Home Decor: December 2011 Archives
For my brother's Christmas Gift, I knew it had to be avant garde. He is a
pretty cool guy but a typical gift is not going to cut it, mostly because he
has most things. He is a little off the cuff so something just as unique and
funny is what I needed for this year's gift. I immediately thought of the
moustache trend and how to incorporate it. Eventually, I stumbled across this
site and it was a "Eureka!" moment. I would make my own moustache pillowcases
using cotton and some ultrasuede. It was fun and easy; here's how to make your
own.
Materials:
2.5 yds lightweight
cotton (for 2 pillowcase or one complete moustache)
1 yd ultrasuede
1 yd Heat
n' Bond
1) Make your
pillowcases using lightweight cotton in a solid color. Pattern will detract
from the appliqué too much. You can use this pillowcase
pattern from our blog or my
pillow sham pattern.
2) Download and
print your Moustache pattern piece and trace onto the Heat n' Bond. Make sure
you flip the pattern piece before tracing the second moustache piece so they
are mirror images.
3) Iron
your Heat n' Bond onto the back of the ultrasuede and cut out pattern pieces.
4) Peel off the
paper backing of one moustache piece and line it up on your pillowcase along
the seam line not the opening of the pillow case. Tilt the center of the
moustache up a bit so it looks natural. Once you are satisfied with the
placement, iron it in place. Repeat for second pillow case.
5) Topstitch your
moustache pieces in place using coordinating thread.
This makes a great gift for a guy in
your life. You can try experimenting with different moustache fabrics but I
love the ultrasuede because it is warm and soft like a good Tom Selleck moustache.
You can use faux fur for a real Texas moustache or felt for a sophisticated New
York moustache.
Knitted goods can bring a softness and splash of color- be it bright color or a neutral- that can really make a house a home. One unexpected place is a lampshade cover. Here is a free pattern for a delicate but bright lampshade cover that compensates for the increase in diameter by increasing needle sizes instead of increasing stitches. You can easily modify this pattern for a straight shade by not increasing needle sizes. The small ribbing at the top holds the shade in place.
Materials:
Caron Simply Soft (1 skein for a 15 in. by 8 in. round shade) in Ocean
US size 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 cable needles in 16 in. and 24 in. lengths
To calculate the number of stitches to cast on for your shade measure the top subtract 4-5 in. and then adjust based on your gauge. Example: 10 in. shade diameter -4 in.= 6 in. Gauge is 4 sts/in. so cast on 24 sts.
Eyelet pattern: *yo, k2tog; repeat to end
The pattern is worked over an even number of stitches
With US 7 needles, Cast on and work in 2x2 ribbing for 1 in. Switch to US 9 needles and continue in eyelet pattern in US 9 for ¼ of the height of the shade (if your shade is 8 in. tall knit with US 9 for 2 in.)
Switch to US 11 needles and continue in eyelet pattern for another ¼ of the height. Switch to US 13 needles and work in eyelet pattern for another ¼ of shade height. Finally switch to US 15 needles for the remainder of the shade. Bind Off in pattern. Weave in ends.
Since the yarn is acrylic you can pull it off and wash if it gets dusty and there is no need to block. Slip if on over your shade and enjoy your new, warm, comforting atmosphere!
I have no idea why but whenever I plan to decorate for Christmas my first thought is: Pillow covers. I guess it is because being a knitter I spend a lot of time curled up on or staring at the couch so of course I want to decorate it first. AND I love a good cozy pillow, so this year when I planned my pillow covers for Christmas I was drawn to flannel. Flannel everything- background, appliqués, you name it. And no zippers as well, they ruin the coziness. No need to take notes, you can just add these pictures to your Pinterest boards. Last year I made a pillow from Velvet with I-cord embroidery and it was soft and squishable as a pillow should be but I was always worried about my little one pulling off the I-cord so this year I went all out. We are talking Heat n' Bond and zig zagging all over the place. I even managed to couch on some yarn for the ornament hangers. All easy and all so soft and cozy.
Materials:
1 yd of Flannel for pillow cover (I used Quilter's Flannel 90 in. Wide in Natural)
½ yd of flannel for ornaments (I used Cozy Cotton Flannel Grid Marine)
A smidge of wool felt for the hangers on ornament in Red
10 yds of wool yarn in Navy
Hot Pattern Giving Thanks Pillow Cover Pattern
Instructions:
First find an image of an ornament that you love and print it out. I did a quick search of Ornament Clip Art.
Trace this image onto the back of your Heat N Bond 3 times and cut out all images in one big piece (don't cut out each ornament shape yet) and apply, according to instructions, to the back of your green flannel. Now cut out each ornament, peel off the paper and arrange on your pillow cover made from Hot Patterns Giving Thanks Pillow Cover Pattern in White Flannel. Once you have an arrangement you like, iron your pieces in place. Cut out little squares roughly ½ by ½ in. from some wool felt. Wool felt is a little too thick for Heat n Bond so I like to keep it in place with a glue stick. Zig Zag stitch around your complete ornament. Finish off by pinning some navy wool yarn from your ornament to the top of your pillow. Slowly Zig zag stitch over your yarn keeping an eye on it so it doesn't creep out of place. Trim all loose threads and enjoy!
