Make it Monday – How to Sew a Round Tablecloth

This past Christmas, Dave and I decided rather than buying each other gifts, we’d take that money and buy a reading chair for the corner of our bedroom.  It took us a while to find a chair that would be comfortable for both of us; short enough for me, tall enough for him.  We finally found one in February, but decided to keep looking since it was a bit over what we had wanted to pay.  Of course, when we went back to buy that chair because we couldn’t find any others that worked for us, it had already been sold.

We had to order a new one and wait the 6 to 10 weeks for it to come in.  The chair arrived last week and it fits perfectly in the corner by the window.

We already had a small round table to use for a side table, but it looked just a tad bit shabby next to our brand new chair.   So last week, I got busy and sewed a pretty round tablecloth to cover it.  Read on for the instructions for this simple sewing project.

To calculate the size the tablecloth needed:

Note: specific measurements for my tablecloth are in italics.

First, measure the diameter of the table.  Ours measured 20 inches.

Next, measure the height and double it.  Ours measured 23 ¾ inches.  Doubled that comes out to 47 ½ inches.

Then if turning under ¾ inch for the hem, add 1 ½ inches.

All together:  20 + 47 ½ + 1 ½ = 69 inches.  Just to give myself some wiggle room, I added an extra inch.  Meaning I needed a piece of fabric 70X70 inches, which also meant I had to piece the fabric.

So next, I had to calculate the size of panels I would need:

After preshrinking and trimming the selvedges, my fabric was 42″ wide.  I cut one panel 70″ long.

I knew I would need 1 inch for seam allowances (1/2″ for either side).  That would leave the center panel 41 inches.

70 – 41 = 29 inches needed to be added.  Which meant that two 14 ½ inch panels needed to be added to either side.  Adding ½ inch to each panel for a seam allowance, gave me a final measurement of 15″.

I, then, cut a second piece of fabric 70″ long.  From that I cut two 15″ wide panels.

To make a nice finished seam I chose to sew a princess seam:

Pin one of the narrow panels to the big panel, wrong sides together.  Sew a scant ¼” seam.

Trim seam slightly to get rid of any frayed threads.  Press seam to one side.  Turn the fabric right sides together and press seam flat.

Sew using a full ¼” seam.

Press finished seam toward small panel.  Topstitch in place.

Repeat for second small panel.

My completed piece of fabric measured 70X70 inches.

To cut the circle:

Fold fabric in half lengthwise and in half again.   Doing this gave me a 35X35 inch square.

Smooth the fabric so that it is laying flat with as few wrinkles as possible.

Place your measuring tape at the folded corner.   To obtain a 69″ circle, I place it at 34 1/2 inches.

Next smooth the measuring tape out flat.  Don’t stretch it.   With a pencil, mark the ¼ arc of your circle.  Move the measuring tape along the arc, while being careful to keep the correct measurement always on the folded corner.

I made tiny marks several places along the arc and then filled in with a solid line.

Before cutting, pin the layers of fabric together just inside the line.  This will prevent the layers from shifting while cutting.

Cut along the drawn line through all layers of fabric.

Remove the pins.

I now had the 69″ circle, I needed to fit my table.

For the hem:

Turn under ¾”.  Pin and press all the way around.

As the pins are removed, turn under the raw fabric edge until it meets pressed fold and then re-pin.

Sew.  Press completed tablecloth.

This is what my finished tablecloth looks like:

If you would like to make your own round tablecloth and need help understanding my instructions or making your own calculations, please feel free to leave a question in comments and I will do my best to answer.

The Pay It Forward Gifts

Now that the three ladies who signed up to receive Pay It Forward gifts from me have received them and had a chance to enjoy them for a while, I thought I’d get the pictures posted of what I made for each lady.

For Katherine over at Sew Me Something Good, I knit a set of dishclothes in colours to match her new kitchen apron and oven mitts.

Line’s blog is Scribbles by Me and while I can’t read Swedish, I did see from the pictures that she has posted that they are remodeling their kitchen.  So I made these dishclothes for her to use once the remodelling is finished.  In her photos, it looked like they had painted the walls a pale yellow, so I chose a bright yellow yarn to make them with.

From reading through Just A Flip Flop Mom’s blog entries I learned that she is currently attending classes and probably has little time to pamper herself, so for her I knit washclothes instead of dishclothes in the hopes that they would encourage her to take time occasionally to de-stress with a nice long bath.  The washclothes were knit slightly larger than the dishclothes.

As you can see, each lady also received one dishcloth or washcloth with a design knit into the pattern.  I chose each design especially for the lady who received it.

And here they are all bundled up just before they were put into the envelopes and mailed off.

Quick Inexpensive Easter Gifts

Just before Christmas 08, I came across a box of miscellaneous Easter decorations at our local thrift store.  You’d think that Easter would have been the last thing on my mind, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is to think ahead.

Our children are long past eagerly waiting for Easter Bunny, but I still like to give them a little something each year. Right away an idea came to mind how I could turn that box of decorations into some special gifts in a few months time.  And since the decorations were off season, when I got to the till, they only charged me $2 for everything pictured below.

I hid the box away until a few weeks ago when I dug it out and started getting creative.

To 6 egg cartons that I’d been saving for just this purpose, I glued Easter themed paper.

(I’d had looked all over the place for Easter wrapping paper but ended up cutting up paper goodie bags that were packaged 10 for $1.)

Then I divided up the decorations amongst three of the cartons.  The other three cartons were filled with the usual plastic eggs filled with candy.

The cartons for our oldest, I wrapped in an Easter themed table runner.  The ones for our middle daughter…  in an Easter tea towel.    You’ll notice a second tea towel wrapped package.  That’s an extra little something for middle daughter.  Oldest daughter’s extra something was wrapped along with her egg cartons.

The other two cartons are again hidden away in the closet to await being put out early Sunday morning as a surprize for our teenage son along with the usual collection of Easter candy.  Someday he’ll be able to use them in his own home.

Note:  I can post this now because our daughters have each received their package and I encouraged them to open them so that they would have them to use for Easter.   Though I did tell them that they couldn’t open the plastic eggs until Easter morning.  :o)

This post was added as part of Frugal Friday over at Life as Mom.

Make it Monday – How to Sew the Cover for the Rice Hot/Cold Therapy Bag

To make the cover for the rice therapy bag that I posted the instructions for on the last Make It Monday:

For the rice bag cover:  Cut one piece of polar fleece 7″X25″ and one piece 7″X27″ (the extra two inches form the button flap extension)

Now because this was a Valentine’s gift for our oldest daughter… I wanted to jazz it up a bit, so I also cut one piece 7″X27″ from a colourful cotton fabric on which I centered a piece of redwork embroidery.   I’m including those steps in the instructions but it is not necessary and they can be ignored if you’re simply wanting a nice soft cover for your rice bag.

For the button flap extension:   cut one piece of fabric 2″X7″ from cotton if adding that or from fleece if not.

To begin,  place center of redwork embroidery at what will be the center of the finished cover.   Remember you have the button flap extension, so the center of the finished piece would be 12.5″ from the end opposite the button flap extension.  Pin redwork in place and sew.

Place 7″X27″cotton right side up on right side of 7″X27″ fleece.  Baste all the way around using ¼” seam.

Turn under and sew a ½” hem on 7″X25″ piece of polar fleece.

Next, pin the two pieces of fleece right sides together.  Sew down one long side, across the end and up the other long side, using ½” seam.

Clip seam as shown, making sure not to clip more than one half inch:

Trim seams to ¼”.

For the button flap extension, I cut one 7″ side of the extension on the selvage edge of the cotton to eliminate the need to hem, but otherwise, you’ll need to turn under 1/2″ hem.

Pin this piece to the wrong side of button flap extension.  Sew using ½” seam as indicated in photo.

Clip corners diagonally.  Trim seam to ¼”. 

Turn extension right side out and sew along bottom edge of cotton to hold in place.   Turn the rice bag cover right side out.

Sew two buttonholes one inch in, on either side of button flap extension.

Fold button flap extension down.  Mark position for buttons.  Sew buttons in place.

Heat or chill your rice therapy bag and insert it into cover.

Now sit and relax while the therapy bag goes to work on those aches and pains.

If you have any question about these instructions, please feel free to leave a comment and I will try to clarify.

Review – Bird Brain Designs

It isn’t very often that I write reviews.  Even for the blog on my writing website, I only write reviews of books that I can honestly recommend as good reads.

I am so impressed with the speed with which my order arrived from Bird Brain Designs and the kit I received that I had to pass this along.

As you’ll see in my post about How to Sew a Basic Throw Pillow and my upcoming post How to Sew a Hot/Cold Therapy Bag Cover (watch for it on Make It Monday,) I’ve been doing some Redwork embroidery.

In my search for more patterns to embroider I came across a link to Bird Brain Designs and after spending way too much time browsing through their many pages of adorable craft patterns and kits (for more than just embroidery), I decided to purchase a small kit just to see what they were like.

I placed the order the morning of Tuesday the 17^th and within minutes received an e-mail confirmation.   The next afternoon, I received another e-mail stating that the order had been shipped.   The package arrived today!

I couldn’t be more pleased with the kit I chose.  I can’t show a picture because they are going to be gifts and I don’t want the recipients to know what they are getting, but I can tell you that the materials included are top quality.  And the instructions for completing the projects are well written and printed on good quality paper in dark type.   That, in my view, wins this company extra points as I’ve bought kits in the past where the instructions were on cheap paper and the print so light as to be barely legible.

Now that I’ve seen for myself the quality of their products, I can highly recommend Bird Brain Designs.  Check out their website and if you see a pattern or kit that you like for yourself or as a gift for one the crafters in your life, go ahead and order.   I’m sure you’ll be as pleased as I am.

Make it Monday – How to Make a Rice Hot/Cold Therapy Bag

Rice therapy bags are great for soothing and helping to relax sore, aching muscles.  They can be heated in the microwave to be used warm or stored in the freezer for use as cold packs.

They are also a super, simple easy-sew project that can be made in whatever size you need.

For our oldest daughter for Valentine’s I made one to drape over her shoulders after a long day in front of the computer doing medical billing and transcription.

To make your own shoulder hot pad:

Cut a strip of fabric 7″X48″ from a 100% white cotton thrifted sheet or if using cotton yardage, cut two pieces 7″X24 1/2″.

Fold fabric in half so that you have a piece 7″X24″.  Sew ½” seams along the two long edges.  Sew a second seam 1/8″ in from first seam.  If sewing two pieces together, sew another double seam across one 7″ end.

Trim seam to ¼”.

Turn right side out.  Press.

Press under ½” hem around open end.

Fill approximately 2/3 full with long grain rice.   (Do not use minute rice.)  I used a canning funnel to make it easier to fill.

Pin opening closed and sew close to the folded edge.  Sew a second seam 1/8″ from first.

Your therapy bag is now ready to be used.

To heat: simply pop them into the microwave on high. Each microwave heats differently and you don’t want to overheat them and burn the rice, so it’s best to start with one minute and then if that’s doesn’t get the bag warm enough, continue to heat in 30 second intervals.   It will take some experimenting to find out how long works best in your microwave for the size of rice bag you are heating.

Then sit back, relax and let the heat ease away any muscle tension you may be experiencing.  Or on cold nights, heat it and put in under the covers at the foot of the bed to warm your feet.

To use as a cold pack, store them in the freezer until needed.

Click on the link for instructions on how to sew a cover for your rice therapy bag.

Pay It Forward – Lovely Surprizes Arrived Yesterday

Every once in a long while, the mailman brings something besides bills.  Yesterday was that day.

Just look at the surprizes that were inside the package he delivered.

Aren’t they lovely!

Several months ago, I left a comment on Katherine’s “Pay It Forward” post over on her blog Sew Me Something Good.  And as if the above wasn’t more than enough to fulfill her promise to send a small handmade gift to the first three commenters, here are the treasures I found inside the zippered bag:

Notice that the strips of fabric on the back of the bag match the pin cushion.  And don’t you just love that strip with the cat peaking over the strip of fabric beside it.

You can find info on the little needle book on her post “Give your needles a pretty home.” I really like the idea of repurposing thrifted shirts.  The fabrics are just so beautiful.

Each little treasure, has found it’s way to their new homes amongst my sewing and crafting supplies.  I can’t thank Katherine enough.   Everything she sent was just wonderful and put together with such thought and care.

Oh and of course… you have to know that the chocolate didn’t last long. 

Note:  Just to update those who commented on my Pay It Forward post… I’m working on your surprizes and hope to have them ready to go out to you soon.

Make It Monday – How to Sew a Basic Throw Pillow

Sewing a basic throw pillow is perfect for both the beginner and for the more advanced who just want a quick, easy-sew project.  You can either recover an existing throw pillow or buy ready made pillow forms.

For a 16′ pillow, cut a 17″ square from a double layer of fabric.  This will give you the front and back of your pillow cover.

Cut two 17 inch squares

Next, pin and sew ½” seam along four sides, leaving an opening approximately eight inches on one side.

Pin right sides together

Trim seams to a ¼”.  Clip corners on the diagonal.

Trim seams

Turn right side out.  Press well.

Press pillow

Insert pillow form.  Hand sew opening closed using either a slip stitch or blind stitch.  I prefer to use a blind stitch.

Sew opening closed

The pillow is now finished.

Completed pillow

And for a bit of a surprize, I’ll turn it over and show you the other side.

Surprize

This was a simple addition.  I  turned under ¼” on the Redwork embroidery, centered it on one of the squares of fabric (before sewing them together.)   Then I pinned it and sewed it in place by machine.

Pin applique to center of pillow

So you see, you can take a basic pillow cover and jazz it up with an embroidered applique or even with a piece of contrasting fabric.   You are only limited by your imagination.   Have fun with it!

Every Household Should Have a Button Box

One of the best ways to save money is to make minor clothing repairs yourself rather than paying someone else to do them for you.   And one of the easiest repairs of all is to replace missing buttons on shirts, coats or pants.   You can buy cards of buttons at any fabric store.   My local fabric store has an entire wall of buttons in various sizes, shapes and colours.

But what if you only need one or maybe two buttons?

That’s where having a button box comes in handy.   I’ve been collecting buttons since I first started sewing.   But if you don’t already have a button box, it’s super easy to start one.

In fact, just this past Christmas, I made each of our daughters their own button box as one of their gifts.

I started out with a big pile of buttons.

A pile of assorted buttons

Some came from my own button box.  Some I got after placing an ad on Freecycle.  And then, since I wanted our girls to have a really nice selection of buttons, I bought two bags of buttons at Michaels.

I filled these Christmas tins with the buttons I had gathered.

Tin boxes filled with buttons

But you can use whatever container you may have around the house that has a lid that fits securely.

Then the next time you discover one of your or your spouse’s or your children’s clothing is missing a button, you can search through your button box for a match and make the repair.

And while you’re making one for yourself, make some to give away as small gifts to friends or family who are just starting their own households.    Or if you’re needing a bigger gift, you could add one to a basket filled with thread, scissors and other sewing accessories to give as a wedding or house warming gift.

For more frugal ideas, head on over to BeingFrugal.net and check out: