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Sewing Room Update – Horizontal Window Panels

Since November, I have been wanting to dress up the boring window in my sewing room. I have had my eye on some horizontal striped drapes that I have seen in several places. Not sure if they are “in” or I just particularly like them and continue to see them everywhere. Here are a few examples that I have been thinning about for a few months…

So, I decided to embark on my own horizontal striped drapes. I was not able to locate any drapes under $150 per panel that had the large horizontal stripes. Here is the “before” photo:

I purchased four sets of drapes from Target in the colors that I wanted my stripes. I know that the harder part of drapes to make are the top and bottom. By using drapes that are already made, you don’t have to do this hard part.

I decided that I wanted my stripes to be 12″ wide which worked well because my ceiling height was 103″ which allowed for 9 stripes. I wanted to have an odd number of stripes so that the drapery panel could be anchored on top and bottom by the chocolate color. I cut four of the drapery panels (which were 96″ long out of the package) into 12″ sections.

I then ironed each and every of the 18 sections…BORING!! I hate ironing! But, it is important and easier to iron the small pieces than the entire drape later.

Then, I pinned right sides together of alternating colors and sewed in straight lines and then pressed open the seems. The other thing that is great about using pre-made panels is that the edges are already completed and you don’t have to worry about making the edges perfect.

I didn’t provide photos of me hanging the drapery rod because that would have been scary and funny all at the same time. Let’s just say it is DONE! Here is the first shot one of the panels installed. I made the rod go 8″ beyond the window so that the panels could sit in that space and provide the illusion that the window is much bigger than it is. I also ran the drapes all the way to the ceiling instead of stopping them at the window. I prefer this look as well.

Here they are all complete. The colors are chocolate and white.

Another view…

I added a little decoration with some vinyl applied letters from my cricut to create some interest in the middle of the drapes. I wish I didn’t have to have the center support for the rod, but it is necessary for support. I think these turned out pretty good and I am happy with the new look in my sewing room.

A few tips:

- You can weight your panels down by adding washers in the bottom. This helps the drapes hang straight.

- As I mentioned, I think it looks better when you run the run just below the ceiling. It creates the illusion of a higher ceiling and makes the room seem more spacious.

- Run the rod wider than the actual window so that you create the illusion of a large window.

- Give yourself time to do this project…and be patient. It took me about three hours to do it right. And, to rip apart a seam

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Star Struck – Table Top Quilt

Two weeks ago at an evening quilting class at Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista, I started this great little quilt. It is called Honeycomb Stars and is comprised of 16 six inch blocks that are primarily triangle blocks. I went out on a limb with the fabrics and went a direction I don’t normally go. Here’s the story of this creation….

This quilt is all about making triangle blocks. Take two squares, put them right side together and then sew 1/4″ across on either side of the middle line. Some people mark the back of the squares with a pencil or a marking tool. I just press one of the squares of each pairing in half and then use that as my guide to sew a 1/4″ seams on either side. You end up with this…piles of pieces squares.

These are then taken and cut in half twice and then paired up again to make the final 2 1/2″ square with opposite colors.

After you sew all the small blocks, you have to square them up. You will want to use a ruler that has a diagonal marking so that it makes it easy to square them up. When you square them up, you end up with all these fun scraps! You need to remember to square up from the center and not the edges or you will end up with squares that are not equal. This might be a future tutorial.

Here is a finished block. I pinned everything on this quilt because of the amount of pieces and intersections. Generally, it turned out pretty good. You also had the opportunity to square up these blocks as well.

Then, I laid everything out and figured out which order I wanted my blocks to go in. It was very hard for me to do this given the different fabrics included in this quilt top. I settled on this and joined the blocks together in rows of four. I pinned every single seam together as I joined the blocks and rows. This was a lot of pinning, but it was well worth it.

I then added a 4 1/2″ border around the quilt. I used a brushed flannel. As always, measure your border from the center of your quilt and not the ends or your quilt will end up out of square.

At some point, I was joined by Baja who decided he needed to be in the small chair in my sewing room even though it didn’t fit him. So, we had to shore up the front half of his body with the ottoman. It didn’t look comfortable, but he stayed there for a while.

Here are a few pics of the finished quilt. Here’s the front of the quilt. I used stippling quilting in a small scale to offset the straight lines on the rest of the quilt.

Here’s the back of the quilt. So, I love scrappy quilt backs. Here, I used every single piece of fabric scrap from the quilt front and made a scrappy quilt back. As always, don’t forget to add your label.