Thursday, May 24, 2012

William Morris Thursday - random projects






Last Thursday, my incredibly sweet friend, Brenda, came over to help me work on my couch project. We had already gone shopping for our supplies the week before so we were ready to start laying and cutting fabric. It was kind of scary when we made the first cut, but after that, I kept reminding myself that I wanted the pieces to look comfortable and a little slouchy. I'm positive whatever they end up being they'll be slouchy.







We got one couch cut out and pinned and we were out of time. Yesterday, she came over and we got the other couch cut out and pinned and started to work on the piping. Some of my friends couldn't believe I was actually going to go to the trouble of making piping, but even though I want it slouchy, I don't want it sloppy.
 









Both Brenda and I have sewing machines, but we decided to use hers because she's already familiar with it. Since I haven't, ahem, ever used mine, we didn't want to waste time learning how to use my particular machine. I've gotta tell you, sitting at that sewing machine felt really good. If I believed in past lives, I'd be convinced I was a seamstress in mine. We used a method we found on YouTube for making the strips for the piping and then we pinned and sewed until it was done.

After spending a couple of hours at the sewing machine, I was pretty proud of my accomplishment. My husband came home and I showed him the great pile of piping I had created and we had this conversation:

Me: Look at all this piping I made this afternoon. Can you believe it?
Him: Yeah, that's great.
Me: I don't think you're seeing what I actually did here. I sewed all. this. piping. This here. I sewed
it. On that machine over there. I sew!
Him: What I'm wondering is, do you cook?



So, we've covered two couches, pinned them and made half the piping we need. All we need to do is sew the couch covers, make the covers for the cushions and make and sew on the skirt. Goodness, this is an involved project!

In between the sewing and pinning, I made a sign for my fireplace mantle and covered some lamp shades with sheet material for the girl's room.






P.S. I made the sign out of wood from an old pallet that's been trashing up our backyard for at least a year. The lampshades were half off at Hancock's. The lamps came from the dollar store and I spray painted them white.

I'm linking up with Jules' William Morris project. More here.





8 comments:

Melissa@Home Baked said...

I have never tackled piping (or such an involved slipcover project), so I'm seriously impressed! And you got some other projects done, too!

Alana in Canada said...

I'm so jealous! I want to make piping, too! I have a slip cover I purchased for my sofa--but it was miles too big. So, I ripped it apart at the seams--but I haven't put it back together. Please send Brenda!

I've made piping before. It is very satisfying. Well done.

Rita@thissortaoldlife said...

I've got a cushion project sorta going on, but I'm doing an end run around piping. Much admiring the scope of your project, and I think your piping looks amazing. Dinner is over-rated!

That's Ms. Amy to You... said...

I can't wait to see those slipcovers all finished! I would never have the guts to try a project of that magnitude. And mercy, when did you have time for the sign & the lamp, too???? You are a William Morris machine!

Anonymous said...

Mmmm piping. Sounds delicious. Looks awesome. Cannot wait to see the final product! I love how piping can bring a project up to a new level, well done, now that you've started you'll be piping everything :)

May said...

That is looking so good! I think you will be very happy that you decided to go with the piping. Well worth it.

Anonymous said...

Hurray x 1000! Cannot wait to see the finished product...especially on my OWN couches.;)
-Leilani

Alice Almighty said...

Pam! I am amazed at all you've done! You are a brave woman to recover your sofas, but I have no doubt they will turn out great.