Do NOT chuck
out your Chintz!
The fabulous
world of vintage takes a lot of influence from current fashion trends, so a
spot of catwalk and people watching tells us that florals are blooming
everywhere right now. We also know that where clothing fashions go, home-ware
styles follow. So with tops, dresses, bags and skirts tiptoeing through the
proverbial daisies, now is not the time to chuck out your Chintz - hang on to
it!
Eclectic
mixes of colours and styles will work very well and are bang on trend and
adding in a few pieces of vintage china, an old chair back cover or a vintage
print can give your home an instant hit of vintage summer.
If you’re
feeling a bit adventurous and want to excercise you creative talents, why not
make a cushion or two?
Vintage
fabrics, floral pillow cases, old table cloths and mats and even pieces
patchwork are perfect and can often be found a very little cost and up-cycling
worn out clothes, in pretty fabrics into a new cushion is a great way to sprinkle summer around
the place without blowing the budget.
HOW TO: Make
a Cushion.
Decide what
shape and size of cushion you want to make and gather enough fabric pieces for
it. You could use several small pieces stitched together – it’ll give a pretty
patchwork effect. Wash and iron your fabric taking note of the different types
of fabric, which may need different wash and ironing temps.
Make a paper
pattern or template for your cushion in your desired shape and size. Use sticky
tape to build it from plain paper if necessary, but, don’t be tempted to use
newspaper, it is bigger, but it will mark pale fabrics.
Place the
paper pattern on the fabric and if fits with 1 – 2 cm to spare, then pin the
pattern to the fabric.
Next cut out
your fabric, leaving an additional 1 – 2 cm around the edge of the pattern.
If you are
using small pieces then you will need to sew them together and press the seams,
until you have made a piece big enough to take your paper pattern, with an
additional 1 – 2 cm around the edge.
Once you
have got two fabric cushion shapes cut out, place them together, with the outsides of the fabric facing each other and the wrong sides showing and pin them
together.
Stitch
around the cushion shape, leaving an edge of 1 – 2 cm and an opening for
stuffing of about 10 cm.
Turn the
cushion right side out and iron it.
Stuff the
cushion with stuffing. An old pillow is great for this, (it can be machine
washed at 40 degrees. The pillow does need to be a modern fibre filled one, not
feather or foam. Cut open the pillow and pull out the wading and pull it apart
with your hands until it gets all fluffy and then stuff the cushion, use plenty
and if the cushion looks a bit lumpy, then pull the wading more and add a bit
extra.
Once your
cushion is stuffed, just fold under the raw edges of the opening and stitch it
up.
A few
vintage buttons or some left over beads from your button box, stitched on will
finish it off nicely.
STOP PRESS: As
this article went to be published I had a brainwave (Yes quite rare)! A very quick
and pretty cushion can be made from a vintage nighty or pyjama case. All of the
cutting out and most of the sewing is done for you, you’d just need to stuff it
as above and then stitch up the opening! Brilliant!
Make your
home blooming lovely!
http://www.steptoesantiques.co.uk/index.htmlLabels: vintage, vintage buttons, vintage fabric, vintage homestyle, vintage nightdress cases, vintage pyjama cases, vintage sewing
