Tablecloths to Curtains

We LOVE hearing from our customers – especially when they send us pictures of what they have made!!!

Check out what our friend, Susan, made with our Lakehouse Tablecloths 🙂

 

And here are her sweet comments:

Hello!

Just sending these photos so that you can see how darling the tablecloth “curtains” turned out in our cabin’s guest room. We bought these from you. They are darling. Thanks for the quick fulfillment of the order and the cute packaging. We’re very happy with our purchase!

If you have made anything with our products and would like to be bragged on, email it to me at jsmisek@homealamode.com.

Happy Sewing! ~Jill

A quick, little 4th of July Bunting

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across this adorable idea on Pinterest and decided to re-create for the upcoming Independence Day celebration!  It was tucked away in the back of my mind, but when I ran across the flags in the Dollar Section at Target, the idea was born.

Supplies:

• Small fabric flags – I found these at Target and they were 3/$1 🙂
• Burlap
• Jumbo Ric Rac
• Wonder Under
• Thread
• Sewing Machine

1. Cut the flags off the sticks to a uniform size – mine ended up being 4″ x 6″.
   
2. Apply Wonder Under to the flags.
3. Cut burlap to desired size – mine are 7″ x 7″ square.  If you need tips on how to cut burlap straight, check out our tutorial.
4. Iron the flags onto your burlap squares and stitch around the edges to secure.  Make sure you leave enough room at the top of the square to add the ric rac.
   
5. Stitch the ric rac to the top of the squares.  I left about 12 inches of “tail” on both ends so that I can hang however and wherever I want.
   

And voila, you are done and ready to hang!  Here’s wishing you and yours a blessed holiday – and prayers to all the wonderful servicemen and women who help provide the independence and freedom we live under.

 ~Blessings!

Tutorial: Toweling into Towels

Have you ever seen our collection of toweling and thought “so cute, but what would I do with it?”  Well, here’s one thing… you can make your own kitchen towels.

SUPPLIES:

• 2 yards of the toweling of your choice.  Check out our selection here.
• Coordinating thread
• Twill tape or trim of your choice
• Iron and ironing board
• Rotary cutter
• Rotary mat
• Ruler
• Sewing machine

STEPS:

1. Take your 2 yards of toweling and fold into equal thirds.  Press the folds.
2. Using your rotary cutter, cut just to the edge of the fold, creating 3 equal pieces of toweling.
3. Fold over the edge the same distance as the side seams and press.
   
4. Fold over again to enclose the raw edge.
   
5. Repeat on the other end.
6. Cut approximately 5-1/2″ of trim (you can alter depending on the size of the hook you want) and fold in half.
7. Slide the raw edges of the trim under the folded seam and pin into place.
   
8. Sew the seams down, staying close to the edge.  

And voila, you now have 3 new kitchen towels!

 

Happy Sewing!  ~Jill

Tutorial Thursday – Table Grace Coasters

A few weeks ago, I posted a tutorial for the Table Grace Table Runner.  Here is the follow-up that I promised.

Supplies:

• (6) small remaining squares leftover from the Table Grace panel
• Fusible Fleece
• Backing fabric
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Rotary cutter
• Rotary ruler
• Rotary mat

I used the 6 small remaining squares from the Table Grace “Say it With Words” panel.  Each square measures approximately 3.5″.  You will just cut (2) pieces from your jelly roll (or scraps) 3.5″ long.  Sew the strips to the top and bottom of the square.  Press seams.  Measure overall height of block.  Mine measured approximately 5.75″.  Cut (2) 5.75″ strips from your jelly roll (or scraps) 5.75″ long.  Sew the strips to the sides of the block.  Press seams.  I then took the finished block and trim it to 5.5″ square.

Now, cut (6) square of fusible fleece and (6) squares of backing fabric to match the size of your complete blocks.  Iron the fusible fleece to the completed block.  Then take the front and back of the blocks and put them together, right sides facing each other.  Stitch all the way around, except for about 1.5″ section.  Trim your corners for easier turning.  Now, turn the entire piece right side out through the small section you left open.  I like to us my Pointer Turner by Lee for precise corners.  Press smooth.  Top stitch all the way around, making sure that the stitch closes the space you left open.  And, you are done!  Just repeat for the remaining squares.

Hope you enjoy!!!

Happy Sewing,
Jill

How-To: Banner Tutorial

Now, if you browsed our website, you know that we carry a variety of banners for your decorating needs.

But, sometimes you are needing one for a holiday or event that we don’t have already made for you.  As someone who likes to decorate for every holiday, I needed to come up with a tutorial so that I could make myself a banner to match every season.

The nice side of me decided to share with you my method for making banner 🙂

Start by gathering all your materials.  I used the following:

• Citrus Marbles Charm Pack
• Gypsy Girl – Wishing Well Blue
• Jumbo Ric Rac – Pink
• Pellon Wonder Under
• Pellon 808 Craft Fuse
• Coordinating thread
• Rotary Cutter & Ruler
• Cutting Mat
• Pinking Shears
• Iron & Ironing Board

1. Print out the template for either the “Happy Spring” or “Hoppy Easter”
2. Figure out the layout of colors and order that you want your letters to appear.
3. Add Pellon Wonder Under to the wrong side of the fabric you want to use of the letters.
4. Using a light board, trace the letters using the Sewline Fabric Mechanical Pencil.  If haven’t ever used this pencil, you are missing out.  This is the first fabric pencil that I have ever used that writes just like a regular pencil on paper – and it’s just as easy to erase!
   
5. After you trace all letters, cut them out and peel that backing paper off.
6. Now, you will want to apply your Pellon 808 Craft Fuse to your main fabric.  I prefer to apply the Craft Fuse first and then cut out the squares to the size you want.
7. Cut out your squares (mine were 4″x6″).  Make sure your fabric is fully adhered to the Craft Fuse.
8. Iron on your letters to each square, making sure to line up the letters with each other.  As you can see, I kept the letters towards to the bottom of the square – you will want to do this so you have plenty of room to add the ric rac to the top.
   
9. Now comes the fun part 🙂  You need to stitch around the letters so that they will stay in place.  If you don’t plan on re-using and/or storing this banner, you can skip this step.  I used a tight zig-zag stitch for an embroidered look, but a blanket stitch works great for this as well.  I used white thread for mine so the letters stand out against the main fabric.
   
10. Once all the letters are stitched on, you will want to take your pinking shears or a pinking/wave rotary cutter and just trim the edges of the squares.  You can leave the top edge alone since it will be covered with the ric rac.  As you can see below, I just trimmed off a slight edge – this will keep the fabric from fraying.
    

11. Now, for the final step.  It’s time to put it all together.  I left a tail about 8″ long before starting to attach the rectangles.  You will just sew each one, leaving a small space between them so the drape better.
    
12. As you can see, the edges of the ric rac will fray a little bit.  I use a lighter to melt the edges just enough to seal the ends.
    

I hope this little tutorial helps brighten up your home for the holidays! 
HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT EASTER SEASON!  We sure did!  Enjoy the spring!

Time to sew!  ~Jill

How to Turn Kitchen Towels into Curtains

We had a lovely customer write us the other day and asked if we could make her a valance using our Retro Stamped Towels.  Karen came up with this super cute, super simple way to make them…

We started with the Stamped Towel Pack…

And a package of Medium Rick Rack–Delft

Trim the towel to the length you need.  She wanted hers to be finished 12″ with a 2″ pocket to slide a curtain rod in.  We trimmed the towel to 15″ to allow for a hem and room on the top to add a seam.

Next, we took a heavy twine and ran it up each of the long sides of the towels.  Karen said that she wanted to give our customer another option on how to hang her curtains.  I have a pic at the end of the tutorial to show you what it does. Secure knots on either end of the twine.

On the top edge…fold down the end half an inch and press. Then fold the towel down until you reach the desired length…again, we made ours 12″ long.  Stitch your folded edge down.  You should not have any unfinished edges now.

On the very top of the towel mark a line about a quarter inch below the edge.  This will create a pocket for the curtain rod to fit into.

Sew on rick rack.  I just followed the 2 lines of stitching and attached them right on top of those rows.

You are finished.  Pull the strings on the sides of the towels and it gives you a completely different look.  Almost a balloon valance look.
Literally…this is one of the easiest things ever.  If i had not had a little one running around asking me to sing Jake and Never Land Pirates…and check her nose for boogies…I seriously could have finished this project in 30 mins.  With the added “Mommy” time…it took me about an hour and a half.

Remember use my discount code KRISTIN5 to get an extra 5% off, if you order these towels or anything else on our website.  We have over 2000 products for you now… check it out!  We do retro, vintage, fabrics and a whole lot more.

A Honey Bun Pillowcase!

Good Monday Morning!  For the next 3 days we are offering 10% off of all of our fabrics.  I wanted to show you a pillowcase tutorial that you could quickly make up with some of the great fabrics that I know you will want to get.

Supplies

1 honey bun–I used Bungle Jungle

1.5 yds of main fabric–I used Christmas Red Dottie

Ric Rac–I used Medium Aqua

.5 yd of lightweight interfacing

Have you ever noticed that when I am using a honey bun or jelly roll that my pictures never have them rolled up?  It is because I can’t wait to open them up and see what is inside.  It is the little kid in me…it is like Christmas every time I get a new one…just can’t wait.

Choose 22 strips.  Lay them out and get the look you are going for.

Sew your strips together.  The easiest way to do this is sew 2 together at a time.  Then add them all together to form one piece.

Cut 2 strips that are 11″ wide x the width of the fabric that you have sewn together.

Now, sew the 2 strips together end to end.

Add your interfacing to the wrong side of the strips.  The only reason I did this, is so when the pillow case is washed, the seams won’t get all bunched up and weird.  You can completely skip this step if you like.

Cut your main body of fabric to 21″ x width of fabric.

I folded my sewn together strips of fabric in half and laid them down on the main body of the fabric, then trimmed the main body to the same size as the strips.  It is hard to give an exact measurement here because of how your strips come together.  Just make that both are the same size and you shouldn’t have any problems.

Choose another Honey Bun strip.  Press it in half along the entire length of the strip.

Sew a piece of the ric rac along the entire length of the strip.  I placed mine really close to the edge of the fold so when I sewed the case together you could see all of the ric rac.

Layer your 3 pieces together.  Make sure your fabrics are all unfolded.  Place all right sides of the fabric facing up.  You want to start with the stripped fabric…then the main body…then the strip that has the ric rac.

Line up all your edges. 

 I place 3 pins along the edge just to hold everything together.  Trust me it is a pain to sew it all together and the realize that you have missed places because the fabric has shifted.

Roll up your main piece of fabric.

Now, fold up your stripped fabric and pin the edges together.  You want to make sure that the main fabric is not in the way.  When you roll it up leave yourself about 2 inches of room so you can pin the edges together. 

*On a side note.  See that really awesome pincushion?  That is a Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion.  If you don’t have one…GET ONE.  I love how powerful the magnet is on this.  With a little one around, I don’t have to worry about my pins falling off and her finding them with her little foot.

Sew along your edge using a 1/4″ seam.

Grab your main fabric and start pulling it out of the end of the tube you just made. Don’t forget the pins that you put in to secure your layers.  I did…it hurt…learn from my mistakes…lol.

  

Keep pulling until you have turned the entire tube inside out.

This is what you should have.

Press your pillowcase with wrong sides together.

Using a scant 1/4″ seam sew along the 2 open edges.  Once you have done this, turn your case inside out.  Press again.

Now you want to sew down the edges that you had sewn in the previous step. Use a 1/2″ seam.  This gives you a French seam and you have no open seams on your pillowcase.  Turn it right side out again and press.  WooHoo!  You just made a pillowcase.

  

Here it is completed.  Now, my question for you, would you like to see a tutorial of how I made the adorable little pillow in front?

I had told you on Friday that I would show you all of the things that I was able to make with the honey bun.  Here they are…

So, what do you think?  Personally, the little bag with the flower is my favorite!  I think I will have to make ups some more of that one.

Now, head over to Home a la mode…check out all of our fabrics…and get to sewing.  Remember, if you use my Discount Code it will give you an extra 5% off your order.  That means you can get 15% off of your fabric.  That sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

From Towels to Pillows Tutorial

Hey everyone!  I hope you have recovered from all of the 4th of July festivities.  I wanted to show you a quick little tutorial on how to make kitchen towels into pillows.  This is a super easy way to add a little something different to your decor for minimal cost.

We have these super cute Bait and Tackle Kitchen Towels.  They come packaged in this little envelope.  You get 4 to a set.  Don’t you love the vintage look of these?  To me, they are too cute to be folded up and just hung over the handle on the fridge, they were begging to be made into something else…

 Let’s get started!!!  


Supplies
1 pack of Bait and Tackle Kitchen Towels
1 1/2 yards of Countdown to Christmas–Frost Rudolph
3 yards of Pellon Fusible Fleece
2 bags of Polyester FiberFill

Cut your backing fabric and fusible batting so it is 1 inch larger than your towel.  I have noticed the towels aren’t all the exact same measurement.  So you will just have to measure each to get the exact measurement.  I wound up cutting my 19″ x 26″. You will need 4 pieces of the backing fabric and 8 pieces of the fleece.

Fuse your fleece to the back side of the towel and your backing fabric.  Take your time and make sure you get a good bond.   

Quilt the towel however you like.  I chose to go very simple with my quilting.  Just outlining certain parts of the design that I wanted to stand out.

A close up of the quilting that I did.

Pin the towel and backing fabric together with right sides facing each other.  Leave a 6″ opening at the bottom to allow you to stuff the pillow.  I always like to pin my openings with different color pins because I have a tendency to think about other things while I am sewing and forget what I am doing :o) 

**See that cutie pie of a pin cushion? You can find it here.

Sew the 2 pieces together.  I used a 1/8″ seam.  When you have sewn them together, trim your excess fabric and cut your corners at an angle.  

Turn your pillow right side out.

Here it is turned right side out.  You will want to press your seams.  

I love how pretty and clean this is coming out.  

How you finish this up is completely up to you.  I wanted an “edge” on my pillow so I pinned around the red square on both sides.  Then sewed along the inside and outside of the square.  **Remember to keep your opening for stuffing.  You can see where I have pinned my starting and ending points.

A close up of how I stitched around the edge of the red square.

Start stuffing your pillow.  At this point, I stopped what I was doing and went and checked out our complete line of Kitchen Towels.  I called Karen and told her that I wanted one of each set.  I have visions of having a set for each holiday and any special occasion.  

Sorry, I was sidetracked there…I started by stuffing my corners first then filling in the middle.  As your pillow becomes fuller, make sure you aren’t getting lumps.  You just have to work with the stuffing and smooth as you go.

Fully stuffed!  How stinking cute is that?

Now you want to stitch closed your opening.  I started by pinning on either side of the red line then stitching it together. I am sorry I didn’t get a pic of that step, but you can see my stitching here.  Now, pin the bottom part of the open and stitch it closed.  I just used my machine and did a top stitch very close to the edge.

Here it is ready to be loved and enjoyed!

On a side note.  If you are looking for a craft that your husband will like this is it.  My manly man husband is not into my sewing at all.  When I was taking pictures, he came out and looked at what I had made.  He grabbed up one and said, “OK, these are really neat.”  In my world, that is like winning a Grammy.  Hehe,  I hope you all have a GREAT day!

Easy Box Pleat Bed Skirt Tutorial

Have you ever been making up your bed, look down, and see your bed skirt is like 60 degrees off from where it should be?  I do it all the time…it drives me nuts.  Well, I have an awesome solution for you!  Karen came to me and said she had a client who needed a simple bed skirt.  She gave me a fitted sheet and told me to get to work now!…noooo…She is really really sweet.  She said finish it when you can.  Anyway, I was pretty much intimidated by this project.  I have never done this big of a project before….sooooo…I put it off.  After a couple of weeks of that fitted sheet peeking out at me from my stash shelves, I couldn’t stand it any longer.  Time to get it done.  I fussed and yelled and maybe a bad word slipped out here and there.  I just couldn’t figure out how to do it…so, I called my fairy sewing godmother, Karen.  She said…just sew the bed skirt fabric onto the sheet.  DO NOT cut the sheet.  That way when it is put on the box springs it won’t move around.  WELL DUH!!!  Hehe, this is why she is so awesome.  Anyway, after all of that I would like to show all of you how easy this project really is…..

Start with a fitted sheet and the fabric you want to use as your bed skirt.  I used Bella Solids Natural.

Put the sheet on your bed.  Determine the length that you want your skirt to be.  Our’s needed to have a 14″ drop. You will also need to determine how much fabric you need to go around the the perimeter of your mattress. Be sure to add 8″ for each pleat that you want to put in the skirt.

Next cut your fabric for the skirt.  With a 14″ drop that would mean I cut my fabric 30″ wide.  This allowed for the fabric to be doubled and have a one half inch seam allowance.  You will probably have to piece your fabric so it is long enough to go around the perimeter.  

You want to sew a long tube.  In doing this, when you have the finished product you won’t have any open seams.  I usually don’t pin when I sew.  I chose to go ahead and pin the two edges, right sides together about every foot.  It was a long piece of fabric and I didn’t want it “walking” on me and causing problems later.

Here it is all sewn together. 

Press your seam…this picture is kind of foggy because my iron decided to apply some extra steam as I was taking the pic.

Start pinning the skirt onto the fitted sheet.  I wanted to put a pleat in the middle of each side and also on the corners.  I just measured and placed a mark at the halfway point and made my pleat there.  You also may want to pin the bottom of the pleat.  I found I had to go back and re-pin because I had pulled the bottom of the fabric too tight and it wouldn’t let the pleat lay correctly.

This step is optional.  This is where I had to stop and play hide from the monsters with my little one.  She couldn’t resist messing with me because I was on the floor down on her level.  HEHE, trust me though, this step is definitely worth it!

 Now you want to pin, pin, pin it does take a little time, but it is completely worth it!

Now, top stitch your fabric to your sheet.  I went with 2 rows to add a little extra umph to the seam.  Don’t you hate it when the skirt starts ripping from that yucky white material that they usually come on?  I DO!

Now you have a super cute, super easy bed skirt!!!  I love it!  I am seriously considering making    many more of these.

Let me know if you have any questions!