Project #2 -- Bistro Kitchen Curtains

Here is a quick and easy project to dress up your kitchen. These are easy to make

Bistro Kitchen Curtains

Supply List:

Tea Towels or Flour Sack Dish Towels
One Brass Curtain Rod
Matching Sew-On Rings
Needle and Thread
Sewing Machine

Directions:

1. Attach the curtain rod halfway down your window.
2. Measure and cut the towels so the hem of the towel touches the window seal and the other end measures an inch and a half above the rod.
3. Sew a 2-inch hem at the top of the cut towel.
4. Stitch the rings to the top of the hemmed towel.
5. Repeat the process with a total of 2-4 towels depending on the width of the window.

YOUR DONE!!!

Project Ideas

Save all your husbands old t-shirts and flannel shirts. They have all kinds of uses. I personally have used pieces of old flannel shirts for interesting appliques for some of the quilting projects I have done. Also, I will be using the shirts I have left for making cloth diapers for my newest arrival. I have included some links this page and on my Baby/Kids pages to access patterns for making diapers and other free patterns.

Another good recycled material for diapers or other sewing projects is those old flannel sheets. Depending on the size of the sheet, you can make approximately 10 really nice sized diapers. Using a rotary cutter and mat, you can cut the sheet into 28" x 40" rectangles, hem the edges and voila! -- diapers. This size of diaper is very good for a young baby, as well as an older child who still wears diapers at night when it is folded correctly. These diapers are soft, thick, inexpensive, and when you make them yourself you will have a sense of accomplishment for being thrifty and crafty at the same time!

Project #1 -- Instructions for Making Baby Blocks

Materials for three blocks:

-- 1/8 yard each or large scraps of the following fabrics: blue/yellow plaid, green/pink plaid, blue check, blue print, green print, and pink print.

-- 8" square of muslin

-- Blue, yellow, light pink, dark pink, light green, and dark green pearl cotton

-- three 4-1/4" x 4-1/4" foam cubes

-- photo transfer paper for color laser copiers

Cutting:

1. From the blue/yellow plaid, green/pink plaid, and blue check fabrics, cut five 3-1/2" squares each.

2. From the blue, green and pink print fabrics, cut twelve 3" squares each. Cut each square in half diagonally.

Assembly:

1. Following the manufacturer's instructions, transfer three 3" square photo images onton the muslin square. Be sure to leave at least 1/2" between the images. Cut the muslin into 3-1/2" squares.

2. Sew a print triangle to opposite sides of each photo-transfer square; press. Sew triangles to the two remaining sides of each square and press.

3. In the same manner, sew coordinating print triables to each plaid square; press.

4. Sew three pieced squares and a photo square together in a strip. Bring the edges of the first and last squares right sides together and sew, forming a loop.

5. With right sides together, pin matching square to one end of the loop. Stitch the square to the loop, creating the bottom of the block. For best results, stop stitching each seam 1/4" from the corner, lower the needle into the fabric, pivot the fabric, and stitch the next side.

6. In the same manner, pin the remaining square to the opposite end of the block. Stitch two adjacent sides only at this time.

7. Turn the block right side out. Insert the foam cube into the block, and whipstitch the last two sides closed.

8. Thread a needle with two different colors of pearl cotton. Take a single stitch at the midpoint of each edge, at the corners of the plaid squares. Tie a double know and clip the threads, leaving 1/2" tails.


If you require further diagrams or would like a complete set of instructions with the diagrams to aid in this project, e-mail me using the form below and I will respond to you with the details on how to get them.