Double sided damask throw

Upholstery weight reversible cotton damask

So what do you do when you have an odd piece of fabric and 4 cut trimming bits???

This is a cotton damask with a positive and negative side - and you cant decide which side to use - or how best to use it??

MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm she thinks ? 

....................waiting for that brainwave .............. 

Aha ...........

A reversible cover with contrast binding - uses ALL the fabric bits = no wastage and reduces the stash and makes best use of the reversible nature of the damask  .............. and replaces my damaged  cotton knit throw (wine spillage) 

BUT used the binding strips to highlight the pattern by putting a positive side with the negative and vice versa  - so each side has the contrasting binding - neat eh?? 

So this is what I did .................... just in case you are interested ......LOL 

Reversible cotton damask throw - all done! 

Well I might add big cotton and beaded tassels on the corners .......

Well I took the four trim pieces, cut and then re-pieced them (placing fabric front to back), then folded them to make binding for the bigger piece. Sewed each piece on (double check you have enough length and put them on shortest side first - unlike me  that sewed wrong sides first! Meant a bit of bodging ....ehhh hmmm) Also make sure you place the wrong side against a right side - so trim will contrast when folded out 

I did plain strips without mitering as I did not have enough length of trim 

I fringed the ends so as to reduce the bulk at the corners 

Here it is thrown over  the corner of my sofa

So a new sofa and throw all made from scraps and remnants, plus roll ends all of new fabric - now you can't make a cover as economically as that - well unless you recycle used fabric (which I have done in the past) 

So for less  than a £100 I have recovered the cushions for the sofa and its matching chair, plus a matching throw!

Now just think how much I would have had to pay someone to make them .................. hundreds of pounds!!

Now I can use my full rolls for jobs that require much bigger single pieces of fabric e.g. curtains

But I am still thinking on doing a patchwork chair .where each section is a different piece of fabric - again all in cream damasks ...............mmmmmmm oh dear may have to use these covers to get the necessary variety of fabrics ................. but that can easily be done as the covers can be easily taken apart if I need the fabric 

Ahhh now to make a cup of coffee and admire my latest efforts ............. :-) 

Sofa's New Covers ........so easy its ridiculous!

Here is the sofa with new covers an all its cushions - various damask cottons in cream

The big pillow is in a gorgeous textured two tone cream and taupe fabric - the flowers and leaves are all puffy and raised by the weaving process - just stunning!

This was 'before' - but when I washed the covers they shrank even further so cushion covers were too small for the feather cushions - so they became like rocks to sit on - very uncomfy!!

Underneath the Sanderson covers was eh original gold brocade on the base of the sofa - just a couple of marks to try ad get off but otherwise in really good condition and much nicer than the over tight  'colourful covers' 

Chair after recovering cushions in cream cotton damasks - with a new honey chenille cushion on the arm

This the matching chair - with it's too tight covers 

The covers were a nightmare to try and get off and on as too tight - really hurting my hands and arms............

These covers are the easiest ones I have ever made! Perfect for me with my arthritic hands and lack of strength due to the M.E. - ie I can get them on and off with great ease as NO zippers or Velcro and so easy to get on and off for washing or just changing  colours! 

This project made great use of all my cream cotton fabric stash of remnants and ends of rolls .....each cushion took a piece - so each cushion different fabric (except two in damask so just reversed the fabric sofa +ve and a -ve) 

I have enough left on the roll of linen (which I did the summer curtains with) to make a loose slipcovers on the bases of the chairs/sofas - I think! Otherwise be made in sections of different fabrics again .. will see.

I just made simple bags - side seam and bottom seam - left the ends open - sewed a flange around (could have made them tighter and made sugar bag bottoms- which would have been even easier). SO openings are at the back or bottom of the cushions and excess fabric is just tucked in like a pillow slip) So ever so easy to make - and get on/off in case of spillage or change of colour scheme! 

So nice loose fitting (so when washed they wont be to small - but did prewash all the fabric) relaxed style for the summer .......... and my poor husband says sofa now so comfy and falls asleep! zzzzzzzzzzzzz 

Plus of course recycled several old pieces of furniture that would have been taken to the dump
They were worth doing as in good shape, sprung seats, horsehair stuffed arms and all the cushions are feather
I was thrilled when took off the slipcovers to discover the original gold brocade covers - which is just a gorgeous fabric - it must have been an expensive piece when first bought!
Now to do the rest ...................

Designs for the Larger Woman ............bamboo-cotton jacket

A re-work of my Ziggy-zaggy Missoni Style Jacket/Coat design for a larger size - and it worked beautifully!

Still flatters the figure - easy to wear 

Made in a  summery cream bamboo-cotton blend - so a gorgeous drape and swing! 

Ziggy-zaggy Missoni Style Jacket 

three quarter length with cape sleeves to the elbow 

Hand crocheted in cream bamboo-cotton blend which has a lovely drape and hang

This the version for a c40-45" bust 

Hangs well and fits and flares 

It has been picked up and fitted perfectly and looked super on! Well pleased :-) 

The Origami Jacket - with NO seams! New Design

Side and front views 

Shawl collar, which can meet at the front or fold back with full length sleeves 

Well a new design has flew off the hook ................... was paying with my yarn (as I do) a space dyed wool blend .........and started making a shrug .................. which got fiddled with (as I do) ................ then remodeled the outer border ............as one does and hey presto a new shrug/bolero! 

A neat tidy design - involves NO SEAMS! 

Back view - showing the square based back panel 

Lilies - best I have grown !

This year have had the most magnificent Lilies - this is one pot! 

Was going to move them so I could see them from my kitchen window - but would end up covered in pollen 

Are they not just lovely???

Mt Fuji Quilt Block

Mt Fuji Applique and Embroidered 12" Cushion Cover 

Each panel has been machine embroidered with a combination of shaded quilting /embroidery threads, metallic threads and Madeira cotton .

Here the sun has really picked out the sparkly threads - enlivening what could be rather dark colour palette 

Used a striped silk and added rows of 'crops' in the 'furrows' in two different shaded cotton threads with a variety of stitches to indicate various crops at various stages of growth 

Gold thread for the snowy mountain top with blue Madeira thread stars and channel quilting for the sky. 

Mt Fuji Crazy Quilt Block 

Trial square - first applique 

I have been planning this for several years after doing my first landscape quilt based on the woodblock (see earlier blog) 

I liked the simple lines and thought ahh haaaaaaaaa a crazy quilt block in the making with some meaning and control of patterns 

So this first trial piece s done to be a small cushion cover and in drawing rooms winter colours of terracotta s and dark inky indigo blues 

Appliqued silk pieces on a cotton foundation piece

Then quilted and machine embroidered 

Linen indigo strips to frame it with a very dark inky indigo navy backing 

Japanese & Batik Panels - Quilting

Vintage Cotton Batik panel - hand done in 1981 by GW 

So a signed piece ! 

Framed in indigo blues linen windowpane check border 

Samurai Japanese Cotton Panel 

Framed in indigo blues window pane check linen 

Started my two panels 

The blue batik one I have had since the 80's! 

So finally being used - has been hidden in my scarf drawer all these years

Shows you how long I have had that ............. ehhh hmmmm 

The Samurai panel is part of my 60th Birthday present from Debbie - she brought it back from her trip to Japan earlier this year (along with some other yummy fabric and hand dyed sashiko thread - yet to decide quite what to do with that - will post pics of that scrumptious selection later) 

So now off to find some cotton batting and then can start quilting them 

I think I shall do some sashiko along the border of the Samurai panel 

Will post pics as I progresss 

PS - Have new idea for a totally new crochet design for a jacket .......so watch this space!