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From: ninifav
Date: 06-21-2006, 03:24 PM (1 of 14)
| Does anyone have a simple pattern for these...I desparately need to cover several lamp cords in my living room; but certainly don't want to pay those prices.... They look simple; but I'm not sure how to get the gathered look and how to make the cover stay up at the top...Anyone??? Thanks...Paula |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: stephi
Date: 06-21-2006, 03:53 PM (2 of 14)
|
Duct tape. Just kidding, maybe some double sided tape just inside the material?? I would thing the gathers would happen if you made the material longer than the cord?? Not really sure about this, my grand mother had a cat one in her living room. 
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 
|
From: ninifav
Date: 06-22-2006, 07:16 PM (3 of 14)
| hey where is Pam when I need her??? the answer is probably so simple that she figures I should get it myself!! Not!!! I'm not paying that much $$$$ for silk cord covers...Pam???? |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: MariLynntex
Date: 06-22-2006, 07:57 PM (4 of 14)
| To make these, measure the length of your cord, add enough to allow for the cord being stretched. Now cut some bias strips wide enough to go around the cord plus seam allowances. Sew the strips together to make a strip the length you measured. Sew the long edges together and turn the strip inside out. Turn each end in to form a casing on each end. Put a length of cording or ribbon through each casing. Pull cover onto the phone cord and tie the casing in place on each end. MariLynntx |
User: MariLynntex
Member since: 01-05-2006 Total posts: 107 |
From: BeckyW
Date: 06-22-2006, 11:40 PM (5 of 14)
|
I bought a couple of these at Stein Mart. They were really reasonably priced there (I think like $9 each). I have seen them for much more other places. The ones I have are very long with a line of snaps along the entire length - about 2-1/2 to 3 inches apart (that is a lot of snaps). There are also a couple of extra snaps at the top and bottom to hug the cord tight to hold it up. Here is a picture (I straightened out the bunching for the pic)http://home.comcast.net/~beckywsews/images/cordcover.jpg It would take quite a long strip to make these, that was why I chose to buy mine. It would take quite a bit of yardage to get this length. |
User: BeckyW
Member since: 12-25-2004 Total posts: 24 |
From: Tummy
Date: 06-22-2006, 11:41 PM (6 of 14)
| I have never though of covering my cords, now after reading this, Im interested. |
User: Tummy
Member since: 06-03-2006 Total posts: 81 |
From: ninifav
Date: 06-23-2006, 02:30 PM (7 of 14)
| Wow, Becky, $9.00 is not a bad price at all...but I have never seen them with snaps; but you know, these covers are something that you just take for granted and I never took one apart before...The living room, etc. looked pretty ratty before; but now that I have finally renovated, the cords look like sore thumbs coming off the end tables...Might just wait until I go back into the city to see if the local Steinmart has any...and thanks to Marylyn...It would probably have to be on the bias to hang right...I wonder if running a gathering thread down the inside seam would make that nice bunching effect??? |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 06-23-2006, 03:03 PM (8 of 14)
|
Make sure that when you measure you remember the plug is bigger than the cord. I would make them slightly wider than the plug & then no need for snaps.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
|
From: BeckyW
Date: 06-23-2006, 04:41 PM (9 of 14)
|
It was a couple of years ago that I bought these. I hope you can find them. If makeing them, you really only need the snaps if it is like some sort of chandelier that does not have a plug end that you can poke through the tube. You still do need some sort of snap or something to make it hug the cord at both ends - otherwise it will just slide down the cord. A gathering thread might make a nice unform gather, but probably would not be necessary. Mine is not cut on the bias. |
User: BeckyW
Member since: 12-25-2004 Total posts: 24 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 06-23-2006, 04:51 PM (10 of 14)
|
I think if I made them I would take a couple of hand stitches close to the cord instead of a snap. It would be less noticable & should work just as well.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
|
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 06-23-2006, 07:13 PM (11 of 14)
|
Why do the cords need covering ?? I don't understand.. Isn't that a fire hazard?? I know if you put an electric cord under a carpet it is a fire hazard..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: ninifav
Date: 06-24-2006, 11:45 PM (12 of 14)
|
Hi Libby, good question...It is usually done to camouflage the ugly cords, especially in living rooms, studys, bedrooms...Of course, it would not be used on any frayed cords...and, unlike under a carpet, the cords are mostly undisturbed... Yesterday, I decided to experiment...Looked in my stash and discovered...muslin!! Okay, I measured the lenth of the cord (and doubled it.) I measured around the plug and added an inch to the width... then I just straight cut the muslin and pieced it together to make the length...Too easy so far... then I shot up a half inch seam down the length...Doing good!! Next, I grabbed the dental floss and in the half inch seam, I zig-zagged all the way down the length...Still doing good....then I got to use one of those toys that I was told I had to get and had never used...a "turn-it-all" Turned that sucker inside out....threaded the cord into the tube...pulled the floss to get it to fit just right...turned the ends and the excess floss inside the tube about a half an inch....Used a little floss to secure the cover to the cord..(it didn't show because it was hidden in the gathers and was the same color as the muslin..) Well, I need to tell you...the muslin gave a slubby linen look...(woudn't have worked if I had wanted silk look)...then I made four more...and I know I didn't spend more than a few hours and less than $10.00!!! Don't you just love it when we out-do ourselves...Thanks to everyone for their help and hints.... Paula |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: BeckyW
Date: 06-25-2006, 10:17 AM (13 of 14)
| Muslin is a wonderful idea. The dental floss gathering sounds great. I might take mine down one day and zigzag on a little dental floss to keep the gathers straight. I have to straighten mine pretty often, because I have those little switches that you roll with your thumb to turn on and off the light in the middle of mine. When you turn on and off the lamp, you disturb the gathers. |
User: BeckyW
Member since: 12-25-2004 Total posts: 24 |
From: stephi
Date: 06-26-2006, 11:50 AM (14 of 14)
Dental floss, duct tape as long as you Macguivered it!! Oh the alternative uses for everyday household stuff, LOL!! 
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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