Thursday 11 December 2008

Latest sewing project . . .

I had a brainwave the other evening, when I was stood shivering by the front door, as it's very draughty despite there being a sand-filled draught-excluder across the bottom.








I had a dig in my huge feed bin full of material and found this gorgeous Medieval-looking piece which was exactly the right size - so exactly in fact that I had to sew some extra material to the top to make it long enough to have a hem. OH and I hit upon the idea of tabs as he found - amongst his souvenirs in the old cart shed - this Victorian mahogany towel rail which was just the right length. I didn't have any plain lining material but I had been given this checked flannelette which was exactly the right width and a bit left over. It makes it really warm. I had bought the cord tieback and tassel when I got the material. As the walls and everything are wonky in this house, I had to allow for this and sew a hem one inch deeper on the left than the right, but it worked out OK. Now I am tempted to start on the new curtains for the kitchen . . .

7 comments:

Sol said...

Oh, My, Gawd! You have read my mind! We have been talking about this very thing. As our hall is absolutely freezing due to the huge expanse of glass either side of our (horrid inherited when buying the house), Front door.

We didnt know what to use as a curtain pole would come out to far from the wall. You guys are so clever. I am so pleased to have seen this post! thank you, thank you thank you!

Kim said...

Coo, that's a sumptuous curtain, and no mistake. I'm not surprised the door is draughty though, I can see daylight around it! It looks gorgeous now, and very in keeping with your house style.

Kim x

Rowan said...

You're very clever to have made this, I love the flannel backing and hopefully it will make a big difference to the draughts for the rest of this winter. Well done DH for the brainwave about the towel rail too!

Bovey Belle said...

The "daylight" Kim is blue paint on the inner part of the door frame. However, underneath the door is a hoooge gap and we regularly have young frogs and newts wandering up the hallway when they are leaving the pond and heading West!

Rowan - I rather liked the flannel backing too, and I hate to see good material go to waste (it's been gathering dust a while, that piece).

Slice of Life - the rail we have got only comes away from the wall about 2 inches and that includes the thickness of the wooden rail. Curtain track would be pretty well hard against the wall.

Willow said...

This is exactly what I need for my back door in the kitchen - but, it's a bit tight for space either side of the door, so I'm worried that, even with the curtain pulled back, I won't be able to open the door - any ideas?
Willow x

thelma said...

Fabulous curtain Jennie, sadly we live in a modern house, so such a beautiful curtain is not needed.
Willow I suppose you could tie the curtain loosely in the middle with a cord. There used to be a craze for 'frou-frou' curtains that you could pull up from the top, never saw it as working myself though...

Bovey Belle said...

When the wind is howling under the door Thelma, sometimes, just sometimes, I wish we lived in a modern house too! The whole door is skew-whiff!

Willow - years ago, in Country Living or something similar, I saw a curtain hanger for a small cottage window which was on a pivot, so you could pull it round against the wall during the hours of daylight. Something similar for your curtain (esp. if you have a clever husband?)