Here we are at the last giveaway prize announcement! It’s bittersweet; I’d like to give something away EVERY day, but then it wouldn’t be special anymore, would it? Well, maybe it would, but I’d run out of prizes real quick.
Thanks to everyone for participating in Day 12 and answering our question, “Do you alter thrifted garments?”
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Many of you make small alterations to most of the things you buy, secondhand or otherwise. Personally, I love thrifting for one-of-a-kind finds, I just can’t keep up with my ever-growing pile of ‘to alter’ garments!
Today we have THREE winners: Valerie Crawford, Rosemary Griffis and Carla L. Reale!
Congratulations! You three won a copy of Sew it All Volume 3! In addition to 50 fun projects and 19 free patterns, you’ll learn useful skills like mending, fitting and ruffling. Use these skills to alter a secondhand garment into a fabulous fashion find–For more on transforming ready-made garments, see Marisa Lynch’s episode, “Thrifty Couture.”
Email info@sewitalltv.com with your mailing address to receive your prize!
Our last daily giveaway prize (Before the announcement of our GRAND PRIZE winner) is a copy of Pam Damour’s book Cheaper by the Dozen. This great DIY decorating guide includes:
- 160 pages of color photography
- 12 valances
- Pam’s 12 part template system
- 12 inspiration pages
- 12 specialty techniques
- 12 basic instructions
- 12 favorite family recipes
- a “bakers” dozen of embroidery designs, including 2 monograms
- a “bakers” dozen of accessory projects, including a headboard, storage chest ottoman, and tons pillows!
(Get Pam’s instructions for a curtain project from her Sew it All TV episode, “Curtain Call.”)
To win this great prize (and to be entered to win our GRAND PRIZE–Sew it All season 2 on DVD) simply answer the following question in the comments section below:
“What are your home-dec sewing tips?”
Is there a certain fabric, thread or lining that works best for curtains or pillows? Do you have a favorite kind of curtain grommets or pillow trim? Tell us your home-dec sewing stories!
The winner will be announced on Monday! The GRAND PRIZE winner will be announced on Tuesday! Have a great weekend and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Stay tuned and good luck 
Velcro is great for attaching valances.
Thrift thrift thrift! It makes it easier to change when you want something new
Jenna
callherhappy.com
Recycle wool is my way of decorating… Pillows.. coasters… table runners.. candle mats.. pin cushions … Felted.
When I’m making curtains, I check the thrift stores first. I see if I can find some affordable used curtains that I can pull the lining out to use on my new curtains. The first time I did this, I didn’t realize the lining had a plastic coating on it, so they stuck together in the dryer! I was able to salvage them but can’t believe it didn’t occur to me before I put them in the dryer. Lesson learned!
I like to buy used tableclothes and use them all over, from table runners to pillows to valances to painted rugs. I also repurpose them for little girls dresses, scarves and tops.
I like to use quality flat sheets for curtains. They come in assorted sizes and are finished on all sides requiring very little sewing and you can just have fun decorating/embellishing and adding fancy tiebacks. Also, you can frequently find them on clearance sales or wholesale houses, and thrift stores or use ones you no longer need or want.
Buy high-quality fabrics for home decorating — but get it on sale or clearance. Then buy enough and a little extra to complete the project and any other item you didn’t think about until you were sewing and decorating.
Old school or memory filled t-shirts make great pillows and even a bed throw for a kids room. It recycles the clothing and keeps the memories at the same time!
I sometimes turn curtains I’ve found on clearance into pillow covers, and I will buy pillows on clearance and recover them if I don’t like the fabric; sometimes these can be cheaper than buying pillow forms at the fabric store!
I never skimp on the fullness of draperies and always use flannel interlining – I always buy supplies on sale – I add fusible fleece to the front and back of all pillows for extra body. I’ve recently started using faux down pillow inserts – soft and heavy.
never use poly batting in any quilting projects, just jams the machine making you clean it more often than necessary
Sigh … I don’t have any. This is an area I would like to get into for some simple items.
I used to …back in the day when I was cool!
When we had a West Point store at our outlet mall I would purchase dust ruffles and use them. I was so simple as you have the white top and a variety of bottoms that could match any decor ( tab curtains). I have also purchase sheets and use Joann coupons when stuff is not on sale to buy more expensive material, also like their sales rack.
My tips is to create and sew everything I can for my home. It makes for good memories when I am in my home. I like to include family and friends in the choosing of fabrics, ideas, etc!
Curtains are really simple and can change the look of a room alot. Adding beaded trim is an easy accent to put on too and only takes a simple straight stitch!
Home dec is one area where you can really save money with your sewing skills. Custom drapes, spreads and reupholstering are very expensive. Even using full price decorator fabrics you can save a lot and get the look you want for your home. My tip: don’t use quilting cottons for cushions. Pillows, yes; cushions, no. Quilting cottons may seem much less expensive but they will wear out and fade much faster. And quilting and apparel fabrics are, with the exception of knits and fleece, about 44″-45″ wide. Decorator fabrics are 54″-55″ wide. That 10″ width difference means that fewer yards of fabric will be needed, more than you would think, making the price difference less significant.
My tip is do whatever it is you can for your home yourself. You can do your own custom anything if you sew and at a much more reasonable price. Just do it!
Home Dec projects often require tiny hems. I use Wonder Tape to make the first 1/4″ fold then make the second fold as I sew. No pinning required. Fast and easy hems. Wonder Tape won’t gum up your needle and washes out in the first wash.
Buy the bolt! When working on large projects like windows or makeovers, having extra fabric for smaller projects, like pillows or placemats can give a cordinated look to my home.
My best home dec tips are to use old clothing to make pillows, or small throws…search the internet for ideas on reusing old items. I am making a small quilt out of my children’s baby clothes soon. I already know it will be one of my most cherished belongings.
My home needs a home decorator. I’m one of those unfortunate people that just can’t pull things together. My house is, um, eclectic. So, I don’t have any tips for you. But I am going to read everything everyone says and hopefully learn some things I can do to make my place more stylish. Thanks much.
my favorite way to make a dust ruffle is to start with an old (or on sale) fitted sheet. Put velcro along the edges. The create the dustruffle “standalone” with the other side of the velcro. You can swap out ruffles easily, and less trouble with the ruffle crawling up under the mattress.
I like to use top sheets for bedroom curtains/valances the fabric is great and I can match the bedding decor.
While I do buy new material once in a while for curtains, I do use some cottons from my quilting stash as well. Good way to use up some of my fabrics. I would advise for pillows to round out the corners. They look square when turned right side out, and not poufed and goofy corners.
I like to make pillows with matching or contrasting cording. Sewing up bias strips on inexpensive cording (found in the drapery department) is relatively quick and makes my pillows look great. Also, thank you all for your decorating tips using sheets.
Are your lawn chair cushions looking drab.. Recover them with outdoor fabric slipcovers. I like closing them up with velcro and putting ties on them to hold them on. They can be taken off and washed if soiled and give that outdoor furniture several more years of life.
when we moved into our new home 30 years ago, i made drapes for all the windows. since then i have been too busy raising a family, nursing a sick husband, and loving grandchildren to do much home dec work. my favorite thing to make right now is travel size pillow cases using fat quarters (3 fat quarters = 2 pillow cases). makes really great gifts for newlyweds and new babies as you can coordinate the colors.
I make most of my home dec projects and I never know whethe mood will strike when I need something “new”. So, picking up remnants, checking for clearance fabrics and repurposing no longer needed fabrics keeps my supply cabinet full and ever ready to pull together fabrics that coordinate for that next project.
I use old sweaters or thrifted sweaters for pillows. They can add lots of color and textures to the scene. It’s great to keep the attitude that “I can do that” so when you see something in a magazine or a TV commercial, etc, you can easily duplicate yourself.
I’m justing starting to learn quilting. I have lots of left over material and hope to make a lap rug first. If the material is thinner for some pieces–can I use iron on backing for it and will it still lay flat when the whole thing is complete?
Make it without zippers!
I love making roman shades. Easy to make and easy to hang!!
I decorate with my quilts. They are on the walls, table tops and beds. Wonderfully welcoming.
I’m sad to say I don’t have any tips for this but I really liked reading these comments. I am now inspired!
Sheets work great for larger projets. I just bought several different home dec fabrics for fifteen pillows i need to make for couch and loveseat. Bought several trims too. Wish me luck.
My home is so eclectic it borders on ridiculous! I can’t seem to follow through on a theme, so every room has it’s own identity. Hoping I can read all of these posts and become inspired. This book would be a great help!!
Home dec tip: When using curtain rings with clips to hang floor length drapes, make sure to subtract the extra drop of the ring/clip when calculating the length of your drapes — if you don’t want the drapes to drag on the floor. Of course, if there is never any dust in your house it’s fine for the drapes to pool on the floor.
Flat sheets make great shower curtains [with a liner, of course]!
Never buy window treatments again! Draperies are easy to sew and customize, plus there are many free online tutorials available to help you draft them.
My windows are a weird size, and have heat source that needs to be taken into account for drapes. I purchased drapes an extra long size, then was able to cut the top portion that had been stitched for the rod, then added a hem making the valance. Then with pleater tape was able to make draw drapes with the hem already completed and beautiful on the bottom. With a buy one get one price of the ready made and my “free valance” I was able to have beautiful drapes at a reasonable price for some very odd sized windows. The pattern was already matched so I did not have to purchase extra fabric to match the design. This trick was a reall win for me.
I have been working on crocheting a rug or two. Thrifted sheets are great for this, and easy to dye if I want s specific color. Old stash fabric is, too.
Make items for your home like placemats, pillows, appliance covers, etc. when learning and practicing new sewing and quilting techniques. That way you’ll have useful items to enjoy instead of just sample swatches that get put away or discarded.
Loved reading all these comments. I love fabric and I am always on the look out for sale fabric. I am now looking for some great fabric to make tab top curtains for a bedroom. I will not buy till I find a deal. Thanks for all these great giveaways.
When measuring for valances, don’t forget to allow at least 2 ” on both sides of the window so you get adequate coverage.
Pins are very useful.
Don’t forget to step back from the project to see how it looks from a distance.
Use a longer stitch length when sewing heavier fabric — lots easier to unpick if needed.
When you find fabric you love, sew it — don’t stash it. I bought fabric that I loved when my girls were preschoolers. I still love it, but it won’t work for teenagers.
An easy substitute for a duvet is to simply lay a coordinating flat bed sheet on top of your comforter — no fussing to stuff your comforter into a slipcover.
I love quilting, and if there is certain fabric (or fabric collections) that I am especially fond of, I buy extra fabric and turn these into matching pillows. Any extra scraps go in the scrap pile as I love scrappy quilts too. Or if you buy laundry cord (it has to be thick) and wrap fabric strips to make cloth baskets. Youtube has some great video tutorials on this. This way you can make coordinating baskets for knick-knacks or whatever.
I like to cover pillows with removable shams. It makes it easy to change them out with the seasons and not have to store a bunch of pillows, just the shams. I also like to use thrift-find flannel sheets in place in batting for quilted coverlets. They are not as heavy and great in warmer climates.
Best sewing tip is to plan out your project completely and have all supplies on hand!