How I drape fabric and make mini curtains

I've had a few enquiries about how I get fabric to drape and stay that way, so I'll show you how I do it. I'm about to make some curtains but you can use this method for pretty much anything made from fabric that you want to drape nicely and stay that way.
My dollhouse windows are the standard size. I have used about 9cm of fabric for each curtain because I want them to end up quite narrow and not take up too much space.

I use HeatnBond to make all the hems. This way there is no stitching showing and the edges won't fray. You can also use fusible webbing or hemming tape.

These are the strips of HeatnBond. I've cut them about half a centimetre wide.

Apply the HeatnBond according to the instructions on the packaging, it's VERY simple!

Peel the paper off the HeatnBond.

Fold over all the hems and iron flat.

Now you have these.

You'll need a piece of softboard or something solid you can easily stick pins into.

Draw the size of your window on a sheet of paper and place it on the softboard. Cover this with a piece of waxed paper.

With a needle and thread run a gathering stitch through the top of each curtain.

Pin the curtains on the window you have drawn. Pins with heads are much easier on the fingers!

Pull the fabric from the bottom to make pleats and pin it.

Stick pins in wherever you need to, to get the fabric to stay exactly where you want it. I've done this in a bit of a rush, when you do it you'll make sure the fabric falls perfectly!

Now here's the secret weapon - a can of strong hold hairspray. Yes, that's right HAIRSPRAY. Whatever's cheapest at the supermarket will do!

Spray the pinned fabric until it is quite wet.

Next, because we want results fast, use a hairdryer to dry the fabric. It'll only take a minute or two.

When the fabric is dry you can take all the pins out. Your curtains will be quite stiff and stay just as you have pinned them.

If you hold them up to the light you will see the pinholes. If you scratch a pin over each hole you will be able to move the fabric enough to cover the hole. (Hope you understand that, it was too hard to take a pic of!)

And here is a pic of my rather hastily made curtains hanging in the new lounge. Not completely sure I like that fabric but it will do for a week or two.

So now you know, hairspray is how I got the dresses to drape like that.

And how I got the curtain in the wardrobe door to stay like that.

I have to say I have always been particularly pleased with the way that wardrobe curtain turned out! It works really well for bedding too as you can see at Linda's blog.

According to the lady who showed me how to do this, these things will stay like this for years!

So take your time and have fun!

Mercedes

How I make a mini quilt

Kathi has asked me to show how I make a miniature quilt. She saw the one I made for Sylvia here. I always forget to take photos of the things I send away! Let's not call this a 'tutorial' that implies I know what I'm doing and I don't, lol! This is just how I do it. I'm more of a pictures person when it comes to instructions so I hope you can understand all this.So first you spend an hour or so going through your fabrics to make your selection. For the quilt top I am making here I used 5 different fabrics.

Cut a square from paper just over 1 inch square. Use this as a template to cut 6 squares from each fabric.

Line them all up (I just sewed the first line there to make sure my square was the right size).

Move the fabric squares around until they are in a pattern that you like.

Sew each row together. The seam allowance is the width of the side of the sewing machine foot there. It just makes it easy.

Make sure you keep your rows in order as you sew them (this will save time and confusion later, lol!).

Trim each little seam as close as you dare!

Flatten the seams all in the same direction. If you pull the end square it helps to flatten it out nicely.

Then sew the rows together. Try and get the squares to match up as best you can.

Trim the seams and iron all in the same direction.

Find a fabric to create a frame for the quilt. Cut four strips about an inch wide. The two for the sides should be the length of the quilt. Make sure you cut the top and bottom ones long enough to go across the ends of the side strips.

Sew the side strips on first, then the top and bottom ones.

Place the quilt top on your backing fabric and cut a piece the same size.

Stitch all around the edges leaving a gap at the bottom for turning inside out. Trim the seams.

Turn the quilt inside out. Cut a piece of something soft to fill the quilt with. The stuff I have used here is just cotton wool that comes in a roll, it's very soft. Hand sew the opening closed.

TA DA!!!!

Looks cute folded up on the end of a bed too. Alas, this one isn't staying here, it's going to a friend!

Hope that all makes sense Kathi!

Mercedes