Hemming Blackout Panels

 

Using my new ruler

     A client brought me some ready made blackout panels that needed to be shortened.  I laid them out on the floor and marked the finished length on both sides with pins.  Then I used my new ruler from JSH Designs.  I placed it under the pins and drew the line eight inches from the finished length.  So handy to be able to mark a double four inch hem quickly.

Old hem

     At the ironing board, I used my 8 inch wooden ruler from Workroom Tech to press up the eight inches and then get my four inch double hem.  As the original panel had a regular machine stitched hem, I did the same thing but did make one improvement.

New hem

      

     Instead of machine stitching the side part of the hem closed, I chose to hand stitch it to eliminate those extra stitches showing.

Hidden stitching

     I did sew slowly to prevent the needle from heating up and transferring the blackout material to the outside of the panel.  Tried to press out the creases from being in the package as best as I could and then hung the panels on a hanger to prevent more creases.

Hawaii Pillowcases

 

     When we went to Hawaii to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our first date, I talked my husband into going to a couple of quilt shops.  At the first shop in Kapaa, I bought a kit for a large stars quilt.

     At the second shop in Lihue, I bought a layer cake (10" squares) and two pillowcase kits.  A pair of pillowcases we currently have on the bed are starting to shred so I thought this was a fun way to bring some Hawaii home.  As soon as we got home, I sewed them up using the hotdog method that I have done on so many other pillowcases.  It was nice to not even have to cut the fabric to get started.