Selvedge Studio Blog / Tutorials

  • January 24, 2014

    Baby Ellis' Swaddle (no-sew project)


     

     



    100% organic fabric from Birch (get it here)

     


    Cut your fabric into a square (or have your neighborhood fabric store do it for you - 1 1/4 yards). Beautiful thing about knits is that they won't unravel so you don't have to hem it. If you want to bind it better pick a knit bias tape so it will still stretch)

     



    I didn't feel like (have time for?!) binding, but I did use our fancy-dancy scallop pinking shears.

     



    Choose your style (selvedgestudio.com)

     

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    Posted in baby blanket beginning sewing easy how to no-sew selvedge studio swaddle Tutorials
  • January 19, 2014

    Mitered Corner Napkins


         
    The mystery of making mitered corners solved!  This is an easy project, you can make them custom sizes. 

    We cut our exterior pieces 20" x 20" and the interior focus fabric 12" x 12", which resulted in a 15" x 15" napkin.

     



    Your supplies: Two fabrics: The exterior fabric will form a mitered hem that folds on to the front of the napkins.  An interior fabric will be your focal point.

     


         
    Stitch a line around the exterior piece exactly 1/2" from the edge. Mark the corner 1/2" in from both sides to make a perfect edge stitch. Use matching thread.

     



    Press a 1/2" hem all the way around the exterior.

     



    Fold the square into a triangle, right sides together.
    Mark each of the corners 4" up from the corner.
    Mark another line at a 45 degree angle, we have a nifty ruler to help.
    Or....

     



    The other method to make the angle is to measure 4" up from the corner on each side.
    using your ruler, trace a line from one 4" mark to the other.

     



    Fold, right sides together and match up marks, sew along the line.

     



    Trim off the corner to 1/4"

     



    Trim the corner even closer, it will make for a beautiful corner. Repeat for every corner.

     



    Press point open.

     



    Turn right side out, Isn't it pretty?!? Press flat. You can top stitch the hem in place or add the second fabric. 

     



    Slip the contrast fabric inside the mitered hem. Pin in place

     



    Top stitch in place. We use our blind hem foot. Just line the middle flange up to the edge of the hem and move the needle into position.That way all you have to do is follow the edge of the hem and your top stitch will be perfect!

     



    The top stitched mitered corner.You could change the dimensions to make a reversible tablecloth, or a pillow!

     

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    Posted in blind hem home home decor mitered mitered corner napkin tablecloth Tutorials
  • June 22, 2013

    Farm Share Bag

     

    Here's how it happened: Thursday is farm share pick-up day. And the veggies don't come in grocery bags from the farm. 

     

     

    I found inspiration hiding under this table in a West Elm Catalog. 

     

     

    (And I've being trying to think a(nother) great use for this beautiful 18" wide linen.)

     

     

    Step 1 ::  Decide what size you want your bag.  I made mine HUGE and cut my pieces accordingly.  The finished bag is about 17" x 17" with an 8" bottom panel.
     
    I cut::  3 pieces 20" long (for the sides) and one 9" piece (for the bottom panel).

     My fabric came 18" wide, but you could certainly trim down a wider fabric.

     

     

      Step 2 :: Cut one of your 20" pieces in half, parallel to the selvage, to create the band for the skinnier sides of your bag.  They should be about 20" by 9"

     

     

    Step 3 :: (Optional:  I serged all my raw ends to keep them from unraveling.)  Next, sew the 2 skinny side pieces you created in step 2 to either side of the bottom piece to create a long band, with the bottom panel in the middle.  Press your seams flat.

     

     

    Step 4 :: Lay one of your larger (20") side panel pieces, right sides together, centered over the bottom panel of the bag, and pin if you wish.  Sew the side panel to the bottom panel of your bag, your project will look like a "T".   

     

     

    Step 5 :: When you reach the seam on the band between your bottom and skinny side panels, pivot and sink your needle, lift the foot of your machine and shift the fabric so that the long side of large panel matches up with the long side of of your shorter panel.  Put your foot down and stitch.  Do the same thing to attach the other end of your side panels together.  Once you've sewn the first side panel to your side and bottom band - repeat step 3 and 4 for the other large side panel of the bag.   

     

     

    Step 6 :: Press all your seams flat and press a nice big hem into the top of the bag - mine is about 3".  Top stitch your hem close to the raw edge so it lays flat. 

     

     

    Step 7 :: I couldn't find a ribbon I liked that was large enough to fit the scale of this giant bag, so I zig-zag stitched 2 lengths of ribbon together.  Each strap ended up being about 30" so that I could fit the bag comfortably over my shoulder.  Press a hem into the raw ends of the strap to give a finished look and add to the stability at the spot where you stitch it to the bag. 

     

     

    Step 8 :: Stitch your strap to your bag in a box shape for so it is nice and secure. 

     

     

    Fill it with veg, or whatever. 

     

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    Posted in farm share Tutorials