Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (9 page)

The projects that follow will bring some vintage charm to your culinary efforts Remember your grandma’s white tile and chrome kitchen? These placemats, napkins, aprons, and pot holders have all of that retro homeyness, with a little modern flair to boot. Plus, they make great gifts for new home-owners, moms, and amateur chefs alike. So awaken your inner June Cleaver and start heating up that kitchen—with style!

PLACEMATS

FINISHED SIZE: 4 PLACEMATS: EACH 20″ WIDE × 15″ LONG

A lovely, personal housewarming or wedding gift, these reversible placemats and large, dinner-sized reversible
NAPKINS
(page 43)
are truly a modern heirloom to be cherished.

FABRICS

• 2 yards (44″-wide) home-decor-weight cotton for the centers and backs of the Placemats

•
¹
/
₂
yard (44″-wide) coordinating mid-weight cotton for the sides of the Placemats

• 2 yards (22″-wide) Timtex
*
or similar extra-heavyweight interfacing

*
See page 172
for an explanation of Timtex.

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Coordinating thread

• Yardstick

• Chalk pencil or fabric marker

• Scissors

• Masking tape

• Straight pins

• Turning tool (such as a closed pair of scissors)

• Hand sewing needle

NOTES

• All seams are
¹
/
₂
″ unless otherwise stated. (The
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.)

• Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project. To wash Timtex after completing your project, machine wash warm, then reshape your project and air dry. Your project will press back into shape with a steam iron. Once you steam the project, lay it flat while air drying.

Step 1. Cut out all pieces from the fabric.

a.
Simply measure and mark the dimensions below directly onto the
Wrong
side of your fabric, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil. Then, using your scissors, cut out each panel following the marked lines.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE CENTERS AND BACKS

• Cut 4 center panels: 15″ wide × 16″ long

• Cut 4 back panels: 21″ wide × 16″ long

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE SIDES

• Cut 8 side panels: 4″ wide × 16″ long

FROM THE TIMTEX

• Cut 4 panels: 15″ wide × 20″ long

b.
In order to keep your pieces organized, mark each piece by writing the name on a piece of masking tape and attaching it to the
Wrong
side of each panel as it is cut.

Step 2. Make the front of the Placemat.

First, with
Right
sides together, place one side panel onto one center panel, matching up the left side raw edge of the center panel with the right side raw edge of the first side panel, and pin it in place. Attach by stitching a
¹
/
₂
″ seam down the matched side raw edges, backstitching at each end. Then, press the seam allowance toward the side panel. Repeat this step to attach another side panel onto the right side raw edge of the first center panel.
(
FIGURE 2
)

Step 3. Attach the front and back panels together.

With
Right
sides together, pin the front of the Placemat and the first back panel together. Attach by stitching a
¹
/
₂
″ seam around the Placemat, leaving an 8″ opening centered on one of the short ends. Next, trim all 4 corners in the seam allowance, making sure not to clip your stitching.
(
FIGURE 3
)

Step 4. Inserting the Timtex.

First, turn your Placemat
Right
side out, using a turning tool to push out the corners, and press. Then, starting with the long edge of the Timtex, roll it up just enough so it will slide in through the 8″ opening. Then, with the front of the Placemat facing up, insert the Timtex through the opening and smooth it flat, lining up all 4 corners. Place the Timtex on top of the seam allowances to make the front of the Placemat appear smooth.

Step 5. Finishing the Placemat.

Next, fold under the raw edges
¹
/
₂
″ at the 8″ opening and pin them in place. Then, slip stitch
*
the opening closed by hand. Press the Placemat flat, using steam to smooth out and flatten the Timtex. Finally, topstitch completely around the Placemat with a
¹
/
₄
″ seam to secure the Timtex and give the Placemat a finished look.

*
See page 171
for an explanation of slip stitching.

Step 6. Follow the instructions in steps 2 through 5 to make the other 3 Placemats.

NAPKINS

FINISHED SIZE: 4 NAPKINS: EACH 21″ WIDE × 23″ LONG

FABRICS

• 1
¹
/
₂
yards (44″-wide) mid-weight cotton for the fronts

• 1
¹
/
₂
yards (44″-wide) coordinating mid-weight cotton for the reversible backs

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Coordinating thread

• Yardstick

• Chalk pencil or fabric marker

• Scissors

• Straight pins

• Turning tool (such as a closed pair of scissors)

NOTES

• All seams are
¹
/
₂
″ unless otherwise stated. (The
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.)

• Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project.

Step 1. Cut out all pieces from the fabric.

Simply measure and mark the dimensions directly onto the
Wrong
side of your fabric, using your yardstick and chalk pencil. Then, using your scissors, cut out each panel following the marked lines.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE FRONTS

• Cut 4 panels: 22″ wide × 24″ long

FROM THE COORDINATING FABRIC FOR THE REVERSIBLE BACKS

• Cut 4 panels: 22″ wide × 24″ long

Step 2. Make the Napkins.

Place the first front panel and the first reversible side panel with
Right
sides together, matching up the raw edges, and pin them in place. Stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam around the Napkin, leaving a 3″ opening centered on one side, backstitching at each end. Next, trim all 4 corners in the seam allowance, making sure not to clip your stitching. Then, turn your Napkin
Right
side out, using a turning tool
*
to push out the corners.

*
See page 172
for an explanation of a turning tool.

Step 3. Finish the Napkins.

Fold under the raw edges
¹
/
₂
″ at the 3″ opening and press. Pin the opening closed. Then, topstitch
*
with a
¹
/
₈
″ seam completely around the Napkin to close the opening, and then press the Napkin flat.

*
See page 172
for an explanation of topstitching.

Step 4.

Follow the instructions in steps 2 and 3 to make the other 3 Napkins.

GIFTABLE RECIPE CARD BAGS

FINISHED SIZES: SMALL GIFTABLE RECIPE CARD BAG: 3
³
/
₄
″ WIDE × 6
³
/
₄
″ TALL (FITS 3″ × 5″ CARDS) LARGE RECIPE CARD BAG: 4
³
/
₄
″ WIDE × 7
³
/
₄
″ TALL (FITS 4″ × 6″ CARDS)

Every chef needs a place to keep her favorite recipes. When you’re organizing, storing, or gifting your prized pie recipes, you can whip up these lovely recipe card bags, which make any recipe even more special.

FABRICS

•
¹
/
₄
yard (44″-wide) light- to mid-weight cotton for the top panel

•
¹
/
₄
yard (44″-wide) coordinating light- to mid-weight cotton for the bottom panel

•
¹
/
₄
″-wide ribbon for the draw-string (16″ for the small bag; 24″ for the large bag)

•
⁵
/
₈
″-wide ribbon for the trim (8″ for the small bag; 10″ for the large bag)

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Coordinating cotton thread

• Straight pins

• Scissors

• Ruler

• Chalk pencil or fabric marker

• Turning tool (such as a closed pair of scissors)

• Small safety pin

NOTES

• All seams are
¹
/
₂
″ unless otherwise stated. (The
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance is included in all pattern pieces and cutting measurements provided.)

• Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project.

Step 1. Cut out all pieces from the fabric.

NOTE:
The following instructions are the same for making both sizes of the Giftable Recipe Card Bags.

a.
First, determine which size bag you are making and cut out the correct Recipe Card Bag pattern pieces provided in the pocket at the front of this book.

• Large or Small Giftable Recipe Card Bag Top Panel

• Large or Small Giftable Recipe Card Bag Bottom Panel

b.
Then pin the pattern pieces to the fabrics and, using your scissors, cut out each panel according to the outlines on the pattern pieces.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE TOP PANEL