Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Tutorial - Fabric Border Dishtowels


Fabric borders are a simple, quick embellishment for dishtowels for the hope chest. This tutorial shows how to make a simple thick/thin border. Because I wanted to use this pretty border print, the contrast is subtle in these towels, but more apparent with other, more contrasting, fabric choices.

Materials for TWO towels: 1/4 yd. of 44-45" fabric A, 1/4 yd. 44-45" contrasting fabric B, matching thread, two flour sack dishtowels, tape measure, scissors, rotary cutter, ruler and mat, pins, iron and ironing board.


First, cut the hem from the bottom end of the towel. From both fabric A and fabric B, cut one 5" strip and one 2 1/4" strip. Measure the width of both towels from side to side. Trim a wide strip and a contrasting narrow strip to fit each towel width, plus 1 inch. You'll have to measure each towel because they will vary in width.


I'll continue to give directions for one towel. Just repeat with the opposite fabrics on the second towel. Press 1/2 inch along the top of the narrow strip.


With the right sides together, fold the larger strip in half. Use a 1/2" seam allowance to sew across both short ends. Clip the corners and trim the seam allowance. Turn right side out and press.


Pin the larger strip to the cut edge of the wrong side of the towel, aligning the side edges.


Pin the cut edge of the narrow contrasting strip atop the rest with 1/2" overlapping the edges on each side.



Sew the layers together, using a 1/2" seam allowance.


Fold the towel up and press the seam. This is the back of the towel.


Turn the towel to the front side and press the narrow strip up. Tuck the 1/2" overlap around the seam at the edge and press and pin the narrow strip across the front side of the towel. You may need to adjust a little to make the edges flush and neat.


Edgestitch around the three sides of the narrow strip, pivoting at each corner. Be careful to keep the seam line neat and straight and as close to the edge as possible.


Press the towel and clip any loose threads.


And it is finished!



Sunday, December 21, 2014

Pink and Brown Diagonal Dishcloths


These dishcloths are another item made for the Pink/Brown kitchen set that I am currently working on. I used the Diagonal Dishcloth pattern. After I finish this set, I have just one more fairly large kitchen set planned for the hope chest and then I am finished with kitchen linens. Then I want to do a few table linens. Soon I will need to start on quilts and some more baby items. Miss Abigail's hope chest is growing large. The actual chest is now overflowing to the secondary hope chest, which is a lovely antique four-drawer clothes chest. It may be true what my funny husband says: "Abby will need a U-Haul to carry her hope chest away."

BTW, a good friend of mine tells me that she can't understand this diagonal pattern very well, but can't express what is wrong with it. Has anyone else tried it and been disappointed? What can I fix about the pattern that would make it easier to understand, particularly for beginners. This dishcloth is so easy and quick to do. I certainly welcome any suggestions that would make the written directions better. Just email me!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

A Peek Inside: "Blankie" Scraps


Okay, I am a little ashamed to have kept this, it really should have been thrown away. But mom's can be pretty sentimental. About this, you ask!? Well, yes. This is all that is left from Miss Abigail's "blankie." Abigail herself says, "Mom, it looks like something you would push out the door with a stick." I have to agree. But, I have put these last shreds in a little box in the corner of the hope chest. She might get a kick out of it someday. BTW, she HATED me to wash the thing because then it didn't smell right and it didn't feel right. (Sigh...)

Friday, December 5, 2014

White Bird Serving Dishes


These pretty serving pieces were my gift to Miss Abigail for her sixteenth birthday. She helped me pick them out and I am glad she chose plain white. Such a nuetral color will make them versatile. We were thinking how pretty they would be on a "tea" table, or even on a mantle or lamp table with shells.



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