Hi, I'm Nancy, and I've been professionally designing, fabricating, and installing custom window treatments, bedding, and accessories for over 35 years. My mother taught me the basics of sewing clothes, but as a homebody and 'nester' my interest was in home decor. I have loved the endless challenge of learning how to make anything and everything possible by doing research, attending trade shows and workshops, and by simple trial and error, and using that knowledge and experience to operate a successful business.
From pillows to panels, bed skirts to bolsters, cornices to cushions, and shades to shower curtains, my tips, techniques, tools, and instructions will allow anyone to make professional looking items for their home, or even start their own business sewing for others.
Individual one-on-one consulting, training, and tutoring available Please contact me for rates and availability.
This is great. It worked well for me. I wonder what I did to have some of the tape a bit wonky... not a completely straight line. It goes a bit curvy in spots. It's fairly minor. I just don't know what I did for that to happen.
@@inforestsweheal Yes, the line will “shift” when you connect your cuts to make the continuous loop because you change the angle at each connection area. You’re doing it right :)
Nope, no way to stop it using this method, and when it’s used to cover welt cord, it works and looks fine. It’s not designed for things like quilt binding or other flat or wide applications - just welt. The book is an upholstery book, and I found it useful for slipcover construction help, but otherwise not that useful for what I make or the kind of sewing I specialize in.
This is the most stupid procedure I have ever seen! The time it took to do this I could have done the same cutting the fabric on the bias! Hate this video!
Wow, I never new that was a thing. Thank you so much for sharing this. I would love to make a cushion cover with 1cm flange edge and a zipper. I wonder if that is doable? Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, very much appreciated!
@@juanitavandeweerd699 If it’s a self flange (just making the cover bigger and topstitching to make the flange) follow the video for an overlap zipper. If it’s a separate flange there’s a vid for that using an invisible zipper. Good luck!
@@ASquarePillowIsntSquare Thank you for your reply. I didn't know there was a self flange, or a separate flange 😆, I'm still fairly new to sewing. I will find those videos, thanks for sharing!
Hi, Nancy! (And hi, Ted! He's helping you make the video, huh?) Thank you so much for sharing what you've learned! People underrate the importance of hobby and arts/crafts knowledge, but it seems to me like the economics of owning furniture, pillows, cushions, shelves, tables -- all kinds of stuff that makes a home (or car, van, sleeping bag) comfy -- can no longer maintain the unsustainable state where everything is disposable, where, when it tears or breaks, you just get a new cheaply made piece of trash. That economic condition relies on our government being able to manipulate global trade and corporations being able to suppress wages in the global south, abuse laborers, and be extremely destructive to the environment and climate. The longer every item in our consumer economy stays disposable, the more brutal emiseration we have to (unwittingly, usually! most folks are good people!) collectively inflict upon our distant neighbors. It requires more drastic use of force and more commitment of resources over time to keep doing it, and as it becomes slightly less profitable for those responsible, they pass the costs onto us, and then some. As they stagnate wages and push inflation at the same time, they shamelessly double-dip. It can't and won't last. In short, those cheap goods won't last forever, and we're getting less goods for our dollar than we used to, so learning to make things for ourselves and our neighbors will become more and more necessary. Fortunately, it's fun, fulfilling, and sometimes much easier than we think, and making the choice to start doing it right now means we take power away from those who maintain the unnatural, inhumane economic conditions, and thus we loosen their hold upon the global south a little. Specialization within a community of limited size is a good thing, so that we have experts we can consult, but it can't be absolute. We will all need some basic craft knowledge, in my estimation. It'll be a nice opportunity to engage with our local communities in order to share ideas and knowledge, and if we rework the shape of our cities and towns to facilitate this, so many more people can be included in being a part of society. You're not some old lady in the suburbs (or wherever you may be) with a quaint, cute little unimportant hobby, Nancy. You're an experienced woman practicing valuable life skills and sharing your knowledge. In a just world, people won't forget that. In this current world, we live in the rat-race, doing our grind, and our values get twisted; we don't have the time and energy to be creative or productive for ourselves and our communities, because we're always busy enriching some boss. In a just world, there will be a place for all of us. That is a world I look forward to seeing one day, because in the current world, if we can't live according to the demands of bosses, our place ends up being in the street, with nothing. I'm homeless, myself, and poverty has made me learn to fix many things on my car, and some basic, but growing, crafts knowledge, out of pure necessity. If I don't get to see it the more just world that I believe is coming, I hope I can at least nudge us in the right direction while I'm here. Thanks again, Nancy. Keep up the good work!
Do you know how to string these blinds using 3 pulleys (eye hooks)? If so could you tell me. If not, thanks anyway. This is a great video & helped me a lot!
in case handmade Pillow stuffing becomes a business --> Borsoi filling machines (ITALY) can help you! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jqUSE5ns13U.htmlsi=Vd1yTcRzp90IFKjk ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--5Tu3nqCuwM.htmlsi=fv8wJZIcj2LBPEdp
@@karinjohnson6649 I would recommend making g a pair of shades., right shade with cords on the right and left shade with cords on the left. They can share a mounting board and even have a simple flat 6-8” valance that goes all the way across. This will work as one shade but it will be heavy without upgraded lift mechanisms and you will have 8-9 columns of rings/cords. Kind of a lot. 😬
Fabulous tips! I particularly appreciate the joining tip. As a quilter, I would likely experiment by using Acorn Precision glue to tack the matching pattern before sewing to see if that effectively works. Thank you, and stay well! Muskoka ON 🇨🇦
@@wam0357 I’m sorry, not sure what you mean. The first cut is just a diagonal through one layer between 2 opposite corners. Please email a pic of the place you’re asking about cutting if that doesn’t help.
thank you so much for your response. i just cant tell if it matters where the fold is. I think in your video, the fold is closest to the camera on the top. But when you pick it up to shake it out, i got confused and jotted the question down to you and other viewers. have a happy day.
There is a reason I'm so "archaic". The scale of what I do on a day to day basis does not allow for the use of a mat and cutter, with the exception of this trick that I may use once every few years, so I have never had the need to buy one. I work on tables 5' wide and 8-12' long using full widths of 54" home decor fabric in large amounts. For the rare instance I have to do something like this, I just use scissors. A mat and cutter is useless in a drapery workroom.
Love it! Subscribed to your channel a long time ago but stopped by to visit and refresh my memory on how to make the perfect pillow cover (also the knotted corner technique). Thanks for making these videos and keeping your channel going:)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Lord, I knew to find a tutorial explained by a lady. Lol . Men do things totally different with pullys and I'm thinking, why do you need all of that... 😂 I subscribe to your channel. You did a great job on explaining how it works, and I appreciate that.... I am making roll-up blinds for my big porch. I'm tired of the curtains when a storm blows through. With these blinds, I will be able to raise them out of the way.. thank you again ❤.. Jeana
I *had nothing to lose* 'except that last yard of the last bolt 'of a fabric out of my local quilting shop (and off the internet)... 'and, I had already *screwed* it up 'following 'another *sad, misleading shortcut,* 'then decided, *'Why not! I've got nothing to lose!* Out of the remnant of 'that other 'failed patchwork attempt, I got 10 yards of 'bias cut 2.5" strip with your method! *Forever a fan!!!!!* Also! Note Viewers: 'Download to save...
Reasonable question. Many people like the look of a button closure for the decorative element the size, shape, and style of the buttons add. Buttons that "work" result in the fabric gaping and pulling between the buttons unless the cover is loose. This options gives the look of a button closure without the inconsistent tension on the cover. I will update the description to explain to others.
@@munazahadnan9838 There are some links in the descrption to other videos you might find helpful if you're new to sewing pillows, but you can insert a pillow form filled with down, feathers, or polyester filling.
Thank you soo much for the demo, I'm actually upholstering a footstool and thought this is what I had to do, but seeing it done really helps. I'll be stapling it on so it maybe easier then sewing (I hope), but at least I have a little more confidence it'll look alright now.💗💖💗
This video is amazing! Slightly off topic but I’m wondering if you could help, I’m getting a sofa made and they have 100% fibre filled, 75/25 feather, 50/50 feather, 95/5 down and varying percentages of feather/ down wrapped foam. I love the look of fluffy “overfilled” 100% feather sofa seats but I’ve seen how they look after sitting on them and that’s a no go! (I’m sure you know, but but just incase, Search “restoration hardware cloud sofa after sitting”) People say high percentage down pillows spring back easier and don’t compress as much as feather, but is it still a lost cause for sofa seats due to the weight of sitting? Should I go for foam wrapped?
@@carlruss7003 I really wish I could advise you on this but I’m just not well versed enough on upholstery cushions to weigh in on such a big investment and item of such personal preference. . I’d recommend talking to a few different salespeople there to get their advice. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
Thank you so much for this. We purchased an expensive Sofa set and we hate it. The back cushions appear to have the polyfil as it is lumpy and hard to shape. I plan to redo them with the clusterfill. Now on the make the seat cushions more comfortable too!
We bought a sectional a few years ago and the seat cushions were so soft you sat right through them! I replaced all the cushion foam - it was worth it!
Hello- absolute beginner here. Your videos are super helpful. Could you lost your tools -drill etc Also I don’t have a lot of space - i have a large extendable table - where can i get a thing like yours that has all the measuring on it ? Is it possible to buy something that you can pack away? Thanks you so much. Best Wishes, Rachael UK
Hi! I made a video on how I build my worktables! I just added a link to it at the bottom of the "video links" area in the description of the video you are commenting on :) The top can be made in 2 pieces to be portable, and connected with a latch on each side.
Should the zipper be an inch small the the pillow ? 18in pillow use 17 in zipper ? or 2 in smaller than finshed pillow side. I'm so happy I found your video's. I used to make lined curtains buy lost all my notes, can't wait to watch your videos on lined curtains ,Thank You
I love your table and the thorough instructions however I do have a question. I sew fashion not home decor so I'll need to use the table surface not only to cut and pin but also to trace/transfer pattern marking from pattern to fabric. Is the surface hard/firm enough to use tracing wheel or chalk and transfer marking from pattern to fabric?
@@ASquarePillowIsntSquare I have watched your video several times. I love the fact that you can pin on it. I'm trying to decide if this top is better (or if laminate top is better) for cutting out fashion fabrics from pattern pieces vs home decor. Is the top is firm enough to lay out/cut out fashion fabric/patterns?
@@sherrygrigg7028 I use it to cut out fabric using patterns quite often. It’s firm enough, and I just stick pins straight through the pattern and fabrics to cut stuff out.
This is wonderful ! I'm going to try this with extra fabric I have just to practice, it doesn't look like a square piece of fabric to start it just needs to be a rectangle piece o fabric ?? Thank you
