Monday, July 16, 2012

reunion and lucy's crab shack kitchen towels

I love making a kitchen/guest bath towel for each line of sweetwater fabric that comes out.  They add interest in what ever room I choose to put them in.  

I'm perfecting the kitchen towel tutorial I use, for my own selfish reasons.  I want a fast, clear path when it comes time to making the next.  



The fishing line method to making ruffles is MUCH faster.  Just sew a zig zag down your gather line, running over a strand of fishing line.  (leave a good 5 inches hanging out the start).






Position the beginning of ruffle on towel and clamp in place, including (especially) your fishing line.  Pull the fabric until the gathers match your desired length.  Then clamp the other end.  Even out the ruffles and pin in place. 



 Draw a pre-measured line to save time.  Sew ruffle in place.  Pull out fishing line.   Work your project so that you rarely have to cut the fishing line.  I've been using the same spool for 25 years!






I've been watching a robin's nest outside my sewing room (aka dinning room) window with 3 baby birds the past few days.  Each day they have a bit more fuzz and seem a little more anxious to stretch their wings and "fly the coop".    A little gift to let me know I'm loved from above.


Linking to:

Manic Monday and  Little Quilt Monday

5 comments:

  1. I have a thing for kitchen towels....love your fishing line method for ruffles!
    I am a bird lover, and agree that you are blessed to have such a sweet sight in view of your sewing space : )

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  2. i adore the kitchen towels!! the ruffles are so sweet!!

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  3. followed you here from flickr :) and your fishing line method is so smart. Hope you don't mind that I pinned you? :)

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  4. Thanks for the tip on clamping the fishing line. I use heavy duty quilting thread, but have never thought of clamping the end!

    Mrs.Hearts

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