Quilt, headband good first projects
Dear Vicki: I am giving my daughter a sewing machine for Christmas, and I wonder what you would suggest as a first project so I can give her something to sew immediately that she could have fun with. Thanks. — Madge J.
Dear Madge: You didn’t tell me how old she is, and that might change my ideas.
If she is 7 or 8 and loves her dolls, then I would say help her make a flannel rag quilt for her doll. You can do this without a pattern. Cut 3-inch squares — you will need 50 of them — stack them and tie with a bow. When she is ready to sew them, take two back to back and sew to the next two. Use a ½-inch seam allowance. If you can picture this, sew five sets together for a row. Sew five rows, and then sew the rows together and you’ll have a cute little quilt. All the seams should be on one side. Now clip the seam allowances every half inch then wash the blanket. The seam allowances will bloom out and fringe; it’s very neat!
The beauty, of course, is that she can stop anytime that she loses interest and pick up later and work again. The finished quilt will be about 12 inches square.
Another cute little project would be a scrunchie ponytail holder. Send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope, and I will send you the instructions.
A headband is very popular because you can make it over and over in different fabrics, and so use learned processes and build on them. If you want the headband pattern, Indygo Junction pattern No. 1160, is a good one. You can find it at a local shop, or send me a check for $10.99 and I will send it to you. This pattern includes three modern takes on the classic headband. The first is a wide swath of fabric — 8½ inches wide at the center — to scrunch or ease open for more coverage. The second style is a 2½ inch wide rectangular band, constructed with two fabrics, to make a reversible hair accessory. The third rendition can be stitched from one or two fabrics. Two oblong bands are wrapped and gently twisted, one over the other, at their widest point.
Dear Vicki: Sometimes you explain different fabrics, and here is my question: I was shopping for bridesmaid dresses with my daughter, and the store called the fabric of one dress “file.” What is that? I’d like to make the dresses, but I don’t know what to shop for now. So do you know what this is? Thanks. Kathy B.
Dear Kathy: The fabric you saw is faille (pronounced file). It is also sometimes called bengaline, and it can be cotton, rayon or polyester. It is characterized by the horizontal lines; it looks like grosgrain ribbon. If it has a watermark it’s called moire (pronounced more-ay). All these are very firm, crisp fabrics that make beautifully shaped dresses. It’s easy to work with and comes in many colors. You might have luck finding it in a decorator fabric shop.
Each week I share a reader’s tip and thank him or her with a set of 100 fine English hand-sewing needles. This week the tip is from Ginny Fieser, of Waterloo, Ill. She writes:
“When threading elastic through casings, I find rounding the end of the elastic ends makes it so much easier and quicker to pull through because the corners don’t catch on the seam allowances.”
Send questions to Vicki Farmer Ellis, P.O. Box 220463, St. Louis, MO 63122, or email vickifarmerellis@swbell.net.