Monday, April 27, 2015

A sewing machine

When I announced last week that the sunroom would be getting a makeover, many of you 
were surprised that a) I had a sewing machine and b) I could sew. True story. I used to sew a lot, 
as in made my own clothes when a) I had no money and b) I wore something besides jeans. 
I was never good enough to apply for Project Runway, but I could usually make it work.

Anyway, I can't remember the last time I used my sewing machine, or my iron, 
but the dining room has been turned into a sewing room for the past two weekends. 
Stick a fork in me. I'm finally done.



Smooch was confused by the entire process, as was I for most of the time.



I followed this online tutorial for making a tailored daybed cover.
It was going very well until the "hand stitch the cotton cording to the fabric" part.
I underestimated the time this would take by about 13 hours.



In the end, the effort paid off. 



The indoor/outdoor fabric was easy to work with, and I'm reasonably certain
that the cushion and pillow covers will withstand the sunlight, the dog hair, and the dirt.



Smooch's head is still spinning from my fabric choices, but she'll get over it.
The colors and patterns are bright enough to lighten a rainy, overcast day,
which is the only reason I was able to finish all of this yesterday.

"But what of those feed sacks?" you ask. 



I made this pillow cover last...



... once I'd figured out the piping with zipper thing.
All the previous pillow covers had one or the other.




Pretty sweet.





28 comments:

  1. Wow. Great job! You are so talented in everything you put your mind to do. :)

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  2. Excellent job! The feed sack pillow will make the perfect backrest for your typing pleasure!

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  3. Love it!!! Those pillows are to die for! Good work and I am impressed, kinda....I always knew you could pretty much do anything ( biology). :-)

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  4. LOVE the feed sack pillows and i see you picked colors that blend/match Smooch... she looks lovely in all that bright color. you have so many talents. my mother could have done this. i will never be able to. i once ripped a dress in half in home ec 8th grade, trying to put a zipper in it. I got an F ...

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  5. I am totally impressed! Love the colors and that you took the time to do piping and coordinating pillows. Here's to many years to come of naps and dog photos. Lisa G in TN

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  6. Your project turned out super! I especially love the feedbag pillows - I think you could have an ETSY business selling feedbag pillows. :-) The outdoor fabric should hold up well. We have a "settee" covered with it, and it doesn't attract dog grime like other fabrics do.

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  7. Good job. The piping helps the daybed cover hold its place and makes it so finished. My grandmother made custom slipcovers in a little shop she shared with her brother who did upholstering. I remember being allowed as a teenager to help out. My cousin Patti and I made flounces. Hanging up above the sewing machine was the piping roll.

    Smooch looks great with all those wonderful cushions.

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  8. Fantastic! It turned out great.

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  9. It looks wonderful, I LOVE the pillow!!! marsha@tubbslanefarm.com

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  10. Great job! I think I would've bought a piping foot for my sewing machine. I'm too ADD for all of that hand sewing. Love the pillow!

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  11. Love all your color choices.. Perfect for sunny rooms...ans smooch. Helpful tip, way past the time you needed it...next time you want to make a corded edge, cut long strips on the basis that are are wide enough to encase your cord, plus a seam edge on both sides. Sew the lengths of strips together, iron the seams, wrap around the cord, right sides out, using a zipper foot sew along the cord as close as you can get to make a tube of cording now with a seam edge. Now you can pin it in between your cover fabrics and sew the seams your pillow or whatever sections together. When you turn it right side out...voila...corded edge sewn into seam. No hand stitching required. I'm sure there are plenty of google sites that explain it with a video. Maybe this will be useful for the next project.

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  12. Good grief!! A pillow cover with piping and a zipper!! Is there anything you cannot do? :)
    I love all the colors and patterns.

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  13. Love it all. Just last week I found a feedsack from my long-dead uncle's longer-defunct feed mill. Any suggestions for a YouTube or other information source that would help this infrequent seamstress make something lovely of it?

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  14. My favorites are the yellow pillows -- so cheery! Just absolutely right, and I love the feed-bag pillows so much, I want a whole bunch of them. Smooch obviously approves too & looks gorgeous therein. I'm impressed -- failed sewing in Home Ec in 9th grade & the last time I sewed, it was hemming a pair of trousers. After much sighing, groaning, & toil, got done & proudly held them up.....I had done both legs wrong side out, with the hems & stitching on the outside! Had to take them out & do it all over again. I was so embarrassed at being such a loser, I never told anyone!

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  15. Wow! Interior decorating too! What talents. It's beautiful. Aunt Jean

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  16. Gosh, I thought I knew how to sew....but piping and zippers are out of my league. All this beauty in one room! I love it all.

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  17. Oh, you're a much braver woman than I am. I don't go near a sewing machine! And. what's an iron?

    Maggy

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  18. ... Just read through the rest of your post, and I am impressed! Still won't go near either a sewing machine or an iron. They'sre both evil! :- )

    Maggy

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  19. Great job. It looks beautiful!

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  20. Hey, show us one with the newly redone café chairs. I think I can see one in the background. Bet it is gorgeous.

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    1. I had a seamstress I found on Etsy do the back cushions for those. This post shows a close-up.
      http://www.the7msnranch.com/2014/01/back-where-we-belong.html

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    2. I remember them. I think they will all be super together.

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  22. Beautiful work. I love sewing!

    Laurie

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  23. Cool! I love the feed sacks!
    I keep wanting to tackle a project like the day bed cover but shy away. Nice job.

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  24. An American in Tokyo5/6/15, 7:40 PM

    I love the bright and cheery colors and the mule feed bag pillow is priceless!!
    Now I feel like I need to redo my own apartment in bright and cheery colors!!

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  25. The piping helps the daybed cover hold its place and makes it so finished. My grandmother made custom slipcovers in a little shop she shared with her brother who did upholstering. maquinas de coser

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