Old Barkcloth Slips

There was some fabulas old barkcloth pieces just waiting to be put to use.

And then a vintage table cloth or two

The Most Important Choice - God Leaves Up To Us

A long time ago I got a daily calender "Timeless Truths For Daily Living" by Max Lucado.

May 18
We cannot choose the weather. We can't control the economy. We can't choose whether or not we are born with a big nose or blue eyes or a lot of hair. We can't even choose how people respond to us. But we can choose where we spend eternity. The big choice, God leaves to us.
              From: The Angels Were Silent
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Acts 2:21

Angie Knowles

I first met Angie several years ago at the Slipcover Summit she hosted in Florida. It just so happened that she was not only my teacher, she was also my roommate. I have learned sew much from Angie and at times I must confess, I sit back and marvel at how much this gal knows about sewing. I often wonder, "how on earth did she ever think to even do that."

This leads me to the reason I wanted to write about Angie today. My first jaw dropping experience was back all those years ago at the Summit when I first heard Angie talking about making an entire slipcover from just measurements. Next came her awesome Parson's chair slipcover pattern.

Now Angie's done it again with her Quick Pleaters for making knife pleats and box pleats. The really cool thing about Angie's pleaters is that they are not just for home decor items, you can actually use them in garment sewing as well. You name it, pillows, skirts and seam finishes, dust ruffles, window treatments, hand bags, jackets, skirts, blouses and the list goes on. If you can imagine it, you can use Angie's pleaters to make it!

The pleaters come in two different sizes, there is a Mini Set that includes 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″ pleaters and the Reg Set which includes 2″, 3″, 4″ pleaters.

Check out Angie's video!




I hope you will remember the Quick Pleaters on your next project and give Angie a call!

Angie Knowles
threadneedle studio
threadneedlestudio.com
727-328-1431

French Flange Seam Finishes

For as many years as I have been making slips I have been using a French Flange seam finish. Until recently though, most people prefer welt cord seam finish. Both are cut on the bias and both, typically, are cut at 2 inches in width, which when finished and sewn in, makes for a half inch flange.
One very special friend happened to walk by while I was making my pattern on her chaise and saw the raw edges before I trimmed for my seam allowance. She absolutely loved the wide width of the edges.

We had already decided that we would use a flange seam finish on the chaise but since she loved the larger width we decided to go with a one inch flange. Here is the result.

Another shot after the piece was moved to different

part of the house.

The moral of the story is this: don't be afraid to try new things. If you have an idea in mind, go ahead and try it. My friend loves her chaise slip. Is it traditional? No. Is it like any you will see out there? No. That is the beauty of custom and that is the beauty of using your imagination to design unique, one of a kind slips!!! If you can think, honestly, you can do it!



She said she wanted ties!

Me: "When you place your chair in the room,
         will the back be seen?"

She: "Yes."

Me: "Then may I do some type of detail on the back?"

She: "OH YES YES YES! Can it be ties...
          and lots of them? And all over?"

Me: "Do you want the wood to show on the arms?"

She: "Yes. Can you put ties there too?"

Me: "Let me see what I can do."

The back

The front



This is a great chair for a slip!

We used fabric from two club chair slips for this little chair and reversed it with the pattern side out.

Even though the fabric had been washed several times it was still a little stiff. With a little pressing (after this photo of course) the skirt conformed to its newly formed pleats.

Nothing At All To Do With Slipcovers

I recently read this quote by
Mark Twain on A Gathering Place blog.

Forgiveness is the fragrance

That the Violet sheds

On the heel

That has crushed it. 

Let's you and I face it...Life is hard sometimes and people are not always nice to us. In fact, if we were realllllly honest...it would only take a few seconds for us to recall hurts and injustices done to us, and most likely by those closest to us.

Today, when my mind brings those hurts to the forefront and I am tempted to harbor anger, resentment, and bitterness toward that person, or personS, I will try my hardest to take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ and choose rather to FORGIVE and be free from that which only hurts me more.

Will you join me?

More Slips - It's too hot for classes!

106 forecast here in Dallas/Ft. Worth tomorrow. Guess we didn't have it so bad when it was only 95 here after all. I do remember when we didn't have A/C in school. How did we ever make it?

Sweet little chair

Another piece I sold at Red Shed

This little chaise was almost new but I heard it calling, "Slip me Barbie, slip me."

Awesome medium weight linen with button detail

Shell buttons and a little continuous pleat lined skirt

Just A Few Of My Favorite Slips

Hello slipcover lovers!
I decided to post pictures of the some of the slips I have done for customers over the years. Some bring back such sweet memories and others, well...never mind, and still others I just love the picture itself. Hope you enjoy!

This chair was given to our customer by her Mother-In-Law and was her husband's grandmothers if I remember correctly. She wanted to show a little of the wood carving so I made a small opening and added a couple of tabs for a little extra detail.

On these matching sofas we simply followed the same pleats the upholster made and rather than using a flange or welt cord seam finish, we did a double top stitch using a heavy vintage cotton thread that just so happen to match the linen perfectly. I wish now I would have thought to get a close up of the top stitching.

These dinning room chairs were over 100 years old and as you can imagine, not one of them had the same measurements! We also made 'underware' for each chair due to the fact that the upholstery fabric underneath was a fairly bold stripe which could be seen under the linen. Challenging, yet fun. Over the years I have been very blessed to have some of the most awesome seamstresses help me sew. That was the case on this project. All I can say, and I do so most humbly...Roberta, you rock!!!

This linen Barley Twist Jacobian with button details on the arm sides and in the back was a challenge, but as they say, 'practice makes perfect.' The little chair and ottoman sitting in the chair I did in the same linen. It was really fun and came out so cute!

Brushed denim and a box pleat skirt - need I say more?

This little scalloped skirt turned out so cute and the ties, which you can't see, added such a casual feel to these linen slips. Often times I have added details that may not traditionally 'blend' but once the slips are finished, everything comers together perfectly. I just love adding details to slips. Whether it a dressmaker detail or a long standing home decor tradition, the more details the better!

This was a piece I made and sold at the sale at Red Shed in Grapevine. This is a really bad picture but this was just about the most awesome cloth I have ever worked with. It was a pale green cotton blend Jacquard and I made a continuous pleat seam finish out of silk. It was just incredible. Needless to say I wish I could get my hands on more of this cloth...and it was washable!!! Oh yea, it sold in the first 5 minutes of the sale.

Simple little slip with a box pleat skirt.

And last but by no means least...a couple of my favorite pictures of all.

Sunday morning in our back yard a long time ago. :o)

  

Toile's well.

The Most Awesome Slipcover in Oklahoma!

Sheila you are so talented girl!!!

I wish I could shout it from the roof tops!

"Everyone look at this piece of art!"

Would you just look at the front arm panels, the perrrrrrrfect cushion covers, and that LINED SKIRT!!!

Sheila has to be one of the most talented people I know. She worked so hard to get every pattern piece marked and perfectly in place. Her sewing is meticulous and is clearly seen in her first slipcover  PIECE OF ART!

What Do You Get In Oklahoma USA?

Well, first you get to see that there are still corn fields in Amercia where one is very tempted to stop and pick a few ears right off the stalks and eat them like we did as kids!

Then, you get to learn about Okie Noodling  What is Okie Noodling? It's a sport, and good ole clean American fun! I think....

But most of all you get to meet really great people! Here are some pictures from teaching in Oklahoma. I most humbly say: Thank you so much for allowing me in to your home Sheila and Terry~

Pattern making techneque

Hot Texas Summer & A Break From the Heat

Hello all you slipcover enthusiast! It looks like summer is here in Texas! 97 degrees today with 76% humidity. I think that's a sure sign!

If you have been thinking about having a slipcover class in your home now may be the time to do it before it really gets hot!

Thank you to Sarah who provided the absolutely perfect spot for a slipcover class, or any class for that matter. The pool and the shade from the beautiful mighty oaks were almost like a dream. And those slips are pretty "dreamy" too!

Another DIY Custom Slipcover Class!!!

This youth room remodel at a church in Plano Texas called

for slipcovers for 5 sofas, an oversized chair, and 7 'Puff' chairs.

These volunteers took the hands on approach 

& were excellent students!

As you can see, we had way too much fun!

Thanks girls! You rock!

Look for more classes coming to the Metroplex soon!