Sewing Coverings for Your Kitchen Appliances

I was wondering what to do with those cute pigs that I have painted onto fabric pieces a couple of weeks ago and happened to mention this to my mom. She pointed around her to her kitchen appliances that were all covered with dish towels and jokingly remarked that I should consider making them into covers for her appliances. I thought it was a brilliant idea! Off I went to fetch some measuring equipment and in a jiffy we had those dish towels back in the drawers and the appliances properly covered. I show you how simple this is to do in today's sewing blog.

First I had to make sure that the pigs would actually fit onto the covers that I intended to make. I accordingly matched each of the pigs to an appliance. You can read more about how I painted these pigs in a previous blog I wrote. Click HERE to navigate to that blog.

I then went in search of some rulers, paper and a pencil to take proper measurements. When measuring, make sure to measure the outermost points. In this case that meant including a protruding plug socket.

As we are working with three-dimensional objects, we need to get three measurements in each case; length, width and height. Make yourself a crude drawing and indicate where each measurement fits to make it easier to keep track of where all of those numbers belong. These are the measurements for the TV Grill.

These are the measurements for the pop-up toaster.

A close-up of these measurements. Once the measurements are taken, add together: (the height x 2 + the length across the top + 3 cm seam allowance), by (Width + 3 cm). You will need one panel in these dimensions. For the front and back panels, add together: (Height + 3cm), by (Width + 3 cm). You will need two of these panels.

The measurements for the sandwich press.

A close-up of the sandwich press. Do the calculations exactly the same as before for all of your appliances.

I then summarized all of the measurements on a piece of paper to make it less confusing when cutting the fabric.

It is best to find yourself a stiff and strong fabric to work with. Alternatively, you will need to stiffen the fabric with Vilene or stiffening. I drew the sizes onto the denim I was going to work with to get the best layout. Note how I marked each panel to keep track of where it belonged.

Once the panels were cut, I used them to cut the same sizes and panels from lining.

I then held the panels up to the appliances as a quick check to make sure that my measurements were correct. This is the pop-up toaster.

This is the sandwich press.

This is the TV Grill.

The panel for the pop-up toaster was slightly smaller than my painted panel and I would have to cut the painted panel to size. I started by appliqueing the painted panel at the sides, to the fabric panel.

I then cut the excess fabric away at the top and bottom.

The other two painted panels fit properly and could simply be appliqued onto the fabric.

It was now time to take the long panel and fold it in half to find the center.

Also find the center on the appliqued panel.

Line the centers up and pin together, right sides facing. Pin to the corners. Now pin the bottom corners together and pin back up to the top corners. Cut into the top corners to create the necessary bend in the fabric.

This what the pinned panels should look like.

Now start at the bottom and sew all the way around. Drop your needle at the corners. Lift the foot and turn the fabric. Drop the foot again and continue sewing.

You should now have the start of a square fabric box.

Again, find and line up the centers. Attach the back panel exactly the same as you did the front panel.

Cut away the excess fabric in the corners.

Turn the fabric right side out and fit onto the appliance to make sure it fits properly.

You will now construct the lining in the exact same way as the fabric. Find the centers and line them up.

Pin all the way around, exactly as before. Cut open the corners.

Sew all the way around, exactly as before.

There is no need to cut the fabric away at the corners of the lining as the lining is not going to be turned out. Simply fit the lining inside the fabric. Line the matching corners up and pin them together.

Now fold the hem in and pin it in place.

Sew the hem by hand, all the way around.

The first of your appliance covers is now done. For me it meant that the TV Grill had a cover.

The pop-up toaster was made exactly the same way, except that the picture was caught in the seams, instead of being appliqued on, like the others. This is because of the size of the picture in relation to the toaster.

The sandwich press' cover was also made in exactly the same way.

By the end of the project my mom had covers for three of her appliances and was making plans for redoing the kitchen in this colour scheme as she liked it so much. I may just share some more kitchen ideas in future then ;-).

For more crafty ideas and great products, visit APrettyTalent.com.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making PRETTY things.
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Redesigning an Existing Dress

My niece received two identical dresses as gifts from her two grandmothers. To solve this dilemma, she suggested her aunt, that being ME, redesign the dress for her. And she knew exactly what she wanted me to do with it too! She knew I had some fabulous netting in my fabric stash she's had some big ideas for it ever since I bought it. I liked her ideas, but figured I could do even better than she thought possible. I would involve her in the whole process just to be sure it met with her approval. So, in today's blog I show you what I did, all the while giving tips for when you do something similar with one of your garments.

This is what the original dress looked like when it was handed to me.

My niece had stipulated that she wanted to put netting over the skirt. I therefore started by unpicking the seam securing the skirt to the bodice.

Once the dress lay in two pieces on the table, I called my niece over and asked her if she wanted me to continue as she had instructed, or whether I should not turn this into a top and skirt instead. She loved the idea of a two-piece and that was how we would continue.

Sewing the Top
I decided to use some matching satin with the dress. I now laid the top on the fabric and lengthened it with 10 cm, seam allowance included. I made it a little wider at the sides as the satin, unlike the original fabric, is not stretchable.

I then cut along the measurements, taking care to keep the shape of the top balanced on both sides.

I use the extra length to cut two more pieces from the netting she liked so much.

I then lay the satin with wrong sides facing each other and sew the side seams.

I lay the netting with right sides facing on top of each other and sew the side seams.

I then lay the satin and the netting on top of each other. The wrong sides should face out (the seamed sides should face out). I then sew the bottom hems together. Turn the extension right side out (with all the seams on the inside) and iron flat.

Lay the netting side against the right side of the top and pin together. Sew the extension to the top.

This is what the altered top looks like.

Sewing the Skirt
I cut a waistband from the satin fabric for the skirt.

I then lay the skirt out carefully on the netting and cut a  second skirt from the netting. Remember to add seam allowance!

I will not be hemming the netting, as that will make the net very heavy and stiff at the bottom, but I cut extra length anyway as I like the idea of the netting hanging over the hem of the skirt.

Sew the side seams of the netting together.

Pin the netted skirt to the original skirt at the waist.

Pin the waistband to the skirts and sew.

Measure the proper length for the elastic and sew the two ends together.

Put the elastic in the waistband and fold the seams in, pinning them in place.

Finish the waistband by hand.

You now have a brand new outfit that bears very slight resemblance to the original dress.

And here is our very satisfied model.

For more crafty ideas and great products, visit APrettyTalent.com.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making PRETTY things.
You can subscribe to this blog and receive regular updates by email by simply registering your email address at the top of the current blog.