Hello!
Today I have something a bit different for fabulous fabric Friday. Something cheap and simple, and then something expensive and special.
First things first. Someone very special to me is a teacher. She has a class of year one students, and because they are only just a little bit bigger than babies, she keeps some European pillows in a corner at the back of the classroom for those badly in need of a nap, or for those who aren’t feeling well.
Before this school year started, she said that she would like some new pillowcases for them. The ones that came with the classroom were brown. Where’s the fun in that?
So, I have made her some new pillowcases using this fabric that I picked up from Lincraft.
What child doesn’t love puppies? Particularly puppies wearing striped and polka-dot coats…
It’s the JoAnn brand that I seem to only see at Lincraft. It was $9.99 from the furnishing fabrics section. I wouldn’t use it for quilting, but for the heavy-duty work these pillowcases will be doing, furnishing fabric was perfect.
A week later it was even a further 30% off!
Because it is furnishing fabric, it is extra-wide too. It meant I could do one whole pillowcase with just a 65cm wide cut. Unlike most crafty projects, this is one that actually turns out to be cost effective when compared with the cost of just buying a ready-done pillowcase. It’s a whole lot cuter, too.
If you have ever thought about making European pillowcases for a play room, or even for an adult’s bed, here’s the pattern I drew up and used. I’ve tested it out, and it works really well. Super easy.
Now here’s the special stuff. Liberty Tana Lawn in the Susannah pattern. I love the yellow and blue colourway, and have used it on so many pretty projects.
Look at the detail in this. From the centres of the sunflowers, filled with love hearts, to the delicate edges of each petal, it’s the perfect example of why Liberty are known as “art fabrics”.
I just love it.
Have a look here at the rainbow colourway. I even have this Sportscraft dress made from the blue and white colourway. Very soon, it will be released in a pink and white colourway, see here. The purple and green is lovely too. The Etsy store that I have linked to, Alice Caroline Supply, has the whole range.
At around $40 a metre, you had better have something special in mind for it before you buy, but everything that I make from Tana Lawn has a beautiful texture, silky and light. It also washes beautifully. Just remember to use a very fine needle, and even a finer thread, when you sew with it. I tend to use Superior Threads’ Bottom Line with Tana Lawn. It’s not designed for that purpose, but I have it already for quilting and it is fine enough to get a lovely finish.
Happy Friday everyone!
jf
finchley street 