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From: ninifav
Date: 04-01-2006, 12:44 PM (1 of 18)
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I am in the middle of a major house renovation and have removed a set of floor length drapes that will not be re-used....They are about 30 yrs old but the material was very good and looks usable...The lining is a wonderful cotten sateen -looking fabric and the outer fabric is a heavy material that have the slubs like you see in heavy linen... Now being the frugal person that I am, what can I use the material for?....I know I can use some of the lining for test samples for machine embroidery....Looking for inspiration...I hate to pitch this away.... Thanks, Paula (who is in week 12 of no-kitchen and dining, tearing up living room brick wall to put gas fireplace, and dust everywhere!!! And I hate having men banging on my walls and doors at 7:00 am every morning...butttt, it is looking awesome...) |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 04-01-2006, 01:48 PM (2 of 18)
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The Drapery Fabric you describe sounds like what my Mother used to call "barkcloth".. She had drapes made from that fabric, and recycled them into, I think every room in the house ! ! After years of moving them around, she had them cleaned , and boxed for storage.. After a few years, she got them out again (by this time, in a different house) and used them in the LR-and DR...A few years later she took them down, disposed of linings. (they were bad) and threw the drape lengths into the washer and dryer.. She then proceeded to cut them into sizes appropriate for dish towels and we all hemmed them.. Everyone in the family had good quality dish towels for a long time to come.. That fabric I know was in our family more than 25 years being used in some way..My Mother said it was one of her better bargains.. There were 2 different prints.. one was a leafy allover design, and the other was a Toile. (old southern plantation house amid oaks draped in spanish moss) This was the style in the 50's and 60's...
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: LadySloPokes
Date: 04-01-2006, 02:23 PM (3 of 18)
I'm sure you're going to be so pleased with the end result, but I have to agree with you about the workmen at 7 AM!  I can't imagine not having a kitchen to cook in  I'm not sure what you have in mind for your dining room, or the actual thickness or color of the fabric-but maybe some really elegant table runners embellished with some satin trim or tassles?Just a thought... Cookie 
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198 
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From: paroper
Date: 04-01-2006, 03:38 PM (4 of 18)
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We tore out our kitchen (do it yourself) and were without one for 4 years. This last project only left us without one for 7 weeks. It is amazing how much you can miss one single room in the house! Well, you could always save it for Halloween and go as Scarlet O'Hara (only hers were velvet I think). We had those curtains in our house too. We had light green furniture, matching printed wall paper all over the place and gray wood work and Wide gray Venician blinds along with blond furniture, light green formal dining chairs and wood floors. If I close my eyes, I can see it like it was yesterday. Those were really good drapes but I don't remember what Mom did with them. She wasn't wasteful so she either recycled them in the house or she gave them to someone. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: bluebirdie
Date: 04-01-2006, 05:34 PM (5 of 18)
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Oh I like all those good ideas! You are right. It makes no sense throwing out good fabric. I once made chairpad for wooden bench and dinning chairs out of some drapery/home decor fabrics (an interior decor guy wanted to charge me 400 bucks for making the chair pad). All I needed was foam, rope (for piping edge), and the sewing machine. The fabric are sturdy so they're still serving us well after 8 years of sitting. Not sure how sturdy is your material though. - Robin
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User: bluebirdie
Member since: 03-12-2006 Total posts: 139 |
From: ninifav
Date: 04-01-2006, 10:48 PM (6 of 18)
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hehe..I always thought that I would make a great Scarlett...I'll worry about it tomorrow!!!! well, at least I'd have the southern accent ...and no way would I let Rhett go...smarter than that... I never even thought about a table runner; but the fabric is perfect for it... And I never thought that I would miss my kitchen...sewing and gardening ALWAYS come before cooking...After raising five kids, I'm happy with a scrambled egg or a peanut butter sandwich...So explain why I am putting in a pro design Wolf stove?? answer: so that DH can cook while I am sewing...lol... When questioned why I'm putting so much into this renovation, I answer that this is my retirement home!!!! And I hope that I can continue sewing until the day that I keel over.... |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: paroper
Date: 04-02-2006, 12:07 PM (7 of 18)
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Sounds like our home. I live in my parents' home (now that they are gone) and we are remodeling as we can (or can't) afford. I put in the kitchen with the pro range but I also have my great sewing room now!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: ninifav
Date: 04-03-2006, 12:28 AM (8 of 18)
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yep, the primary sewing room was the original nursery...and since I started sewing again about 7 yrs ago, I have now taken over one of the guest rooms...not to fear, it can be transformed back within an hour; and besides, now that all the darlings are gone, I have two other full size guest rooms... Must say though, I really resent that one of the rooms is chockablock full of things from the renovation...and had to give up some of my filing cabinets for a temporary "kitchen" for food in my bedroom...cannot wait to be organized again!!! |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: stephi
Date: 04-03-2006, 09:46 AM (9 of 18)
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I like the table runner Idea and maybe a few placemats to match??!!! Or you could make rocking chair cusions, that material should hold up a good while! Just a thought! Stephi Stephi
"No body knows what it is that I do until I dont do it" "if you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten" |
User: stephi
Member since: 03-17-2006 Total posts: 361 
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From: paroper
Date: 04-03-2006, 11:12 AM (10 of 18)
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or maybe some kitchen chair cushions to match the runner. or you could do a neighborhood production of the "Sound of Music" sorry....I'm having one of those hair brain mornings...... pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: stephi
Date: 04-03-2006, 12:47 PM (11 of 18)
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" The hills are alive! With the sounds of sewing" Lalalala!!! With bobbin and thread running in and out!! Lalalala Stephi Dances in her pretty green drapes!
Stephi
"No body knows what it is that I do until I dont do it" "if you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten" |
User: stephi
Member since: 03-17-2006 Total posts: 361
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From: Shellymoon
Date: 04-04-2006, 09:30 PM (12 of 18)
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A few years back, everyone in our department at work dressed up like beauty pageant rejects for Halloween. I was Miss-Spelled. My boss was Miss Adventure.....well, you see how that went. We pulled together our dresses from a variety of sources (way back in our closets, Goodwill, friends, etc.). I had just moved into my new home and took down some really nice Mauve curtains. I pulled a Scarlett O Hara and made my dress out of those pink curtains. It was hysterical! Rember, anyone who has old curtains that are just too ugly for words, most animal shelters will accept them to use as bedding. The dogs don't care if they're floral. Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 04-06-2006, 01:11 AM (13 of 18)
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Well, I have a sane idea (for you crazy bunch!). Fabric like that is really hot ofr the shabby chic look and people make all sorts of things out of it, throw pillows, chair pads, quilts etc. You may be able to sell them for a real nice price. But I'd love to see the Scarlett dress idea!!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: morningrose
Date: 04-09-2006, 08:06 PM (14 of 18)
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If you make clothing and/or embelish them, one of the new things is to use upholstery type fabric. I tend to use scraps and samples to repair jeans with rips or tears, as it is much stronger and will stay on (especially kids!) Also could be used for jeans pockets, hems, decorative patches, etc. I have a lot of fun doing this for both my kids and myself.  I have also made purses, totes, used for scapbooking, etc.Raven 
Raven
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User: morningrose
Member since: 12-16-2004 Total posts: 15 |
From: ninifav
Date: 04-09-2006, 10:33 PM (15 of 18)
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Oh my goodness...the lightbulb just went on!!! It is perfect weight for purses and totes!!!And since it is such a boring faded yellow beige, I could embroider almost anything!!! By the way, what does a Miss-Spelled costume look like??? I am way beyond curious on that one... I am so exhauated...DH and I spent two days removing grass and expanding the front entrance garden...Always had this in mind when I considered the renovation; but didn't think that I would get him to put in so much time and work...Owe him big time...Have to wait another week for DS to come back home so that I can use his little pick-em up truck to get me dirt from the nursery...much cheaper than bags of soil....After all, the entrance to my nice new kitchen/great room should have a great entrance, No??? What do we call these big open rooms that we are all building...I've heard French-country, big rooms??? Whatever, I will so not ever go back to closed in and dark.... |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 04-09-2006, 11:57 PM (16 of 18)
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Aren't they called 'great rooms'? I would love to have a house with a great room, rather than the 70's version that we have with long dark hallways. Some day, my dream house will come.....
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: paroper
Date: 04-10-2006, 06:01 AM (17 of 18)
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Usually great rooms are the ones that have kitchen/living room/sometimes dining rooms...and you have a huge combination space, at least that is what a great room is here. When we add an airy space on the back of the house we call it a sun room, but if it is built into the house.....? During the "last" gasoline shortage, along with the government making us turn off the Christmast lights on the outside of the houses, a lot of people closed off the windows to the houses to save energy and they faced everything east and west (at least around here) so that they wouldn't have as much heat loss in the winter. We get wonderful north/south breezes in the summer so when they did that, they lost a lot of natural venilation too. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: kt53sew
Date: 04-10-2006, 06:49 PM (18 of 18)
| Well I was going to say Bags too.. some small draw string bags are made of this stuff. If you want to go all out try making a hat and jacket to match. A funky jacket to wear with jeans would be a fun idea. Katie |
User: kt53sew
Member since: 02-13-2004 Total posts: 19 |
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