 and I ran into an issue with the pattern.  It is a familiar complaint that the patterns tell you to use a particular length zipper but that length does not work with the pattern.  It is much easier to order the correct length zipper than to fix a zipper to the correct length.  Poor drafting.

9.   Finish an Alabama Chanin dress.

I suppose that is it for now.  Projects can always be added.  This list will keep me very busy if I choose to follow it.

In addition to the projects, I will re-organizing my sewing/craft room.  I think I need to rotate some stuff out to my storage unit.  Yeah, I know, I should not have a storage unit for my sewing stuff but I do.  I do freely allow others to store stuff in it because it is not full by any means.  I have too much stuff and can not seem to part with it.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Knit Pillow Covers

 Pillows are a quick way to change the atmosphere in a room.  I do think of this covers as more of fall/winter but this just gives you time to make them.  Here are the pillows covers:

This is a the Pottery Barn Camelia Chunky Knit Lumbar Pillow Cover.  Price tag: $39.50.  Details: accommodates a 14"x 20" pillow insert, knit front is 100% polyester with the back side being 100% cotton, zipper closure, spot clean.

This is the Pottery Barn Colossal Handknit Pillow Cover. Price tag: $79.50. Details: accommodates a 24" pillow insert, zipper closure, front is knit from 100% acrylic with back from 100% cotton, lining is 100% polyester, spot clean.

I can see this is fall, winter, various holiday colors easily.  However I would much rather spend my time creating them.   A quick gander around and I found 10 free patterns for pillow covers.  You might have to change the instructions a little bit to get the size you.  

Now, I am buzzing with ideas for my own living space.  I have lots of pillow forms and I currently planning on making new slip covers so this is a good time to plan makes pillow fronts.  I can easily knits these while I am spending time with my parents.  

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Lunbar Pillow

 With the exception of Christmas, I do not decorate for holidays.  However I love the idea of using pillow covers to bring in the season. Here is a perfect one for Thanksgiving:

This is a pillow cover from Pottery Barn. Price tag: $69.50.  Details:  100% yarn dyed cotton, 14" x 36", machine washable.

It does not take much to recreate this - 1 1/4 yard of fabric and some seam tape.  Honestly, I would most likely purchase 1 1/2 yards so there is a bit of room for cutting errors and shrinkage.  I always use 1/2" seams on home dec items so the measurements would be 15" x 37".  If you want to add a zipper, here is a tutorial that gives an almost hidden zipper.

Happy Stitching!

RTW Details...

 My niece asked if I could alter a pair of work pants for her.  I admit I hesitated because I really dislike doing alterations and I fear that others will want me to do the same.  However because the last year has been so rough on her,  I decided to give it a try.  She had lost her job and had been working three jobs until she found another full time job.  I glad I did.  I was very intrigued by the pocket on these pants:

This is perhaps the flattest pocket on pants that I have ever seen.  Here is a peek at the inside:

The pocket is one layer with the top sewn into the waist band.  Notice the stitch that is used is a stretch stitch.  My machine manual refers to this stitch as a Flatlock Stitch.  Also if you would look at the waistband in the first picture you will see that a Three Step Zip Zag is used in the middle of the waist band.

Because I am intrigued by the pocket, I decided to figure out how to do it.  The little flap at the top of the pocket actually hides the zippered pocket.  The flap was about 3/4" deep.  The technique is very similar to the technique that I use when making a pillow with a zipper.  The technique can be found in this tutorial on How to add a Zipper to a Pillow Cover.  That will most likely get the process started.  I would think that the flap itself needs to be deeper than the 1-inch in the tutorial maybe 1 1/4-inches.  The stitching line in the first phone is the line where the zipper is attached to the yoke.  So the yoke is lengthened by about 3/4" plus the return and seam which would probably mean that you need to add 2-inches to the yoke edge at the seamline.  

I think I'm going to play with this and see what I come up with.  If I do, I will create a tutorial.

What are your thoughts on this pocket?

Happy Stitching!  

Shift Dress...

I'm still trying to beat the heat.  I'm also running a little bit late.  I picked a sleeveless shift dress:

This is New Look 6500. I've selected View D to make.  This is a fairly simple view and if I want the View C pockets they can be easily added.  This style reminds me of the basic Lilly Pulitzer shift dress.  There are a few reviews at Pattern Review.  You'll have to do a search as I was unable to put in a direct link.   Here's the muslin in a size 22:

This is sewn exactly as the pattern is.  I have removed seam allowances from the sleeves and neck.  I'm a little surprised at how well this fits.  I was actually expecting something horrible with this experiment.  Things that I see:

Fitting:
1.  Shoulder angle needs to be adjusted.
2.  Dart needs to be moved and made a bit larger.
3.  It may benefit from vertical darts in the back.  This might be done after construction.

Styling:
1.  Dress needs 3 inches added to the length plus the hem.
2.  Lower neckline by about 1/2 inch.
3.  Adjust armhole.

With the exception of length, I think the fitting changes could me made to the this muslin and then transfer to the pattern.  As far as styling, the neckline changes can be made but the changes to the armhole will depend on what I decide to do.

I'm planning on lining this dress so I went looking for on line resources (why do I have a library?).  Here's one that I found for drafting facing - all in one facing, and for sewing all in one facing.

Here's the pink dress in a Brussels Washer Linen Blend:

I did forget to mention that I lined this dress with a white cotton lawn.  Even though this dress looks a bit like a pillow case on me, I believe I will still get plenty of wear out of when the weather becomes unbearable.

I think I'm going to make one more sleeveless dress and  I might make another version at a later date.  A simple dress with sleeves is always a winner.  Here are some additional tutorials that may be of some use:

1.  Invisible Zipper Installation
2.  How to Sew a Skirt Lining to Your Zipper by Sewing Machine

I didn't do the sewing the lining to the dress.  I kinda chicken out.  Maybe on another version.

Hope you are inspired to stitch something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Found Beauty...

Moving all of my sewing stuff across country has been a true eye-opener.  Too much stuff but it has been fun going through it.  I have also found many projects.  Many unfinished and stuffed into bags and/or boxes.  Along with the unfinished projects, there have many projects that were purchased (pattern, fabrics, and notions) and just left in the bag for another day.  I'm planning on finishing some of these projects.  The first project is this little beauty:

Yes, this is very hard to photograph but I tried.  I'm pretty sure this is something that I did in the late 80s when I was learning how to hand quilt.  I have no idea if it was ever intended to be anything but what it is but I'm going to turn this into a small pillow.  Hopefully, among the pillow form stash will be a form that will fit the finished size.  Also found with it was more of the same muslin and this will be perfect for the backing.  Now, I just need to see if I have a zipper in an appropriate color (cream or white).

Have you found old projects like this?  Have you gone through with the completion?  Were you happy with the end results?

I'm hoping that this will be a good addition for the bench in my entryway.

Happy Stitching!

Pillow Cover Completed...

The trapunto pillow cover is finally completed.  Here are some pictures:

Here's the new pillow cover before it was washed. See how pointy the corners are.  This is when I realized that I forgot to adjust for the dogears.

  

Here's the pillow cover after the dogear adjustment and being washed.  I looks like I could done more than 1/2" adjustment but I do not plan on making any additional changes to this pillow cover.  I don't have a picture of the back but it has a lapped zipper application as shown in this tutorial.

I'm happy with my first attempt at machine trapunto.  As far as a technique for our monthly sewing get together, I would call this a success.  Both of us finished our projects.  This is a technique I would like to revisit for other projects.  I'm even happy with my second attempt at doing free motion quilting. I can't remember if I said anything about my first free motion quilting attempt but I wasn't sure that I would ever revisit the free motion quilting after I did it.

If you're interested in attempting the machine trapunto, this post  talks a bit about technique with links to how-to sources.  This post shows my work on the pillow case.

Happy Stitching!

Trapunto...The First Attempt

I didn't realize when I decided to attempt trapunto that there would be soooo many decisions.  I started with the instructions for the Quilted Snowflake at quiltsocial.com.  The instructions seemed fairly straight forward.  Next, I had to decide on a design.  This was really hard. I finally settle for a Celtic knot design.  Here's the design that I chose:

Due to the size of the design,  I decided to create a pillow cover .  Sorry, I don't remember where I found the design.  It was a freebie. Next, I had to choose fabric but what color? Most of the time trapunto is done is light colors or a solid.  I decided to go with a cream color fabric.

So here is my tracing.  Even though you were suppose to use a water soluble marking pen, I didn't. It was a kid's colored marking pen.  We'll find out if it was a mistake when the finished project is washed.  Actually, I thought that I had a water soluble pen and it turned out to be a air erase pen.  The air erase pen would not write on the heavy duty water soluble stabilizer.

Here's the design stitched with the water soluble thread.  I chose to use it in the bobbin as well has the top thread.  The instructions had you using thread the matched the main fabric in the bobbin but I didn't want any loose thread hanging around when the item was washed.  I used two layers of a cotton batting (it was in the stash).

Here you're starting to see the design pop.  I was really making a mess with the free motion quilting and I quilted the inside very tight.  I had to take a break at this point.  My sewing buddy had finished her project and decided that she would like to do the trapunto again in the future.

Here is the piece with the finished free motion quilting.  I did not quilt the outside portion as tightly as the inside portion.    I'm happy with the look of the project and hope that I like the look of the cream in my family room.  I'll post the finished pillow cover at a later date.  As I still need to cut out the back and get a zipper.

Time-wise, it took about 6 hours to complete.  This included me cutting out the fabric for the top, back, and batting.  Stitching the initial Celtic knot and then trimming the batting from the areas that I didn't want it.  Then, completing the free motion quilting.  There were also breaks for lunch and when my sewing buddy left.

What do you think of my first trapunto attempt?  I even feel like I got the hang of free motion quilting.  This is the second time I have done the free motion quilting and I think I'm starting to like it.  I can see it being a very relaxing why to spent a free afternoon or evening.

Happy Stitching!

Another day..

Well, I did get the pillow started yesterday.  The front and back have been cut out with the zipper installed on the back.  I started my bias trim and messed up the first one.  Somehow, I ended up cutting on the straight of grain and that will not work.  I will work on getting the remaining fabric turned into bias and hope that I have enough fabric left.  Maybe the pillow will not be as frilly.

The new sewing machine (Singer 160) showed up on Friday.  I was so excited.  It really is a pretty machine even if it is fairly plasticy (is that a word?).  I unpacked it and checked to make sure that everything that was suppose to be in the box was in the box.  There wasn't enough time on Friday to do anything else.  Fast forward to Saturday afternoon. I cleared off a spot on one of my tables and set to work getting the machine ready to sew.  First thing, the automatic needle threader didn't work.  Ok, that isn't that big of a deal but this is the nosiest machine that I have EVER heard running.  As I walk through testing all the stitches, I realize that  not all of the stitches stitched correctly.  Now, I know with this being electronic that there could be some adjustments needed but I don't think that there is anyone in the area that works on these machines.  I contacted customer service but haven't heard back from them yet.   It has a 30 day return window for returns and that really isn't long enough to send to a warranty center for work.  However, it is a pretty machine.  It comes with some great stitches and would make a great machine as long as it is functioning correctly.  If I don't hear from the Singer customer service by tomorrow evening, I will be returning it.  There really isn't any reason to keep it if it isn't functioning the way it should be.

Happy Stitching!

The machines work...

Today, I cut out the muslin squares and cotton batting for the Superior University Razzle Dazzle lesson. Along with the Razzle Dazzle, I also received a spool of the Bottom Line thread. I completed the testing with the Bottom Line thread. The Bottom Line thread reminded me of Mettler Seralene (formerly known as Metralene). I also wound the Razzle Dazzle on the bobbin but that is where I got a little nervous about the bottom case. I don't want to mess up the tension on the bobbin case and I do not own a specialty bobbin case. Has anyone else used the specialty threads in the bobbin case of Viking without the specialty bobbin case?

Happily, the floral fabric I washed yesterday did not fade. I am hoping to get the cotton fabrics ironed tomorrow. I'm not sure that I have a zipper that is at least 14" long so that may slow down the pillow project but I can everything cut out and perhaps, get the front embellished. The sleep shirt for my son will need to draw out. This will require some measurements from my son. The pattern I'm using is from Buckles and Bobbins sewing book for boys. I got it thinking that I could interest my son in sewing a little bit but I realize that is not going to happen.

Happy Stitching!

Another project finished...

I must be on a roll. This is the 3rd project complete in the past month.

I decided to take an chair from the house to my office/shop but it needed to be changed a little bit. This chair had been sitting on my deck for the last couple years. So the finish on it wasn't in good condition. Here's a pic after it was sanded:

DH stepped in and painted the chair for me. Although the chair looks very white, it's not. It is an ivory color.

I made a pattern by measuring across the seat, dividing by 2 and adding 3/4". Then drew a big circle. This took 1/2 yard of 44" quilting cotton.

Here's the leftovers after cutting out the cushion cover. At this point, I'm hoping that square is big enough to create the ties and bias binding for the piping.

All squared up.

Selecting the spot to cut the 45 degree angle for the bias strips.


Moved the piece from the right to the left so that the straight edges can be sewn together. Notice that both outside edges are now at a 45 degree angle.

Stitched the 1/4" seam.

Pressed seam to the side.

Not shown is how I figured the width of the bias binding which is going to be 1 3/4" wide. How I calculate is by taking the piping and a tape measure. Wrap the tape measure around the piping making sure that you seam allowance (1/2") is visible under the piping. Turn the tape measure over and see where the end of the tape measure end is sitting. That is the width of the bias binding.

Here I took a colored pencil and drew my lines.

Here is where I pinned the seam together. This is where you have to be accurate. Make sure the lines meet on the seam line (1/4").

Here's the seam sewn and you can see that my lines match from one side of the seam to the other.

The cut out bias strips.

Piping sewn to top. Here's I'm getting ready to attach the two ends to make the continuous loop of piping.

Piping is finished, zipper installed, and everything is sewn together. Not to bad for a quick cushion cover. Can you see what I forgot? It's in the picture below.

Cushion cover has the pillow form in it. Yes, it's a pillow form and not a cushion. I went to JoAnn's to get a round cushion but they only had a pillow form which makes it a little puffier than what I wanted. Cushion needs to be played with a little bit to get it to fill out the cover a little better.

Following are examples of how it looks:



This is far from perfect but I'm happy with it. It is the very first time that I have made a round pillow cover. The very first time that I have put a zipper in the round. The zipper didn't turn out so great but it is definitely a learning experience. I love the fabric and actually think that it would have made a great skirt or even a shirt.

The pillow form was suppose to be the same size as the chair - 16". It's not really true. Maybe if you measured from seam to seam on the pillow but it definitely doesn't sit as 16". When making a cover for a pillow or a cushion, make it the same size as what is being covered as in don't add seam allowances unless you need a little for the height of the cushion/pillow form. That way it will fill out the cover.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that I had just enough bias strips for the piping and the ties. The ties are a tad short but will tie.

Happy Stitching!

Pillow is done!

The pillow cover for the rocker is finished. Here's a picture of the cover front:

I attempted making a change to the pattern to reduce the dog-eared effect. The cover doesn't look too bad. I love this fabric. It is really springy/summery.

Here's a picture of the cover back. You can see right along the edge above the piping that the pattern changes. This is the zipper.

Here's the finished product. I think I need to play with the pillow form a little bit to fill out the corners in on bottom. Overall, I'm happy with the way the pillow turned out. I will not hesitate making the pillow cover the same dimensions are the pillow form in the future.

Happy Sewing!

How to add a zipper to a pillow cover

This is a quick and easy way to put a zipper into a pillow:

Step 1. Finish the straight edges of the 2 pillow backs. It doesn't matter how if it's done with a zigzag or a serger. It could even be done with pinking shears. Whatever is available. I finish these edges so that they do not ravel in to the process of putting the pillow form into the pillow.

Step 2. Press the edges back. The picture above, the narrow piece has 1/2" fold and the larger piece has a 1" fold.

Step 3. Press, if necessary, and open the zipper. I am a big fan of wonder tape. It is 1/4" wide and sticky on both sides. Here I have applied it along the zipper tape using one of the threads for placement. Test that the zipper pull will pass by the tape without hitting it. (You don't have to use the Wonder Tape but it is a wonderful product.)

Step 4. Close the zipper and take the narrow piece of the pillow back. Carefully push the fabric to the zipper where you have applied the Wonder Tape. You want this to be as straight as possible. Check again that the zipper will open without bumping into the fabric. (If you have chosen not to use the Wonder tape, carefully baste your fabric to your zipper making sure it is straight.)

Step 5. Open the zipper and use the zipper foot as your guide by placing it along the edge of the fabric next to the zipper. Stitch. (Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the positioning)

Step 6. Close your zipper. I always have a 1/4" overlap for the zipper. At this point, I apply more Wonder Tape to the zipper edge that was just sewn. (Again, you can baste if you don't want to use the Wonder Tape. Be carefully with your positioning).

Step 7. Apply the larger piece of the pillow back along where the Wonder Tape has been applied.

Step 8. Turn over the pillow back as your next row of stitching will be from the back. Position the fabric using the zipper foot as your guide along the edge of the zipper tape. Stitch. (If you basted the two pieces together using the zipper tape as a guide, stitch from the front stitching along basting.)

Step 9. Pillow back is complete and ready to add piping or ruffle and stitch to the front.

Feel free to ask any questions...

Happy Sewing!