Sheffield Valance

Sheffield valance without jabots

     My designer wanted a Sheffield valance with no jabots for a client's kitchen window.  The stripe fabric was a lighter weight upholstery fabric so the stripes ran from selvedge to selvedge.  We chose the wide blue strip for the focal stripe in the flat part and the yellow green one for the horns.  The reason for choosing the yellow green stripe was that it had about an equal amount of cream fabric of either side making for a nice looking horn without any other colors showing.

Layering the fabrics

 

     The contrast fabric was a floral print that was extra from the panel I had made earlier.  The only problem was that you could see the floral behind the stripe when you held it up to the light.  The only lining that worked to hide this was a blackout lining.  It made for a little stiffer valance but was necessary.  I layered wrong sides of the blackout lining and the contrast lining and then laid the face fabric right side down.  I pinned and stitched and then time to staple to the board.

Detail of the top of the valance

     The designer wanted a 1 x 3 board.  I added some batting on the top between the horns to make for a more level top.  I cut one of the stripes from the face fabric and lined it up for the dust cover.  I think it looks just as pretty from the top as it does from the front.

     Because of the bulk of the fabric and lining, a few tags from the tag gun were needed to hold the pleats in place.

Pizza Party Sewing Camp 2016

Cutting out their aprons

     I had a Pizza Party Sewing Camp yesterday.  We started at 9 o'clock and were all done by 2.  As soon as the girls arrived they got to work mixing the dough.  We started by washing our hands and then reading the recipe.  I pulled out the ingredients and they got to work measuring and mixing.  They enjoyed kneading the dough.

Sewing their aprons

     Then it was time to start on the aprons.  I found a cute pattern here.  I had drafted the pattern for the girls so all they had to do was cut and sew.

Working on the pizzas

 

     They quickly got to work while the dough was rising.  By the time the dough was ready they had cut out their pieces, made the pocket and sewed it on, got all the straps sewn and pinned in place.

Mallory and her apron

     We then went back to the kitchen where they rolled out the dough, spread the tomato paste, added some seasonings and then the cheese.  We let them rest a bit while they worked a little more on their aprons.

Grace and her apron

   Then I helped them place them in the oven and we went back to sewing.  They finished their aprons right on time and then it was time to enjoy their pizza.

Sienna and her apron

     We ate our wonderful pizza out on the back patio where they also sampled some cherries from the cheery tree we have.  Everything was declared delicious.

Enjoying the fruits of their labor

Beginning Sewing Camp June 2016

Working hard

     This week was my first camp of the summer.  This was a lighter version of my usual camp due to the fact I had a meeting on Thursday.  The first day the girls learned the basics of sewing on a machine and earned their Sewing Machine 'Driver's' License.  They cut out their sewing bag and started with the pinning.

Brooke and her bag

Lily and her bag

Shannon and her bag

Ellie and her bag

     On the second day they finished their sewing bag and started on their back slit denim skirt.  That afternoon during our break we enjoyed cherries from the tree in my backyard.

Brooke and her skirt

Lily and her skirt

Shannon and her skirt

Ellie and her skirt

     By break time on the third day they had finished their skirts.  A couple were able to use the sewing machine to sew on their buttons and the others sewed them on by hand.

All done

     After break, we went into my sewing room and they chose precut fabrics to sew pillow cases for ConKerr Cancer.  I showed them the 'hotdog' method and they got the three pieces sewn together, pressed, turned and pressed again.  Three of the four girls even got the first seam of the French seam done.

We had fun!

     I believe a great time was had by all, I know I enjoyed having them come and learn.  Just the start of summer sewing fun here at Sew Much Fun.

End of After School Sewing 2015-2016

Michelle and her skirt

Michelle and her nightshirt

     After school sewing classes ended last week.  Since I last wrote about classes Michelle has made a nightshirt and the back slit denim skirt, Arabella made a back slit denim skirt also.  Ellen was only with us for a few sessions due to soccer season.  She was making a dress for her sister before she left and finished it at home.  She started on a pair of pants when she came back.  Cara was making a dress for herself and just has some hand stitching to finish it up over the summer.

Arabella and her skirt

Arabella's hand sewn buttons

Lindsey and her mug cover

Natalie and her capris

Natalie and her shorts

     In Wednesday's group Lindsey made a mug cover for her sewing supplies, Natalie finished her capris and made a quick pair of sport shorts.  Makayla was working on a round neck blouse and her sister Hailey was making herself a peasant nightgown.  They both just need some hems, which they are going to try and finish at home over the summer.

Loren and her pants

Veronica and her nightshirt

Aviva and her sport shirt

Grace and her sport shirt

     Thursday's class, Loren made a pair of pants and her sister Veronica made herself a nightshirt.  Aviva and Grace both made themselves sport shirts.  Poor Grace had a hard time with her fabric and we wound up needing to use tissue paper to sew the seams.  It turned out great though.

     Now it is on to summer camps starting next week.  I went and bought four new sewing machines yesterday as the ones I had were over 20 years old and kept breaking down.  I hope the new machines arrive before camp next week.