The Romantic Pillows of My Dreams

I have completed a new sewing project. I've made the romantic pillow cases I've always dreamed of.

I don't use a flat sheet. Not because I don't like the feel, but because I toss my blanket around like crazy, moving it on and off me all night long. So the flat sheet just becomes a mess. I use a comforter instead with a cover that is sheet-like. Because of this, every time I buy a sheet set, the flat sheet is "extra" fabric. 

To make this project, I used the flat sheet and I cut up the basic queen pillow cases that came with the fitted sheet. I am using the fitted sheet as is. 

Lesson 1: Use as much material as you can that you have "at hand" to keep the cost of the project down.

I purchased some thread to match and learned my first lesson on thread. This thread was not the brand Coats and Clark like I usually buy. It matched well, but was very thin. The ends of the thread frayed when I cut it, so it was harder to thread the needle than the heavier Coats and Clark thread I've used in the past. The thread also kept breaking when I did the hand sewing on the roses.

Lesson 2: Cheap thread causes more work. 

I didn't actually buy the thread because it was cheap. I bought it because I wasn't going to run to the craft store and it was the thread that would be delivered via Amazon Prime in 2 days.

Lesson 3: Patience. Get the right materials even if it takes time.

The actual lesson I was trying to learn was how to sew straight seams. By the end of this project I was doing better, but I'm still not up to my standards. If you sew, and you have any tips, please share in the comments below. But you can see in the pictures that I am sewing a double line seam that is quite visible on the outside. I like this look. But I want the sewing line to be straight. Sometimes I sew 1 mm from the edge, then in places it ends up 2 mm from the edge. Do I need to draw my line before I sew? I'm using a slow speed on the sewing machine.

Also, for a few of the pieces, like the ties, I folded over the seams, and sewed the seams together. But in places the two edges of the seams didn't come together perfectly. One edge slipped out about 1 mm farther than the other. So I need to take extra care when pinning and be more precise.

The roses were made by first sewing a tube, then folding it and sewing it the pleats. Then rolling it, and sewing the underside together with each rotation. Then you "unfold" the petals. I should have taken more photos to show you how I did the roses as I did it. next time I do a rose I'll do that. But this was really an experiment. 

I like the look of the wide band the roses are sitting on. 

For the ruffles, I used three times the width of the pillow, and sewed a double basting line, then gathered it. I'll have to do a separate blog post next time I do ruffles to show that as well.

Well, here they are . . . the new pillow cases, made out of a store bought 100% cotton sateen sheet set.

Notice the wide band. It makes me happy.

Notice the double seam. Is there a name for  this type of seam? I like it. But it is also another example of my not quite perfectly straight line. Some areas are extra "not" perfect.

 

On the inside of the pillow, under the ruffle, I placed some ties, to keep the pillow in place and to keep it from slipping out. I LOVE these ties.

 

Here is a close up of the banding. See how the seam lines are crooked? I need any tips you can give. Does it just take practice? I have no idea. Also, on one line I had forgotten to move the stitch length back from .5 used for the basting line to make the ruffles. The second line is set properly at .25. On close examination these pillows have lots of imperfections.

Lesson 4: Double check stitch length setting on the sewing machine.

But when not looking close, they are lovely.

 

Profile view of the roses. The center rose is taller. It is made from a wider tube of fabric, so the petals are higher. 

 

I have a queen size bed. I used two king size pillows. I probably should have stuck with queen size pillows, but I do like a longer pillow. I turn one to the side and use it as a body pillow.

Full room view. Obviously I need a lot more than new pillow cases in this room. I need a better comforter cover and a bed skirt, but this is a nice start. Notice the lovely afghan my mother crocheted for me.She made one for each of her children and grand children. We each got to pick our own colors and design.

My next project will be in the living room. I'll be making a pad to go on top of the new mattresses on the sofa, and pillows. I'm not sure which I'll do first.

Until next time! Please feel free to leave comments, tips, and links to resources that might educate me below. Also, follow this blog if you want to see what I do with turquoise chicken and rooster fabric.

Happy Making!

Lisanne

The Search for the Perfect Chair

Hello Universe of Strangers Who May Become My Friends!

I'd like to tell you a story about my search for the perfect chair. It began years ago when I purchased a swivel glider . . . No, we have to go back further. It began one day when I was working long hours at home, and I realized that the blood being cut off from my legs by the edge of my chair was not normal. You see, I'm petite. But the petite part is really the problem. Now that almost all products are made via assembly line process for a person who is approximately 5'9" (the average height of an American male) chairs are not petite.

The average height of an American female is about 5'4". If chairs were made to fit American women, then my own height of 5'2" would not be that far off. However, manufacturers mistakenly assume that it is better to make things bigger, for men, and women can just . . . I don't know what? Use a stool? Cross our legs on our chair like we did on the floor in kindergarten during story time? I've actually had women tell me they never sit with their feet down when sitting on the sofa, because they can't. They pull their legs up, or they lay down. It is ridiculous.

I have been single almost my entire adult life (except for a brief brief marriage that produced my lovely daughter and of which we otherwise will not discuss). Being a single woman, going about the world, earning money, decorating MY house, that I paid for with MY money, I am disinclined to purchase a chair with MY money, made to fit an anonymous man who may happen to be visiting and choose to sit in MY chair. Yes. I'm like that. Who wouldn't be? Would you want to spend your money to buy a chair that was designed to fit someone else?

Honestly, I don't mind throwing an extra chair in the living room made to fit the anonymous visiting male, but I'll be damned if that is going to be my main working/lounging chair. It will just be one chair.

Right now you are probably asking, "Why don't you just get an adjustable office chair like everyone else?" Excellent question! The answer is, "Because I have tissue pain." Those adjustable chairs are designed to be ergonomic, meaning they apply pressure in the appropriate spots to get you to set up straight with correct posture, so your muscles don't hurt. But here is the thing. My muscles already hurt. Like all the time. So I need something soooooffffft. You can liken my pain to fibromyalgia, though it isn't quite that. So I want a chair that feels like a cloud or like you aren't actually touching anything, while still being ergonomic.

To exacerbate the issue, I'm a writer on top of my day job. So not only do I need to sit in a chair for 8 hours a day to pay the mortgage, but I need to sit in it more to write.  I'm actually taking a writing pause right now while I #Resist, but as soon as Trump is out of office, I'll be back to writing. I might sit in that chair for 16 hours a day.

See, things just got complicated. But I have a number of things going for me. I recognize the importance of the chair that I sit in for 16 hours a day, and I am willing to spend a good deal of coin for the perfect chair that is designed to fit me, designed to ease my pain, and designed to provide ergonomic comfort. I'm not looking for a throw-away chair after all. I'm looking for "the Chair" for my lifetime.

However, there are two more complication to this chair thing. I have an artistic eye. That means I admire beauty. In fact, I demand beauty. And finally, because I am going to have this chair for 45 years, it needs to be designed with cleaning in mind. I'm not going to sit in the same body oil for 45 years after-all.

I didn't learn all of my requirements at once. Ohh no. This has been learned after spending hundreds of hours searching for the perfect chair. Yes. I said hundreds and that isn't hyperbole. The search for the perfect chair has brought me to learn about different time periods of chair design, and history. I've learned about woods, and angles of seats, and slip-cover styles, and fabrics, and casters, and on and on. This search has led me into the "Furniture is Art" world.

The lessons were learned after buying the swivel rocker that had the correct seat height, but was too deep, that caused my belly to jut out and my chin to dip down, giving me a double chin while I sat in the chair. Plus the loose cushion back put forward pressure on my head, causing it to lean forward. Trust me, it is as unattractive as it sounds. The lessons were learned when I bought a petite chair from Ikea that had a washable slipcover, but the foam was hard a rock and painful. The lessons were learned when I bought a beautiful used and reupholstered chair from an antique store, that was just two inches too high, and two inches too deep and tufting on the seat that was so thin, I could feel the wood bar of the seat frame through the fabric. The final lessons were learned with a pair of nice chairs that have the proper seat dimensions, but the chair itself is overstuffed and too huge for my small house.

Now we have come to the point where it is abundantly clear that I am picky. All of these chairs had some good features, but other features that were bad for me. They might have been right for someone else, but not for me.

I figured out that I was picky some years down the road, and tried finding someone to custom design and build a chair for me. But these people don't really exist. Sure, you can find someone to upholster an existing chair frame that they purchase. But most of those chair frames are made for someone 5'9" tall. When I inquire as to if they will alter the chair frame, they seem to become very afraid. I once sent a sketch to one of these Master Upholstery Craftsmen (as his wife labeled him). His wife called back and said they could not make the chair, because the chair had too many curves. So, I must assume he was in the business for 30 years, and spent his hole time mastering the 180 degree angle.

About a year ago, I decided the only way I would ever get "The Chair" would be to build it myself. And so I am. You may be asking, "How do you build a chair?" I must answer you, "I don't freaking know. But, I'm damn well going to figure it out."

Yes. I am going to build a chair. Before I build that chair I must master the following skills:

• Design
• Sewing
• Upholstery
• Wood joinery
• Wood Carving
• Possibly Wood Bending

I am undaunted. I will learn these skills and I will use them to build "The Chair" and every other beautiful thing I want for my home, exactly the way I want it, all by myself.

I am started the process of "Skill Building." I have no illusions that this will be quick. Ohh, no, I expect it to take years. But I've already spent years and thousands of dollars buying stuff that isn't right and doesn't fit. I've spent hundreds of hours searching for the perfect chair. If I would have started "Skill Building" to begin with, I would already have my chair.

So let me get you caught up with where I stand in the process of "Skill Building."

I bought some starter wood carving tools and carved my first "Little Guy." In the process, I jabbed a hole in my finger and decided I needed a different approach. This was more whittling and seemed too dangerous and ineffective.

I bought different wood carving tools to use with a wooden mallet, and a large slab of walnut. This approach seems to offer much better control and my hands aren't in danger. The carving process is going much better with the sign. I can't show you pictures of that yet as it is going to be a Christmas present for someone.

With the guidance of my mother (since I haven't sewn anything since Home Economics in high school) I made a desk skirt, decorative scarf to go across it (under glass) and some desk accessories.

That turned out well, so I've bought a sewing machine and decided to make home made tufted mattresses for my love seat. I was very excited about the tufting work, but then I remembered the lesson I learned about placing tufting on horizontal surfaces. It is not wise. All sorts of dirt and crumbs collect in those tufts. So the mattresses are hand welted, but not tufted. They made of latex foam, wrapped in bamboo batting, and covered with a home spun ticking. I did NOT make the fabric, though the thought is intriguing.

Then I was off to my mother's house again to use her excellent cutting tools and I made my first pillow cases. These are actually intended for a guest room. I'm about to start making lavender pillow cases to match my sheets, out of a flat sheet of the same material.

I have many different projects in mind for the near future. I'm going to work on sewing for a while, then move back to carving toward the end of the year. This blog will document my projects as I go about the process of skill building so I can eventually build that damnable glorious perfect chair.

Would you like to join me on this journey of learning?

If so, please follow my blog. I'll be glad for your company.

Lisanne