BEST FOR HOMES - Great ideas for transforming your home

Blanket Box

2009-06-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

Combine a seat with practical space to keep your bedroom free of clutter.

You will need:

Wooden box with lid
Tape measure
Tongue and groove paneling
Pencil
Saw
Strong wood glue
Wood primer
Paintbrush
4cm (1½in) deep foam
Craft knife
Fabric
Sewing machine or needle and cotton
Pins
Touch-and-close tape

Measure the box and calculate how much tongue and groove paneling you will need. You can cover the box all around, or just the front and sides. If the widths do not fit exactly trim a plank to fit. Mark the measurements on the tongue and groove planks, then cut to size.
Use the wood glue to fix the tongue and groove on to the box. When dry, give the entire box a coat of primer and allow to dry. Neat apply one or two coats of oil-based paint. Leave to dry.
Cut the foam to fit the lid of the box. Cut a piece of fabric 40cm (16in) wider than the long edges of the cushion and long enough to wrap right round the cushion with an extra 15cm (6in) to spare. Turn under the long edges of the fabric and sew 1.5cm (⅝in) hems. Place the foam in the centre on the wrong side of the fabric. Fold over the long edges so the fabric overlaps in the middle of the foam.
Fold over the short edges, mitring the corners exactly as if you were wrapping a present, and pin in place. Remove the foam and handstitch the fabric where it is pinned. Sew touch-and-close tape to the central seam. Replace the foam pad, close the opening with the touch-and-close tape and place the cushion, seams down, on the lid of the box.

Fabric Cube

2009-06-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

A versatile fabric cube can double as a useful table or comfy seat when guests arrive.

You will need:

Small square table
Wadding
Scissors
Staple gun
Tape measure
Fabric
Pins

Cover the top of the table with wadding, stretching it over the sides and fixing in place under the table top with a staple gun. Wrap a length of wadding all the way around the four sides of the table to form a box and secure in place with staples, as before.
Measure the top of the table and the four sides. Cut out five pieces of fabric to these measurement, adding an extra 1cm (⅜in) on all sides for hems. Sew together the four pieces of fabric for the sides of the cube, keeping right sides together. Pin the top piece to the side pieces, then sew in place. Turn the cube right sides out an press. Hem around the bottom edges and slip the fabric cover over the table.
Measure the top of the cube and cut the foam to fit. Cut out two pieces of fabric to the same measurement, adding an extra 2cm (¾in) on all sides for hems.
Sew the pieces of fabric together with a 1cm (⅜in) seam allowance, keeping right sides together and leaving one short end open. Turn right sides out and place the foam inside. Stitch the opening closed. Place the foam on top of the table.

Colourful Curtain Tops

2009-06-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

Create a touch of country style with an easy-to-sew checked heading that will add interest to plain curtains.

You will need:

Plain curtains
Scissors
Sewing machine or needle and cotton
Fabric
Iron
Tape measure
Curtain rings
Curtain clips

Remove any heading from the curtains, and resew any open seams. Wash, dry and press the heading fabric to make it easier to sew.
Measure and cut the heading fabric, making it 16cm (6½in) wider than the curtain, and 10cm (4in) longer than you want the finished heading to be. Turn under and stitch a 1cm (⅜in) double hem on one long edge, which will form the lower edge of the heading. Hem all other edges.

Lay the heading fabric right side down on a flat surface with the double hem at the top and lay the curtain, right side up, on top of it, positioning it centrally on the width. Overlap the two by 7cm (2¾in). Stitch across the top of the curtain to secure the two together (this will be invisible on the finished curtain).
Fold the heading over on to the right side of curtain and wrap the ends around the curtain to the back. Stitch all the edges in place by hand. Repeat with the second around. Attach the curtain rings to the pole and the clips to the curtain, then hang them at the window.

Garden Chair Cushions

2009-06-03T23:26:00.000-07:00

Use simple tea towels to make a seat cushion and headrest with handy pocket, for your garden chairs.

You will need:

4 large tea towels
Scissors
Tape measure
Pins
Sewing machine or needle and cotton
Iron
40x30cm (16x12in) cushion pad
Eight 40cm (16in) lengths of satin ribbon
45x45cm (18x18in) cushion pad

For the headrest, trim the side seams from two of the tea towels so they are around 44cm (17½in) wide. Lay one tea towel, right side up, on a flat surface. Fold up one short end to form a pocket approximately 23cm (9in) deep. Pin and sew the sides together, allowing a 2 cm (¾in) seam. Press the seams open, then turn the fabric to the right side. Repeat with the second tea towel.
Lay one headrest piece, pocket side up, on a flat surface. Lay the second, pocket side up, on top. Pin the top edges together and check the fit of the headrest on the chair. If the pockets are hanging down too low, reposition the pins until the fit is just right. Sew the two pieces together with a seam of around 2cm (¾in). Press the seam open and turn to the right side.
Insert the smaller cushion pad into the front pocket, the fit the headrest on the chair. Mark on each pocket where you want to stitch the ribbons and neatly sew of a length of ribbon to each side of each pocket. Secure the headrest by tying the ribbons together.
To make the seat cushion cover, cut a square, approximately 49x49cm (19½x19½in), from one tea towel. Trim along the long sides of the remaining tea towel to leave a rectangle around 49cm (19½in) wide and cut it in half widthways. Lay the square piece, right side up, on a flat surface. Position the two halves on top, right sides down, so they overlap in the centre with their hemmed edges. Pin all the way around the cushion cover’s edges and then machine stitch, allowing a 2cm (¾in) seam.
Remove the pins and turn the cover to the right side. Stitch the ribbons, in two pairs, to adjacent corners of the cover. Insert the square cushion pad and fasten to the chair back with the ribbon ties.

American Folk Wallhanging

2009-06-03T00:04:00.000-07:00

Use scraps pf gingham, denim and striped fabric to make a patchwork wallhanging in traditional American folk style.

You will need:

Plain fabric in 2 colours
Pencil or tailor’s chalk
Scissors
Tape measure
Pins
Sewing machine or needle and cotton
Scraps of patterned fabrics
Iron-on hem type
Thick cotton thread
Gingham ribbon
Wadding
Dowelling

Cut out 16 squares, all the same size, from a plain cotton fabric. Pin them together to form one large square and machine stitch the seams.
Cut out 16 fabric hearts from a variety of materials and attach one to each square using iron-on hem tape. Use a thick cotton thread to blanket stitch around the outline of each heart for a hand-finished feel.
Cut four strips of coordinating fabric to edge the square and pin in place. Cut four squares of gingham ribbon and sew these on to the corners of the strips you have just attached. Now sew the strips on to the square to form a border edging.
Cut another four strips from plain coordinating fabric and sew on to the edges of the square for the final border. Cover the backs of the strips with wadding.
Cut small lengths of gingham ribbon and sew these to the top side of the back of the wallhanging to form loops. Finally, cover the back of the wallhanging with plain fabric and thread the loops through a dowelling pole to hang it up.

Gingham Border

2009-06-02T21:50:00.000-07:00

Gingham border adds a smart finishing touch to plain white bedlinen. Use navy blue check for a crisp, clean look.

You will need:

About 12.5m (15 yards) of 39mm (1½in) ribbon
Pins
Scissors
Large white sheet
Sewing machine
About 9m (10½ yards) of 23mm (⅞in) ribbon
White pillowcases
Iron

Pin the wider ribbon along all four edges of the sheet, folding it over carefully at the corners. Use a sewing machines to stitch it in place along the inside and outside edges.
Cut six lengths of narrow ribbon. Each 120cm (48in) long, and set aside two lengths for the pillowcases. Shape four lengths into a figure of eight, following the picture, and secure with pins to each of the four corners of the sheet. Stitch in place along the inside and outside edges.

Lay the sheet on a flat surface and mark out the position of the centre border using pins. Positions a length ribbon on the marked border and pin into place. When you reach each corner, carefully twist the ribbon into a figure of eight, using the picture as a guide, keeping it as flat as possible. Pin the ribbon then stitch both edges, starting with the outside edge.
In the same way, make a figure of eight with the two reserved pieces of narrow ribbon, one of each pillowcase, and pin in place. Stitch the loops on both edges, starting with the outside edge. Iron the ribbon with warm iron. Add ribbon loops to other accessories for a coordinated look.

Classic Combinations

2009-06-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

Classic combinations are timeless and ever-popular schemes that can work in both traditional or contemporary settings, depending on how they are used and the furniture that is used with them. Blue and white creates a fresh look that can work in practically any room, while adding red to this combination gives a completely different feel altogether. Red and white gives a dramatic, bold effect and can look wonderful in dining rooms and kitchens if used in the right proportions. These classic combinations generally include mid tones to create a sharp, clean and crisp look.

Tips and Techniques

2009-06-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick reference guide to some of the materials involved in the projects in this blog.

Basic kit

These items form a basic set of sewing equipment:

Dressmaking scissors

Tape measure or steel ruler

Iron and ironing board

Pencil

Tailor’s chalk/pencil

Pins and needles

Sewing machine

Cottons and threads

Scissors

It is important to have a good pair of dressmaking scissors for cutting fabrics. You can now buy both right and left-handed pairs. Scissors range from the small embroidery type to large dressmaking shears. A pair about 20-25cm (8-10in) long should be fine. It may also be helpful to have a small pair of scissors for trimming and clipping.

Tape measure

It is worth having a good tape measure that extends to about 3m (3¼yds) for curtains, and a smaller soft one for measuring around corners and difficult curves. A ruler is also very useful when you are measuring out a perfect square on fabrics for cushions and other projects that involve square pieces of fabric.

Needles

You may need a selection of sizes, lengths and thickness depending on the type of fabrics and cottons you are using.

Pins

Good, sharp pins work in both fine and heavy fabrics. Look out for pins with glass heads as they can be easier to handle and are easily seen in the fabric and they tend not to hurt your fingertips when pushing them into the fabric.

Iron-on hem tape

This is a great device which can be used as an alternative to sewing hems. You will need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions but normally you will need to use a damp sponge to help fix it along with an iron

Eyelet kits

Eyelet kits can be bought in packs which contain eyelets and the device you need to fix the eyelets on the fabric. You can find eyelets in a range of sizes and finished such as silver and gold.

Tailor’s chalk

This is a useful way of marking fabrics as it is only temporary and won’t stain or mark fabrics permanently. It is comes in several forms including flat or pencil shaped.

Cottons and threads

Matching colours are only really necessary for stitching that will actually show. The advantage of using a cotton thread is that can be ripped out if you make a mistake, whereas polyester thread will need to be snipped or unpicked because it is so strong that it could tear holes in fabric.

Sewing machines

A sewing machine is the best way to achieve quick and effective results and can save you a great deal of time. It’s always a good idea to try out different stitches on scraps of fabric before you start, to make sure the tension is correct. Most sewing machines have a wide range of stitches that you can use so you can be versatile with the effects you want to achieve.

Finishing Touches

2009-06-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

Above: Small details can make all the difference to
a finished look. Consider trimmings, beads and
sequins to add an extra special touch.

You may not want to change your whole room scheme. Sometimes the small touches can make all the difference and make the room complete – even a single chair covered in a new fabric can transform a room. In the living room, the sofa is the most important piece of furniture. A well-dressed sofa can include any array of patterns as long as these coordinate with the overall scheme in the room.

Small details and finishing touches such as cushions, throws, trimmings, lampshades and smaller accessories are an important factor in giving the room a finished feel. Cushion covers and throws provide an easy way to add instant colour and variation to a room without spending a fortune, while trimmings, fringing, tassels and braid can finish pieces off with delicate detail.

Introduction - Bedrooms

2009-06-02T02:13:00.000-07:00

In the bedroom, bedlinen is normally a dominant player and there is a huge range of different styles, colours and patterns to choose from. Classics colours and styles work best in traditional bedrooms while neutrals, bright colours and bolder prints tend to suit more contemporary settings. Monochrome schemes and pale, muted colours help to create a relaxing atmosphere. Many people choose to decorate their bedroom around a favourite bedlinen set. This is a good way to choose coordinating colours, but don’t forget to add accent colours and smaller details.

Above: Bedlinen can set the tone for the whole bedroom:
there is a marvellous choice in the shops, but it's fun to
decorate plain linen with your own design.

Practical Considerations

2009-06-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

Don’t forget practical aspects, especially when it comes to wear and tear; there are important considerations and questions you need to ask yourself. For example, what will the room be used for? Who will be using it? Are there children using the room? The answer will help you to make some of the more practical decisions. Loose covers that can be put in the washing machine are a good option if you have young children or teenagers. Stain-protection finishes are another option, but make sure they conform to fire regulations. Perhaps the most important practical consideration, however, is that the furniture you choose needs to be comfortable, especially if it will get a lot of use.

1. Classic combinations: simple and effective, blue and white fabrics work brilliantly together and suit many styles of decor.

2. New naturals: soft furnishings in neutral tones are easy to live with and will work in any room. Creamy, natural shades have softness and warmth while darker tones like coffee and chocolate shades add depth and contrast.

3. Fresh florals: there is an enormous range of floral fabrics to choose from and, depending on the design you choose, they can be adapted to fit in with traditional or contemporary room schemes.

4. Pretty pastels: the pastel palette is a delight to work with, and you can mix and match a number of different hues without the effect becoming overpowering.

5. Bold brights: rich colours bring drama to a room. Although they are most popularly used for dining areas and children’s rooms, don’t shrink from using them in sitting rooms or bedrooms.

Introduction - Choosing fabrics

2009-06-01T03:09:00.000-07:00

It is important to choose carefully the fabrics you are planning to use, considering the proportions of the design and the colour in relation to your room scheme. The scale of the fabric design should also be related to the size and the shape of the piece to be furnished. For example, choose a relatively narrow stripe to upholster a small piece of furniture and wider stripes for a larger piece. Think about how much fabric you will need and the areas you are covering – do you need plain coordinating fabric to work with a pattern to make the scheme easier to live with? You may already have a large expanse of patterned or coloured fabric that you want to use as a basis for your scheme – in which case you have to think about smaller elements of colour and pattern to add to the room.

Combining different patterns together can add variety and colour. For instance, you may have a floral theme in a bedroom, but checks or stripes can work wonderfully with this if you choose the right colours and proportions. If you find this part of decorating a little overwhelming, stick to just three colours and you can’t go wrong.

Above: Have fun with fabrics by using two or three
different designs in the same colourway. Here,
florals and checks create a charming look.

Introduction - Colour Themes

2009-06-01T02:42:00.000-07:00

There are endless options and varieties of colour combinations to choose from. You will find most soft furnishing manufacturers will have a particular pattern in a whole selection of colourway, from bright and bold down to neutral mixes and muted, paler combinations.
If you are planning your room scheme from scratch, rather than using a patterned fabric or wallcovering as a base, start by choosing a main colour – this is the colour that there will be most of. Next choose a secondary colour which will be used in roughly half the amount of the main colour; and a third, accent, colour to add in smaller proportions, such as cushions, trimmings, and accessories.

Above: Citrus colours, such as lemon yellow,
orange, and lime work wonderfully together
to create a vibrant, zingy style.

Introduction

2009-06-01T01:27:00.000-07:00

Choosing furnishings in the form of upholstery, loose covers, cushions, throws, curtains and blinds can be the most exciting part of putting a room scheme together. There is a such a vast array of different patterns and colour combinations that it is a good idea to make your own ‘mood board’ with swatches and colours that you like. Collect pictures from magazines of rooms that you like too. This will help you to get an idea of what colours and patterns work together before rushing in.