When I went to high school, there was a class called Home Economics that covered both sewing and cooking. I always passed but was not among the best and the brightest. It’s my theory that my teachers gave me a passing grade out of pity for my lack of natural talent or simply because they wanted to see the back of me.
No matter. I learned how to thread a sewing machine and fill a bobbin. When I was newly married, my mother, who thought every girl should aspire to domestic greatness, bought me a sewing machine. I learned how to sew a simple pair of curtains but mostly, the machine sat idle except for mending the occasional seam on a pair of hubby’s work pants.
There are all manner of different materials at the dollar store; everything from tea towels to placemats to small rugs, that can be repurposed to make other things for your home. Don’t worry if you don’t have a sewing machine. Just pick up some fabric glue.
Repurposing Material From the Dollar Store
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Easy-to-Make Cushion Covers
Supplies Used and Recommendations:
Over the years, when I did get the itch to stitch, it had to be something simple. Cushion covers can be made from cloth napkins. No measuring, no cutting – just face the right sides in, sew along three sides, pop the cushion in and stitch up the remaining opening.
Even someone with stunted sewing skills like me, can do this. I took the idea to the dollar store and discovered that you can get cloth napkins for cheap.
Then, reasoning that I could probably use the same idea with other materials from the dollar store, I created an oblong cushion cover by joining two tapestry placemats. This time, the stitching was done with the patterns facing out, so when stitched or glued together, a ¼” border is created. You can do this with hemmed napkins as well. Stuff with old pillow batting of recover a worn cushion.
The beauty of being able to recover cushions so easily and cheaply is that you can change them with the seasons or just on a whim.
Kitchen Tea Towel Valance
- cotton tea towels in prefered pattern
When I saw these striped tea towels, I wondered if they couldn’t be fashioned into a new window treatment for the kitchen. After all, what’s more at home in the kitchen than a tea towel?
Three tea towels were used for this 43″- wide window. I chose the striped pattern because it’s perfect for a casual kitchen and there was no need for cutting. The vertical lines meant I could just follow one of them in order to sew a straight line.
Create a rod pocket by laying out the tea towel length-wise, turning over the top edge (side of tea towel) about 3″ and sewing (or gluing) along the original hem. About 1 ½” from the top, complete another line of stitching to create the rod pocket and top ruffle.
My cheap valance may not have been up to Home Economics class standards, but it suited the purpose admirably and I was very happy with the finished project.
