How to Easily Sew a Monogrammed Fauxdori

Hey, y'all!  Are y'all into the whole traveler's notebook phenomenon that seems to be sweeping the  nation?  Okay, maybe it isn't exactly "sweeping the nation," but for a while now, I've been seeing all these cute fauxdoris all over the internet and social media.  Every time I see one, I think, "Oh, that's so cute!!!  I want one!"  But then I talk myself out of ordering one because I know I could make one.  But my sewing machine isn't exactly my best friend because it scares me a little, so I don't make one. Well, I DIDN'T make one for a while.  But a few weeks ago I decided to just go for it, and, y'all, it was so easy!!!  So I knew I just had to share the tutorial with y'all.  That's right: today I'm showing you how to easily sew a monogrammed fauxdori!!!

 Like I said, I am not totally comfortable with my sewing machine, but if you can sew a decently straight line, you too can make your own fabric-dori.  This is normally the part of the post where I would share a supply shot and then a supply list, but since this was the first time I created this and I didn't really know what I was doing, I neglected to take that picture, so today we're just starting with the supply list.  This supply list contains affiliate links, which is just a fancy way of saying that if you decide to purchase a product through one of my links, you'll be supporting my blog at no extra charge to you.  (Thanks!)

DIY Personalized, Reversible Dog Bandana

Thanks to Expressions Vinyl for sponsoring today's post! Hey, y'all!  I have such a fun tutorial for y'all today!  I have teamed up with Expressions Vinyl to share a great pet project with you.  If you know me, you know I seriously adore my dog, so I jumped at the chance to create something for her.  I debated what to create for her, but I finally decided on a bandana, and, y'all, I actually sewed the bandana for her myself, which is saying a lot for me since I am so not a seamstress.  The coolest part about the bandana is that it's reversible, and both sides are personalized using my Silhouette Cameo and HTV from Expressions Vinyl!

This project is a really quick make, and it's easy enough for a non-skilled-at-sewing individual like myself to create.  To create it, you need a few supplies.  

{Embroidery Hoop Art}

Hey, y'all!  Beth of Through the Eyes of the Mrs. has been working on creating an embroidery hoop art gallery in her home.  I saw her post about it on Facebook, so I offered to make her a couple of hoops.  She accepted my offer and requested one with the word hello and one with a pennant banner.  Last week on her blog, I shared the tutorial for the two embroidered hoops I created.  Today I want to share them with you lovely folks.

To begin, you need a few inexpensive materials.

You need embroidery hoops, fabric, embroidery floss, and a needle.  First, stretch fabric over your embroidery hoop.

To do that, loosen the screw on the outer layer of the hoop and remove.  Place fabric over the inner layer of the hoop and then replace the outer layer of the hoop.  Tighten the screw on the outer layer of the hoop, but make sure you pull the fabric taught over the frame as you do so.  Then it's time to decide what you want on your fabric.

For Beth's hello hoop, I printed that word on paper in a size I thought would look nice on the hoop.

I taped the word on the back of my hoop and held the hoop over a lamp.  I traced the word with a pencil.  (It is a bit awkward trying to figure out how to do all this at one time, but I promise it's not too hard.)

Then I simply backstitched the word with my needle and embroidery floss.  (If you don't know how to do a backstitch or other embroidery stitches, check out this post from Flamingo Toes.)

When I finished all the stitching, I hot glued the extra fabric on the edges to the back edge of the hoop.

Then just to add a little something-something to the hoop, I hot glued ric-rac around the outside.

I think the hello hoop turned out really cute.  I also created the pennant banner hoop Beth requested, as you can see in the photo.  (I covered the outside hoop of the pennant banner one with strips of fabric.)

For a very small amount of money and a little time spent stitching, you too can have cute embroidery hoop art.  Or you can make a few to send to a friend like I did.

{Stenciled Drop Cloth Valances}

I am so thankful for all the lovely comments I've gotten about my BIG craft room reveal!  I put a lot of work into the makeover, and it feels good to know that others see the beauty in it.  I promised that I would share tutorials for the many different projects in the room, so today I'm going to share how I made the valances for the windows.

When I first started the craft room makeover, I wanted long panels to frame my windows.  Unfortunately, my desk top ended up a little wider than I planned, so I knew the panels were out of the question, and I would have to settle for valances.  I didn't want to buy valances because I knew that I would not find what I wanted for the price I wanted.  I had a lot of leftover drop cloth from my drop cloth pillow covers, so I decided that I would make my curtains out of that.  First, I got out my drop cloth, tape measure, and notebook to create a plan.

I knew how wide my windows were, and two of my Facebook fans told me that my valance should be 2 to 2 1/2 times the width of my window.  I didn't have quite that much drop cloth, but I decided to just go with what I had and make it work.  I had other measurements to figure out, though, and this is what I came up with.

I am not a seamstress by any means, so I hope the above image makes sense.  It makes sense in my mind, but that doesn't mean much!  Please note that if you are making a valance out of material other than a drop cloth, remember to add a seam allowance to left and right side of the valance.  The great thing about the drop cloth is that it already has finished edges.  (If you used the bottom edge along with the side edges of the valance, you could get away with only one inch of seam allowance.)  Also, you can definitely make your valances longer or shorter than mine.  I just measured a valance in another room to decide on the 13" from the rod.  And depending on the size of the curtain rod you use, you may need more fabric for the rod pocket opening.  (In that case you would need to add length to the fold over measurement as well because, as you can see, that measurement came from adding the length of the top ruffle to that of the rod pocket.) After I cut 25" of the drop cloth, I pinned the fabric, which is probably one of my top ten least favorite things to do in the world.

After the valance was pinned, I simply had to sew three straight lines on the fabric where the arrows are pointing in the above photos.  If I can find a marking to follow on my sewing machine, I can actually sew a straight line most of the time!  :)  After the valance was sewn, it was time to make it ME.  I knew the way to do that would be to stencil a design on the fabric.  So I used my Silhouette to cut a damask stencil out of card stock.

Then I just used a small amount of paint to stencil the design on my valances.  When I finished, I liked them, but they needed that something extra.  Since these were going in my craft room, I decided I could be a little whimsical and add something out of the ordinary.  I chose to stencil scissors on the curtains.

Again, the stencil was cut with my Silhouette, and I used a small amount of turquoise paint for the design.

After a bajillion hours of stenciling, I let the curtains dry.  Then it was time to hang them!

When I first hung them, I didn't really know if I liked them or not.  (That happens A LOT to me with stuff I make because I'm a perfectionist...)  After looking at them over and over at different angles, they started to grow on me.  Now, I love the playfulness they add to the room.  I think just the damask pattern by itself would have been a little too plain for me.  The scissors add that extra little touch that says "Pitter and Glink."

I love how well the valances go with the other things in the room.  Plus, they cost me zero dollars because I already had all the supplies on hand.  Seriously, who doesn't love free?!  If I can make a valance, you can make a valance.  So go for it, and don't be afraid to add that little touch of whimsy that will make it shout your name!

School Spirit Shirt

   Hi, everyone! It's been a while. School started, and I got super busy! And while I have stacks of papers to grade at this very moment, I just had to post this project because it's just been too long since I've posted on here!

   Fridays at my school are casual days. We can wear jeans if we donate a couple dollars to the Relay for Life. (A very good cause, might I add!) Everyone always likes to support the football team on Fridays too. I went to a local store to buy a school t-shirt to wear this Friday, but they hardly had any shirts to choose from. So I decided to make my own!

   I stopped by Wal-mart on the way home from school Thursday and picked up these supplies.

I bought a $5 t-shirt, two spools of ribbon (I already had one to use at home.), matching thread, and buttons. Of course, I had scissors already.

How to Make a Cushion

  I blogged earlier this morning about my project for the day.  Well, I have finished one cushion, so I thought I would go ahead and take a break to show you guys how to make your own cushions.  (I can only sew for so long before I get annoyed. LOL)  First of all, you have to purchase the supplies to make your cushions.  What you will need:

• Foam--Foam can be purchased at most fabric and craft stores.  You can purchase pre-cut squares, or you can buy a certain amount to cut yourself.  I bought the foam to cut myself because it was a better bargain.  My foam is two inches thick.  I would have loved to have a thicker foam, but the thicker the foam, the more expensive.  So I settled. 
• Electric Carving Knife--You only need this item if you are cutting your own foam.  I just borrowed my mom's.
• Fabric--You can use any type of fabric for your cushions.  I chose an outdoor fabric because I thought it would hold up better than regular fabric.  I purchased my fabric from Fabric.com.  It's Waverly's Sun N Shade Getaway Stripe Walnut.  The fabric was $5.49 a yard, and orders over a certain amount get free shipping.  You will have to decide how much fabric you need by measuring the seat of your chair.  (See how wide your fabric is too!)
• Piping--Piping is not necessary, but it gives cushions a much more finished, professional look.
• Thread--You need thread to match your fabric.
• Paper--You need some type of paper to make a pattern of your chair.  (If your chair bottom is square or you're using precut foam, you don't really need this.)  I used wrapping paper!
• Straight Pins--You're going to need a decent amount of straight pins.  I am a worrier when it comes to keeping things straight, so I pin EVERYTHING before I sew it.
• Sewing Machine--Can you do this by hand? Yes.  Will you want to jump out of a window if you tried?  I know I would!

Step One:  Make a pattern of the bottom of your chair.  I just cut a piece of wrapping paper to fit the bottom, traced the edges of the seat with a pencil, and cut the shape.  There's probably a better way to do this, but it worked for me.  I also drew the measurements of the seat bottom on the pattern so I could double check the foam before I cut it.  I know the bottom edge of the pattern looks pretty ratty, but I was going to use the "factory edge" of the foam anyway.  Trace your pattern onto your foam.

Step Two:  Cut your foam according to your pattern.  Lay your foam as flat as possible on a table.  Cut with the electric carving knife, but don't cut the table! :)  Keep the knife parallel to the foam to get a nice, straight cut.  Tip: The edge will be much straighter if you can cut it once and be done, but that may not always be possible.  You need to try it in your chair to see if it fits correctly.  If it doesn't, cut more. :)

Step Three:  Cut your fabric.  Cut out two pieces the size of your foam with a half inch added all the way around.  The half inch will be your seam allowance.  Cut out one strip the thickness of your foam with a half inch added all the way around.  My foam was two inches, so I made my strip three inches wide.  Add an inch to the length for the seam allowance also.(Since I had stripes, I cut a strip for the front of my cushion to match the stripe on the top of my fabric.  Then I cut a strip for the perimeter left over, plus an inch for seam allowance.)

Step Four: Sew your fabric together.  First, sew the ends of the long strip of fabric together.  Sew a half inch from the ends.  (That's what I meant when I said you would have a half-inch seam allowance.)  I did this twice since I had two strips.  And remember, you must put the right side of the fabric facing the right side of the fabric so the ugly stuff will be inside the cushion.  Then, you need to sandwich your piping between the right side of the sewn strip and the right side of one of the cushion size pieces of fabric.  The pretty piping part should be farthest from the edge.  I actually pinned my piping and then pinned my fabric together because I was worried it might move while I was sewing it together.

After everything is pinned, sew the fabric together.  Remember, you want to sew a half-inch from the edge.  Once you have those pieces sewn together, you need to repeat the process for the other side: sandwich your piping between the right sides of your fabric and pin.  This will be a bit more awkward to handle because you won't have an entire open side anymore.  Just be patient.  Also, remember that you will need to leave a hole open to turn the fabric inside out and slide your foam in after you finish sewing.  I pinned all the way around to make sure fabric fit together correctly and then took the pins out of the middle of the back of the cushion.  I DID NOT sew there, or there would be no way to get the foam in the fabric cover!  If you're a good seamstress, you could figure out how to put a zipper in the back, but I'm not that advanced. :)

Once you finish sewing everything but the hole, turn your fabric inside out, which will now be right side out.  Put your foam in your cushion.  Then pin the opening shut so you can hand stitch it closed.

This is the fabric pinned.  It doesn't look so wavy once it's sewn.

Sew the opening closed.  (Remember to fold the rough edges of the fabric down before you pin and sew.)
Step Five:  Put your finished cushion on your chair, and bask in the glory of its loveliness!!! :)

My cushion is a little curved in the middle right now.  My foam was stored rolled, so it needs to settle to flatten out.  And I know the chair's black, and the cushion has brown stripes.  When I finish the whole room, I'll post pictures and it will make sense.

If you have any easier ways to do anything I've listed, feel free to let me know in the comment section below.  And if you have any questions, post them there also!  Happy crafting! :)