lovethechefblog

Since the weather is so bad today I decided to sew Amy and Jason’s living room curtains. There style is simple and modern. The fabric is beautiful and will be against gray walls. This fabric was purchased at Printer’s Alley for $22.50 per yard.

The pattern is large with beautiful hues of gray, green, blue, brown’s and even a little gold.

I knew the panels needed to be 85 inches finished so I add 10 inches for the top and the bottom. My fabric cut needed to be 105 inches. With this pattern I had to work hard at making sure I cut the fabric so the medallion’s at the top matched in each panel. I cut one panel and the laid the next piece of fabric right beside the first one I cut to match up the pattern. There is usually some waste with making it match but it is well worth it with this pattern.

After cutting the fabric I get my lining ready. I use a twin flat sheet that I buy for $5.00 at Wal-Mart. Thank you Jenni for that money saver.

I took the sheet out of the package and ironed it because it is so wrinkled.

I knew my fabric was 56 inches wide and the length is 105. So I cut 10 inches off the side of the sheet and there you have it…my lining. 

I spent the day on my knees and I was not praying but measuring and cutting. I laid my fabric out on the floor and put my lining right on top of it as perfect as I could. I first pinned the top. Leave the top pinned until I tell you to take them out.

The next step is the sides of the panel. If you sew you probably noticed that I didn’t tell you to cut the selvage off because it saves a step and it is not seen. The entire time you need to have your lining as perfect as possible on your fabric. Then I fold the sides over 4 inches and iron a crease. I use a thick beach towel and do it all on the floor. For those of you who don’t know what selvage is:

The selvage (US English) or selvedge (British English) is the term for the self-finished edges of fabric. The selvages keep the fabric from unraveling or fraying.^[1][2] The selvages are a result of how the fabric is created. In woven fabric, selvages are the edges that run parallel to the warp (the longitudinal threads that run the entire length of the fabric), and are created by the weft thread looping back at the end of each row. In knitted fabrics, selvages are the unfinished yet structurally sound edges that were neither cast on nor bound off.^[3][4] Historically, the term selvage applied only to loom woven fabric, though now can be applied to flat-knitted fabric.

It is something you usually cut off.

The next step is to open the fabric that you just ironed over and fold it into the crease to get a 2 inch hem on the sides.

Fold the fabric in half to the ironed crease and the fold over so the sharp ironed edge is on the outside.

Pin it over to make your 2 inch hem. Repeat on the other side. After both sides are pinned head to the sewing machine to sew the sides.I try to stay inline with the presser foot and I put a piece of tape down to follow so my lines are straight.

Ten the tops……I like to have a 5 inch hem in the top and bottom and that is why I add 10 inches to each. Measure 10 inches and iron like you did on the sides. Remove the pins.

After ironing open up and then fold in half to the crease to make a 5 inch hem.

Then pin and sew. Now to the bottom hem. Lay your panel out flat and do the same thing to the bottom as the top. When finished it should look like this on the inside that faces the outside:

By following these steps you will too have a panel. Since the pattern in my fabric was so large I had to work hard at making the tops of the panels match and you will too if you have a pattern. I would show you what they look like hanging but I don’t know how long it will take to get them hung. 

I have to say thank you to my great friends, Jenni  and Jenny for teaching me to sew in ’09. I love sewing and creating beautiful things and those girls in powered me to do it!

If you need help with this project email me at : lzimmerman7@triad.rr.com.