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

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

Table Runner Tutorial

Our “Say It With Words” panels are great for quilts – but here is another fabulous way to sew up some inspiration.  This table runner can be used on special occasions or even everyday.

Supplies:

• “Table Grace” Say It With Words panel
• Jelly Roll of your choice – I used the “Flats” by Angela Yosten for Moda
• 1 yard of backing fabric
• 1 yard of Fusible Fleece
• Coordinating thread
• Rotary cutter, rotary mat, and rotary ruler
• Basting Spray or pins
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine

*Use a 1/4″ seam allowance, unless otherwise noted
Steps:

1.  Layout your Jelly Roll Strips and design your pattern.  Here is how I do my designing, with grid paper and colored pencils. 
   
2. Iron panel to remove all creases. 
3. Cut out the 6 large squares from the Say It With Words Panel, using the tick marks on the panel.  Each square should measure 6-1/2″ squares.
4. Cut (2) 6-1/2″ strips from your desired fabric for each block.
5. Sew the Jelly Roll strips to the top and bottom of word block.  Repeat for all 6 blocks.
   
6. Press all seams away from word block. 
7. Measure your blocks to determine the overall size for the sides – mine measured 10-3/4″. 
8. Cut the Jelly Roll strips to that measurement and sew to the sides of each block, creating a frame around the words.  Repeat for all 6 blocks. 
   
9. Cut the coordinating vertical Jelly Roll strips and sew.
   
   
10. Measure the top & bottom of the completed block and cut to fit.  Repeat for all strips.  Sew to the bottom of the first block.  Join the remaining blocks in the same way.
    
11. Measure the overall size of the runner and cut fusible fleece to fit.  Iron on.
12. Cut backing fabric to desired size.  Layout and attach top with basting spray (If you have never heard or used basting spray, I highly suggest you try it.  You will NEVER pin a quilt or project together again)
13. Quilt as desired.
14. Trim and attach binding as desired – I used the leftover scraps of the jelly roll strips to make the binding.  I found this tutorial on Pinterest and it helped me. (Just note, I only machine stitch the first side of the binding – I always hand stitch the backside complete)
15. Hand-stitch the binding and you are done!!!
    

If you liked this project, stay tuned for the tutorial using the small word squares to create matching coasters.

I’m new to writing tutorials, so any constructive criticism or complements are greatly appreciated.

Blessings,
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 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.

Want a prettier Kitchen?

I am the WORST when it comes to buying new pretties for my kitchen.  I would show you a picture of some of my “retro” aka really old towels, but honestly I am too embarrassed.  Time to fix that, and what a great time to do it.  We are featuring some of our adorable kitchen items this weekend…

Dairy Fresh Milk Canisters in Black or Red.  

Dairy Fresh Coasters

Family Recipe Towel Pack

Family Recipe Pot Holder

Now, you have to do something for me.  Head over to Angela Yosten’s Blog. She is an amazing person.  She is constantly coming up with new patterns and designs.  

Here is her tutorial on how to make this really cute set.  

Head over to Home a la mode and check out our other super cute Family Recipe Items.  Speaking of family recipes, I wanted to show you a pic of some wonderful pretzels my little one and I made the other day.

They were sooooo yummy!  If you are interested, let me know and I will add the recipe later and how to make them.  Everyone, have a FANTASTIC day today.  I am off to sew a very special project…hint hint…I am super excited about this.