Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Flat Flange Edging Tutorial (Deployment Projects #154-157)

Have you noticed flat flange edging?  I’ve been seeing it everywhere and I really like it!  I love the simple yet sophisticated look of it.  Such a clean line, custom look.  I’ve been throwing it in on some of my projects lately.  And some of you have sent me questions asking about it, so I thought I would do a little tutorial on flat flange edging!IMG_5330

First, some inspiring photos of flat flange.  Let me just throw it out there that these are all pictures I have ripped out of magazines, so a. the quality isn’t that great and b. I have no clue where I got them from, but I can’t take credit for them :)

 

couch0002couch0003couch0005        Here’s how you do it:

1. We have to start by making the flat flange.  Start by cutting 2” wide strips of your fabric.

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2.  Sew all your strips into one long strip.  The easiest way to do this, is to overlap your two pieces at a 90 degree angle.

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3.  Sew diagonally across the two pieces.

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This will form a little triangle seam…

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Trim off the extra triangle of fabric.

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4.  Iron your entire strip in half

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Just match up the edges and iron down the length of your trim

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5.  Now it’s time to make the pillow with the flat flange.  Cut out your front and back pillow fabric, adding 1 1/2” to the size of your insert on both the length and width - - this will be your seam allowance.

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6.  For this pillow, I am attaching a zipper closure, so I folded and ironed a 1” edge along one side.

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7.  fold the rough edge inside and iron to give it a finished edge.

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Grab your zipper

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And….here’s a little trick of mine.  To attach my zippers, I love to use my double cording foot.   I simply center the zipper under one of the channels of the zipper foot and it slides along like there is nothing there at all!

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8.  With your sewing machine, sew along the edge of one side of the zipper - - letting the zipper slide through the channel of your cording foot.

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9.  Attach the other piece of fabric to the opposite side of your zipper (this is why I like to use the double cording foot, because I can just let the zipper slide under the opposite channel.

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10.  Now you have one big rectangle of fabric connected by a zipper in the middle!  Fold this in half, right sides together.  Make sure your zipper is opened at least 6”.

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11.  You are going to make a sandwich.  With your rough edge of the flat flange facing out and starting with the flange between the opened edge of your zipper.  Your front and back pieces (right sides together) are the bread, and your flat flange is the peanut butter!

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12.  Now, all you have to do is sew around the three sides of your pillow, using a 3/4” seam.  Now, look at how the corner is pinned closely.  I just freehand folded and pinned as I got to each corner.  You don’t need to accordion fold it as much as I did, you can just fold it and make it a 90 degree turn.  Because there is a zipper all along the bottom, you only have to sew the three sides.  If you wanted edging along the zipper, you could have just added that in as you were sewing the zipper on.

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And, here’s your finished pillow!  So cute isn’t it?!?

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I just finished these pillows, duvet cover, and chair cushion for one of my friends.  Her daughter is growing up and needed a “more mature” look for her room.  I used the flat flange edging on all of these projects.  The stripes along the duvet cover are also flat flange.

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Are you inspired to go and try doing it yourself now?

10 comments:

1 Funky Woman said...

Super cute as always and I love the fabric! The added detail on the bedding is wonderful too!

Debbie K (aka Midnight Rambler) said...

OMG! I LOVE your ironing board cover! I've never seen one like that before! How ingenious is that?! :o)

Lindsey Stewart said...

I just found your blog and seriously have spent the last few days reading every single post...I am a beginner sewer but am sooo inspired by all of your projects! Your tutorials are great-thanks so much :)

jerriann said...

Hi, I am your newest follower and I am on a quest to learn how to sew. Well first I have to buy the sewing machine! I have wanted to sew since I was a little girl. Your blog is a great place to get some inspiration and I love the tutorials you give. Thank you so much.

By the way, you do have a very handsome husband and adorable children. Thank you and your beautiful family for serving our country. My son is in the Army and I understand as a mother what it is like to have him overseas. I have no idea what it is like as a wife with young children, though. But you are an inspiration to us all on how to keeps our hands busy.

You are a Proverbs 31 woman.

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Love...love...love! You need too come live with me and help me with some projects;)...please;)?!

Happy 4th!
Cathy

Cheryl said...

Oh wow! You listen to your readers. Thanks so much for sharing how to do this. You explained it clearly with great pics and love the tip with the double cording foot. Very clever.

Zandra said...

I am trying to find this foot (double cording) for my sewing machine, but what size to i buy. I am seeing 1/8, 1/4 I'm so confused. The idea you shared, putting in the zipper using the double cording foot, thank you so much. I always wondered how'd they do that, know I know. Also love that ironing board cover, where can those be purchased?
I really enjoy your blog and sharing your ideas. Gods blessing on you and your family and prayers of safe keeping for your husband.

Thank you,
Zandra

Amy {Design Intervention} said...

Zandra - - Hope you come back and look for the answer to your question!!! The 1/4 inch one should work out just fine. Standard welting is 3/16" so the 1/4" will allow for your fabric as well as your cording!! Good luck!!

Susie Q said...

Wow. How easy is that? I have to be a new follower and will join in when you make your return.

Welcome home to (very) handsome hubby and thank all of you for your service. My oldest is currently stationed in Ft. Lewis, WA...deploying in the spring...we think. He's a mental health specialist and wants to get out ther and help 'his guys'.

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I just bought some lace panels and decided that I want to make them into balloon shades because they'd look better on my windows. I'm not sure how to put the edging across the bottom since they are scalloped at the bottom? Do you have any tutorials on how to do this or would you be able to advise? I did see your deployment project #!48 & #149 on making a balloon curtain from a panel. However, I am trying to find any and all information on how to go about doing this with a scalloped bottom, but haven't seen much on the web. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much! (:

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