DIY Embellished Chair Cushions

Hello everyone!

A small-scale home improvement project happened in the Sutton house this week.  After years of numb backsides with each meal, I finally got around to making some seat cushions for our kitchen table chairs.

Here is one of our wooden chairs:

Nice and sturdy.... but not so cozy. 

Since our 4 chairs aren't all the same, I have been looking for a way to unify them. I've been toying with the idea of refinishing these chairs for a while, but I decided to incorporate a little pattern and fun into the cushions.  I think this makes them look a little more intentional rather than the hodge-podge collection that they actually are. :)

I read a lot of existing tutorials, and this one was my favorite by PrettyPrudent:

DINING CHAIR CUSHION TUTORIAL

I love the embellishments she added to the cushions. :)  

I made a few changes, but I used her dimensions and technique for creating the cushion covers.

Here is what I came up with:

I found a fun patterned upholstery fabric at Jo-Ann Fabric. 

  

I cut the foam and fabric to the measurements from the tutorial.

*An electric serrated knife made cutting the foam SO easy... and therapeutic. :)

I wanted to accentuate the triangles and add just a little color, without making the pattern too busy. 

I decided to use a running stitch to outline one triangle on each cushion.

Since we put a good bit of wear on our cushions, I used upholstery thread in the construction of the cushions. (I also used a straight stitch rather than a zig-zag stitch.)

After the cushion covers were sewn and stuffed, I went ahead and sewed them closed by hand with a whip stitch.  

*We have broken/torn cushion ties on more than one occasion.  Maybe we're aggressive sitters?  I don't know why it happens, but I decided to save myself the heartache of them ripping out and just avoid them all together.

Rather than the cushion ties, I used self-adhesive (no-sew) velcro to secure the cushions to the chairs.

*Note: Please read the instructions on the velcro and make sure it is meant to be used with fabric.  I was a little hasty with my purchase, but you can avoid my mistake! :)  Check out this velcro as an option for you. :) 

So far, so good!  We may just linger at the dinner table a little longer these days! 

Have a wonderful week!

T-Shirt Recycling: Tank tops and Headbands

Hello again!

I'm loving the Spring and the sunshine this year.  I know you are too!  If you're feeling inspired to get out and exercise, but are short on fun workout gear, check out these fun tutorials to get you ready to work up a sweat in the sunshine!

Spring cleaning means I ended up with a stack of t-shirts that were tired and in great need of a makeover.  Check out this great tutorial from ESPN (of all places) for turning t-shirts into workout tank tops:

DIY Workout T-Shirt by ESPN

I love this!! I had to try on each t-shirt after making the initial cuts to tweak the straps or neckline, but it's a great place to start. :-)  

Here are some different things to try to spice up your tanks:

I sewed a "tube" of knit fabric around the straps, with right sides together, then flipped it inside out, and - Tadaa!

If you have your tank tops, you need some fun new accessories to complete the look!  Use more t-shirts or any jersey knit fabric to make these!

Check out this tutorial for the wrap headband by CarolineDelaere:

Here is a tutorial for the woven headband by RabbitFoodForMyBunnyTeeth:

Now go clean out your closets and have fun!

DIY Handkerchiefs make sneezing look good.

YAY for Spring!

It's finally here!.... If there is a downside to the shiny newness of Spring, it comes in the form of sniffles, sneezes and itchy eyes.  At least, that is the case in the Sutton house.

So, if you have to fight your allergies, why not use something pretty?  Who wants a paper tissue rubbing your nose raw when you can have a bright, soft and happy handkerchief?

Here is my last selling point on handkerchiefs...

When the world says:

Why not carry something that will say it no matter how many times you sneeze?...

I have always had a soft spot for special handkerchiefs... they always remind me of the wonderful women in my family:

Since a lot of these feel too special to use, I wanted to try to make some of my own. Who says hankies are only for weddings? (Although, I think it's an awesome idea to make fun handkerchiefs for a bridal party or special family members! For the happy tears!)

When I think of embroidered handkerchiefs, I usually think of incredibly detailed or delicate designs like these:

I wanted to make something a little more fun, like these I found on Etsy:

This project is great for even the most beginner sewer. (like me) 
The handkerchiefs were incredibly simple to make.  
You can basically follow our fabric napkin tutorial, just cutting smaller squares of fabric (12"x12".)

Here is a great tutorial from PurlBee that I used to get started:

Herringbone Handkerchiefs

I followed this tutorial for the basics of measuring, cutting and ironing, but did a couple things differently.

Here are the fabrics I chose:

Make sure you check the care instructions on the bolt of fabric-- you want to be able to throw these hankies in the wash without any worries!

Happy fabrics to make your nose happy!

Cut and ready for ironing, folding and sewing!

For my purposes, I decided to sew the hems on each side with the machine rather than by hand.  Let's be real, who has time for that? 
(If you do have the energy to spare, go for the hand-stitching!  Maybe try one of these blanket stitch variations.)

Fold according to the tutorial

Rather than using pins and hand-sewing, I used a straight stitch with a fun gold thread to make the seams.

9 handkerchiefs ready for personalization :)

After sewing each handkerchief, I decided to personalize them with embroidery. 
You could add monograms or any fun design that you like. (I loved the simple cross-stitch monograms from the PurlBee tutorial.)  
 Either draw your design on the fabric with a water-soluble fabric marker or use an iron-on transfer! 
Once you have the design on the fabric, embroider with whatever stitch you like!  Have fun. :)
(Check out your craft or fabric store for all kinds of fun designs-- I remember my mom using some of these Aunt Martha's designs for projects when I was a kid!)

The transfers are easy to use-- just follow the instructions on the package!

I definitely recommend pinning the transfer stamp to your fabric.  This will help prevent it wiggling, giving you a fuzzy transfer.

ready to stitch!

Embroidery is a great way to stay busy when you're waiting at a doctor's office!

Done!

Side note: If you want to do a special monogram, check out this Monogram Etiquette by Mark and Graham.

Here are a few more I finished!

Now, get to it! You can make as many or as few as you like!... and why not make one or two for a fellow allergy-sufferer!

Happy Spring!