Not only do they have quality garment fabrics such as sheers, satins, silks, rayons and polys, but also a huge home dec section. Finding garment fabrics or home dec fabrics in my area is quite a challenge, so I’m always on the look-out for some fun fabric shops. Many times they buy fabric in bulk quantities and always have sale racks of garment fabric and home dec pieces, so that is most certainly a great section to check with each visit.

I did have a specific goal in mind for shopping at Denver Fabrics this time. Usually I just go because I love looking and walk out with several pieces I just can’t resist taking home. But I had curtains for our main bathroom we painted on my mind. I needed a light sage/lime green color and really wanted something in a stripe with green and gold colors. I knew I was being picky and was counting on nixing the stripe and just finding a solid green, because finding exactly what I was imagining probably was not going to happen.

But guess what?? Joanna spotted the stripe that was perfect! Just what I had in mind. And to make it even better, is was on the sale rack. So instead of $22 a yard, it was only $7. Can’t get any better than that, right? And for home dec fabric! I wanted to bring out more of the green, so I found a green sold that blends well with the stripe and matches the green color of towels.

I even have the type of valance I want to stitch. There are horizontal blinds on the window, so all I need is something at the top to cover the top of the blinds. This is what I had in mind, using the stripe in front and the green back behind. I like the layering effect it gives. Although I will make my points the same degree for the stripe and solid. I think.

But while I was browsing online,  I found these two which I like as well. So I may change my mind before I actually start on the valance. Imagine that – changing my mind! ;)

images from www.fashionwindowtreatments.com and www.windowtreatmentcenter.com

To create the bowl shape and edges you satin stitch the raw edge of the fused fabric and timtex. I used a variegated rayon embroidery thread in fall colors and it just adds to the fall theme along with the embroidered leaves on each turned down corner.

Then I found a caramel-smelling candle and the same scented potpourri and combines those two in the bowl! Perfect!!

I’ve put this on the table every year for the last couple of years and have never lit the candle until now. Amazingly the scent of the candle and potpourri is still evident even when the candle isn’t lit; even after several years!

The tablecloth – This is the first thing I thought of doing with the beautiful borders in this collection. Those large, beautiful borders on that bolt of fabric are just calling for mitered corners!
The red background with the holly on it will be on the outside and probably on the other side as well that joins the border to the rest of the tablecloth.

The edge is figured out, so now it’s time to make a decision as to what’s in the middle. Here’s some of the images I played with in BQ and I think the choice is pretty obvious. I put the placemat with red borders on top to see the results. The red version also has the placemat with green borders on it because the red borders just get lost.

What do you think?

ivory center

red center

gold center

green center

Something else I’ve been thinking about is how to finish the tablecloth. Here are my choices I’ve been considering as I stitch the borders to the center and miter the corners:

1. Stitch 1/4″ seams and serge the seam allowances. It will be on the back, so it shouldn’t show, except for perhaps the corners where the fabric drapes off the table.

2. Stitch the seams in a french seam so the seam is completely enclosed. It would just make for a nicer finish if the back did flip up. Or I could do a stitch and serges seam on the sides and just do a french seam on the mitered corners.

3. Line the tablecloth, so then the seams would be inside and enclosed and the back would look nice. But if I do that, I need to do some stitching in the ditch and other stitching in the center to hold the layers together and keep them laying flat on the table.

Then for finishing the edge, I also have a couple of choices:

1. Roll hem the edge. This is quick and easy and I really like a rolled hem edge, but it’s not quite as durable as a turned under and under hem.

2. Turn the edge under and under in a 1/4″ seam and straight stitch.

3. If I line it, I can stitch the edges together with right sides together and then turn it to the outside for a finished edge.

4. Or if I line it, I could also stitch a binding around the edge. This would add another fabric into the mix and would add a little weight to the edge to hold the tablecloth down which wouldn’t be a bad idea. Of course, this would also be the most time consuming.

Hmm…..choices, decisions….I’m going to start cutting the fabric on these next week, so I still have a little time to make a decision.

I’ve been wanting for the last couple of years to make a table wear set with a Christmas theme, but haven’t found the time (imagine that!) or haven’t found the fabric that I thought was just perfect….until now!

This is the embroidery design I am going to use that matches the print fabric. It’s OESD design FP044 and I took out the upright flower and extra stem cause I wanted this floral to be the focal point. I love being able to do that – match the motif in the fabric to the design. It makes it look so neat!

A great thing about this design is that it is not filled in, so it is not as dense as some others. That will (1) make it quicker to stitch and (2) will not add the bulk of stitches to the place mat which plates and flatware will have to sit over.

I played with some design various for place mats in my Bernina Quilter software and here are my favorites.

This one is design 1 with red borders:

This one is design 1 with green borders:

I couldn’t decide if the triangles around the center block added to or were distracting to the rest of the place mat. So I did this one with red borders eliminating the triangles:

And the same design with the green borders:

I think I do like the mats better with the triangles surrounding the center block. It seems to keep the colors blending together.

What do you think?

April is National Decorating Month – a perfect time to brighten up your home with the refreshing colors of Spring with curtains, pillows, picture frames, wall hangings and quilts! As you are busy creating, sprinkle a few embroidery designs into your projects to add a bit more flare. Use beaded, feathered and corded trims to add detail to your projects!