Upcycle a Table Runner into DIY Pillows
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After sitting in my cupboard for way longer than I want to admit, I decided it was time to do something with it. The once table runner became two matching bolster pillows.
Materials Needed:
table runner that is double sided and can be ‘pulled’ apart– meaning the layers aren’t fused together.
pillow form the size you need or polyfil stuffing
Table Runner to Pillow Tutorial~
1) Lay your pillow form on top of your table runner and figure out where you need to trim the table runner. You will need to remember to add a bit for your seam allowance.
2) Stuff your pillow inside the inside of the table runner
3) Fold the ends under 1/4″-1/2″ and pin in place. Hand stitch the opening closed
You are done!
Now, if you are like me, I didn’t really want the pillow form to be trapped inside. So, I came up with a second closure solution. A foldover end. And, because the pillow is double sided, you are able to showcase the fabric design from the back and contrast with the front fabric.
Quick how to for the folded end pillow~
1) Cut a piece of fabric measuring 6″ –this size you can custom for your pillow. This is the size I decided to do. Feel free to make it larger if you’d like
2) Fold over one edge and sew in place– you’re making a hem here
3) Open the pillow ends just a bit and pin your foldover piece to the right side of the SAME fabric (remember that after you are done, it will be folded over to the opposite side)
4) Sew across this edge– make sure you don’t catch the other piece with your needle when you are stitching it!
5) Turn the foldover piece to the front, mess with the corners so they lay flat and pin in place along the side
6) Sew directly on top of the original seams on the sides– if you don’t have visible seams you can either stitch it still, or hand stitch along the edges to secure
7) Stuff pillow inside and fold the flap over in place
I seriously love these pillows! The reversible option with them. The removeable pillow form. The extra little detail of co-ordinating designs on top of each other with the flap. Yes, the pom pom ends were already there– double bonus!
Now I am looking at table runners in a whole new light! Can’t believe this wasn’t figured out before…and how much time this saves in making them!
For more easy sewing projects, stop by my blog or facebook.
DIY Window Treatment for Double Deck Doors
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[pinit]
[pinit]
If you have double deck glass doors, you may be wondering what kind of window treatment works and looks best with them. I ran into the same dilemma in the living room of our new residence. Hanging a rod above the door frame would leave me with curtains hanging in the way every time I opened the door. That is why I decided whatever went up there needed to be contained within each door. I ended up altering regular 84 inch curtains and using tension rods for the perfect solution. Want to see how?
SUPPLIES:
Curtains about 2 times wider than the glass in the door at least 3 inches longer than the glass
Tension rods that fit inside the window (I got 22-36 inch rods at Target for my 24.5 inch wide glass)
Sewing machine or liquid stitch or stitch witchery
Fabric scissors
Iron and ironing board
Measuring tape
Pencil or chalk for marking fabric
TUTORIAL:
Measure the length of the window and cut curtains to 3 inches longer than that length.
Fold 3 inches from the bottom of the curtains back and iron to make a hem (the hem will be at the length of the glass).
Pin in place and sew all the way across the width of the curtain. This doesn’t need to be perfect, or even close, since the curtains will be bunched up around the rod and the seam won’t be visible.
Hang with tension rods in the top and bottom and you are done!
TIPS:
If you don’t want to or can’t use a sewing machine, follow the instructions but use Liquid Stitch or Stitch Witchery to secure.
You can do this with a piece of fabric at least six inches longer than your glass by sewing a 3 inch seam at the top and bottom, instead of using curtains. I just happened to have the curtains on hand.
For more ideas, visit our 50+ Curtains and Other DIY Window Treatments to Make:
50 Plus Awesome Ways to Upcycle Clothing
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[pinit]
[pinit]
Before you haul that pile of old clothes off to Goodwill, you may want to check out this collection of 50+ awesome upcycled clothing tutorials! Up the style of your wardrobe with some simple and inexpensive creative ideas to refashion those old clothes. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know. We love a good clothing upcycle!
50 Plus Awesome DIY Curtains & Other Window Treatments
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[pinit]
[pinit]
If you are looking for budget friendly, DIY window treatment ideas, this week’s 50+ is for you! You will find a variety of beautiful options to dress your windows to suit your taste, without emptying your wallet. No sew, sew, blinds, curtains, valances are all in there. Enjoy!
The 50 Plus Best Scrap Fabric Project Tutorials
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[pinit]
[pinit]
If you are anything like me, you have fabric scraps that are so beautiful and you just can part with them. Well, what to do? Today I am sharing the 50 best scrap fabric project tutorials my search revealed. You can make anything from fabric scrap home decor to jewelry, shoes and more. Many of these are great last minute gift ideas as well. Happy scrap busting!
How to make Christmas Stockings from Recycled Tea Towels
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[pinit]
[pinit]
Bringing you back a blast from the past. I am not a seamstress, it’s no secret. You will be able to whip up these adorable burlap, lace, tea towel stockings even if you are scared of your sewing machine! Enjoy.
These Christmas stockings are made from canvas tea towels from Target, the same towels I used to make this stenciled pillow a few posts ago. Two of the towels made all seven. If you are looking for a quick, easy, inexpensive sewing machine project for your stockings this year, you are in luck.
Supplies:
- Tea towels or canvas drop cloth
- Fabric Scissors
- Stocking Template (click here for the one I used)
- Pencil for marking fabric
- Straight Pins
- Jute or twine
- Embellishments of your choice
Instructions:
- Print stocking on to heavy paper and cut out
- Iron fabric and trace stocking onto towel folded in half. I used the seams already in the towels as the top of my stockings. Cut shape from front and back halves at same time.
- With right sides together, pin in place. Loop a 2 inch piece of jute on the top at the heel side for hanging your stocking and pin in place. Double back over the twine while sewing to make it extra sturdy.
- Turn stockings right side out and embellish as desired. I printed on burlap for the text, pieces of scrap towel and lace on mine.
How to Make Fabric & Wooden Bead Jewelry
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[pinit]
[pinit]
I had the pleasure of attending a DIY blogger conference, Haven, in Atlanta over this past weekend. I could write for days about the awesomeness of that whole experience, but that is not what this post is about. While there, my friend Jessica from Mom4Real was sporting a cool necklace that I photographed and knocked off. This is a super fast and easy project. I used a sewing machine, but I will tell you how to make it the no sew way.
SUPPLIES:
Fabric Scraps
Fabric Scissors
Wooden Beads 2 Sizes
Beacon Fabri-Tac
TUTORIAL:
You can use old t-shirts, old sheets, any fabric piece you can think of, really. I used fat quarters and the above picture shows a headband I found at Dollar Tree. The cool thing about using that is it is already a tube, so I didn’t have to sew or use liquid stitch. If you use fabric not already in a tube, just cut a rectangle about 14-16 inches (depending on how long you want your necklace or bracelet). Sew into a tube inside out, then flip right side out.
Tie a knot like above, put bead, tie another knot and continue until it is as long as you like. I use an odd number of beads so there is a central one.
Pick out coordinating ribbon and cut to length you want.
Sew on ribbon to each end or adhere with Fabri-tac. I use clothespins to apply pressure. Fabri-Tac dries super fast and is basically hot glue in a bottle, but not hot 🙂
For some of the bracelets, I just used the end fabric to tie them instead of adding ribbon.
SUPER EASY, and adorable, I must say.
Old Socks to Fingerless Gloves
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Have your worn your favorite socks to the point of holes and you are just not ready to part with them? Why not turn them into fingerless gloves, with this simple DIY? You will have your own unique custom gloves for next to nothing, and you will have saved your holy socks from being tossed in a landfill!
You will need:
Fabric scissors or rotary cutter and mat
old socks
sewing machine
chalk pencil
Tutorial:
Cut off socks above ankles at length you want your gloves.
Turn Socks inside out.
Sew three “Vs” on raw edge for 4 fingers (see photo).
Cut between stitched V’s to create fingers.
Put on glove and mark where thumb is.
Cut 1/2 inch slit for thumb.
Wear!
[pinit]
[pinit]
{if you don’t want frayed edges, whipstich them}
Make Quick and Easy Pillow Covers
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[pinit]
Whether you have a sewing machine and rarely touch it, or you are on it hours a day, this envelop pillow pattern is for you. I fall in the first category, and these little cuties are a cinch to make. I created them from some chevron fabric, an old sheet, a white tea towel, and black and white tea towels. I love using things with seams already present for the back flaps (I know… if I am going to the trouble to sew my own pillow covers, surely I can seam the edge both back pieces, but it makes me really happy when I don’t have to}! Using old sheets or pillowcases is a great way to create from materials you already have or can grab for cheap at the thrift store. Warning, this project is very addictive. You will be making pillow covers out of everything.
I showed you how to make these last year. The following tutorial is from the pillows I did then. Just change up your fabrics for a different look. I used acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium to put “Love” and “Sweet” on the white tea towels. The backs of the word pillows are made from plaid and striped tea towels in black and white. The chevron backs are an old sheet in aqua.
Supplies:
Fabric for front and back of pillow; Big enough to cut the following; for the front, 17 inch square and for the back 2 rectangles 17 x 12.75 inches each. This is for a 16 inch pillow form or throw pillow, with an extra inch for seam allowance. If yours is a different size square, no problem. Say you have a 20 in pillow form. Cut your front square 21 in x 21 in (you don’t need to worry about adding seam allowance since the pillow will fit in and be nice and full). For the 2 back rectangles, one dimension is the same as the length of your square sides (21), and the other is that length multiplied by 3/4. For a 20 inch pillow, that would be 21 x 15.75 inches.
***For my fabric, I found an old shabby pillow case (the beige color on the back) and a cool striped tea towel for the front.
Self healing cutting mat and rotary cutter
Quilting ruler or other straight edge
Scissors
Threaded sewing machine in matching color to your fabric
Iron
Ironing board
pins
fabric pencils or air soluble disappearing marker
INSTRUCTIONS:
Cut your fabric on your cutting mat. I like to measure and draw the lines on the back of the fabric. In this case, the front and back of the tea towels are pretty indistinguishable. If yours has a clear front and back, turn it over so you are looking at the back, and use your straight edge to draw the 17 inch square. Then cut it with your straight edge and rotary cutter, making sure to cut away from yourself. Here is my 17×17 square…
Steam press the back fabric to smooth out wrinkles. Now you are ready to cut your back pieces the same way, folding your fabric over on itself so that you can cut both rectangles at the same time, since they are the same size…
NOTE: If you are using an old pillow case or other fabric with seamed edges for the back, make sure your cut so that you have the the seamed edges as the long edges on your rectangles. That way you will not have to seam the back flaps.
Now you are ready to pin the front to the back. You will have WRONG sides together. This is unusual, I know. You want to be looking at the right (fabric side you want to end up showing in your final project) sides of the fabrics when they are pinned together for the french seam. Pin about every inch or so, close to the edges, all the way around. Sew straight stitch length setting 2.5, stopping to remove each pin before you get to it, pivoting at each corner. (I don’t like sewing over pins, it stress me out). Back stitch for stability when you get back to where you started.
Press your stitch line to set the stitches.
Now cut around the edges, very close to the line you just stitched. This doesn’t have to be perfect, it is more just to get rid of the bulk of the excess fabric outside of the seams. BE CAREFUL. You don’t want to cut through what you just sewed, but if you do, just go back and sew that area again.
NOTE: I am far from perfect in my cuts and stitch lines. These things will look great, even if you are a little off. Don’t be hard on yourself!
Now you are almost done! Turn the pillow inside out (so that the wrong sides are now on the outside. Use a bamboo skewer to gently push out the corners, being careful not to poke all the way through. Press the piece, then go back to your machine and sew 1/4 inch from the egde all the way around the pillow. This step hides the raw edges, so that when you turn the pillow cover the right way, no raw edges will be on the inside! Pivot at each corner, keeping your 1/4 distance from the edge. Reverse stitch when you get back to the starting point and you are done. Cut the thread, turn your pillow right side out and push out the corners with your skewer or a pencil. Press if you want. Shove your throw pillow or pillow form in there and beam with pride at the beautiful home decor accessory you just made from a towel and raggedy bed linen. Yay you!
