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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-04-2006, 08:22 PM (1 of 19)
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I'm making a tufted headboard. It's going great. I have layered the fabric, batting, and foam onto the plywood and secured it all. I'm ready to put on the buttons. I tried to stick my biggest needle through the hole, but it was at least 1/2 inch too short to make it through to the other side! I was afraid to compress the foam by hand, lest I stab myself. When I was shopping this past week, I didn't see any needles bigger than 2 inches. Have you seen anything that would suit my needs?
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-04-2006, 09:02 PM (2 of 19)
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Upholstery needles are usually VERY long, HEAVY and CURVED. JoAnn's might carry them. If not...google for them I know I saw some places online that carry them. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-04-2006, 10:10 PM (3 of 19)
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yes, but do you think a curved needle would be any good for this kind of project? I did see those, but passed them up, b/c I have to get through a drilled hole in the 1/2 inch plywood, plus 2 inches of foam and a layer of batting. And I need to put the buttons in right over those drilled holes. I thought the curved needle would alter my planned button locations. Is there a straight needle out there that's really, really long?
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-04-2006, 10:37 PM (4 of 19)
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I hunted around, and I did find a pack of straight upholstery needles at joann.com. Unfortunately, shipping on a four-n-change item is more than the cost of the product! And it will take a week or two to get to me, even though they could just slip it in a standard envelope and mail it for about 37 cents, if they did it in the next couple of days (rates go up soon, remember?). OK, well, now I know it's out there. I'll try making calls to local merchants in the morning. I really want to get this done yesterday!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 01-04-2006, 11:05 PM (5 of 19)
| This is a real wild guess but could you use a crochet hook and poke thru from the back thru the holes and hook on to your tufted button. I have never never ever done anything like your are doing but thought it might work. Or how about making your self something like a long needle out of a piece of wire? |
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: shadylady
Date: 01-05-2006, 12:08 PM (6 of 19)
| I have upholstery needles from 6" to 24" long. You can get them at any upholstery supply place. I know of several online, but again, you'll have the shipping or minimum order problem. Are there any upholstery shops in your area? They usually sell supplies also. |
User: shadylady
Member since: 09-19-2003 Total posts: 58 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-05-2006, 04:21 PM (7 of 19)
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Thanks, Woody and Shady! Both good ideas, and I'll be hanging on to them. Here's how things went today. I called one of the home dec shops, and they said they did have a 3 inch needle. Knowing it wasn't quite what I needed, I still thought this was as good as it was going to get. So I planned on a trek after dropping my daughter off at preschool. I dropped her off, blew a kiss, and then turned left instead of my usual right. I drove about 30 feet when I thought I saw the word "upholstery" through the corner of my eye. I started looking around vigilantly, with traffic and parked trucks blocking my view. heheh. Well then I saw "Chantilly Upholstery," just a few doors down from the preschool! I popped in, and it was a workshop, not a retail store. I humbly asked if the man could tell me where to go to buy the right needle, and he went in the back and came back with a one foot needle. "You mean like this?" Well, he put it in my hand and said to take it and just bring it back when I was done! What a great person! I practically skipped home, even though I was driving, and raced to call my mother, who I figured would be interested (she was), and then I got right to work. I really wanted to get it done and return the tool when I went to pick up my daughter. The clock was ticking (it's just a 3 hour program, and I did have to race home and figure out how to do the job!). I got it done in the knick of time, and I think it looks great! Just a little finishing left to do, to make the back and the posts neat, then we can put it on the bed. I'm going to post a picture of the tufting with the big upholstery needle. More pictures on the way, as the room comes together.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-05-2006, 05:06 PM (8 of 19)
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Bedroom Project photo gallery (http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=10nskech.44hth7dt&x=0&y=-yv60tn)
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 01-05-2006, 06:22 PM (9 of 19)
Super job Andrea! Really like the way you matched the button to the print. They blend right in instead of standing out. 
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: shadylady
Date: 01-05-2006, 08:13 PM (10 of 19)
Beautiful! Great job!  Love the button detail, too. 
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User: shadylady
Member since: 09-19-2003 Total posts: 58
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From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 01-05-2006, 09:22 PM (11 of 19)
| Andreasews, that is really pretty, Good Job! |
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-06-2006, 08:42 AM (12 of 19)
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I, too, was impressed with the way the buttons matched. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-06-2006, 04:16 PM (13 of 19)
Thanks, all  You know, there was one spot (the monkey's trumpet) where I didn't try to match it up, and just used plain blue, thinking it was too intricate and it would be more noticeable to do it wrong than to skip it. Wouldn't you know, my 4 y.o. came home, looked and noticed hapily that the leopard was all lined up, and then scanned the other buttons immediately and pointed out that I didn't line up the monkey's trumpet! Can't slip anything past those little ones! Well, I am glad that all of _you_ found my level of attention to detail satisfactory! haha
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: DorothyL
Date: 01-06-2006, 05:24 PM (14 of 19)
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Andrea -- I have a 32-year-old daughter that still notices the mistakes in everything I make. She looks for imperfections. She sees flaws I didn't even notice. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-06-2006, 11:11 PM (15 of 19)
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Andrea -- I have a 32-year-old daughter that still notices the mistakes in everything I make. To this, I want to reply, " 
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: DorothyL
Date: 01-07-2006, 08:20 AM (16 of 19)
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That's why you have them, right? Yours is a cutie. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-07-2006, 12:50 PM (17 of 19)
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Nice job Andrea, you have ever right to feel accomplished - and what a nice man!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: bridesmom
Date: 01-07-2006, 11:50 PM (18 of 19)
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It's beautiful, you did a fantastic job. Can't wait to hear/see the rest of the story!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: jenny-o
Date: 01-09-2006, 08:42 PM (19 of 19)
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Oh Andrea, what a beautiful job you did! I've been meaning to do the same thing for my two girls. Can't wait to see what else you have planned for her room, I'll be making notes. Jen |
User: jenny-o
Member since: 08-28-2005 Total posts: 132 |
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