Sandbag House Reno Project: One table cloth, a pair of curtains make...

The sewing machine is still out. Part of the sorting associated with this project included table cloths: a number that have not been used. For years. But which fabric, I still like, which is good and could be used elsewhere.

This time, the stoep cushions got the - long overdue - treatment. The selected fabric - an African print - one of The Husband and my early buys - from the Greenpoint market after moving into our first forever home which had a proper dining room table.

So last Monday's cushions are for me. Not The Corner.

Then, because I was on a roll, I also made padded bedside mats for The Corner. No, not from an old table cloth, but old shantung curtains that have been languishing in a box for 25 years: they came out of my parents' flat in Brookshaw Home, Grahamstown.

Yes, so far, the sewing's been just been straight stitching, but these projects have begun resuscitating old thinking patterns: for the cushions, to get all six out, I had to join some pieces and cut and fold so that instead of zips, the covers have just two seams and slip on and off like pillow cases.

For the mats, it was a case (ha!) of making a casing, getting the layers right, turning the right side out and getting the edges as sharp and straight as possible. I found myself pinning, tacking (yes, really!) and pressing as part of the process. I did think it might have been overkill, but had I not, I don't think I would have been as happy with the finished product.

Yes, they took nearly all afternoon, while the cutting of five (from a first stab which became the pattern) and finishing off all six cushions, took just the (interrupted) morning.

Oh, and because there were originally nine cushions on the stoep, there are still inners that need attention before they get new covers. Yes, I have a plan. Let's see if it pans out.

I've not taken the next step with that plan. RL had other ideas: weekend overnight guests and a summer cold. And (happily) work...

Until next time

Post script

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