Pattern Info
Difficulty:
Category: Sewing
Type of item: Functional
For: Home
Style: Classic, Retro / Vintage, Traditional
Materials
Home Dec/Upholstery fabric from a discarded designer's sample book.
What was your inspiration?
At my American Sewing Guild Meeting, we were given discarded decorator fabric books with swatches (like you use when selecting upholstery or drapery from a fine decorator shop) and were challenged to use the fabrics in any way. The average size swatch was about 6 x10".
What are you most proud of?
I don't normally sew functional or home dec items, but got this pattern from the designer, Diane Ericson, while taking her workshop in creatitivity. I used beading techniques I just learned at a class at an Original Sewing and Quilt expo. Only 2 sides are beaded, and only very sparingly because lots of beads would create issues if you hit them while putting pins in the cushion.
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
Use a project like this to expand your sewing skills. Follow Diane's suggestions for creating layered fabric designs, use embellishments you've never used before. Small projects like this one are very rewarding because they don't have to fit anyone and you don't have to be perfect. A project like this allows you to try to figure out how to attach non-fabric embellishments. While this fabric would not be my persoanl choice (colors or design) I worked out side of my comfort zone (would rather have made a garment) and got a new feel for mixing fabric patterns and colors. Now, I can see how this might transfer to a jacket or garment. My best advice is to push yourself on the embellishment and fabric choices. Great stash buster. Don't get hung up on whether you'll really ever use it! Just play with the simple pattern pieces. A great beginner project.
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