Easy envelope pillow covers

Like most people, I have several perfectly good throw pillows that no longer match my decor. And while there are some really gorgeous ones out in the stores, I don't want to shell out $30/each for new ones, either.

I found some funky fabric at Hancock that was calling to me. I love funky, unusual things in my eclectic decor, and this white denim with gold foiling fit the bill. I wouldn't normally look twice at something like this, but it kind of reminded me of cowhide while still remaining animal friendly :).

I removed the red silk covers and then sewed envelope pillow covers for the down pillow forms. I wanted them to look a bit nicer, so I added black piping. Believe it or not, as many projects as I've sewn over the years, I've never sewn piping. It was a bit tricky figuring out how to connect the end pieces, but once I did, it was easy. I put them in the corner of the pillow so they wouldn't be as noticeable.

I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I'd like to eventually have our monogram embroidered in the middle with black thread. I think that would be a fun touch.

I'm not sure where I'll put them, but they are neutral enough to go anywhere in the house. Right now they are sitting on my extra dining chairs that I have flanking the table in my foyer.

Have you worked on any sewing projects lately?

Quick and easy accent pillows

Here's a project that will take maybe a half hour from start to finish. Longer if you are like me and do a lot of it in front of Law and Order. ;) If you can sew a straight line, you can do this.

I've seen this done many times over the years on tv and in magazines and always meant to try it, but never got around to it (you know how that goes, don't you?!). I was browsing the other day and saw it done most recently here. I've been wanting to make little lumbar shaped pillows for my kitchen chairs for, oh, I don't know, the last 4 or 5 years or so. When I saw this idea yet again, I knew it was the answer. Quick, easy and cheap.

I bought 4 place mats for $1.78/each at the W when grocery shopping last night. I love the woven cotton fabric for it's texture and durability. And the colors are bright and cheery, perfect for my kitchen.



I did mine slightly differently than Sarah did hers, though, but it's still very simple. Unlike Sarah's, my place mats are not doubled sided. No problem. I simply folded them in half (right sides facing each other) and sewed up the 3 open sides (leaving enough space on one side to turn the pillows right-side-out and stuff with fiberfill).



But before turning right-side-out, be sure to clip the extra fabric from the corners so the shape will be more natural. So far, this whole process has taken *maybe* a minute or two, tops.



Next, stuff the pillow. Here's a little tip: if you have a difficult time reaching down into the corners to stuff the pillow, use a skewer to push the filling down where you want it. Afterward, I just stitched up the hole using a basic "over and through" stitch.



And that's all there is to it!





{Join the DIY party and share your latest projects at Kimba's!}

Sew, what's up? (and a blog question)

A few weeks ago, I bought about 5 or 6 wool sweaters at the thrift store. And that particular day, they were 1/2 off. As I was checking out, a lady behind me said "I guess I got here a few minutes too late." I said "pardon me?" She asked "are those wool sweaters?" I told her yes, and she mumbled some comment about there not being any left, except the one she had in her hands. That wasn't true...there were many more left. They just weren't very pretty. ;) I didn't want to tell her I had plans to cut them up use them in craft projects.

So in an attempt to try to get out of my funk, I worked on a little something last night.

Wool sweater #1, washed and dried. I probably should have run it through again, because while it did tighten up, it was still a bit misshapen, which you will see in my finished project. But I couldn't be bothered to do it the right way, I wanted to do it the quick way.



After a lousy, quick attempt at embroidering, I sewed the sucker up, stuffed it and I was done. Now I can feel good that I got my butt off the couch and did *something.*



Can you even make out what that embroidery is? Probably not, so let me tell you. It's an "F" for our last name. I just quickly free-handed it while watching Forensic Files. As you can tell, I was more interested in Forensic Files than paying attention to stitches. Oh, well. It has "character." ;)

Today, I looked at the leftovers from Wool Sweater #1.



Let's see, what can I do with a sleeve? Make a leg warmer? Tie it around my neck as a scarf? Fill it with stuffing and make a breeze protector for my front door? While those might fun ideas ;), I made an iPod case.



I used the waistband portion to make a tiny pocket inside the case to hold my ear buds so they won't get tangled.





Sew on a button for a closure.



Stitch up the sides and bottom, and then remember that you forgot to double-check that the iPod would fit (it does).



Notice how misshapen it is? That's called character.

Take a peak inside.



The end of Wool Sweater #1 project. It may not be pretty, but it's functional, and more importantly, it's done. Now my iPod won't get tangled up in my purse.



Blogger question:

Twice today I tried to add blogs that I want to follow, and I get an error message saying something like "you are trying to follow this blog, but it appears that there is no feed." But then I show up on their list of followers. But they aren't showing up on my end. What gives?

A study in domestication

This weekend, my neighbor (and good friend) asked me to help her make slipcovers for a pair of chairs she has in her living room. Sure, why not, I can sew. This shouldn't be too difficult. Buy a pattern, pin, cut, sew.

Right?

Not so much.

She decides against using a pattern. Being an engineer, a mathematical type, she begins cutting fabric and pinning it right on the chair. Wow! I am not a mathematical type. I can't even balance the checkbook. I freeze in terror over the thought of having to count change back. Yikes! She's one side of the brain, I'm the other.

Sunday afternoon, she brings over a heap of pinned fabric. Scary stuff. I set up my sewing machine and get started.

After a couple of hours (!) we bring the covers back to her house and get ready for the important try-on. Wow! It's a miracle, the slipcovers fit! Like. A. Glove!

You may notice they still need to be hemmed. In time my friends, in time.

I guess getting our brains together means we can conquer the world! Or at least a pair of slipcovers.