Tulips & Burlap

It doesn't get much better than this!

Every Spring the Mount Vernon Valley explodes

with an abundance of color....

Daffodils and tulips

can be seen for miles and it is breathtaking!

I just snapped this with my phone, so the quality isn't great,

but you get the gist.

Susan and I soaking up the beauty of the fields and some vitamin D!

After a day of play, I took on a little project that took me

out of my comfort zone.

I purchased a little telephone table, painted it (of course)

and decided it needed a little something.

A pillow?

Yes!

However, I have very limited sewing skills.

I can mend a tear and sew a button back on,

but that's pretty much it.

I don't own a sewing machine.

What's a girl to do?

I was on a budget and had limited skills...

so I decided to go shopping for fabric and ask the experts!

I fell in love with a burlap fabric at Joanne Fabrics

and was convinced that I was up to the task, even if

I didn't have all the right tools.

I started with an old throw pillow from my daughter's

childhood bedding. Because I knew the burlap wasn't completely non-see-through,

I covered the old pillow (which was bright turquoise, white and teal) 

with one of our dark brown pillow cases.

After sewing that closed, I measured out my burlap.

This first pillow I made measured 14" x 14",

so I cut a piece of burlap that measured 14-1/4 x 28-1/2".

Why?

Plan on a little extra so you can come in just a bit when securing your sides.

I also planned on folding in the last opening so it would "strengthen" my seem,

and allowing a little extra on the end enabled me to do this.

Next, I folded the rectangular piece of fabric in half (print side in, so

basically inside out).

Next, I took pins I had from a previous craft project and

pinned the sides together, leaving the end

opposite of the fold open so that I could stuff the pillow in

snug after I was done sewing the sides together.

Why pin the sides?

Pinning before sewing will allow you to have straight lines

because you thread along the pins....and without this step

I probably would end up with a lop-sided pillow!

Then, I took my needle and thread (wishing of course that I owned

a sewing machine) and sewed up the sides.

Here's a close up. (I'm horrible at tutorials, I know!).

After the sides were sewn and the pins were removed,

I turned the fabric "right side out" ...so the print

was showing... and stuffed the throw pillow in through the open end.

Next, I folded the edges of the open end in on each other and

sewed the end closed.

I know I'm making this sound complicated, but it wasn't...

Viola!





Although my finger tips were so sore after I made

the first one, I went and made another because the first sold

right after I brought it into Faded.

I'm savin' up for an inexpensive sewing machine.

I think I'm addicted!

Have a great week!

Cheree