A quick and easy patriotic DIY for the 4th of July

Banners and pennants make festive decorations for inside or outside your home. If you are planning a July 4th or Labor Day party, the red, white and blue banners are the perfect accent for a patriotic theme!

You can easily make banners using Riley Blake fabric panels available from Mary Jo’s Cloth Store. Each 24 x 44 inch panel is printed with seasonal colors and patterns on cotton fabric and is ready to cut and sew. Complimentary fabrics are available for making tablecloths, napkins, placemats and other decorations.

Follow the steps below to make banners for your next celebration!

Each panel will make a banner that is about 60 inches long. Purchase additional panels for larger banners. You can tie them together, or make them as one long piece. Two panels were used for the banner shown here.

Using a rotary cutter and mat, or scissors, cut apart the pieces, cutting along the edge of the printed triangles, and the long strips. You will have matching front and back pieces.

Attach medium weight fusible interfacing to the back of half of the triangle pieces using an iron. Make sure to keep the pieces in matching pairs, adding interfacing to one piece of each pair.

Place each matching triangle piece face to face and sew around the long edges using a ¼-inch seam allowance.  Turn right sides out and press the edges.

Sew together the long strips and sew the top edge of each banner to the strip, using a ¼-inch seam allowance. Leave a tail at each end, and sew all the banners in a row, alternating the colors and patterns.

Press the strip from the front, fold over and topstitch. Your banner is finished and ready to hang. Welcome to the party!

To purchase your own banners, or for more information click here.

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Quilting Classes at Mary Jo’s

Our store has been a flurry of activity with customers buying fabric and supplies to make Christmas gifts and buying gifts for a special sewing someone on their list. 

Our sewing lounge has been humming like Santa’s workshop with students cutting, sewing, laughing and creating beautiful things! 

We thought you would enjoy a peek inside at one of our recent classes, where quilters gathered together to work on this cheerful Christmas tree quilt design.

Class instructor Aimee Griffin has years of experience as a quilter and teacher.  Students love Aimee’s fun personality, enthusiasm and extensive sewing knowledge.  Here Aimee is helping a student with the layout of her quilt pieces.

In our quilting classes you will learn techniques for selecting fabric colors and patterns, how to cut and use your fabric efficiently, sewing methods and the tools and supplies used by quilters to make quilting easier.

One of the exciting parts of attending a class is that you get to be with others who share your love of sewing and quilting.  

It’s fun to chat about your finished (and unfinished!) projects, ooh-and-ahh over fabrics and make new friends. You will be inspired by each other’s creativity!

Would you like to learn to quilt?  We have the perfect class to help you get started!   In addition to quilting, Mary Jo’s also has classes that will teach you how to make clothing, crafts, tote bags, curtains, pillows and more.   Be sure to check the class schedule often, as new classes are added every month or call 704-861-9100 to sign-up today. Click [here] to view the latest class schedule. 

Countdown to Christmas: Faux Fur Throw

We continue our countdown to Christmas with a great gift idea that you can make for your family and friends. Faux fur throws are a hot trend in home décor because they add a texture and romance to any room. 

You will see them them thrown over the back of a sofa, draped over a leather chair or at the foot of a bed. Faux fur throws are the perfect, cozy little blanket for watching television, reading a book or taking a nap. 

To make your own faux fur throw, begin by selecting your favorite faux fur for the front.  There is a tremendous selection at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store, from solid colors to realistic animal prints.  Keep in mind that faux fur with a short pile will be easier to sew, especially if you are inexperienced with sewing faux fur.  

We selected a faux chinchilla that is silky, soft and oh-so irresistible! For the lining we chose a red satin from the Mary Jo’s bridal department. Red is perfect for Christmas, but any color would be lovely.  

If you don’t want to make a color-statement, choose a warm brown or black lining.

Step 1:

Cut a square for the front and back.  We cut this throw 54 inches x 54 inches, which used exactly 1½ yards of the fur and satin material.  Serge the edges of the fur, and the satin if needed.  Mark the center of each side.  Place the fur and satin face-to-face, line up the corners and center marks and pin together.   Then secure in-between the pins, keeping the fur stretched taut between the pins while pinning together.

Step 2: 

Sew around the edges using a ½-inch seam allowance.  (Test stitching on a remnant of fur and satin to determine the best settings for your machine).  Leave a small opening along one side for turning.

Clip corners and turn right sides out.  Hand stitch the opening closed with matching thread. Your fur throw is finished!  

You will want to keep this gift for yourself, or make two, one for you and one for a friend, even your furry friends will love this cozy throw.

Countdown to Christmas: Sew a Stocking

We continue our countdown to Christmas with this fun and easy holiday sewing project.  Christmas stockings are such a special tradition, filled with little surprises from Santa, or to brighten your holiday décor.  

We used felt to make all of the stockings shown.  Felt is easy to work with because it doesn't fray.

And whoa!  Look at all the trimmings that can be used to personalize your stocking.  From pompom fringe to ric-rac, ruffles, braid and ribbon; you will find all this and more at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store.

The pattern shown is drawn on a 1-inch grid.  You can enlarge the pattern if you think Santa is delivering something a little bigger this year, or decrease the size and make mini-stockings for your pets, as tree ornaments or as a party favor, hostess gift or as part of your Christmas table setting.

Step 1: Use the pattern to cut out two pieces for the front and back of your stocking, and two pieces for the lining.  Pin together the lining pieces face-to-face and sew around the sides and foot of the stocking, leaving the top open.  As you sew, leave a 3 to 4 inch opening along one of the sides for turning.  After you are finished do not turn it right sides out – set it aside until the other pieces are sewn.

Step 2: Sew on your trimmings to one, or both sides of your stocking, inset from the top edge.

Step 3: Place the front and back pieces right sides together and sew around the sides and foot, leaving the top open.  Turn right sides out.  Put the stocking front, inside the stocking lining so that they are face to face.  

Step 4: Pin together the top, lining up the seams and sew all the way around.  You can sew a loop of ribbon or cord in the seam during this step, or hand stitch a ring or loop after the stocking is finished.

Step 5: Pull the stocking right sides out through the hole you left in the seam sewn in step 1. 

Step 6: After the stocking face and lining are right sides out, pin together the opening and sew closed.

Step 7: Push the lining into the stocking and press.  You can secure the lining with a few hand stitches if needed.

That’s it!  You can now make fun and creative stockings for your friends and family.  We would love to see pictures.  Please share your stockings on the Mary Jo’s Facebook page so we can share in the holiday sewing spirit.

Or, if you would rather learn how to sew stockings hands-on, we have just the class for you!  Sign up today for Christmas Stockings with instructor Susan Woodcock at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store on Friday, December 6^th from 3 – 6:00 pm. Bring your friends for a fun and creative time together.

Tailored Linen Table Runner

Turkey, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, table décor…. 

What?  TABLE DÉCOR! 

Don’t worry!  You still have time to make beautiful linens for your holiday table.

Sign up today for the “Table Setting” class with Sindy Burgess on Monday, November 4, 2013 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and learn how to make a tablecloth, placemats and napkins. 

Create the perfect look for your dining table from the wide variety of fabrics available at Mary Jo’s Cloth Store.  Turn your table into an elegant affair with velvet, silk and fringe or create a fun, conversation-starter by using quilt fabrics printed with just about theme from food to football.

One of the most popular trends in home décor is to use burlap or linen for table linens.  The woven texture and solid colors give a neutral background for dishes, candles and floral designs. Add antique china and it’s romantic,  pottery and wooden bowls it’s natural and earthy or set the table with square, white plates and platters and it will be chic and modern.

Above is a little inspiration we found online at Facebook.com/OnSuttonPlace.

Here is a simple table runner that you can create with linen, or a linen blend fabric. It features a box pleated ruffle with button details that you will enjoy all year long, not just at Thanksgiving. Use this to decorate your dinning table or buffet, with our without a tablecloth.

Sewing step-by-step:

Measure across your table and add 8 inches.  This is the length you will cut the main piece of the table runner by 16 inches wide (includes seam and hem allowances). 

For the pleated ruffle on each end, cut two pieces 26 inches by 8 inches. 

 1. Sew a doubled ½ inch hem along the edge of one long side and both short sides of the ruffle pieces. 

 2. To create the pleats, fold under 2” on each end and press. Then mark the center and measure 4 inches from the center on each side and fold the fabric to meet in the center, creating a box pleat and press. The ruffle will be 12 inches across.  

3. Place the ruffle pieces face down and centered on each end and pin in place.  Fold the extra fabric on each side over, and then back and pin in place.  

4. Sew the ruffle to the table runner and then serge the raw edges.  

5. Turn the ruffles right sides out and press.  Fold a doubled 1-inch hem down each side of the table runner and sew. 

6. Make 4 covered buttons (or use purchased pearl or wooden buttons) and sew to the center of the pleat on each end.  

Mary Jo’s Spooktacular Halloween Costume Contest

Do you have a DIY Halloween costume this year that is to die for? Enter it in our Mary Jo’s Halloween Costume Contest and secure your bragging rights as the best homemade costume maker in town!

Enter your costume creation into one of these three categories: infant/toddler 0-6, youth/teen 7-16 and adult for those 17 and up. Remember they all have to be handmade costumes in order to win.

Submissions must be sent to maryjocloth@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, to register. Please include your name and the title of your costume in the email. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, it is up to the public to vote for a winner by liking their favorite costume on Mary Jo’s Facebook page. Voting will run until Friday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m.  

The costume with the most likes will be crowned the winner, and awarded a $50 Mary Jo’s gift card.

Remember, if you are looking for a little inspiration we have all the fabric a costume designer needs!

Just like this sweetest scarecrow we have ever seen!  Good thing we have the perfect Tulle to make it: http://whirly.it/TCqnr2

Home Decor Demos Launch this Week at Mary Jo's

We are happy to introduce, Susan Woodcock, owner of HomeDecGal.com, a how-to sewing and decorating resource. Susan will be presenting FREE mini-workshops in our store every second Saturday of the month.  Look for Susan in the home décor department starting at 10:00 am. 

            Caption: French Pleat (left), Goblet Pleat (center) and Euro Pleat (right)

On Saturday, Oct. 12, Susan will display samples of the three most popular drapery pleat styles; French, Goblet and Euro pleats, and demonstrate how to sew and hand-tack each pleat to achieve a beautiful, finished drapery heading.

Take a peek inside any decorating magazine and you will see draperies used more often than any other window treatment.  Why?  Drapery panels look wonderful on almost any window and can be purely decorative or functional; offering light control, privacy and insulation. 

At Mary Jo’s you can select the perfect fabric, lining, trims and hardware to create your own drapery panels, and remember to join Susan on Saturday, Oct. 12, to learn how to add decorative pleats for a professional-looking finish.