SEW FOR HOME
When it comes to quilting, I’d say I know my way around pretty well. Now, ask me what I’ve made for my house lately! When it comes to sewing other types of projects, I feel a little daunted, even though I want to be able to make (maybe even curate?) all the things that go into making our house our home. Most recently, the desire of my heart is making window treatments, all the window treatments. Especially ones that don’t look like a rookie made them. I’ve been so paralyzed, that there’s literally nothing on the windows.
A totally blank canvas in my house CRYING OUT for window treatments.
Like anything, though, knowing where to start and having a guide are going to make a huge difference in feeling successful. When Erin at Schlosser Designs told me about her new book Sew Home (find a copy here!), I knew I had the perfect resource at hand. Not only that, I first met Erin while taking a class, and I know for a fact that her knowledge and skill is rock solid, so I had a feeling her book would be, too.
Filled with more than 30+ projects with a modern vibe, excellent diagrams and beautiful photos, I could quite literally fill my house with cool pillows, floor coverings, lamp shades I would adore instead of just tolerate, and more.
And best of all, she shows how to make window treatments. For a novice like me, there are a series of options, and every project in the book is assigned a level of difficulty (so I know what I’m getting into). Of course, while I am probably at a skill level 1 (capable of tackling the Cafe Curtains), what I am hankering to make are the Roman Shades (Skill Level 3).
How pretty is this?
But the thing of it is, while I have felt daunted about making things of this complexity in the past, I feel I can do this. That’s because in each project, Erin has thoughtfully laid out
- The tools
- The raw materials required (there’s something called Roman shade tube tape? For reals?)
- The specific skills required (In this case, how to properly measure the window, sew with monofilament, and how to use Roman shade tube tape.)
- Helpful hints to make it successful
Erin has thought through what a total noob like me needs to know and presents it in a way that I feel confident guides me through the process. At the same time, if you were more advanced on your home dec skills, then these same things would be a handy way to quickly check that you’re all organized and ready to go. Win-win.
How about a valance? Now I want a valance.
There was only one problem for me. That’s getting my fella and I on the same page when it comes to fabric decisions! Hopefully we’ll get that sorted this weekend, because I’m ready to get sewing!
Oh! Oh! Or maybe this pinch-pleat valance!
Thanks to C&T Publishing, I have a copy of the book to give to one lucky winner! To enter, tell me your own dream sewing project for your home! I will keep the entries open until Monday morning at 8 am. If you’re in the United States, I can send you a physical copy, and entrants from outside the U.S. will receive an e-copy. To see other projects and to increase your chances of winning, make sure to visit the other blogs on tour!
Seriously, can I just live here?
Tuesday, September 20 – C&T Publishing & Joanna at Kustom Kwilts and Designs
Wednesday, September 21 – Sew 4 Home & Jen Carlton Bailly
Thursday, September 22 – Brenda at Just A Bit Frayed/Pink Castle Fabrics & Nicole at Modern Handcraft
Friday, September 23 – Janome Sewing Machines & Cristy at Purple Daisies Quilting
Monday, September 26 – Windham Fabrics & Rebecca at Bryan House Quilts
Tuesday, September 27 – Generation Q Magazine, Karen Lewis Textiles & Latifah Saafir Studios
Wednesday, September 28 – Dear Stella Fabrics & Mandy at Mandalei Quilts
Thursday, September 29 – Erin at Schlosser Designs
I probably should make curtains for most of the windows, but in the book, I just LOVE that laundry tote! I hope you and your guy can come to an agreement on the fabric. I know how difficult that can be!
I just finished two roman blinds – just have to hang them. You can do it!! Now I want to make the pleated valance curtain!
Love the valence idea – something that would look nice in my kitchen!!!
This book sounds like
it full of wonderful ideas.
I need some pillows for
my couch!
Carla from Utah
Like you, I have an entire house that is in need of window coverings. I am a complete beginner in that department too. The book sounds like a wonderful resource.
I love the storage basket and the lampshade!
I’d love to try Roman shades, too, as well as covering cornice boards or making pleated valances!
Seeing your photo of the yellow box valance tells me I want to make one of those in a neutral color for my guest room. It has a yucky green valance now, and desperately needs updating. Along with new paint and carpet….the list never ends!
I’d like to do that lampshade! And those Roman shades are gorgeous.
Oh I’m with you, I’m nervous to start. I also need curtains and fell in love with the Roman shades. I’d love to try.
Thanks for a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
I really want to make the clock and window covering/valance.
I buying a new house. So I’ll like to make draperies like my mom made for me years ago.
I want to totally reupholster a wing-backed chair and its matching footstool. In fact, I’ve already been shopping for an electric staple gun for this project. And on the tube tape, I made six roman shades for my living room and used a tape that had a pocket for the rods and loops to run the cords through. It beat the heck out of having to tack the plastic loops on, but i’m having problems with the rods wanting to poke out of the ends. I’m contemplating gluing them shut.
I would love to make a shower curtain for my bathroom but have been too nervous because I don’t want to screw up and waste fabric.
I would love to make some window coverings. All I have right now are blinds. And I love the Roman shade idea, and the valance, and oh yea then pillows to match. And I love that shade over the small table. I could go on & on!
I’d love to recover my cushions at the cabin- too afraid.
I’m designing a new sewing room so I’d definitely make something for that room but i’m not sure what yet.
I would love to make the bench pillow, for the benches I just realized we have in several rooms of our house: mud room, kitchen, living room (piano bench). Think of the possibilities!