Liberty Home Sewing

The Book of Home Sewing

dressmaker’s paper sewing kit sewing machine

despite its long history as a leading textile design house

and retailer, Liberty has yet to produce its own inspirational book of home sewing. That is set to change. This sumptuous book has been created to showcase Liberty Art Fabrics, to inspire the reader with their versatility and to provide irresistible original designs for the home.

Divided into three chapters – Essential, Organisation and Luxury – this book contains projects ranging from practical fold-up shopping bags to elegant cushions, through handy display boards and slipcovers to indulgent kimonos, beanbags and throws. Variations are included for many projects so the core collection is in fact an inexhaustible resource of ideas. This book offers the opportunity to add an element of Liberty style using as much or as little Liberty fabric as you choose.

Introduction Essentials Tote bag • Scatter cushions • Sugarbag doorstop • Eco-friendly shopper • Simple curtain • Cook’s apron • Toiletry bags • Roll-up blind • Round cushion Organisation Keepsake board • Jewellery roll • Drawstring bags • Padded gadget case • Peacock pincushion • Book covers Luxury Beanbag • Corsage • Rose cushion • Padded bench seat • Frilly pinny • Silk kimono • Lampshade • Flower throw • Cot quilt • Brick quilt Sewing Basics • Glossary of fabrics • Technical glossary • Resources • Acknowledgements

Quadrille Publishing Ltd

Alhambra House 27–31 Charing Cross Road London WC2H 0LS www.quadrille.co.uk £20.00 Cloth-bound hardback 978 184400 976 3 160pp 253 x 201mm Over 30,000 words, including 25 projects Over 50 colour photographs Over 80 colour artworks Publication September 2011

While respecting the essential timelessness of the Liberty brand, the projects present a modern way of using the prints for a contemporary take on home furnishings. They include both core items as well as more special designs but they are all characterised by the imaginative use of fabric with often unexpected combinations of colour and pattern. The projects in this book all showcase Liberty fabrics to maximum effect.

Since the 1880s Liberty has produced its iconic Art Fabrics.

Today, just as 100 years ago, Liberty Art Fabrics is synonymous with superlative quality. Shopping at Liberty is an experience to savour: artful displays, exciting collections and luxe labels all add to a wonderfully eccentric atmosphere. In 2010 Liberty was voted number one in Time Out’s list of London’s 50 best shops. Showcasing the best of Liberty Art Fabrics, the projects in this book have been realised and instructions written by Lucinda Ganderton, an experienced designer.

dressmaker’s paper sewing kit sewing machine

despite its long history as a leading textile design house

and retailer, Liberty has yet to produce its own inspirational book of home sewing. That is set to change. This sumptuous book has been created to showcase Liberty Art Fabrics, to inspire the reader with their versatility and to provide irresistible original designs for the home.

Divided into three chapters – Essential, Organisation and Luxury – this book contains projects ranging from practical fold-up shopping bags to elegant cushions, through handy display boards and slipcovers to indulgent kimonos, beanbags and throws. Variations are included for many projects so the core collection is in fact an inexhaustible resource of ideas. This book offers the opportunity to add an element of Liberty style using as much or as little Liberty fabric as you choose.

Introduction Essentials Tote bag • Scatter cushions • Sugarbag doorstop • Eco-friendly shopper • Simple curtain • Cook’s apron • Toiletry bags • Roll-up blind • Round cushion Organisation Keepsake board • Jewellery roll • Drawstring bags • Padded gadget case • Peacock pincushion • Book covers Luxury Beanbag • Corsage • Rose cushion • Padded bench seat • Frilly pinny • Silk kimono • Lampshade • Flower throw • Cot quilt • Brick quilt Sewing Basics • Glossary of fabrics • Technical glossary • Resources • Acknowledgements

Quadrille Publishing Ltd

Alhambra House 27–31 Charing Cross Road London WC2H 0LS www.quadrille.co.uk £20.00 Cloth-bound hardback 978 184400 976 3 160pp 253 x 201mm Over 30,000 words, including 25 projects Over 50 colour photographs Over 80 colour artworks Publication September 2011

While respecting the essential timelessness of the Liberty brand, the projects present a modern way of using the prints for a contemporary take on home furnishings. They include both core items as well as more special designs but they are all characterised by the imaginative use of fabric with often unexpected combinations of colour and pattern. The projects in this book all showcase Liberty fabrics to maximum effect.

Since the 1880s Liberty has produced its iconic Art Fabrics.

Today, just as 100 years ago, Liberty Art Fabrics is synonymous with superlative quality. Shopping at Liberty is an experience to savour: artful displays, exciting collections and luxe labels all add to a wonderfully eccentric atmosphere. In 2010 Liberty was voted number one in Time Out’s list of London’s 50 best shops. Showcasing the best of Liberty Art Fabrics, the projects in this book have been realised and instructions written by Lucinda Ganderton, an experienced designer.

Round Cushion

This sumptuous circular cushion is surprisingly easy to sew and would make an impressive-looking project for a novice.

It is made from twelve narrow strips of Tana Lawn and filled with a soft feather pad... and there’s not a curved seam in sight. The three fabrics – one light, one mid-tone and one dark – have very different designs but they share the same colour palette, and so work harmoniously together.

You will need

• • • • •

60 x 55cm Liberty Tana Lawn in three different designs matching sewing thread 45cm diameter x 5cm deep cushion pad 2 x 5cm buttons buttonhole thread

Cutting out

•

Each panel measures 14 x 54cm. Cut four panels from each of the three fabrics.

•

48

If your fabric has a directional design, be sure to cut out the panels so that the print runs along the lengthways grain.

essentials

Round Cushion

This sumptuous circular cushion is surprisingly easy to sew and would make an impressive-looking project for a novice.

It is made from twelve narrow strips of Tana Lawn and filled with a soft feather pad... and there’s not a curved seam in sight. The three fabrics – one light, one mid-tone and one dark – have very different designs but they share the same colour palette, and so work harmoniously together.

You will need

• • • • •

60 x 55cm Liberty Tana Lawn in three different designs matching sewing thread 45cm diameter x 5cm deep cushion pad 2 x 5cm buttons buttonhole thread

Cutting out

•

Each panel measures 14 x 54cm. Cut four panels from each of the three fabrics.

•

48

If your fabric has a directional design, be sure to cut out the panels so that the print runs along the lengthways grain.

essentials

1 With right sides facing, pin the first two panels together along one long edge. Machine stitch, leaving a 1cm seam allowance. Join the third panel to the right edge of the second strip in the same way.

2 Add the remaining nine panels, repeating the same sequence of three fabrics to form a repeating pattern.

3 Seam the first and twelfth panels together to form a cylinder. Press all the seams open.

7 Using a double length of buttonhole thread and a long crewel needle (with a large eye and sharp point), sew one of the buttons to the centre front so it covers the gathering point. Carefully push the needle straight through to the back, so it comes out at the centre of the gathers. You’ll need to squeeze up the cushion pad to do this, and you may find a thimble helps you poke the needle right through.

Take it further

You can give your cushion a bolder, more stripey look by using just two different fabrics: one light and one dark.

8 Sew on the button and push the needle back to the front. Pull the thread so that the buttons sink right into the cushion, then wind it around the front button and fasten off.

4 Thread a needle with a 1m length of sewing thread. Sew a line of long running stitches around the cylinder, 1cm in from one edge. Gather the fabric gently as you go.

5 When you have sewn all around the edge, pull up the thread tightly. Stitch through the gathers several times to secure, then fasten off the thread.

6 Turn the cover right side out. Place the cushion pad inside and adjust the position so that it lies perfectly centrally. Gather up the top edge as before.

Push the raw edges through to the wrong side of the cover and finish off securely.

•

The mother-of-pearl buttons, which once fastened an Edwardian coat, provide the focal point of the cushion. Look out for similar vintage buttons to match your chosen fabrics, or go for a contemporary alternative in resin, wood or metal.

50

essentials

essentials

51

1 With right sides facing, pin the first two panels together along one long edge. Machine stitch, leaving a 1cm seam allowance. Join the third panel to the right edge of the second strip in the same way.

2 Add the remaining nine panels, repeating the same sequence of three fabrics to form a repeating pattern.

3 Seam the first and twelfth panels together to form a cylinder. Press all the seams open.

7 Using a double length of buttonhole thread and a long crewel needle (with a large eye and sharp point), sew one of the buttons to the centre front so it covers the gathering point. Carefully push the needle straight through to the back, so it comes out at the centre of the gathers. You’ll need to squeeze up the cushion pad to do this, and you may find a thimble helps you poke the needle right through.

Take it further

You can give your cushion a bolder, more stripey look by using just two different fabrics: one light and one dark.

8 Sew on the button and push the needle back to the front. Pull the thread so that the buttons sink right into the cushion, then wind it around the front button and fasten off.

4 Thread a needle with a 1m length of sewing thread. Sew a line of long running stitches around the cylinder, 1cm in from one edge. Gather the fabric gently as you go.

5 When you have sewn all around the edge, pull up the thread tightly. Stitch through the gathers several times to secure, then fasten off the thread.

6 Turn the cover right side out. Place the cushion pad inside and adjust the position so that it lies perfectly centrally. Gather up the top edge as before.

Push the raw edges through to the wrong side of the cover and finish off securely.

•

The mother-of-pearl buttons, which once fastened an Edwardian coat, provide the focal point of the cushion. Look out for similar vintage buttons to match your chosen fabrics, or go for a contemporary alternative in resin, wood or metal.

50

essentials

essentials

51

Frilly Pinny A touch of old-fashioned glamour never goes amiss, so take your cue from the not-so-desperate housewives of the 1950s and run up a frilly pinny for yourself or your best friend.

Kitchen chores are a breeze when you are clad in Tana Lawn roses! To complete the look, button a handy potholder to the waistband in true vintage American style.

You will need

• 60 x 50cm Liberty Tana Lawn in main design • 45 x 50cm white cotton fabric for backing • 136 x 25cm Liberty Tana Lawn in contrasting design matching sewing thread • quilting thread • • button Cutting out

• Cut 1 apron and 2 frills from main fabric • Cut 1 pocket and 2 110 x 12cm ties from the contrast fabric Cut • 1 apron from white cotton

pocket

APRON

104

luxury

scale 1 square: 2.5cm

Frilly Pinny A touch of old-fashioned glamour never goes amiss, so take your cue from the not-so-desperate housewives of the 1950s and run up a frilly pinny for yourself or your best friend.

Kitchen chores are a breeze when you are clad in Tana Lawn roses! To complete the look, button a handy potholder to the waistband in true vintage American style.

You will need

• 60 x 50cm Liberty Tana Lawn in main design • 45 x 50cm white cotton fabric for backing • 136 x 25cm Liberty Tana Lawn in contrasting design matching sewing thread • quilting thread • • button Cutting out

• Cut 1 apron and 2 frills from main fabric • Cut 1 pocket and 2 110 x 12cm ties from the contrast fabric Cut • 1 apron from white cotton

pocket

APRON

104

luxury

scale 1 square: 2.5cm

The Book of Home Sewing