Innholdsfortegnelse for Sew Home Winter 2013 i Threads Magazine

You need look no further than your sewing machine. That’s what this special issue of Threads magazine is all about. From simple-to-sew pillows (p. 22) to elaborate chair slipcovers (p. 54), and from chic pleated shams (p. 42) to plans for jazzing up lampshades (p. 74) and curtain panels (p. 82), you’ll find it here. Redecorate in the living room, bedroom, kitchen—pretty much any room in the house—with 47 gorgeous, step-by-step home décor sewing projects. Enjoy!…

Even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist, you can make an impressive art quilt. Let fabric be your paint box and dynamic prints your renderings. This quilt is made by fusing and layering fabrics, which allows you to easily achieve a unique, more modern design than traditional quilting produces. Art quilts are more about visual impact than traditional sewing techniques; anything goes when it comes to creating them and that’s what makes them all the more fun. The miracle of fusing, which is a perfectly acceptable technique in the crafting of art quilts, allows you to work with the most complex shapes without having to worry about seaming or hand appliqué. Readily available products make the process easy and allow you to let your creativity flow. Here,…

A basic pair of curtains can transfom your space. Here, a pair of café curtains are sewn and given attached tiebacks that wrap around and button. The tiebacks not only keep the curtains in place but also provide an opportunity to feature special buttons. They make the curtains simple to open and close, and you’ll never lose your tiebacks. The options for creating new looks with this curtain are many. You could go for a sweet, country look, as you’ll see here, or dress the curtain up with silky fabrics and jewel-like buttons. You can make the tiebacks in matching or contrasting fabric, add trim, or replace the buttons with another closure—such as gripper snaps on a plaid background for a casual, western feel. To hang the curtains, you’ll need…

If you’re looking at this fabric tray and thinking it’s too difficult to make, think again. It’s easy to create, and you’ll not only find endless uses for it but also have bragging rights to go with it. To make this tray, you wrap strips of fabric—of one kind or many—around a length of lightweight clothesline. As you wrap and sew, you’ll master the coiling techniques necessary to craft the tray, including simple tricks for completing the sides. Once you know how to shape the sides, altering the look is a piece of cake. Supplies • Clothespins • Cotton clothesline/cord, 3/16-inch diameter, approximately 50 feet (available in hardware stores) • Cotton quilting fabric, ¼ yard • Quilting ruler • Rotary cutter and mat • Scissors • Sewing machine with a…

Elegant and easy, pleated details are perfect embellishments for soft furnishings. Pleats can be pencil thin or huge, and they can be as delicate as a ½-inch border for a pillow or as large as a table-skirt border. Pleated borders will add color and definition to just about anything you make—just as a beautiful frame and mat add to the effect of a painting or photo. First, your fabric choice for this embellishment is crucial. Stick with crisp, thin fabrics because when pleated, you’ll end up with six layers under your sewing-machine’s presser foot. Keep in mind that you are adding this to a pillow that also has thickness, and you may have piping as well. For this reason, silk taffeta or a thin cotton is a great choice. ✤…

We’ve all seen slipcovers that become crumpled and ill-fitting soon after their purchase. One way to avoid choosing a cover that will disappoint is to sew one yourself. Although multi-stepped, the project is approachable. The process begins with a muslin-fitting session of half the chair with plenty of pinning and tucking. Next, you square up your pattern, and position and cut your fabric. Then you just sew the slipcover together. Each segment—fitting, cutting, and sewing—will guide you through the process toward the final product—a welltailored slipcover that fits like a glove, stays in place, and will delight for years to come. Supplies • Upholstery fabric (see p. 56 to determine amount) • Muslin • Straight pins • Pencil or fabric marker • Ruler or hip curve • Sewing machine •…

White cotton tea towels are simple, practical, and typically plain—but not when embroidered by hand. With some inspired embroidery designs, a boring tea towel can become a beautiful, personalized accoutrement for your home and may even become a beloved keepsake. Embroidery has enjoyed a revival in recent years, and even the least experienced needle worker can step up and do some stitching to turn this simple kitchen accessory into a small piece of usable art. Supplies • 5-inch embroidery hoop • Carbon-transfer paper • Embroidery floss; we used Presencia in the following colors: > Dark Golden Brown (no. 7740) > Dark Moss Green (no. 4817) > Deep Blue (no. 3664) > Light Autumn Gold (no. 7720) > Light Blue (no. 3654) > Medium Cyclamen Pink (no. 2314) • Plain white…

Add a touch of personalized color and charm to your bedding with a set of embroidered sheets—and if you’re feeling ambitious, a pillowcase, too. A version of traditional Hungarian folk-art design, this classic heart-and-flower motif is perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced embroiderer and is created using just two stitches—backstitch and lazy daisy. Hand embroidery is a wonderful project to unwind with during the hectic holiday season. Pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, light a crackling fire, and settle in for a cozy weekend with a needle and thread. You’ll be snuggling under your own hand-embroidered sheets in no time at all. Supplies • DMC cotton embroidery floss, 2 skeins (here, color no. 321—Dark Red) • Embroidery hoop, 4-inch • Embroidery needle (be sure it’s sharp)…

Throw pillows add a final touch to the spaces they grace, and these examples accomplish that end with style. Here, you’ll find three design ideas, but the options are limitless—choose whatever trim you like, and arrange it in whatever way suits your fancy. Supplies • ¾ yard stable fabric for the pillow base • 3 to 10 yards trim, depending on design • 20-inch pillow form, or desired size • Pins • Sewing machine • Thread • Optional: > Painter’s tape > Zipper to make the cover removable (18 inches for a 20-inch pillow) Pillow basics Make the pillow base out of any nonstretchy fabric, and then choose one of three embellishment options. Cut the pillow front material to the desired size. For the 20-inch pillows shown here, the pillow…

Back-tack: To sew a few stitches back and forth in order to anchor a seam’s beginning or end. Baste: To temporarily join fabric pieces with large, easily removable stitches. Bias: Bias refers to any line diagonal to the crosswise and lengthwise grains of fabric. When fabric is cut on the true bias, the cut is made on a 45-degree angle to the selvage or finished edge of the fabric. Bias tape: Strips of fabric cut along the fabric’s true bias often used for binding. Also referred to as “bias strips.” Binding: Fabric strip used to cover or enclose raw edges. Bodkin: A small tool used for threading elastic, cording, etc., through a casing. Box pleat: A pleat shaped from two knife pleats, pointing away from each other. Casing: A folded…

Though every drawer is different, most could use some organizing. These two projects, a custom-size, fabric-covered box and a monogrammed fabric bag, make lovely work of straightening up a dresser and are cute gift options. The underlying box can be made with sturdy cardboard. You can cover a purchased box, or make your own using chipboard or pasteboard, a solid, noncorrugated cardboard at least 0.08 mm thick. Then, you can cover the box with fabric, like the example here, or with paper—perhaps vintage maps or wallpaper. The end result is so pretty that you may not want to hide the boxes inside drawers, and instead make versions for your desk or bookshelves. The simple drawstring bags are easy to make and perfect for drawer sachets, goodies, or for gift-giving. You…

First, cut leaf shapes from faux suede—Ultrasuede for a luxe version or doe suede for an economical version. Then sew the leaves on a canvas backing for a nature-inspired throw rug. This project is quick to sew, although cutting the leaves does take some time. But the results are worth it; this rug is luxurious underfoot and handsome enough to hang on a wall. To speed the cutting process, you could use simple fabric strips or squares instead of leaf shapes. Make it in your favorite autumnal color scheme or in spring greens. Just choose natural colors from your favorite season for a spectacular rug. Supplies • Canvas • Doe suede • Optional: > Drop cloth > Spray paint > Ultrasuede > Natural suede Cut the leaves and prep the…

This quick, unique project is simple and easily customizable to suit your décor. The clock mechanisms you’ll need to complete this are easy to find online and install. For the base, you can use almost any object you can drill a hole through. The fabric-face clock cover is removable, too, so you can wash or change it when you feel like it. We suggest that you use fat quarters for this project because precut quilt fabric is inexpensive, easy to work with, and available in amazing colors and patterns. There’s no harm in playing with any fabric you choose, however. The clocks shown here have been made from flying disks, picnic bowls, and artist’s canvases—but don’t think you have to stop experimenting there! Supplies • Bias tape (extra-wide, double-fold) •…

Little says elegance quite like lustrous silk fabrics. So why not indulge and incorporate a bit more silk into your home? Inspired by a Debbie Mumm design, this set of custom silk runners are simple to make and easy to care for, thanks to a serger, strip-piecing techniques, and luscious washed silk dupioni. And, when made in multiples and crossed as shown at right, the runners can stand in for place mats as well. Sergers are well known for their knit-wear applications and for tasks such as seam finishing. But they are often overlooked as the right tool for more decorative items. Perhaps surprisingly, the flat-lock seam produced by a serger is perfectly suited for any project where a flat, attractive, reversible seam is desired. In these table runners, the…

Want a quick way to completely make over the look of your living room? It’s simple with this sofa wrap, designed specifically for changing your sofa style on a whim—or at least, with the season. This sofa wrap makes quick work of covering the couch when you’re expecting guests—without all of the time or expense that’s typically involved in reupholstering. It provides the perfect opportunity to pick and choose the coolest combination of fabrics to dominate a room. This easy-to-make, easy-to-place, and easy-to-remove wrap is the combination of three elements: an underlayer, an overlayer of two arm pieces and one front-to-back piece, and optional decorative treatments at the corners. You’ll measure the sofa, cut and sew your fabric, and then drape and tuck your wrap in place. Supplies • Overlayer…

It’s the little touches that make a room special. This simple project covers a lampshade with pretty fabric and easy machine embroidery. It doesn’t require much money, time, or effort. Here, you’ll learn how to measure a new or used lampshade to create a pattern. After you cut and interface your fabric, you select and sew the embroidery motifs. To finish, just edge the embroidered fabric with a satin stitch, and glue the new cover over the original. This is a great project for leftover fabric. You can make lampshades to match pillows or curtains. And since you did it yourself, you can add a soft glow of pride to your lighting scheme. Supplies • Embroidery designs of your choice • Embroidery thread • Fabric (if you are layering over…

Most of us have them—a few pairs of good, solid-colored drapes that look nice but are missing something. Chances are, what they’re missing is that “wow” factor. Give them some extra pizzazz with your own distinctive tiebacks. Here are six unique and unexpected tieback projects to make yourself. Bold, braided fabrics, rich, sewn ribbon strips, and interestingly looped belts are sure to make an impact. Some of the tiebacks shown here can be made in minutes while others take a couple of hours, but they’re all eye-catching and super-easy and fun to make. Supplies • Button(s) • Fabric, amount determined by number of tiebacks desired • Quilt batting, amount determined by number of tiebacks desired • Scissors • Sewing machine Pleasing Patchwork Great for a solid curtain, this simple quilted…

The intricate, graphic looks of doilies are so interesting, and here’s a way to make them work in more modern décor—apply them to a curtain panel. When the light shines through the sheer curtain fabric, you can see the doilies in silhouette, and they cast amazing shadows around a room. You can use vintage or new doilies, and arrange them in any design you wish. Supplies • Doilies of all sizes, about 40 • Hanging hardware • Iron • Scissors • Sewing machine • Sheer, tab-top curtain panel • Spray starch • Threads, all-purpose, matching both curtain and doilies Doilies by design This creative curtain project is a great way to put beautiful vintage and new lace doilies on display. All you need to do is arrange them as you…

CAFÉ CURTAIN P. 25 Here are the measurements needed to determine the amount of fabric needed to buy for curtains (see an example below). Note that all measurements are in inches. Below you’ll find the patterns needed to complete a handful of projects in this issue. You have permission to copy these for personal use. FAUX FOLIAGE RUG P. 28 Copy the template at right to create the leaves for the Faux Foliage Rug. We copied ours at 200 percent. SWEET SHEETS P. 79 Copy the template below (enlarge as desired). Trace it onto your sheet hem or pillowcase, and then embroider along the lines. PRETTY TEA TOWEL P. 70 Copy this free design from renowned embroidery artist Jenny Hart at 150 percent, trace it onto carbon-transfer paper. Follow the…

Set Up to Sew, p. 8: by Judith Neukam; photos: Scott Phillips and Sloan Howard Tips, p. 11: by Sheila Clark, Bonnie Bledsoe Fuchs, Judy Lee, Jennifer Archer Atwood, and Linda Lee; photos by Scott Phillips, Sloan Howard, and Jennifer Sauer Modern Wall Hanging, p. 14: by Mary Ray; photos: Gale Zucker and Sloan Howard; illustration: Mary Ray Drawer Organizers, p. 18: by Sharilyn Wright; photos: Sloan Howard; illustration: Kat Riehle Artful Pillows, p. 22: by Linda Boston; photos: Sloan Howard Café Curtains, p. 25: by Christy Jones; photos: Zach Desart and Sloan Howard Faux Foliage Rug, p. 28: by Judith Neukam; photos: Sloan Howard Tray Cover, p. 32: by Anna Mazur; photos: Jack Deutsch Fabric Basket, p. 34: by Linda Permann; photos: Sloan Howard and Linda Permann Quick Clocks, p. 37:…

It’s easy to serve with style when you create removable covers to match your décor. Here, the tray is made with silk charmeuse and given piped edges, but it can be simpler—just cut the shape and fray the raw edges. Make the pattern MAKE A PATTERN OF YOUR SERVING TRAY with pattern paper or tissue paper. Fit the paper into the tray, and mark the edges with crayon. Don’t forget to add seam allowances. Cut two pieces of fabric from the pattern. Make the ties FOR THE CORNER TIES, MAKE EIGHT TUBES OUT OF MATCHING FABRIC. For each, cut a bias strip to your desired length. Fold it in half with right sides together. Sew across one end, then sew ⅜ inch away from the fold down the tube length and…

If you love interior design, chances are you also love to update your décor. But if your budget can’t handle your ever-changing tastes, remember this: Slipcovers are a designer’s secret weapon. They’re easy to make, inexpensive, and offer a terrific interior-design opportunity. You can change the look of an entire room by switching slipcovers, so you might want to make a wardrobe of them for every season. Imagine the options! Best of all, with the hands-on process shown here, even a beginning sewer can design and make a slipcover. All you need to do is plan a design, choose your fabric, make the pattern, and sew. The process is pretty much the same no matter what kind of side chair you’re working with, so you can choose to create a…