Sewing Without a Pattern

> When I posted my question before, I left something out. There was NO
> pattern used at all on the Carol Duvall Show for making a toaster
> cover, blender, mixer cover, etc. She measured a piece of fabric (not
> sure if it was a rectangle or square); then she made 4 seams (one for
> each corner); then she trimmed the bottom and the "darts" that were
> made at the 4 seams. When I say darts, it looked like a dart until the
> seam was trimmed. She then hemmed the bottom; made a small self
> fabric loop and hand stitched on top to use for pulling the cover off
> the appliance. So, there was absolutely no pattern used, just the
> measurements of the appliance to ensure there was enough fabric to make
> the four seams at the corners. I hope this makes sense. Thanks to all
> who replied to my first posting. Lynne
>

it :-)! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)

> Lynne wrote:
> > When I posted my question before, I left something out. There was NO
> > pattern used at all on the Carol Duvall Show for making a toaster
> > cover, blender, mixer cover, etc. She measured a piece of fabric (not
> > sure if it was a rectangle or square); then she made 4 seams (one for
> > each corner); then she trimmed the bottom and the "darts" that were
> > made at the 4 seams. When I say darts, it looked like a dart until the
> > seam was trimmed. She then hemmed the bottom; made a small self
> > fabric loop and hand stitched on top to use for pulling the cover off
> > the appliance. So, there was absolutely no pattern used, just the
> > measurements of the appliance to ensure there was enough fabric to make
> > the four seams at the corners. I hope this makes sense. Thanks to all
> > who replied to my first posting. Lynne
> I haven't been following this thread (I was busy with holiday stuff)
> so I will jump in now. What you need to do is MEASURE with a cloth
> measuring tape. Set the appliance -- let's use a toaster as an example
> -- in the middle of the counter. Measure from the counter up one end,
> across the top and down the other end to the counter -- ADD for a bottom
> hem if needed and make note of this dimension. Now measure from the
> counter up one side across the top and down the other side to the
> counter -- ADD for a bottom hem again if needed.
> So, let's say your measurements are 30" x 40" (I haven't measured a
> thing, I'm just making these measurements up) and that includes the
> bottom hem. If you are using a fabric with no nap or one way design,
> these dimensions fit nicely into a yard of fabric that is approx. 44"
> wide. {{{{When actually laying out the cover onto the fabric, you will
> need to add a bit more for ease so if your measurements were 36" x 44",
> you would need to but a bit more than a yard of a fabric that is wider
> than the nominal 44"!}}}} Next, fold your piece of fabric in half in
> both directions and mark the center. Now, measure your appliance -- the
> toaster -- to determine what the TOP length and width is and add a bit
> for ease -- say about 1/2" to both the length and width. Mark a
> rectangle or square of this size so that the center of your fabric is
> smack dab in the middle of the appliance measurements. Making sense so
> far???
> Next, you want to mark the corner "darts" (these will be your sewing
> lines) needed to get rid of the excess fabric and turn the whole thing
> into a cover. Draw straight lines from the four corners of your
> appliance rectangle to the bottom of the fabric -- ON ALL SIDES. This
> means you will end up with a box drawn right in the center of the fabric
> and a total of EIGHT straight lines drawn to the bottom of the fabric.
> Looking down on what you have drawn, it should sort of look like a giant
> tic-tac-toe.
> OK, now fold the fabric so that you match up the two perpendicular
> lines radiating from each corner. Sew along this line and you have an
> appliance cover with a bunch of excess fabric at the corners -- but it's
> still an appliance cover :-)! I would stitch along the lines again to
> reinforce, then trim the excess fabric, press the seams, fold up and
> stitch the unfinished raw edge around the bottom and -- VOILA' -- you
> have an appliance cover that looks nice and is adequately finished!!
> A caveat -- be sure to allow for any knobs or buttons, etc. that
> stick out from the sides of the appliance when you are drawing that
> initial box in the center of the fabric. Also be sure that you lay out
> the long sides of the box in line with the long sides of the fabric!
> I'm sure diagrams would be helpful but I'm not up to drawing them right
> now. If you don't understand what I have described, let me know and
> give me some time and I will try to draw up something. If someone else
> understand and has a bit of time and wants to draw up diagrams, go for
> it :-)! CiaoMeow >^;;^<
> PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
> Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
> their whiskers!
> Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary

> Thanks for your response. I will try your instructions. Love the
> pictures of your quilts.
> Lynne

get uploaded :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)