Decorative Throw

Decorative throws are very much in vogue and they add a cosy touch to your living room or bedroom. But you don't have to go to the expense of buying one. Instead, use your sewing machine, leftover furnishing fabric and Rita Hill's step by step instructions to run one up for a fraction of the cost!

When choosing your fabrics, check out the bargain bins of curtain and decorator shops. They often give away, or sell for a low cost, end-of-range fabric samples in nicely coordinating colours! Choose fabrics of roughly the same weight. Reject rubber or suede-backed materials, as they're too stiff to work in with the other fabrics. Lacy curtain material isn't appropriate, but it can be stitched on top.

Materials

• 1.8m fabric for base (we've calculated meterage on 140cm wide fabric, so adjust quantities as appropriate)
• 48cm x 5 different fabrics for blocks (at least two plain)
• 5m braid
• 24 x 10mm buttons
• 4 tassels (optional)
• thread
• size 16 machine needle

Template tip: to save time make a template out of firm cardboard and a sheet of sandpaper. Cut a square 24cm x 24cm from both the cardboard and the sandpaper and glue together, sandy side out. Trace this around on the wrong side of the fabric to mark the cutting line for your blocks. The sandpaper grips the fabric and stops it slipping while marking the line.

Method

Note: we have provided for a 2cm seam allowance.

1. From each of the five 'block' fabrics cut seven squares measuring 24cm x 24cm (a total of 35 squares). Lay out the base fabric and play around with the squares to create a random or uniform pattern, five blocks across and seven blocks down.

2. Sew each row of five blocks together, pressing the seams open. Now sew together the seven horizontal strips. Press open the seams. Press under the outside edges all around. Centre the patchwork top on the base fabric, right sides up, and pin together using small safety pins, one for each block.

3. Sew on the buttons at the corners of each square to hold the top and base fabric together, then pin the braid on, covering the edge of the patchwork top and the base fabric; sew into place. Stitch on the tassels at the corner of the braid.

4. The finished-edge (selvedge) sides of the base fabric can be left as is. The shorter ends can be fringed by drawing out a few weft (crosswise) threads until the desired length is reached.   

Costs

This price estimate is based on a throw made with new fabric and buttons - if you use leftover materials your costs will be significantly reduced.

1.8m red jacquard $35.90

5 x 48cm furnishing fabric $39.90

5m braid $16.00

24 x 10mm buttons $ 7.20

Total: $99.00

4 x tassels @ $2.50 (optional) $10

Further information

Rita Hill's article Sew Your Own Throw is featured in the May 2000 edition of the Burke's Backyard Magazine.

Copyright CTC Productions 2000