Sewing Projects for the Kitchen
Matching curtains and accessories for a room makeover
Sew up some new curtains and a coordinating set of kitchen accessories to give your kitchen a cozy new look.
If you can’t afford new granite countertops, don’t despair. Turn to your sewing machine. Just make some new curtains and a coordinating collection of kitchen accessories to give your kitchen a cozy new look.
Start by making some new café curtains. It’s like a breath of fresh air for the room.
Once that is done, begin with the small accessories you need, such as new pot holders, and oven mitts. Because these will be exposed to heat, use cotton batting rather than polyester.
Also, sew a matching cover for your toaster. If your blender and mixer are displayed on the kitchen counter, create attractive cover-ups for these as well. If you’re a tea drinker, you could even make a tea cozy. Those who wear aprons will want to sew some of those as well.
With eat-in kitchens, some new tablecloths and placemats can brighten a room. These are quick and easy to make. New chair covers would also help.
Choosing Fabrics for These Projects
For these projects, choose good quality, durable fabrics that will wear well. In this case, lightweight polyester just won’t do. When you’re using cotton, check the label to see whether it is preshrunk. If not, do this before starting on these sewing projects.
Most fabric shops will have a number of choices within each line of fabric. For example, there might be a large-scale print showing a country scene with sheep and chickens interspersed with checkerboards here and there. Coordinating prints in this fabric line would repeat certain motifs and colors from the larger print. This allows you to choose one print for the valance and a matching, small-scale print for the café curtain panels and the kitchen accessories. Using one color or pattern for the entire kitchen would likely be overwhelming.
Choose colors and patterns to suit your sensibilities. For some individuals, a country look with cows or sunflowers might seem heavenly. This is simply a matter of personal taste. Just make sure you can live with the choice you’ve made day in and day out. A timeless theme, such as flowers or fruits, always works well.
Different Levels of Sewing Skills Required
Of all these projects, the easiest to sew are the café curtains, pot holders, and table covers. The oven mitt and apron are a bit more challenging since the pieces are curved. The cover ups for toasters and other kitchen aids will require the most sewing skill. These must be carefully fitted to the appliance you have in mind. For that reason, beginners might want to buy commercial patterns, which are widely available. Another option is to save articles from magazines or other sources that have pattern pieces and step-by-step instructions.
