On Finishing Projects
I have far too many half-baked ideas — and the craft supplies to match — languishing in the back drawers. The decoupage projects. The quilt I started 6 years ago. The framing projects (vintage snapshots, stamps, matchboxes). I’m sure I’m not alone in this creative pack-ratting.
Last week, as I was pondering this part of my identity, and thinking about the year ahead (no small amount of introspection going on at Design Scouting HQ), I pronounced that 2008 will be my year to finish projects. It’s just a satisfying concept, right? Imagine a huge pile of complete projects come this time next year. I’m lovin’ it.
The pillows pictured here on our sofa are my first finished project of 2008 and I have to say I’m pretty proud of them! I’ve been wanting fancy throw pillows for sometime, but haven’t wanted to spend hundreds of dollars on pillows. So, a year ago (this is where the FINISHING comes in) I bought these Japanese fabrics in the garment district (I’ve misplaced the card for the store but will add the link as soon as I find it). This past weekend, I sat down and actually made the pillows.
Now, I should be very clear about something — I’m a do-er and my worst fault is that I’m impatient. I cut every corner imaginable in making these pillows. When I sew, I sew really fast, pushing the machine to its limits. I’m not a particularly good seamstress, but, I’m efficient and an almost ruthless improviser. I hate using patterns — I’m not a good enough seamstress to make it turn out right. I have friends who are much more artists when it comes to sewing than I am, and take pleasure and pride in doing every seam right. Somehow, I take pleasure in just doing. I guess I’m being honest about my cutting corners because I know there are others like me out there, who get intimated by seemingly perfect finished projects made by those people for whom sewing and crafting comes easily. So, while it might not be perfect, and its not for everyone, you too can make a decent pillow!
So, the down pillow inserts come from IKEA for under 15 dollars each. I simply measured out fabric to the dimensions of the pillows (19 inch squares in this case) adding 5/8 of an inch on each side for the seams (so the squares were roughly 20.5 inches) and sewed them up on three sides and then turned it right side out and inserted the pillow. You might be wondering how I handled that tricky fourth edge that hasn’t been finished off perfectly to allow you to insert the pillow. Well, I just shoved the fourth edge (pillow and all) into the jaws of my machine and just finished off the final edge on the sewing machine. A crude way to make a pillow, but very fast and requiring no zippers and finishing by hand. *You’ll note that I’m not really a sew-er/crafter — a true crafter would have put in a zipper.
PS: I’m loving yellow these days. Don’t you love how the yellow pillow just POPS on the blue velvet couch? This yellow bag is on the way to me (hurray for birthdays!) and I can’t wait to have more yellow in my life!
February 22nd, 2008 00:53
I still can’t believe you made these pillows over the weekend - they are so cool and comfy, too.
I hereby apologize for any ribbing I’ve ever given you about your hoarding of miscellaneous projects supplies in every corner of our little apartment. — T
February 22nd, 2008 13:47
hallo darling–
just wanted to tell you how much i’m enjoying your blog. i’m stuck in the denver airport (boston was cursed to AND from wyoming this trip), and just spent a very happy half hour catching up on all the posts I’d missed. kudos to tim too on what has to be the sweetest bday gift i’ve ever heard of!
xo
sylvia
February 22nd, 2008 18:23
yay! these are so cool. congrats.
February 24th, 2008 02:16
This SO describes how I do things too! In fact, this weekend, I just finished a project, “slipcovering” a bookcase. I basically made 3 panels and velcroed them to the top “upholstered” (i.e. staple gunned) shelf. First panel: straight hems. Last panel: erratic hems because I was too impatient. Oh well. We can’t all be tailors!
February 26th, 2008 21:17
They look great! Is that a bee/honeycomb fabric?
I am a like to speed-sew, too. And not crazy about using patterns.
February 28th, 2008 21:42
I’m glad someone has ‘fessed up - I love reading crafty blogs but my sewing sklls are miserable. Huzzah for cutting corners!
March 2nd, 2008 18:23
[...] tracked down the name of the fabric store where I bought the fabric for the pillows. It’s B&J Fabrics! Located at 525 7th Avenue, on the second floor, as you can see from [...]
March 2nd, 2008 23:42
Ha! Power to the speed sewers! Thanks for the comments!