The weather is getting nicer here in Arkansas. I have about 8 weeks left before the garden calls me and what limited time I have to sew will be restricted to cold, rainy days. Spring get me thinking about changes I want to make in my house. It is time to change up the window treatments, add throw pillows, and spruce up the bedrooms and baths.
I have found that store bought window treatments, quilts and whatnot, do not last as long as they should. Too many items are made from cheap materials. We spend a lot of time and effort making our homes look fantastic. It makes good financial sense to sew your own. Most home décor does not require seamstress level sewing skills. All you need is a machine with a basic stitch or two, and the ability to sew in a straight line.
Where to start? I like to start in the bedrooms. There are several patterns worth mentioning here. I like a country or cottage chic feel to my home. Here are two patterns that are super simple and can transform your kids’ rooms into something spectacular.
Holly Hobby Quilt and Pillowcase: The quilt is sized for a crib or youth bed. Holly Hobby and her friend are riding on a rocking horse. You can change the colors to suit a boy or a girl. For older kids, you can use the quilt as a wall hanging. The pillowcase matches the edging of the quilt.
Puff Quilt Coverlet and Puff Pillow: Puff quilts are super easy to make and if you have a lot of fat quarters or other fabric remnants sitting around, this pattern will help you turn them into a wonderful quilt coverlet and pillow. Puff quilts are made by stitching squares of fabric together to form a pocket. The pocket is then stuffed with batting and stitched closed. The puffs are then stitched together to form a quilt or pillow. This is a great look for a guest room, or a kids room. The coverlet can take them right through their teens. Because a puff quilt is based on a grid of squares, it is easy to make it larger to fit a queen or king sized bed.
Custom Bedroom Accessories from Simplicity: What I like about this pattern is that it can transform your bedroom or any bedroom from plain to amazing. Included are patterns and instructions for comforters, pillowcases and shams, and other accessories like a vanity cover and a laundry bag. Pick a color scheme and transform an okay bedroom into a designer showcase.
Bathroom Essentials by McCall’s: After tackling the bedrooms, I like to move on to the bathrooms. Bathroom essentials gives you instructions and patterns for window treatments, shower curtains, sink and toilet covers, and more. This set of patterns is very hand if you have an older bathroom and do not want to change out the sinks, tubs, and toilets. Coordinating fabric pulls it all together for a designer look.
Decorating with Fabric, by Donna Lang: An amazing book with timeless ideas. If you purchase one book on home decorating, this should be the one. Donna Lang takes you through your home, room by room, and gives ideas and advice and projects that anyone can finish. A little fabric and a sewing machine can transform your home into a showcase.
What are your plans for Spring?