I am on a must-get-the-apartment-spruced-up-kick, but I am also on a pocket lint and gum wrappes budget.
The solution to this is obviously to make as much as I can myself, or get it from craigslist/thrift stores.
We are very lucky. Most if our furniture are real wood and all that is needed I a good sanding and a new coat of paint, to freshen them up. That will go a long way to help stretch the budget.
We decided to buy strategic items for the place brand new. We need a couch for example. We don't have one right now. So that will be first on the shopping list.
On the home made front, I started with something easy.
New place mats. I have tons of fabric scraps, let me put them to good use. I made each family member a new place mat in their favourite colours. (The one for my oldest son is not done yet. I need more green fabric and he isn't going to come visit again until next year anyway.)
I started out by cutting a backing fabric to size (most place mats are about 18 x 14 inches). I made sure the backing matched the front main colour. Since I suck at measuring, mine turned out approx 19 x 15 inches, but I digress.
Then I picked out fabric scraps to cover the entire backing fabric, making sure they overlapped each other, so I could turn the edges under.
As batting I used some flannel baby blankets. Once everything was layer out and I liked the arrangement, I started sewing the patches together.
From there on, I proceeded like I would with a regular quilt, sandwiching the three layers, safety pin basting, quilting it all together (I did a stitch in the ditch), and then I squared it all off one more time and popped a single fold bias tape around the edge.
In the photo below you can see the lines of measurement for squaring the mat off once it is all quilted together. You can also see the safety pin basting.
All 5 place mats were hand sewn, as usual. It took about a day to make each one. It was such a joy to sit and slow stitch each one. Thinking about the person it was for and making sure I used fabric that reflects their personality. ❤
I rather like how they all turned out. Can't wait to use them first time round on Thanksgiving.
Well that's it so far.
We have decided on a new couch, but I won't show it until it arrives and I have the living room put together around it.
Hope everyone is having a good time, stay safe, be kind.
Xo,❤
B. 🐝