Readers Sew For Their Homes

Readers Sew For Their Homes

Aside from quilts or curtains, what items do you sew for your home? That’s the question Team Nancy Zieman posed earlier this month, via this blog,  Facebook, and Pinterest.  The sewing skillset goes so far beyond simply making clothes or quilts. It is exciting to see what you create! 

Enjoy the selected responses below, plus a spotlight on one featured reader.

Here’s what you are saying:

Eco Friendly Home Sewing

“Sewing for the home is a real pleasure. To begin with, I make all of my napkins. I make them using fun fabrics, which are cotton so they are easy to wash and care for. Plus, it cuts down on the waste going out. I have also made my own tablecloths, which also sometimes match the napkins I make. These are the fun parts, as dinner time is family time. We try very hard to stay away from cell phones or television during dinner time. I have also sewn and embroidered pot holders, and dish towels. One of the things I love to make, which also makes great gifts, are bags to hold different parts of lunches in. All of these help with keeping our trash and recycling down, and if we do use plastic ware, it is reusable. And, I will admit I do use wax paper. The bags can be closed using Velcro or zippers, and take very little time to put together. I try to line them with plain cotton, and the outside can be fun designs as well.

In addition to all of the above, I have made gift bags to hold gifts in. We may use new tissue paper, or old tissue paper, but we have reused the gift bags over and over again. Saved time, and wrapping paper, but especially time, and my husband appreciates it because you don’t have to be clever with paper folding and wrapping. You just find the bag that fits the item, stick it in there tie a bow at the end to hold it closed, attach a tag, and you’re done. What could be better than that?”—Heidi Kolden, Castro Valley, CA

Soup Bowls

“I made soup bowl holders.”—Cindy Szoke, Brantford, Ontario CA

Personalize It!

“I make bibs and stitch initials on towel sets. I also sew pillows for my grandkids.”—Eva Hada, Tucson, AZ

Sew Small

“I often stitch hot pads, coasters, napkins, and pillows.”—Mary Green, North Richland Hills, TX

Table Runners and More

“Table runners, pillows, wall hangings, hot pads, and placemats are my go-to home sewing projects.”—Karen Bryant, Corrales, NM

Making It Match

“I always made matching quilts, curtains, pillows, shams, and bed skirts since I was a teenager, for my bedroom and for my four sisters. Over the years I have added table runners and tablecloths, embroidered kitchen and bath towels, pot holders, roman shades, lampshade covers, wallhangings, coasters and of course items for my sewing room—pincushions, cloth baskets and more. My latest project is using row by row patterns and fabrics to turn my guest room into a record of my travels through the years.”—Debbie Morse, Kannapolis, NC

Over-sized Floor Pillows

“When my children were younger, I made tons of throw pillows and oversized floor pillows. I still enjoy making throw pillows, and mug rugs, table runners, and such. Next, I will be making things for my sewing space. Chair covers, new pincushions, several project totes, and sewing baskets.”—Sidney McWhorter, Hesperia, CA

Wide Range of Projects

“I generally like to sew pillowcases, pillows, mug rugs, table runners, wall hangings, aprons, and casserole covers.”—Terri Alsobrook, GA

This Month’s Reader Spotlight:

Cindy’s Answer

“I love to make seasonal pillow covers that fit the pillows we use year round. Currently I am making a personalized window seat cover for my grandson’s room from recycled jeans. It has dozens of machine embroideries on it, most themed to memories or hobbies of his. I also like making pot holders, although that has taken a back seat to the window seat this year. The window seat cover is 94″ x 25″ x 4″…that’s a lot of jeans!”—Cindy Cooke, Ringgold, GA

Your window seat cover sounds amazing. Can you share a photo?  I will have to wait a little on sending pictures in, as the project is behind schedule due to a whirlwind of grandkids hitting my house. Each one had a runny nose, so Mom-mom didn’t get much done in the sewing room. I will send it in as soon as I finish it, though.

Do you have any tips you’ve learned through the window seat project, that you’d like to share with other readers? Tips? Well, a sharp needle and careful centering is a must when doing this sort of project. And, the weight of jeans can be hard on a machine, especially when you’re stitching through several layers. GO SLOW! I am only embroidering on one side of the window seat; the other side is made of un-embellished  jean legs, stitched up randomly. If he gets tired of seeing all those embroideries, he can always flip it to the plain side. I was careful to make it with materials which would wash and dry well…the whole project got started when my son washed the upholstered cover and it shrank about 8 inches in both directions. Finally, relax and have fun. I even managed to digitize a design or two—firsts for me—to go into this project.

Other than jeans, what types of fabrics do you tend to feature in your pillow covers? I like to use polished cottons or lightweight upholstery fabrics; mainly anything that is themed to the occasion and will wash; we have lots of kids in and out, as well as family pets who visit.

Do you give stitched home accessories as gifts, and if so, do you have a favorite? I would far rather receive a handmade gift from others, and so I love giving parts of my heart to those I care about.

What was the first successful sewing/quilting project you remember making? The first project I can remember making is a pair of pillowcases marked Mr. and Mrs.—back in the 60s. Soon after, I graduated to quilted placemats made with cheater fabrics my mother had given me. I loved making the period clothes for American Girl dolls when my granddaughter had some of them. I do not like fitting clothes, so I lean more to home dec projects.  The latest finished project was a crazy quilted queen sized quilt my best friend and I made to give to one of her children for Christmas this year.

 

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