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Saving by Sewing

Take stock of areas in the house that could benefit from a new fabric replacement. Sewing is a relaxing and fulfilling way to spend a weekend at home and making your own home accessories can be quite cost efficient. The new sewing machines do everything but cook a meal. If you need a push to get started there are lots of easy weekend projects that take an hour or two to complete.

Home Decorating Patterns
Most of the pattern companies have added a home fashion section to their pattern books and you'll find designer shades, balloon curtains and fancy drapes, as well as patterns for tablecloths, chair cushions, seat backs, slipcovers to dress up folding metal bridge chairs and even fanciful tea cozies.

Patchwork Duvet
You can make a duvet cover for your comforter in less than an hour by stitching two pretty sheets together. Or make an interesting patchwork duvet by stitching together enough 5-6 in. squares in alternating colors to create the overall size needed. Use a solid sheet in the appropriate size for the back and leave the top edge open to insert your comforter. Attach Velcro, buttons or snaps evenly spaced across the top for closing.

Potholders Are Practical
How often do you replace your potholders? It's so easy to whip up new ones in bright colors or even shapes. An Amish quilt pattern in a typical color combination of black, purple, deep red and dark green is terrific looking.

Cover Exposed Pipes
If you have an old-fashioned sink with exposed pipes below make a fabric skirt to attach to the sink. Velcro is the best way to attach the gathered fabric to the edge of the sink.

Napkins From Leftovers
Pretty napkins are easy to whip up from a bunch of remnants. Buy a little bit of every fabric print that attracts you. For a generous size napkin of l8 in. square you'll get two from a l/2 yard of fabric. With the cost of cloth napkins skyrocketing hemming four edges of fabric is a cinch.

Wall hanging
A quilted wall hanging is an interesting and inexpensive substitute for a painting. Use pretty remnants of fabric. Fabric shops often sell quarter yard rolls cut especially for quilt making. Make your project 45 in. square, which is exactly the width of most fabric and you will only need a total of l l/2 yards for the top and l l/2 yards for the backing (this can be muslin). You'll find a variety of patterns in any quilt book.

Always A Place For Place Mats
If you're crazy about the more expensive fabrics you won't need much to make a set of elegant place mats. Try floral chintz. Use a plain fabric backing and save the good stuff for the top. Make them slightly larger than the ones you buy and add interest with a second stitch line in a contrasting thread color l/2 inch in from the edge all around.

Small Comfort
A crib quilt in a simple patchwork or applique pattern is easy, practical and fun to make. Choose a pattern that is a repeat of one shape, such as a rectangle. In this way you can cut all the pieces at once and there are no complicated directions. The excitement comes from the choice of fabric and the arrangement of the fabric pieces. I like to use soft pastels on a baby's quilt. The colors and the fabric get softer and look better with each washing. A quilt lined with thin cotton batting is a good lightweight covering for the summer. Use traditional batting for a warmer cover.

Seamless Seems Easier
Some of the fabric companies sell 90-in. wide fabric to eliminate seams in home sewing. Springmaid, for one has a line of cotton chintz prints at affordable prices. McCall's has patterns for a canopy, fabric screen, shower curtain and drapes that use the 90-in. wide fabric. This is a real contribution for quilt makers as it is now possible to back a quilt with fabric that doesn't require seaming.

Craft Explosion
Fabric shops now carry craft supplies because the pattern companies are including craft projects in their pattern books. Bandbox patterns that require no sewing can be found in the Vogue and Butterick books. Vogue has introduced a lavishly embroidered pillow pattern trimmed with braid, tassels and ribbon. Elaborate window treatments are contained in Butterick's "Windows in a Weekend" package.

Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.

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