Striped Sack

You know that free chair I got earlier this month? Yeah, this one. Also known as the three-legged wonder. So I don’t actually call it that (just made it up, in fact), because that would be weird. TLW just got a very quick new seat.

If it looks like an old flour or grain sack design, it should. Wanting to add more rustic elements, especially in the colorful guest room, I thought a the simple design was perfection. Before starting, I gathered my supplies and inspiration. To make a more authentic grain sack knock off, I searched images until I found a pattern I loved. It happens to be this grain sack pillow featured on The Cavender Diary. Four black simple stripes in varying widths.

To complete this I used a scrap of natural linen (ironed first), Frog Tape, a yard stick, pencil, black craft paint, and a natural bristle brush.

To get started, I found the center of my fabric and made a mark at the top and bottom-where the lines would not be seen. From those center marks, I measured my stripes. My two middle stripes are 1/4 inch wide and 1/4 inch apart. The two outermost lines are 1/2 inch wide. At first, I started cutting down pieces of tape to make the narrow bands. Then I wised up and taped off only one stripe at a time.

For a varied look, I dipped the brush in paint, dabbed some off, and then painted between the taped lines. Once that section dried, I pulled off the tape and moved to the next row. After all four, I had my finished design.

The old fabric reeked of cigarette smoke, so I pulled it (and another layer underneath) off before attaching my new piece. Because I have only two hands (dammit, Gadget arms, work!) I centered my lines and taped each side to keep it in place when I flipped it.

Several staples on each side and two in each corner and I attached it to the frame again. I saw past the broken leg because I loved the cute back so much. Using a basic pattern (versus the detailed crewel fabric) better compliments the back.