One of my favorite trends right now is the high-low skirt.  I love how the longer tail of this skirt creates a carefree vibe and stylish touch.  The design is really easy to sew, making it the perfect DIY for this week.

The color is this brilliant new orange shade from our new lightweight linen, called Melon.  I can't get over this color and I am completely obsessed with this style.

I am really excited to share this latest linen project with you all and hope you enjoy it as well.  You may use the pattern I've provided to make this skirt your own! Adding your own creative flair will create a unique new article of clothing to your wardrobe for the Spring season!

Materials: 

• Linen.  I ordered and used two yards of IL020 in Melon.
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• pattern paper
• 1" wide elastic
• safety pin
• measuring tape

This is the pattern I used and it will create two separate pieces; one for the front and for the back.  Cut this from a big piece of pattern paper.

Place each piece (the front and back patterns) along the fold of your fabric where the dotted line indicates to do so.  The fold should be made at a bias, meaning you just need to fold and cut your fabric diagonally (rather that straight up or down) this will make the skirt fall and flow better.

To make the measurement for your waist, measure you waist with the measuring tape.   Divide the number you get by two and then add this result number to your original waist measurement.  For example, if you measure your waist at 30" then add 15 to this in order to get your final waist measurement of 45"

The measurement is larger than your actually waist size because the elastic.  It will all fit when everything is done!

Create a small hem along the bottom by folding the linen in less then a 1/4 inch and making a seam all the way around the skirt.  Make the seam as close to the bottom edge as you can and then trim off the remainder fabric.

Fold the seam you made over once more and create another seam.  This is an easy way to make a tiny hem along the bottom of your skirt.

The waist of the skirt is really easy to do!  Just cut a 3.5 inch wide piece of linen in the same color.  The length should correspond to the waist measurement you made earlier.

Cut a length of 1 inch wide elastic to fit your waist.  It should feel rather tight and be slightly stretched.

Fold the strip of fabric in half and sew the open edges to the top of the skirt.

 

Leave a small opening where the two ends of the strip meet.  This is where the elastic will slip though. (I used the outerlock machine for this seam as well)

Secure a safety pin onto one end of the elastic and work its way around the entire waist.  Don't lose hold of the other end! It'll be hard trying to reach for it if it slips in.

When the safety pinned side comes out the other side, sew the ends of the elastic together and stitch the opening shut.  Play with the waist fabric and elastic so everything is scrunched up evenly.

I made an additional seam along the center of the waistband for a subtle detail.

I love how the linen falls on this skirt!

Gorgeous!  There are so many colors I want to make this in.  I might try longer or shorter styles in the future, which will be super easy now that I have a basic pattern all ready.

Today's post is all about having fun with different shades of blue linen in order to make a useful and beautiful additions to your dining table.  Blue is the perfect color to use to decorate your table no matter what the season is.  It is the ideal year-round color!

I've chosen an array of blue linen shades to use for these simple linen napkins.  This easy idea shows you simple sewing techniques that will be useful for future projects.  I will break down how to create a mitered corner, so you can apply this technique to your future linen crafts!

All you need is some colorful blue hues to get started!

Materials:

• Different colors of linen.  I chose 4 different shades of blue in IL020 for my napkins.
• White linen.  I used Il020 for this as well.
• A sewing machine
• Scissors
• Pins

Cut 18" squares from each of your prepped pieces of blue linen (or whatever colors you chose).  "Prep" your linen by washing it beforehand hand so it is preshrunk.

Measure and cut all your blue squares and set them aside.

For the white linen, measure and cut these each into 16" squares.  You will need one white piece for each blue piece you cut.  In my case, that was four piece of white for each of the four pieces of blue I had ready.

Lay one white piece of linen over one of the blue squares so there is a one in border.

Fold the blue inwards a 1/2 inch around the entire square.

Now for the mitered edge.  It really is super easy to do and so don't get intimidated!

Just snip of a little of each corner with your scissors.  Cut a a 45 degree angle at the point where the two fold creases meet.  Repeat this step for all the corners (just on the blue linen!).

Now pin down your previous 1/2 fold on all sides.

Back to the mitered corner.  All you need to do fold the corner in so a 45 degree angle is formed on the outside.  Pin this down and repeat for the remaining corners.

Fold one of the outside edge in a 1/2 so it looks like the image above.

Just follow these same steps for the rest of your napkins so you have everything ready to go for sewing.

Using your sewing machine, create a seam along all the edges.  There you have it! A new set of beautiful blue linen napkins!

Let me know how your napkins turned out and if you chose a different selection of colors.  This would look beautiful with Spring or Fall colors I think.  Maybe some pastels for a baby shower or some bright shades for a birthday.  There are tons of variations.  

Get your creativity juices flowing by taking a look at all of our available colors at Fabrics-Store.com.

In order to get into the spirit of our Blue Bliss Sale, I wanted to post an easy and fun craft that uses different shades of blue linen.  The Blue Bliss Sale starts tomorrow and goes on for only 3 days.  You can get any shade of blue linen, in any weight, for 10% off during this time.  So stock up while you can!

This craft is a fun idea for any shade of linen though.  Get creative and create the perfect centerpiece for any occasion!  I had a lot of fun twisting and twirling my linen to make a unique vase that I'm sure will get a lot of attention.

I used IL020 in our new blue shades.  You can find these and all the rest of the new linen colors here.

Materials:

• A vase.  Any vase you have will work for this craft.  I do recommend a smaller vase just to make things easier on yourself. I tried with at larger vase at first and quickly realized a smaller one was a much better idea!
• Linen.  I cut my linen into 2"-3"wide strips.  The length does not matter, although longer pieces are easier to work with.  Pick whatever colors you like, too!  I chose blue shades of linen because our Blue Bliss Sale is going on right now.
• Some pins to hold things in place while you work.
• Scissors.

Twist the strips that you will be wrapping around the vase.  Alternatively, you can twist the strips as you wrap them around the vase, rather than prior to.

Having some pins handy is a good idea to help keep things in place.

I like to start by wrapping one piece around the neck of the vase (or any secure place on the vase) and then creating knot to keep it in place.

Then just started twisting the linen and wrapping it around the vase.  It is easier to ties strips together in the beginning stages.  Later, you can trim the excess linen and tuck the knots under if you like.

Once you have covered more of the surface with the linen, it is easier to twist the ends of strips together or tuck the ends under other pieces to secure them.  I like to twist the ends to blend them into one another and make sure they stay put.

Just work with the strips to find the best method for you.  They are not that hard to keep in place and you will find a way that you like best once you have wrapped a few pieces.  The first couple are a bit tricky, but it's a piece of cake after that.

When you are done wrapping the vase in linen, you can trim any stray threads coming off the linen to clean things up.

Play around with the colors to create your own unique design.  The last step is add some flowers and admire your work!

Add some linen decor to your home with this easy-to-make centerpiece.  Make a unique centerpiece that will showcase your creativity (and is fun to make!).

For this first curtain, I am using IL020 in one of our new shades called Cerulean.  Again, measure how much you will need to cover your window and any additional length you like for your curtains.  

Remember to add a few inches to the sides because we will need some extra length for the hems.

For the top hem, I measured two inches,  I then folded and ironed my linen to hold the crease.

This particular curtain will hang from the rod by ties. To make the fabric that will tie around the rod, cut strips of linen that measure 2.5" x 8"Cut as many strips as you need.  

They will be spaced 3.5 inches apart from one another, so however many you will need to fill the top of your curtain.

Fold each strip in half.

Open the fold and fold both sides inwards to the middle crease.

Fold along the crease and repeat this for all your strips of fabric.

Sew the edges of each strap.   To attach them to your curtains, just sew the middle of each piece along the top of your fabric (spacing them 3.5 inches apart).

I found it easier to sew the ties on before sewing the hem on the top of the curtain.


All you need to do know if tie your curtain onto your rod.  It's so simple and looks great!

The second type of curtain is by far the easiest to make.  I used Il019 in Natural linen for this curtain, but again, you can use any color and type of linen you like.Hem the sides a with a half inch seam.  

Then fold the top down 2.5 inches (you can make the fold larger too) and sew it like the image above.  This will create a gap for the curtain rod to slide into.

Now you can just slide the rod though the top portion of your curtain.

Using natural linen for your curtains is another one of my favorite styles.  I love the rustic look they give to a room, while adding a certain amount of understated elegance.  A definite winner!  

Trust me, you will get some compliments if you choose natural linen.

Lastly, you can make curtains by following the same steps as the previous curtain (the natural flax one) and at fabric loops to the top.  The curtain rod will the go through these loops.  Just hem the top and sides of your linen.  

Cut 3.5" x 8" strips of fabric for the loops.  Make a seam on each of these strips along the edge and then attach them to the top of the curtain.  Space them 3.5 inches apart (like we did with the first curtain) and sew them on by making a seam that runs along the top of the curtain.  It looks so great that it is hard to believe how easy it is to make!

By the way, I used IL020 in Mulberry for this curtain.  It is one of the new shades available and I am completely obsessed with it.  I need everything in Mulberry!

I hope these quick curtain solutions make the idea of making curtains a little less frightening.  There are a ton of other ways to make curtains that I think another post in the future is necessary.  Let me know your curtain ideas too!  I'd love to hear how make and hang your curtains, so I can share them with all our readers!

The Lush Green Sale is going on this week and I decided to get in the spirit of things with a craft using green linen.

This handy linen sack can be used in so many different ways.  It is the perfect reusable bag for your sack lunch or a great way to store fruits in your home.  

You'll find tons of ways to use your bag!  I plan on making a few bags in different colors to use and give away.

This bag is made simply by sewing together two basic shapes- a triangle and a diamond.  This is kind of geometry I don't mind! The two shapes come together to create a stylish and clean aesthetic that I absolutely adore.

Another thing I love about this bag is that it is perfect for anyone.  Women and men can use this sack, as well as children.  Unlike other crafts, this one can be enjoyed by everyone.

Materials:

• Linen
• Sewing machine
• Scissors

You can choose two different colors of linen or just one.  Either way, we will be cutting two pieces.  I think this project would look lovely with Natural flax linen too. In fact, I am going to make another in Natural linen soon!

I chose two of my favorite green shades in IL019 for my linen sack- Hunter Green and Willow. This is an ideal time to get your green linen too.  The Lush Green Sale offers every shade of green linen, so get shopping and take advantage of these low prices!  

I usually buy my linen when it is on sale and add it to my collection of colors.  You never know when you will need a certain color!  Green is also a standard color that I need…..in multiple shades.

The pattern above shows how to cut your two pieces of fabric.  The dashed line represent the fold in the fabric.  

Cut one triangle and one diamond from your fabric using the measurements provided.  You can alter these measurements to make a smaller or larger sack.  

The only thing you need to remember to do is keep the length of the folded measurement the same for both shapes.  In this case, that is the length that measures 21 inches for both pieces of linen.

Cut your linen. One shape with unfold to be a diamond and the other will be a triangle.

Hem all the edges of your fabric before you start sewing them together.

Hemming the edges now makes things much easier.  I just folded the edges inwards to create a small hem and then used the sewing machine to create the seams. 

Sew the two pieces of linen together.  The image above shows the placement of the pieces.  The dashed line represents where the fold in the linen was previously (there is probably still a crease there now).  

Sew along the line where the two pieces touch like in the image above.  Make the seam from the inside in order to hide it (so flip the fabric inse-out to begin with).  That is the first seam- only one two more to go!

To make the next seams, fold both outside corners toward the center.

When you fold the corners toward the center, you should end up with something that looks like the image above.  The dashed line shows you where you need to make a seam to attach the two pieces.  

Sew this from the inside (so have everything inside-out) that way the seam is hidden.Now just make a seam along the bottom of the sack.  That's the last step!

This is what the connected pieces should look like from the outside.  I love these two colors together!

This is what the the back looks like when it is all complete.  It definitely made me recall some of my old geometry lessons at first, but I could not be happier with the result.  

I love crafts like this that are simple and have a clean aesthetic.  It is something I will enjoy using all the time.

I made a few small stitches in some dark green thread that adds a little detail.  I just stitched it with my sewing machine it placed it near the crease where the two colors meet.  It adds a small detail that I kind of like against the light Willow green.  This step is optional, so feel free to leave it out if you like.

Now you can fill your bag with whatever you like.  It makes a great bag for fruits and veggies.  It would also be a great reusable bag for a sack lunch.Get creative with different colors and sizes with this easy craft!  

I hope you all liked this craft as much as I did!

Color blocking is a one of my favorite trends right now.  I love the striking combination of two contrasting colors!  Whether it was making its way down the runway or gracing the red carpet; color blocking has been making a big statement in the fashion world.

Today I am making a really simple bag with a color block pattern.  I chose two of our new linen colors for mine- Melon and Salmon.  I am in loooooove with these shades, so I had to use them in a craft right away!

You can pick any two shades you like to make your color block bag.  There are so many bright and beautiful new shades to choose from in IL020!

Materials:

• Two different colors of linen
• Scissors
• Sewing machine

First, you need to determine what color you want to be for the bottom portion of the bag and what color you want for the rest of the bag.  I chose IL020 in Melon and Salmon (a couple of my favs!)

Pick the color that you would like to be for the majority of your bag.  In my case, I chose Salmon.

Measure 12 inches for the top and bottom lengths.

Measure the other two sides to be 32 inches.  After you have measured and marked each side, you can cut your linen.

Measure your other piece of linen (Melon for me) to be a 12"x12" square.

Cut that linen and we are all ready to get started sewing!

I spread my Salon linen out in front of me and placed the Melon linen directly in the center, so that all the edges lined up evenly.

Then, I sewed the two pieces together with two seams.  The outside edges are still not sewn at this point.  We will get to that in the next step!

Before you sew the edges up, fold the bag in half like so to create a crease.  The crease cuts right down the center of my Melon linen.

Once you have a crease in the center, flip your linen to the reverse side and fold along the same crease.  We want to sew the seam from the inside so everything looks good when we flip the bag right-side out again.

Sew up both edges of your bag (not the top opening though!).

Now, sew the two sides together

Flip your bag inside out so the clean seam is revealed!

Time for the straps.  I wanted to have fun with colors with the straps too, so I cut decided to make them double-sided.The straps are really simple to make.  Begin by cutting four pieces of linen- so two pieces of each color.

I measured mine at  21.5 inches by 2.5 inches, but you can make them longer, wider, shorter…..however you like!

Now just flip the straps right-side out and you have your double-sided straps all ready to go.

As you hem the top edge of the bag, insert the straps (one on each side) by tucking them under the hem before you make a seam.

This is what the attached strap and seam look like from the outside.

That's the last step.  Now you can sport your fashionable linen bag!  Have fun picking out and trying out different color combinations!

I made another bag in Latte and Aurora.  I couldn't decide what colors I wanted to use before I started this project…..so I made both!  It was an easy solution and the second bag took even less time to make.

I hope you have fun making some colorful bags with our new colors! I am in love with the new selection and have been brainstorming new crafts non-stop.  

If you have any craft suggestions or want to let us know what you think of the new colors, leave a comment.  I'd love to know what you all think!

"Like" us on Facebook and join our linen community!

You may recall my excitement over Fabrics-Store.com's new color selection for linen.  Once I viewed all the dazzling colors, I knew I had to come up with an easy craft to showcase them QUICK!

I know I have done flowers in the past (the Kanzashi flower post), but can there really be too many variations on flowers? I don't think so.

These are probably on of the easiest fabric flowers you can make.  I used lightweight IL020 linen for my flowers.  I made a whole bunch with our new linen colors.  For this tutorial I used IL020 in Light Pink.

Before getting started, heavily starch your linen.  I did this by spraying my linen with heavy starch and running a hot iron over it.  I starched both sides of the linen about three times to get it extra stiff.  The stiffer you get the fabric, the better the petals will hold their shape.

The pinkish purple piece of linen (our new Mulberry), shows the approximate amount of linen you will need for each flower.  I just cut that piece without measuring and it was about 17"x10." I then cut the pieces for the petals.  The image above shows the shape I cut from my linen.  Also, you will need to cut a range of sizes; starting with a large piece and descending into smaller pieces.

This is where I had to get a little creative and use a spoon for my tool.  Using the rounded back of the spoon,  pull it across each petal to make it curve upwards slightly.  Try a few petals and you will see what I mean by this.  The linen holds the curved shape because of the starch.

You may need to pull it rather hard, but trust me, it will work!

Once you get the hang of it, you can curve all the petals with your spoon.

There you go! A beautiful flower that you can make in any shade you like.  Oh wait….one last step!

You will want all the petals to stay together, so run a piece of thread through the center to secure the flower.  I slipped a few beads through to create a pretty center.  You can use a bead, button, or whatever you like to add a decorative center to your flower.  That's the final touch!

You can do so many creative things with these linen flowers.  I plan on using them instead of a bow for presents.  You can attach a pin to the back for a stylish brooch to wear or put on your purse.  They would look adorable on a handband for a younger girl too.  There are tons of ideas!

Don't forget- new colors of IL020 will be on SALE starting next Tuesday, January 3rd!

I have been waiting, rather impatiently, for the new colors of linen to arrive. And now….the time has finally arrived!

I am really excited to add these new colors to my linen collection.  I held a few samples in my hands the other day and they were stunning!  The colors are vibrant and fun.  I cant wait to start sewing and crafting with them.

I want to just give everyone a heads up and announce that the new shades will be on SALE starting Tuesday, January 3rd in IL020 linen.  I think the lighter-weight linen works perfectly with these fun new colors. I have already made a list of my favorites! I haven't quite figured out what I'll make just yet though…so your suggestions are greatly welcomed!

Perhaps looks for the Spring 2012 Ready to Wear runways will give us all some inspiration! I loved the variety of colorful looks that designers showcased this season.  Even I was inspired to add some color to my otherwise neutral toned wardrobe (black, white, gray….and more black….)

I've put together some color trends I noticed for this fashion season.  I'm in love with color now!

1st row: Chloe, Chanel, Christian Dior; 2nd row: Chloe, Givenchy, Jason Wu; 3rd Row: 3.1 Philip Lim, Givenchy, Jil Sander.

I adore the range of pinks from soft blush tones to more girly pinks.  I love the idea of bubblegum pink for clothing, like trousers,  for a playful spin on an ordinary outfit!

1st row: Alexander McQueen, Donna Karen, Proenza Schouler; 2nd row: Acne, Donna Karen, Chloe; 3rd Row: Christian Dior, Prada, Valentino.Fiery reds add a unexpected blast of color as they came down the runway.  Try a skirt in a bright hue to add an exciting edge to your ensemble.

1st row: Jason Wu, Christian Dior, Christian Dior; 2nd row: Chanel, Prada, Prada,; 3rd row: Chanel, Valentino, Givenchy.

Blue is always a classic choice when it comes to colors.  I'm really into the dreamy, soft blues that came down the runways.  And, while that Chanel jacket will never be mine, I can still make something beautiful with linen!

row 1: 3.1 Philip Lim, Louis Vuitton, Erdem; row 2: Erdem, Prada, Jason Wu; row 3: Acne, Burberry Prorsum, Louis Vuitton.

I tend to avoid yellow clothing- having previously held the belief that yellow flatters NO skin tone.  I will fully admit how wrong I was now.  If done right, yellow looks fantastic.  I can't wait to incorporate a striking yellow number into my wardrobe.  I am also on the hunt for a delicate, pale yellow dress to complete my life.

*Did you gain some colorful fashion inspiration?  Don't forget- there will be a sale on the new colors for IL020 linen in the very near future! You will receive an email from Fabrics-store.com when the sale begins- so make sure you are signed up for our emails.  Please feel free to share your colorful linen ideas by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear what your ideas are!

We would like to wish all our Fabrics-store.com friends a wonderful holiday season.  Thank you for sewing, crafting, and loving linen with us all year.

*You can find these ornaments and more items from Smile Mercantile.  Valerie Lloyd is behind this Etsy shop and did a great Winter White Hearts tutorial for us.

Here are some napkin folding tricks just in time for the holidays.  You are already breaking out the fancy tableware and linen napkins, so why not go all the way? With these simple napkin folding techniques, your table will look extra impressive.  

The best part is that they look amazing and are incredibly easy to do. Your guests will definitely notice and appreciate your effort- although they won't know it only took you a couple extra minutes!

The Pyramid Fold.

1.  Lay the napkin flat in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half diagonally and have the open ends facing away from you.

3. Fold the right end up to meet the center fold.

4. Repeat the same fold with the left side.  This will create a diamond shape with the seam running down the center.

5.  Fold the napkin in half like so.

6.  Fold this in half so that the napkin can support itself upright.  If your pyramid won't stand up, you can use some starch to make it stay better.

The Basic Silverware Pouch.

1.  Lay the napkin out in front of you.

2.  Fold the napkin in half horizontally so the open end faces upwards.

3. Fold the napkin into quarters so that the open corner is facing up towards the left.

4. Fold the topmost layer of the napkin down diagonally.  Press or iron it in place.

5.  Turn the napkin over and fold over 1/3 of the right-side.

6.  Fold towards the right to overlap the last 1/3 of the napkin.

7. Slip your silverware into the pouch and you are done!

The Rosebud Napkin Fold.

1.  Lay the napkin flat out in front of you.

2.  Fold the napkin in half diagonally and have the open ends facing away from you.

3.  Fold the right end up to meet the center fold.

4.  Repeat the same fold with the left side.  This will create a diamond shape with the seam running down the center.

5.  Flip the napkin over to the opposite side with the open ends facing away from you.

6. Fold the bottom of the napkin up.  I made my fold rather small, but you can fold as much as 3/4 of the way up if you like.

7.  Flip the napkin to the opposite side once more.

8.  Fold the right flap over and tuck it into the fold of the left flap.

9.  Now you can prop the napkin upright.

The French Fold.

1.  Lay the napkin out in front of you.

2.  Fold the napkin in half diagonally.

3.  Arrange the napkin so the open corner faces to the right.

4.  Fold the top corner down so that it falls alongside the bottom point.  Repeat this step with the topmost point created by the previous fold.  That's it!