tablecloth

Ready for That Picnic

| terriaw

I finally finished quilting my picnic tablecloth, remember the one with those fabulous fabrics I got from Jennifer Paganelli?

picnic tablecloth is finished

After stitching in the ditch around the entire top, I used some artist tape for a guide to sew a square on the inside of each fabric square.

quilting the tablecloth

I used blue thread to match the Bella solid blue backing.

tablecloth-blue backing

I love how all the colors really seem to glow on this quilt!

picnic anyone?

I layered the front, the back and a piece of flannel instead of batting so I could use it on our table without too much bulk.

new tableclothI don’t think I will have the nerve to use this on the table when we serve spaghetti or sloppy joes, but it sure does brighten up the room!

Tablecloth for a Garden Party

| terriaw

*UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your comments on how to finish off this tablecloth! Would you believe I took it apart, added small ric-rac trim over the border on the top piece, added wide ric-rac to the seam and sewed the top and bottom together.  I love the new and improved tablecloth!  Check out new photos!

I ordered one yard of this fabric and this fabric, originally thinking I was going to make a tote bag. However, the size tote bag I had in mind was a little to small for the large print on the Guest of Honor fabric. Instead, I made a tablecloth for our patio, perfect for a Garden Party!

The top side is made from Guest of Honor fabric in ice.

The reversible other side is made from Fanfare in green. The border is from Polka Line in green.

I squared up both main fabrics to be an even 36-inch square. Then I attached 2-3/4-inch border strips to each side of each main fabric, mitering the corners. Then I layered the two main fabrics with attached borders right sides together and stitched all the way around, leaving a 3-inch opening. I trimmed the corners and turned the fabrics right sides out, pushing the corners out for a pointy finish. I hand-stitched the opening closed and pressed. Finished. Super easy.

I do have a question I need help with on finishing this finished tablecloth: should I leave the tablecloth as is (shown above) or add some rick-rack trim over the seam joining the border to the main fabrics (shown below)?

We have a tie here in our house. I want to add the trim but Dave says leave it off.

My other question is this: if I add the trim, how do I sew the rick-rack neatly around the corners? Should I cut it to fit each side, fold under the corners, and miter them? I have only added rick-rack to the inside seams so that it sticks out from the right sides of the fabric (as in a pillow cover).

Thanks for your help! Now let’s get together for a late-summer garden party.

Curtain Call

| terriaw

I have been on a home decorating kick lately. This past spring, we finished painting our kitchen and living room. Since then I have been looking forward to making a valance, tablecloth and napkins using Heather Bailey’s Freshcut fabrics.

Finally, I had a free weekend! Here’s how the valance turned out:

First, I measured the width of the window and the length I wanted the valance to be (long enough to cover the blinds when they are open). That measurement came to 49″ wide x 13″ long. I added 2″ to the width for the side seams and then doubled the width to get more fullness. I added 2″ to the length for the lower hem, and 3″ to the length for the rod casing. My final measurement came to 102″ wide x 18.5″ long.

To hem the side edges, I hemmed the sides by turning under 1/2″ and turning under another 1/2″. Then I sewed close to the inner fold, repeating for the other side.

For the lower hem, I turned the lower edge under 1/2″ and then another 1-1/2″. Then I sewed close to the inner fold.

For the casing, I turned the top under 1/2″ and then another 2-1/4″. The top of the casing is formed by sewing 1″ in from the fold. The bottom of the casing is formed by sewing 1-1/4″ from the first line of stitching, or 1/4″ from the inner fold.

Finally, I finished off the hem with this cool ruffle trim, which added more length and a stylish accent.

I made a coordinating tablecloth from the Freshcut collection too. My table measured 41″ x 58″, and I had 2-yard piece of fabric, so I had to make that work for me.

I added a 2-1/2″ border to frame the main fabric.

Last winter, I found this cool tool – the EZY-hem by Dritz – which works great for ironing small hems, very handy when making handmade napkins.

great for ironing hems

I made the mixy-matchy napkins from Amy Karol’s Bend-the-Rules-Sewing book and some cocktail napkins from the Purl Bee to go with the new tablecloth.

I love how everything coordinates yet it’s not too matchy. Our kitchen has become the best room in the house! Wish I could have you over for coffee in the newly decorated kitchen.

Wait… I’m not quite done yet! I was on a roll Sunday afternoon, so I decided to make the valance for my sewing room, which has been on the sidelines for a couple months too. I used the Gothic Rose fabric from Amy Butler’s Belle collection.

I followed the same method as described above, and added a piece of lace trim for the ruffle. Isn’t that sweet?!

Wow, what a productive weekend!