Sew Simple – Page 2

Root for the Home Team

Published on March 5, 2014 by Our Humble Abode14 Comments

Have you seen the Home Team Pennant Pillow at School House Electric?

If you hadn’t already, you just did. Isn’t it cute? Essentially, it’s the pennant pillow version of a high school Letterman jacket. Problem is, only NYC is available for purchase. Seeing as I have no connection to NYC, I decided to make a much cheaper Montana version to represent our state.

Using felt and cotton fabric I already had, I spent exactly zero dollars on this pillow. To make it, I cut two 24 inch by 19 inch rectangles from my cotton. Then marked the center on one side and connected the corners to make my triangle base. For the letters, I free-handed the text.

When I liked my design, I flipped it over and outlined it with a black marker.

With my template ready, I layered the felt over and held it against the window to trace the design to the back of my felt. I didn’t have fusible interface here (I like Wonder Under), but if I did, this would have been easier. So, do as I say, not as I do. Before tracing your lettering, iron Wonder Under to the back side of your felt, leaving the paper backing on. Then trace your letters and cut out. Peel the paper off and iron your freshly cut letters to your front triangle and you could be done. Instead, I hand stitched my felt letters on, which took an episode of Hart of Dixie (no judging, please!) to finish.

With my letters sewn on, I placed my back triangle on top of my front piece, right sides together, and sewed the two long sides. Polyfill stuffing inside, then I sewed along the short side, sealing it all up. For a decorative pennant look, I stitched another piece of felt along the short side, wrapping it around the back. And boom, cute triangle pillow for the couch.

Broken Hearted

Published on February 5, 2014February 5, 2014 by Our Humble Abode1 Comment

As we’re all aware, Valentine’s day is just over a week away. While I love the opportunity to show a little extra love to my special men, I’m not so into red and hearts. Instead, Ev and I partnered up to make a two toned heart pillow. He chose the paint colors and I did the rest.

Using scrap paper, I made a half heart template and lightly traced it on my fabric with a pencil. Using a yard stick, I made a line across to separate the triangular base from the top.

Martha Stewart craft paints claim to be good on fabric, so that’s what I used to fill in. If I weren’t stuck inside due to crazy cold, snowy weather, I would have used fabric.

I’d rather have a lovey design with year round colors, so Ev did a good job with his choices. Dude knows how to pick ’em.

Here are two more fun heart pillows you could make to add some love to your house:

DIY geometric heart pillow:

Gold pleather heart pillow: Yay for more modern versions of an old favorite.

Where do you stand on Valentine’s day and the decor that usually goes with it?

Real Deal Teal

Published on January 8, 2014January 8, 2014 by Our Humble Abode26 Comments

When I decided to paint the tub and bathroom walls Wrought Iron, I knew I had to add color with accessories. I’m too much of a color lover to have a completely neutral space. One big addition of color is in curtain form.

Boom, teal curtains. With the World Market curtains off the table, I searched for other teal curtains. With zero luck. So I took to the fabric stores. I’ve used this same linen blend fabric for pillows and loved it, so that’s what I ended up with. Also, because the tub in now in place of part of the vanity, I can hang the curtains wider that I had before.

Sewing the panels was a similar process to our living room curtains. Rather than adding ribbon back tabs, I kept a rod pocket. Other than that, same deal. This bright burst is just what my color craving heart desired.

And looks especially striking against the dark walls, if I do say so myself. (Don’t mind the outlet, we have to change it out for a white one.)

Because the fabric isn’t thick or stiff, the panels hang nicely behind the tub. We can easily close the curtains for privacy, too.

I love how accessories can take a room from basic to you. Which is why I’ve already started hanging art and shopping the house for the perfect pairings. What do you think of the bright curtains? Do you prefer neutral spaces, or color filled rooms?

Zippity Do Da

Published on December 9, 2013December 9, 2013 by Our Humble Abode10 Comments

I know there are a ton of tutorials all about sewing a zipper on a pillow. Most tutorials also use a special zipper foot. I don’t have one and never had, so here’s how I do it. Start with your cut piece of fabric, laid out, right side up. Then, place your zipper, right side down, and align the bottom edges. Leave the last few inches of the zipper open, like this:

Then sew, with your normal foot. I keep the edge of my foot along the outer edge of the zipper. Stop just before the zipper pull.

To finish that side, I then pull the zipper up, beyond my stopping point. I start sewing, back stitch a few, then carry on until I reach the end, back stitching again to lock the threads.

So that’s one half of a zipper.

Lay the fabric and zipper out, right sides still up. Now, place your backing fabric on top, right sides down. Pin along the edges, leaving the zipper slightly undone.

Sew along the outside edge, just as before, stopping before the zipper pull. Pull the zipper up, then start sewing again. Now, you’ve got a zipper.

But let’s finish the pillow. Align the top and sides of your fabric, pinning in place. I like to sew one side, pivot to sew the top, pivot again to sew half of the last side. While my zipper is completely closed. Keeping the zipper closed makes it easier to pin everything together where it should be.

If I sewed all three sides with the zipper closed, I’d be stuck with an inside out, unusable pillow cover. So, open the zipper, then continue sewing the rest of the way down. Because I’m lazy, I sew over the ends of my zipper with my machine about 20 times, just to lock the ends in.

Turn it right side out and put it to use.

Paint, Tassels, Plaid & Zippers

Published on November 8, 2013November 8, 2013 by Our Humble Abode3 Comments

This all started with Nate Berkus and his pretty pillows. Specifically, this one:

For some strange and irritating reason, our Target doesn’t carry most of Nate’s line. This pillow included, so I’ve never seen it in person. Or his amazing task lamp. Anyway, I loved the look of this pillow and set out to make something similar. I started with white cotton fabric, Martha Stewart gold craft paint (the label says it’s good on fabric), a small paint brush, and a yard stick. Using my yardstick, I eyeballed the spacing and painted X marks.

They’re super rough and not exact.

Then I cut pieces for the envelope back closure and sewed, right sides together as usual. Except I stopped about 1/4 short of each corner. Tassel time! I placed the tassel inside the pillow (remember, what’s on the inside will become the outside) and hand stitched the tassel in place. Voila, a somewhat Nate-esque pillow cover.

While looking for upholstery fabric for the bench, I saw a row of wool plaid. All 50% off. This was my favorite:

But I also really liked the softer, fuzzier pattern on the inside. So I made a reversible pillow to get both looks.

Because this is reversible, I didn’t want an envelope back. I found this magenta zipper in my bin and loved the bit of color it would add.

Paired with a Target clearance yellow striped throw, this bench is a pretty cozy nook.

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