Measure Once, Cut Thrice -- Home Dec Caveats!

Yesterday, MPB reader Corey Hill asked:

"How did you like your home dec project? Having done a lot of home dec myself, just curious how you like it compared with making garments."

The answer, Corey (and others), is "not very much."  I mean, sure, making living room curtains is OK, but I wouldn't want to have to do home dec on a regular basis.  If this is what you decorators do, I kiss your hem -- which I can guarantee looks better than mine.

I'm not what you would call a "math person."  I mean, I got as far as calculus, so I should have been able to measure these curtains correctly.  The problem is that I approached them the same way I approach Cathy's dress hems: I eyeballed them.

The way I see it, since we're ultimately going to view things with our eyes, what difference does it make what the ruler says?  It's like body weight and bathroom scales: Who cares what the scale says if I can't button my pants?  Unfortunately, my reluctance to measure -- except for the single time I measured the width and length of my old curtains so I'd have an idea of how much yardage I'd need for my new curtains -- resulted in my having to do a LOT of extra work.

First, instead of figuring out the exact length of each panel I'd need (with hems figured in the measurement), I just cut my six yards of fabric in half, thus creating two even panels, but both too long.  So I had to trim both of them when I was ready to hem.  I could have avoided this on one of the panels if I'd known the exact length I needed -- does that make sense?  I don't think you have to be a math person to figure that one out.

The bigger problems occurred in hemming: getting the length of each panel exactly right, and matching them to each other.   I never measured the length of my panels, I just eyeballed everything.  The first time I hemmed the first panel, the hem looked great.  The only problem was that it was 1 1/2" too short.  I had high-water curtains!



I had to rip the seam out and lower the hem an inch.  Fortunately it didn't take all that long to accomplish, but it was a PITA.  The new hem is much better, and hangs approximately 1/2" above the floor.  The hem depth is narrower than I'd have liked (I was hoping for a 4 1/2" hem), but it's fine.



The real headache was hemming the second panel.  I had to match the length of the first panel, and the hem also had to be the same depth.  I hung the two curtain panels and simply lined up the edge of the first (hemmed) panel next to the second panel.  I marked the bottom point in blue pencil.  I knew that if I added roughly 3 1/2" (the depth of the first hem), plus 1/2" (the turned-under edge), I'd be good to go.  Not so -- and I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't even tell you why.  Like I said, I'm not a math person.

I pinned before I sewed this time so there was no seam ripping involved, but on my first attempt, the hem was the correct depth but the panel was too short.  I tried a second time -- still too short and the hem was now too narrow.  I could think of only one solution: I grabbed one of my fabric remnants from when I'd shortened the panel (the first time), cut a 2" strip, and sewed it onto the bottom of the second panel.

Was it painstaking?  Yes, it was.

Did it work?  Yes it did.

Is the surgery invisible?  No, it is not (at least by day).

But I can live with it! 



Most of the time the curtains will be open, and nearly all of the time there will be things blocking the hem, like sewing machine tables, dog crates, and assorted clutter.  Plus, who will even notice the hems of my curtains except for me?  (And you)

I'm done with these puppies.  (I forget to mention that I also hemmed the sides for a more finished look.)  Tomorrow I will clean up a bit so I can take beautiful photos.  Nobody will ever notice that extra seam and I know none of you will rat on me.



In closing, readers, how are your measuring skills?

Are you more apt to eyeball a measurement than use a ruler or measuring tape?  (If so, join the gang.)

Have a great day, everybody!

Curtain Fabric Choice + Rings or (Just) Rods?

Here's my curtain fabric choice.

It's a 100% polyester, semi-shear flax weave.  One of the best things about it is that it's 110" wide -- which means all I needed were six yards (and I only had to cut the fabric once, width-wise).  Having had linen curtain panels for the last few years, the nicest thing about this poly is the drape: heavy and fluid.  The color is "silver," i.e., a pale gray.



It's a bit less sheer than the linen we had, but the weave has more visible texture and a slight sheen.  It has more of a mid-century modern feel.



The cut edges were jagged, so the first thing I had to do was cut even horizontal lines on both ends.



Fortunately, the grain of the fabric is easy to see, so using my triangle, I ruled a straight line and cut along it with my rotary cutter (on the floor: my tried-and-true cutting surface).   Next, I found the exact halfway point, and cut the six yards in two.





Now I had two equal panels ready to be hemmed.



I wanted the top hem to be of a width similar to the previous curtains.  I turned the edge under 1/2" and pressed (the poly responded very well to my steam iron).  Then I folded a 4 1/2" inch hem and pinned it all along the width of the panel. 







Fortunately I already had matching thread.  I zigzagged along the edge (upon it, really).  The stitching is completely invisible.



Next, I attached the ring clips, spacing them evenly.  I'm keeping the selvage along the side edges and simply trimming the visible fringe.







Maybe because this fabric is heavier than the linen, the hem doesn't fall in neat folds (as you can see above).  Then I remembered the reason we'd used the ring clips in the first place: without them, the ready-made West Elm linen panels were too short for the window; the rings dropped them down nearly 5".

These won't be hemmed for a few days yet, so I decided to attach the second panel without the rings, and instead simply run the rod through the hem.  You can see the difference below.



Michael thinks the curtains look better without the rings.  I like the idea of rings but I have to admit that the ring-less side looks neater and the fabric falls more naturally into even pleats.  (It's still easy to open and close and it's not like we're going to be opening and closing them every ten minutes anyway.)





What do you think: go with the ring clips or just the rods alone?  Or is there another (relatively simple) option that would be even better?

Thanks for your help and have a great day, everybody!

My Home Dec Challenge

If you've been following me for a while, you probably know that I don't sew home dec.

I mean, I could sew home dec, it just has never called to me, you know what I mean?

Once upon a time I was very into decor, but when I started sewing and collecting sewing machines, patterns, notions, and fabric, I realized that I was going to have to sacrifice my formerly uncluttered living room to my new obsession (and the bedroom's even worse).  A different person could have both: neatness and sewing supplies.  But not me.  I am the opposite of anal retentive -- which is, what, anal expulsive?  Sounds icky.

I prefer to live in a neat environment; it's just not a terribly strong preference.  Not strong enough, say, to get me to put away all my sewing supplies or bags of fabric as soon as I finish a project, or to find a place for all my flea market treasures the same day I bring them home.  And yet, finding that large painting and hanging it on the wall last week has inspired me to (try to) keep surfaces tidy. 

And this:

Mood has opened a separate street level home dec store!  It's BIG - a ground floor plus half a mezzanine level (unfortunately, you can't get to the regular store through the home dec space, but it's right next to the ground floor elevators).  I've checked out Mood's home dec fabrics many times in the past because I'm not above making clothes out of home dec fabric (like those toile de jouy pants).  But I've never taken on a home dec project.

This month, however, I was offered the opportunity to whip up a home dec project to help them celebrate their new space.  Initially, I turned them down: again, I'm not a home dec person.  But after discussing it with Michael,  I changed my mind -- our living space could use some freshening up (and Mary Porter insists on a flattering backdrop).

I decided to choose something that's relatively easy: curtains.   My apartment doesn't have great views -- mainly identical apartment buildings across the way -- but it does get a lot of light, and I don't want to lose that.  So any fabric I choose has to be somewhat translucent, but still provide some privacy.  The curtain panels we currently have (purchased about seven years ago at West Elm) are an off-white linen, but they never had much fullness and have hardly any drape.  Also, since that time, we've changed sofas and have a different rug.  And then there's that painting...



I love many of the Scandinavian (and Scandinavian style) cotton prints at Mood, but with all the colors and patterns already in the room, I think they'd make too strong a statement.  Plus they're opaque.  I thought about print panels on either end and solid sheers in between but even that sounds too busy.



I looked primarily at linen and linen-look fabrics, either solid or simple stripes.  In a standard width (approx. 54"), I would need twelve yards; yikes! 













I chose...one of the above (you'll find out soon).

Fortunately, creating curtains should only involve sewing a hem at the top and bottom (the panels will attach to the rod with the same clips as our old curtains), and finishing the sides.  I'm crossing my fingers and hoping this project is as straightforward as it sounds.  I mean, it's hems--hems!  It's the measuring that scares me.

Do you sew home dec?  I know people who have sewn entire slipcovers for their sofa, and at great savings compared to what a re-upholsterer would charge.  I don't see myself ever doing that, but you never know.  First, let's see if I can whip up some curtain panels.

Have a great day, everybody!

MPB Sunday VLOG -- Fabric Hoarders BEWARE!

I rarely feel the need to alert potential vlog viewers about the content of my videos.

I must reveal, however, that in this week's episode, you will witness the display of at least twenty yards of fashion fabric.  If you have a history of fabric hoarding, PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THIS VLOG EPISODE!

Should you choose to watch and, subsequently, suffer a fabric-hoarding setback, MPB cannot claim responsibility.

You will also hear me sing two songs closely associated with Fred Astaire.  Astaire-phobics are forewarned.

With no further delay, here's Episode 10 (!) of A Sewing Week in Review!

As always, if you wish to view on a portable device or full-size on YouTube, please click here.

Enjoy and have a great day, everybody!

Sewing Uncertainty + Fabric Fun!

Was it Albert Einstein or Marilyn Monroe who originally said, When you can't make up your mind, don't.  Or did I come up with that myself?

Anyway, I find myself not knowing what to make with my wild wool challis fabric (up top) so I'm going to just move on and not worry about making my mind up.  Or rather, I've made up my mind not to make up my mind.  Does that make sense?

Instead of agonizing, yesterday I visited my friend Jamie in Montclair, New Jersey, a beautiful leafy suburb just 1/2 hour from New York City by train.




 
We spent a lovely afternoon together, and Jamie brought me to see a great independent sewing/fabric/craft store, Rock Paper Scissors, owned and operated by a woman named Beth Rowan.  (I love to visit independent stores like these, don't you?)   In addition to a well-curated selection of fabric (plus books, patterns, notions, etc.), they also offer classes, run a summer craft camp for kids, and host all-day workshops.  AND, you can purchase fabric from their Etsy shop!

Owner Beth Rowan

If you're ever in (or near) the Montclair or Glen Ridge area, check them out!

In other news, today my friend Johanna and I swung by the Chelsea flea market, now a single outdoor lot (which costs $1 to enter; this was waived today on account of the iffy weather, which drew fewer vendors).   Despite being smaller, it's still a lot of fun.







I seriously considered bringing home a large piece of vintage 40's/50's barkcloth (below), but opted to leave it behind.  Once you adopt the vintage barkcloth lifestyle, it tends to take over: first pillows, then drapes and slipcovers, and before you know it, bedspreads, bags, and bowling shirts.   Back home, I checked eBay: rest assured, the world is still full of vintage barkcloth.



Speaking of fabric, I received a box in the mail today, a gift from MPB reader Michael C, who is apparently downsizing his stash.  Being the selfless person I am, I was very happy to help him in that endeavor!





I love these two slightly gauzy striped cottons -- perfect for this time of year.  (The wavy stripes are so much more fun than normal stripes imo.)





I am over the moon about this Hawaiian print.  It has a vintage tiki feel without the kitschy Les Baxter-Yma Sumac Exotica vibe.









And that's it!

In closing, readers, how do you deal with sewing uncertainty?

If you don't know what to do with the fabric in front of you, do you agonize until you come up with something, or are you able to put it aside and move on to something else?

(I fear my tendency is more the former than the latter.)

Have a great day, everybody!