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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Covering my lawn chair cushions  |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 05 2009 : 7:29:10 PM
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Our lawn chairs were pretty sad this year from sitting outside during the winter (my fault) and so I purchased replacement cushions, what a disappointment! They are much thinner than the original cusions.
So now I am recovering the original cushions. I figured it out to replace the originals exactly, each cushion is about 22 x 26 so I figure 16 feet of piping per cushion, and there are 8 cushions, so that is a lot of piping. I tried making the piping today with a regular foot on my old sewing machine at the farm, I don't think it is going well. I ordered a piping foot on eBay for my machine, but I'm not sure if my sewing/embroidery will handle the "heavy" upholstery thread I am using..should I use the old Singer my parents got me for graduation 35 years ago? Or take a chance on my embroidery machine?
Has anyone ever done this before? Any experiences to share?
I am wondering if it is really necessary to sew the piping to one side of the cushion cover, then the other, or can I do this in one step?
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2009 : 04:57:57 AM
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Hi Brenda,
A couple of thoughts for you. . . when making piping try using a zipper foot. It gets you in close to the piping. Simple get it started and continue to feed it through the machine while holding the pieces together ( rather than trying to pin it) Do a couple of sample pieces to get the feel of it.
Second, only you know your machines. For myself, I am fortunate to have a few different machines for specific sewing. I use a Singer 550 commercial machine for my upholstery work. . . my embroidery machine would never handle the thickness of the fabrics.
Have fun with your project!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
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Lizabeth
True Blue Farmgirl
560 Posts
Washington
560 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2009 : 4:51:20 PM
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Brenda,
I would consider not using the heavy weight thread for constructing the piping. use a regular weight thread and a short stitch length, also the zipper foot Joanna suggested, but I like best the off brand generic adjustable zipper foot (on the notions wall), if it fits your machine. Assemble your piping with the stitching a needles width away from the fold around the cord.
For the first round, baste the piping to the pillow panel with a little longer stitch length and move your zipper foot so you can sew about one needles width away from the piping (on top of the piping construction stitches). When you assemble the panels front to back, move your foot so you can sew closer (right up against the piping) that way your construction and basting stitches don't show when the pillow is right side out.
your stitches would look like this | = piping : = panels assembled right sides together stitch ! = piping construction and piping basting to panel
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Feel free to ask any clarifying questions... I am writing this with my 12 mo old climbing on me :)
http://www.handcraftsbyheather.com
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2009 : 7:30:42 PM
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Thanks, after thinking it over I think you are both right. Joanna, I will use the old Singer for this project, not the embroidery machine, I am afraid the heavy fabric and heavy thread will change the tension on the machine. I'm going to go ahead with the zipper foot tonight and make some more piping...
Lizabeth, as for the regular weight thread on the piping, I came to that conclusion too after trying out the heavier thread. And thanks for confirming that I have to go around each panel twice with the piping, once to baste, and once to assemble. My goodness I am going to have to go get some more thread!
Your explanation of the basting process a needle's width away makes sense.
Thanks
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Covering my lawn chair cushions |
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Covering my lawn chair cushions
