sewing project
While Texas Seestor was here, we tackled a sewing project.
I’d gotten the idea while we were staying in hotels in Boston that one way of decorating a bedroom is to use a white comforter or bedspread and then to make something akin to a table runner to go across the bottom of the bed for decoration. This would be the same idea as a folded up blanket that someone might put at the bottom of the bed for decoration.
The advantage of doing this is two-fold
1. you only have to make a small ‘part’ of a blanket in the expensive fabric and
2. it is relatively simple to change with another one of a different design and thus you get a new bedroom look just by changing this bed runner, as I’m calling it.
Perhaps a picture would help.
We still don’t have the white bedspread. That will come next. But you can see how having that across the bottom of the bed really spices up the bed. spicey! haHA! I’m all about the spicier beds.
But I digress.
*ahem*
We started with two layers of fabric and batting between. That got safety-pinned together every 5 inches or sew (pun intended).
We rolled it up to protect it for the night, but also because to get it through the sewing machine to do the quilting, it had to be rolled up.
See how half of it is all rolled up to go through the machine? Texas Seestor who has lots of quilting experience started it off and did the majority of one half. Then I pitched in and did three or four lines at the end. And because I liked quilting sew much (sew much, I crack me up!) and I was on a roll (it just gets better and better) I did the next half.
See the roll. Get it. On a roll?
Maybe I’m the only one thinking this is funny. I’ll stop now. (as if I could)
Texas Seestor did the sewing on the binding. It was tricky and well, I was talking to SeaQueen on the phone at the time and we really did want to get the bed runner done.
Isn’t it pretty?
I love the material.
And as it turned out, Texas Seestor and Trainwreck got snowed in here on Monday the 13th, so we got to make the throw pillows! I actually did 3 of them without assistance.
She and I did the dark blue one with the stripe of material first, and from that I was good to go on the rest. The tootsie roll white one was really fun to make because it didn’t require me to sew them shut by hand after putting the stuffing in.
I’m all about the throw pillows now. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to whip those puppies out! And sewing them shut by hand didn’t take all that long either. I can’t wait to paint our reading room next, then I can make throw pillows to match. Oh and that greenish one is batik fabrics. I couldn’t believe all of the gorgeous batik fabrics you can buy! It makes me want to sew and sew.
All in all, I love the freedom of sewing and no longer being bound by what I can buy in a store. And it is fun to create something beautiful yet functional (or decorative) out of a simple piece or pieces of cloth. Who knew!? heee!
Momo says:
Pretty, very pretty!
What a neat idea. I love the colors and the pattern of the material. Lokks like a fun project.
My best friend Martha and I will be doing a sewing project of our own soon. She is gonna help me make curtains for my new place. Our last sewing project was her, Amber’s, and my sister’s bridesmaids dresses for my wedding almost three years ago. That was a sewing project and a half…especially getting all that done in the span of about three weeks, finishing the night before I got married. Oh the memories!
Amber says:
I see you finished that last pillow!
They look so cool all together and happy like that.
I am sew happy for you (and me)! I just finished my curtains tonight! Wheee!
Your puns were really cracking me up tonight. On a roll! ahahahaha!
Now I am going to work on some throw pillows for our couch and living room. I may also make a throw blanket for the couch as well. I’ll have to show you how to make the frilly fleece blankets, (if you don’t already know how) as those are fun and easy to make. No sewing involved!
And now you having me want to make stuff for our bed, too. But I already have a lot of stuff on the table for sewing. I need to complete the sheers for our living room now that the curtains are finished.
Ok.
I love to sew!
Squirl says:
That is sew cool You really were on a roll!
I don’t sew anything but I loooove what you did here. Almost (almost) makes me want to do that.
Really lovely work. It was worth the wait to see the sewing project.
LadyBug says:
Awesome! What a cool idea, that Bed Runner is.
Now, dear, do yourself a favor and pull this post down, and go get yourself a patent on that.
I’ll expect to see you selling your Bed Runners on QVC.
Or, wait! You could start yourself an online business! CUSTOM-MADE BED RUNNERS!
“Select from a wide variety of fabrics. We’ll sew your Bed Runner to your specifications. Twin size starting at only $99.99!”
Go for it, girl!
Amber says:
LOL Ladybug, that’s genius.
Danielle says:
thank you all for the lovely compliments.
As for patenting it. I’m afraid I got the idea after staying at 2 major chain hotels (Marriott and Hilton), so I think the secret is already out on the bed-runners. I just don’t think the major catalogs have picked up on it yet (Pottery Barn, etc.). Otherwise, I’d be all over the patenting idea. As for the online business…. well, it is somewhat tempting, isn’t it? But I don’t think I’m meant to be a full-time seamstress. Just a casual one. Still pretty funny though: For only $99.99 You TOO can have a custom-made bed-runner!
Nithyagopal says:
Can u pls tell me how to stitch a night-gown for a petite size.thank you
Amanda B. says:
Damn, that’s impressive! Nicely done.