Crafts with patterns: Adding pizzazz to any room

What's New, May/Jun 1998 by Weiser, Christine

SHARON HAD BEEN STARing at the same tired comforter, the same drab curtains, the same dull pillows since she was 10. When she started a Family and Consumer Sciences course, she was introduced to something she hadn't known about: craft patterns. These patterns allowed her to create everything from new curtains to a chair cover to colorful pillows.

Here is a look at some of the latest craft patterns students can easily accomplish.

Home Decorating Patterns

Pattern companies have extensive and fun lines of home decorating and craft items.

Butterick (212/620-2500) has introduced "Fast & Easy" Home Dec styles. The first in the series is a package of Reversible Window Valences, which allow sewers to reverse the fabric for seasonal change. Vogue (212/620-2500) welcomes a new designer, DeBare Saunders. The first package in the Saunders Series features simple, but elegant sheer window treatments. Vogue's current home decorating line showcases country elegance in classic valence styles sure to brighten any room (#5505). Also available are fresh, beautiful slipcovers for sofas, chairs and ottomans (#5293). There is a variety of easy, fun pillow and quilt designs to toss on sofas or chairs (#5291). Looking for a versatile, practical way to get organized? Check out Vogue's #2081, a chair cover with pockets, a hanging magazine holder and more.

Simplicity (212/372-0500) offers an entire catalog filled with home decorating and craft patterns. Whether your taste runs from country elegance to seaside themes to classic favorites, Simplicity has an easy pattern to accompany your palette. Simplicity's easy-to-sew Futon Cover (#7966) converts from a couch to a bed. Make windows wonderful with a variety of panels and stylish valences with Simplicity's line of Country Window Dressings (#8052). There are also Classic Window Treatments (#7885) that include terrific new valences and panels for windows 36" - 40".

The Home Collection from McCalls Pattern Company (212/465-6800) includes many beautiful designs to brighten a home or just one room. For summer, dress up patio furniture with colorful fabric, using the #9258 pattern to cover chairs, tables and seat cushions. A similar pattern, #9391, includes pattern pieces and instructions to make cushions, covers and throw pillows for a sofa, chair, chaise, bench and ottoman for wood, wicker and wrought iron furniture. McCall's Home Dec-ina-SecT Window Treatments, #9259, includes valence designs that can be completed between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

Easy Pillow Projects

Pillows are fun, easy to sew and always make a positive introduction to home decorating for young people. Many of the sewing kit companies make pillow construction even easier by providing all the materials students need along with clear instructions.

Haan Craft's catalog (800/4226548) is rich with pillow designs that can be used to brighten up any bedroom. For the sports fan, choose Haan's 14" Licensed Fur Pillow. These simple-to-make pillows are pre-cut so you can put one together in no time. Licensed college pillows include logos from most major universities. Some have silkscreened logos and others come with iron-on embroidered badges.

LAMA (800/876-8870) has a contemporary, fun line of decorator fabrics for their pillows. Designs include a country splash of sunflowers, cartoonish kitties and picnicky gingham crawling with ants. LAMA's travel pillow is great to wrap behind students necks to provide neck support in the car or while lounging at the beach or pool.

An adorable line of Autograph Flanimals pillows are the latest addition to the Pineapple Appeal family (800/321-3041). These autographable critters are made with flannel fabric. Designs include a platypus, lobster, crab, frog, lizard fish or turtle. Students can use similar flannel to create simple patch pillows in navy and green or a mixture of fabrics.

Sew Kits by Lida (800/8825487) offers simple pillow designs for the beginning sewer. The new Traffic Pillow design are sure to be a hit with young students, featuring eye-catching warnings - Stop, One Way, Detour, Do Not Enter and a Traffic Light - on a simple black pillow.

To Sew's (800/824-5278) popular cartoon pillow kits remain a student favorite with colorful designs like Cyclops, Cat and Mouse, Snake and the Grass and Dinosaur. For the sports-minded in your class, choose pillow kits like baseball bats, footballs, inline skates or football helmets.

After trying out a few of these simple patterns, young people will learn just how easy it is to combine crafts with their own unique style. And then they want to create more.

Christine Weiser is the editor of What's New magazine.