Three strikes

Some projects seem jinxed.  Here is one of them: a bedding package consisting of two duvet covers and three 26x26 boxed pillows.  Fate contrived to thwart the project, but we prevailed!

First, the blue duvet cover went seriously awry when I cut into the center width with the serger........ which, in a workroom, qualifies as "The Unthinkable."  I cut off the offending section and pieced in two rows of contrast fabric, bordered by microcord.  (I didn't think to take a picture until it was packaged and about to walk out the door. )

Turns out that the pillow fabric was also discontinued, and the vendor sent the last bit they had, but at just over a yard it was not enough to make the three fronts of the 26" pillows.  They rummaged through the showroom and found the memo sample which was just 25" square, so I added a border all around to get to the right size.  There were just enough scraps to make the boxing.

With all the raw edges from all that piecing and boxing, every seam was serged to eliminate the raveling threads.

Finally, the second duvet cover was too narrow because the supposedly 54" fabric had only 52" of useable print.  I added a 2" band of the backing fabric.  The delicious Vervain silk is lined with napped sateen, making the cover soft and supple. 

Between the seams the tiniest microcord is inserted.   A scrap of fine ivory taffeta from a previous project matched the background perfectly. 

The duvet from Rowley came with snap tabs to keep it in place.  You sew the mate into the cover's seams, then lay the duvet cover wrong side out, place the duvet on it and snap the tabs together, then turn it all to the right side.  So much easier than trying to climb inside to fasten the snaps!

Fab fabric Friday- Enter the Dragons, again

Here again is "Enter the Dragons" in a muted, stormy colorway, interpreted this time as boxed pillows.  The various borders were sliced off and turned into bottom detailing and boxing.  Each 23x28" pillow has a different border combination. 

The welting and backs are the same velvety grey ultrasuede that was used to upholster the 132" sectional seating. 


The moment our zipper order arrived from The Zipper Lady, we finished these pillows up.   The grey was nestled in a boxful of brilliantly colored zippers........ now I just need somebody to order a magenta pillow, I'm ready!

"Enter the Dragons" from Jim Thompson was featured in January on Fab Fabric Friday, and as pillows.

Zipper Inventory Day

Holy cow.  Pillow orders are flying in fast.  Another Pillow Day is scheduled for next week, and today is Zipper Inventory Day.  I am dangerously low on some of the most frequently used colors, like sage green and tan.

You'd think with all these zipper colors I'd be sure to have something to match every fabric- but not so.  Now that The Zipper Lady has new colors, I must have them.  I've placed an order for 25 zipper colors, 11 of them new to me.  I'll be able to match even the weirdest greens and grays- not to mention neon orange and magenta! 

Meanwhile, here is a peek at 3 new dragon boxed pillows just waiting for grey zippers and then they can be stuffed:

Pillow Day

We had Pillow Day last week.  For some reason pillows come in waves.  I might go a month without a single pillow, and then accumulate orders for two dozen pillows in one week.  When that happens, I have Pillow Day.  I cut all the pillows at once, arrange them by thread color, and hold a pillow marathon.  Last week I had 26 pillows to make. 

Here are 10" x 20" pillows- the solid pillows are boxed with a 2" boxing, and the woven pattern pillows are knife-edge. 

Inserts for boxed pillows are custom-made.  For these 2" x 10" x 20" pillows I ordered inserts at 3" x 12" x 22" in 10/90 down/feather.  It looks like they'll never fit into those covers, but they do!