Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (5 page)

b.
Thread a doll-maker’s needle with a double strand of carpet or upholstery thread.

c.
Tie the ends of the thread to the loop on the back of the covered button.
(
FIGURE 6C
)

d.
Push the needle down into the Floor Cushion at the first mark you made, pulling the covered button onto the front of the cushion.

e.
Then, on the back of the Floor Cushion, stitch through the back plate of the button. Take the needle back up through the cushion again, stitch through the loop in the covered button, and push the needle through the cushion one more time. Pull the thread to pull the 2 buttons together, creating the tuft.
(
FIGURE 6E
)

f.
Knot the thread securely on the back flat button and clip the ends of the thread.

g.
To finish, repeat steps 6c through 6f to attach the remaining buttons to the Floor Cushion.
(
FIGURE 6G
)

FIGURE 2B

FIGURE 2D

FIGURE 2F

FIGURE 4B SMALL CUSHION

FIGURE 4B LARGE CUSHION

FIGURE 6C

FIGURE 6E

FIGURE 6G

KITTY TUNNEL

FINISHED SIZE: 18″ TALL × 36″ LONG

My cats have always loved to tunnel under my quilts when they’re draped over the couch. I got this idea after I had cleaned cat hair off of it for the umpteenth time! Lined with fake fur, this irresistible tunnel has an adjustable drawstring that can be closed for a cozy nest, or left open for a great pass-through. My feline friends now have a perfect location for their mischief, and I no longer have to vacuum fur off my couch!

FABRICS

• 1
³
/
₈
yards (44″-wide) heavyweight cotton fabric for the exterior

• 1
¹
/
₈
yards (58″-wide) fake fur for the lining

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Coordinating thread

• Yardstick

• Chalk pencil or fabric marker

• Scissors

• Straight pins

• Large safety pin

NOTES

• All seams are
¹
/
₂
″ unless otherwise stated. (The
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.)

• Preshrink your exterior fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project. (Do not prewash the fake fur.)

Step 1. Cut out all pieces from the fabric.

First, simply measure and mark the dimensions below directly onto the
Wrong
side of the fabric, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil. Then, using your scissors, cut out each panel following the marked lines.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE EXTERIOR

• Cut 1 drawstring: 4″ wide × 49″ long

• Cut 1 main panel: 37″ wide × 37″ long

FROM THE FUR FABRIC FOR THE LINING

• Cut 1 main panel: 37″ wide × 37″ long

Step 2. Make the exterior tunnel with an opening on one end for the drawstring.

Fold the exterior main panel in half lengthwise with the
Right
sides together, matching up the side raw edges, and pin them in place. Starting at the top raw edge of the folded panel, using your yardstick and chalk pencil, measure
³
/
₄
″ down the side raw edge and make a mark.

Measure down again 1
¹
/
₂
″ and make another mark. Now, starting at the top raw edge, stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam from the top raw edge to the first mark you made (
³
/
₄
″ down), backstitching at each end. Then, leave a 1
¹
/
₂
″ space and begin stitching at the second mark you made (1
¹
/
₂
″ down from the first). Continue to stitch the rest of the side seam down the length of the panel, backstitching at each end. Press the seam allowance open.
(
FIGURE 2
)

Step 3. Finish the opening for the drawstring casing.

On the
Wrong
side of the exterior main panel, topstitch
*
with a
¹
/
₈
″ seam completely around the 1
¹
/
₂
″ opening on the side seam, and backstitch at each end and across the top and bottom of the opening for added reinforcement.
(
FIGURE 3
)

*
See page 172
for an explanation of topstitching.

FIGURE 2