One thing leads to another…

I spent 12 years with an admittedly fine sofa from Crate and Barrel. I loved the chocolate brown color, until I didn’t. CandB announced their annual sofa sale 2 weeks ago and I did a happy dance. Our new Petrie sofa is exactly the same as the old sofa except that it’s a little shorter, charcoal gray, firmer, and cleaner.

I have 2 midcentury modern arm chairs whose cushions were covered with a lovely brown print that I had also grown very tired of. They looked so bad with the gray sofa that I couldn’t put off recovering them.

Why is it that there are so few choices in upholstery fabric, especially if you don’t live in a big city? I could have shopped online but I wanted to see and feel the fabric. I was amazed that I found the perfect fabric at Hobby Lobby — and it was even on sale!

You know me and dots…

Just so you know, recovering cushions is not hard. You have the skills to do this. Use the old cushions as a guide and go for it!

I made the brown the cushions years ago and it wasn’t hard to use them as patterns for the new covers. The foam inserts did not need to be replaced. I spent a few hours carefully cutting all the pieces for 2 seat cushions and 2 chair backs.

And then I sewed. It took longer than I thought it would, partly because I made the covered cording too. My trusty BERNINA 1140 handled the many thicknesses of this thick fabric just fine. I love that machine!

I finished the last cushion just before the eclipse which, when you look at the fabric, felt perfect.

I bought more of this fabric than I needed. There’s probably at least a yard, but there are diagonal cuts from where I cut the bias for the cording. If you would like what I have left and are will to pay the postage, it’s yours :-). Email me at becky.pieceocake@gmail.com. The first person I hear from gets it. I’ll send you a PayPal invoice for the shipping.

Wednesday Giveaway

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I used the Quilter’s Select glue pen to prepare the edges of The Magical Unicorn for machine appliqué. I like the way this glue goes onto fabric, the way it dries clear, and the way it holds the fabric in place where I put it. I think you’ll like it too!

Louise is the lucky winner, chosen Thursday, August 24. Congrats to Louise!

Show and tell…

Christine sent me this photo of her newly finished Aunt Millie’s Garden. It’s wonderful!

Christine

She says:
I just love my quilt and would never have thought of a red background.  I had more fun making this quilt than any other. It’s hand appliquéd and then I blanket stitched over  them. I quilted each block and put them together, quilt as you go. Thank you for the wonderful patterns. Yours are my favorite because each block is the correct size.
Thank you, Christine, for sharing your quilt :-).

Show and tell…

There goes the Neighborhood is a Piece O’ Cake pattern that was published in American Patchwork & Quilting magazine (1998) and in a Better Homes and Gardens book of AP&Q quilts (2002). This happy quilt was made for a church raffle. Nine ladies made the blocks and borders, and Gerry Hardy put together the top. (That’s Jane on the left, and Carol on the right.)

ThereGoesTheNeighborhood-gerhardy

Well done, ladies! I hope you raise a lot of money :-).