Wednesday, January 4, 2012

A Little Holiday Crafting

For all the ham, turkey and plum pudding, I couldn't find my knitting groove over the Christmas break.  I so tried, and had to grit my teeth as I ripped the lace edge of my knitting project back to the body of the shawl, not once, but twice.  

Instead the itch to sew was constant.  So shortly after Christmas I gathered together my vintage sheet collection, whipped out the rotary cutter and not long thereafter the sewing machine whirred back into action.


The plan was to make a pair of patchwork curtains for the double window in the upstairs bedroom.  Something so simple was soon complicated by a desire to line these curtains with a heavenly lightweight sheer cotton.  Several hours was spent (read wasted) contemplating the lining, the layering, hemming, bias binding for edges, nifty ways to suspend the curtains, etc.


However, as soon as I had finished the first fully lined curtain, I didn't like the way it was hanging.  The fabric had lost some of it's natural drape (probably because of my lack of experience working with sheer fabric).  And so with seam ripper in hand, the patchwork fabric was taken back to it's basic state; just squares sewn together ~ no sheer lining, no pretty Liberty bias binding.


In fact, although both the sides of the curtains have been hemmed, the bottom edge is raw; let's call it organic, natural, edgy.


Once I was happy with the finish (or lack of finish) of the first curtain, the second took no time at all to complete.


I am rather pleased with my decorating efforts and have already measured up another window ready for a similar treatment. 


Such happy, carefree sewing; let 2012 commence!
Rita

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38 comments:

  1. looks very pretty and scrappy. Great job!

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  2. I think this is absolutely the PERFECT window treatment for Red Pepper Quilts!! You are being so true to yourself....love them!

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  3. They look like stained glass windows! Absolutely lovely!

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  4. They are fabulous Rita, I love the outside look too, they look great against that gorgeous aqua/blue window trim. xo

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  5. They look so perfect for a lovely, sunny day. Oh, and they make me want to switch out my fall-inspired patchwork curtains for something springy as soon as it's officially "spring" here!

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  6. so pretty Rita. I imagine your new curtains as sort of 'a quilter lives here" flag!

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  7. great, rita! you always add an unexpected pop of color to your projects and i love it. i wouldn't have thought to add the red, and it works perfectly!

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  8. What lovely curtains for a home of a quilter. So fitting (in every sense of the word).

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  9. the best kind of sewing! really gorgeous and so fresh, Rita. A big Happy New Year to you x

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  10. Happy New Year, Rita! The curtains are perfect, makes one dream of summer...
    ; )

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  11. LOVE LOVE LOVE your curtains!!!!!

    A big inspiration today ....

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  12. The look beautiful! They would certainly make me smile when I looked out of the window :)

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  13. So pretty, they almost look like stained glass with the light shining through. I can understand how the lining would affect the drape. The light will fade the curtain faster but if you're like me, you'll need a change by then anyway.

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  14. these remind me of when i first started sewing and made curtains for my log home kitchen .. they are so lovely ... i'm curious, though, how did you finish the back edges of the patchwork, the edges of each line/square? .... darlene

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  15. Totally charming, from the inside and the outside...you're such an artist!

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  16. Oh my goodness, better than stained glass!

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  17. Love the stained glass effect of these! I know just what you mean about longing for patchwork. I tried to do a little garment sewing over break (used to make clothes all the time), but the tissue pattern made my skin crawl and I had no patience for any of it. Can't wait to get back to quarter inch seams!

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  18. Gorgeous curtains. I would never have thought to make curtains out of patchwork, but you have inspired me and I will be making some to brighten up my laundry this weekend. Roll on Saturday. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  19. Makes me smile. It's bright, colorful and fun

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  20. Rita! Your curtains are so pretty! We are totally on the same wavelength! I've had a pic pinned on pinterest for a few weeks and just finished up a pair of patchwork curtains as well! And now it's fun to see yours and the different choices we each made. So fun!

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  21. Thank You for making the curtain, I just finished doing it and it cheers up the bedroom. I love the way the light filters through.

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  22. Very nice idea to make patchwork curtains!

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  23. I love it. Our HOA does not permit anything but white window dressings so I have lined all of my drapes/curtains...

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  24. Seu blog é maravilhoso, um sonho. Parabens!

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  25. These are the prettiest curtain I have ever seen. Love them.

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