SEW simple
Scraps, old bedding, tea towels – pretty much any fabric will do for this super-stylish, thrifty geometric wall hanging
We’ve all got leftover fabrics and old textiles at the back of the cupboard, kept ‘just in case’ – so this geometric wall hanging is the project we’ve been waiting for! This thrifty design can be made using just about any fabric (as long as it’s not stretchy), from duvet covers and tea towels to fabric scraps from other projects. We’ve made ours in icy blues, mints and lilacs – a palette that’ll work both for frosty winter interiors and fresh spring schemes in a couple of months’ time.
SHOPPING LIST
Fabric scraps (see instructions for details) Tea towel or 50cm of backing fabric Thread Iron-on interfacing (optional) 40cm wooden dowel 60cm white cotton cord Iron Matching thread
Pins Scissors Sewing machine
1 Collect together the fabric scraps and any old clothing, bedding, tea towels, etc, that you want to use for this project. You can reinforce any thinner fabrics with some iron-on interfacing if needed.
2 From your backing fabric, cut out a rectangle measuring 40cm x 60cm – tea towels are a great size to use for this. Use your backing panel to roughly lay out your design using your scrap fabric to fit, choosing which fabrics you’d like to have next to each other when the pieces are sewn together.
3 Once you are happy with the arrangement, cut out 12 squares measuring 20cm each from your fabrics. The triangles are created by sewing two squares right sides (RS) together diagonally from corner to corner. This will form a new square made up of two triangles. To do this, first place each pair of squares, according to your chosen layout, with RS facing and sew a diagonal line from one corner to the other.
4 Once all the squares are joined, trim away the excess fabric on each one on the side of the sewn line that will be at the back of the hanging, being careful not to cut too close to the stitching, and then fold open the new square. This will now look like two triangles sewn together. Press the seam.
5 Place the new joined squares RS together and sew together along one side (this seam will be in the centre of the hanging) using a 1cm seam allowance, following your chosen layout. Repeat for the next two rows, then sew the three strips together to create the front panel.
6 Place the assembled front panel RS together with the backing panel and sew them together, leaving a 3cm gap at the top of each side and the top open. Trim the backing to fit your assembled front panel if necessary. Press.
7 Trim the bottom corners, being careful not to cut the stitching, and then turn the panel RS out, carefully pushing out the bottom corners. Press.
8 Fold the top edges to the inside and topstitch along the top edge on your machine, leaving the gaps at the top of the side seams open ready for the hanging dowel. Insert the dowel at one end and feed it through and out of the other side. Then tie the cord on to each end of the dowel so it’s ready to hang.