Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Feather Your Nest

I imagine that most of us who love to sew also love to decorate! If you like experimenting with different fabrics, textures, and colors, then sewing for your home is one more way to enjoy doing that. I used to paint the walls a lot- my husband joked that we were repainting every two weeks. These walls have been varying shades of purple, green, and gold over the years! I decided that my husband had a point, and about 5 years ago, I decided to try painting the walls a neutral gray and then when I wanted to redecorate, I would play around with color using fabric in the room- the pillows, drapes and blankets- things that I could sew.


So, recently I picked out some fabrics from Fabric Mart to give my living room a makeover. I ordered some sheers, fleeces, and decorator fabrics in shades of blue, cream and grey.  Let's start with the blankets. With winter around the corner, you've got to have a great blanket to cover up with while you watch TV or read a book!


I ordered 3 yards each of a Polartec Box fleece in Venetian Blue, and an Antique Cream Minky-like Sherpa Fleece. I had originally envisioned making a couple of no-sew tie blankets with the fringe using these, but when I got them the Sherpa Fleece was twice as thick as I had imagined! It was amazingly thick, and I had to come up with a different way to make the blankets.   I cut each piece into 1-1/2 yard lengths, and then trimmed the sherpa fleece to be four inches shorter and narrower than the box fleece.



Then I centered the cream fleece on top of the blue fleece, ran a strip of Wonder Tape around the edges, and folded the blue fleece over to make a border. The white strip is the Wonder Tape. I chose to use Wonder Tape instead of pins so that the fabric wouldn't shift while I was sewing it.



I zigzag stitched around the perimeter, and that was it!  So simple, and so much more luxurious than any blanket that I could have bought.  


For the sheers, I picked out this Silver Spheres Sheer fabric that was 118" wide. I had 8 yards which at 118" wide, seemed like a ton of fabric, but was really just perfect for the window opening. I cut it into four 2 yards pieces, sewed two of these pieces together at the selvages so that I had 236" wide panels, then added both a header and footer out of additional fabric.


I knew that I wanted to try using grommets for the top of the sheers, but I wasn't confident that putting grommets into sheers would be durable. I decided to create a header out of a silver satin. I used Dritz curtain grommets (that look like metal, but are actually just plastic). To use them, you use a template to cut holes in your fabric, and then snap the grommets over the hole. I decided to use a spray adhesive to hold my layers together, as I could easily see the layers shifting and causing problems. Here is my set up before I sprayed the adhesive. I had already attached the header to the sheer fabric, but had not sewn it closed.  I covered the areas that I didn't want to spray with newspaper, then lightly sprayed the adhesive on the satin.


I folded it in place, then used their template to mark the holes.


After cutting the holes, you slide one half of the grommet underneath, centering it in the hole. Here is a shot of what it looks like before you put the top part on. Then just snap on the top piece. No other tools are required.


I had ordered 24 grommets, and spaced them 12 inches apart. If I had to do it over again, I would get a couple more packages of grommets, and space them 8 inches apart. I would also recommend interfacing the header- I did not, and even though my satin is pretty stiff, it still could have used a little more body there.


They are really lovely and diffuse the sunlight in this room so nicely. I can't wait to see what the snowfall will look like through them. It's really hard to photograph windows by the way! 


You can't see the bottom because our sofa is in the way, but I did also add a silver fabric footer to these. I thought that they needed something weightier to hold them down at the bottom.


For the pillows, I ordered two yards of fabric for recovering some throw pillows- 1 solid and 1 print.  The one thing that I have learned over the years in making pillow covers, is that the home dec fabric really is superior to using regular cotton fabric. Pillows actually take quite a bit of stress, and regular cotton fabric will tear and wrinkle,  but home dec fabric doesn't. I was able to get 3 covers from each yard.


I use down pillow forms that I got from IKEA in various shapes and sizes. I like down-filled pillows because they seem to last longer than regular polyester filled pillows, and I can just change the covers on them. Again, you really need home dec fabric to use down pillows, as it is dense and won't let the pointy feathers through. Those feathers will manage to get through once in a while, but not often.


For the pillow covers, I don't do anything fancy. I just cut a square or rectangle the size of the form plus 1"  for seam allowances. I serge the raw edges, and use the selvages for edges if I can because that will be the best edge finish. I insert a zipper on one side- whatever zippers I have on hand.


Home dec sewing is really rewarding because you get to see and use what you've made everyday! I'm excited to have a fresh look in the living room, particularly as we go into the holidays when we'll be having family and friends over more often.


I think my cat is enjoying the new blanket and sheers too!



Happy Sewing! 
Ann

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made by a Fabricista: Milo + Citrine

Hello sewing friends! It’s Andrea - @happy.things.here on IG and today I’m on the blog to share some sew inspo on one of my favorite kinds of garments to make – cardigans! I absolutely love making them and wearing them year-round, whether it’s an extra layer for around my house in the winter, as my outermost layer in Spring and Fall, or paired with a dress on a cooler summer evening. I love love love cardigans! And there are so many great cardigan patterns out there – chances are that each of your favorite pattern companies offers multiple cardigan patterns. Button-less cardigans are great beginner patterns, and a handmade cardigan is a lovely personalized gift since it’s more forgiving for fit and you don’t have to know someone’s exact measurements to make one. And you can make them in all sorts of knit fabrics too.  Today I chose two cardigan patterns to share with you that I think bring a little something extra to the table. They are the Seamwork Milo and the Made by Rae Citrine.

Week 4: Jeansmaking- What They Made

This is it, the final round! And we certainly did not go easy on our three remaining contestants this time. This round they had to make their own pair of well fitting jeans. I think they all did an absolutely outstanding job! Take a look what these ladies accomplished & be sure to vote for your favorite! (Link at bottom of post.) And, don't forget to show us your me-made jeans on Facebook or Instagram. Details at the bottom of this post. Danesha from  Classyfied Life So first I must say that this entire challenge has been just that...a challenge! Two weeks ago there was hurricane Irma and I was blessed enough to not lose power and then I went out into the aftermath to capture some photos of my submission. Then two weeks ago I had a big trip planned so I had to do EVERYTHING  in two days . Then the BIGGEST challenge of all...THIS week! I got the challenge and I was super excited to have an extra few days and then before I could even get started I ended up in the eme

Made by a Fabricista: Revving up your style in the Dana Marie Moto Jacket

Hey friends - I am so excited to have been invited to participate as a Fabric Mart Fabricista this month!  This year is the year I challenge my sewing skills.   I have wanted a moto jacket for some time.  Not just any moto jacket but one that has a classic and timeless style. I saw the Dana Marie Moto Jacket pattern on the Fabric Mart website and knew that was the one.  The fabric I used was a beautiful porcelain white/black/silver 100% polyester plaid weave boucle suiting.    Remember when I said I wanted to challenge my sewing skills?  😉 This fabric was beautiful but fragile to work with.  It was a great mental challenge that had me problem solving before sewing to avoid any potential problems.  I first traced out the pattern onto tissue paper to determine the fit.   I used scrap cotton fabric to sew up a “practice run” of the jacket.    I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the jacket comes together.   I sewed up the muslin in one evening.  It was time to cut into the beautifu