Wednesday 6 March 2013

It's tea cosy time!

I can't believe how long it is since I last blogged.  Recently several people have asked me how I made the tea cosies with the applique on.


Here goes:

2 - 6.5" x 10.5" in the main colour (A)
2 - 10.5" x 10.5" in lining (B)
4 - 2.5" x 10.5" in contrast colour 1 (C) for ruffles
4 - 1.5" x 10.5" in contrast colour 2 (D) for casing
2 - 10.5 x 10.5 in heat resistant wadding (E)
2 yards of   ribbon

1.      One or both of the (A) panels are the ones you will work on and you can apply you applique on to this/these.  If you are going to embroider you will want to do this at this time or you could quilt when you have the "sandwich" put together.

2.      For the front and the back, pin the top and bottom panels (C) to the centre section (MC) and stitch.  Press the seams.

3.      Pin the wadding (E) to wrong side of front and back keeping the edges even, tack.  Stitch along the lower edge for opening.

4.      For the lining, pin one (B) to the front and one (B) to the back with right sides facing. Stitch round the side, top, and side leaving the bottom open.

5.      Turn right sides out, press and hand-stitch the opening.

6.      Take the casings (D) and turn in and press ¼ edge at each end and press. Then turn in and press¼ edge on both sides (like bias binding).  Top stitch or hand stitch along each long edge with (D) centred over the join between (A) and (C).

7.      The instructions I have say thread half the ribbon through the top front and back and half through the bottom front and back and tie one bow at the top and one at the bottom.  I like to cut the ribbon long enough to tie four bows but it would depend on your design and the design of the fabric which looked best. 

Have fun and I look forward to seeing what you make.  Happy sewing!