Fishtail Swag Tutorial

Please be aware this tutorial is not the only way and heck maybe not the right way, but it worked for me.  You all know I try to save money where I can by making as much as I can.  Recently I received a request from a friend on Facebook about my living room swag over my window.  She went on to say that she has a  quite large window and could not decide how to treat it and asked where I got my swag.  Long story short I told her I made it and that I would post a tutorial.  Trust me if you can sew a straight line you can make this!

Ok so we all know what I'm talking about.  These are old pictures, but it's really hard to take a picture of a window. lol.  Basically it is just draped fabric over a curtain rod.  In the second picture you can kind of see how it tapers down.  Anyway, I'll try to take other pics as we go.  As we speak I'm figuring out new curtain ideas for this window because it is old and drafty and I need to keep some of the cold out.  I'm thinking lined panels, but I'm not sure.

First things first.  Measure your window and decide how long you want the sides to hang down.  I took all my measurements sides and across the top and added them together.  This gives you how many inches of fabric you need.   I obviously like them a little longer.  You can choose between short to long.  This is where I made mistake number one.  Be sure to add about an extra 12 inches on your measurement for the sides.  The reason being when you drape and wrap it around the rod this takes up a few inches of fabric.  Make sure you have enough to make it long enough.  Got your measurements?  Great! 

Next, choosing your fabric.  I HATE trying to decide on curtain colors and designs.  I feel that by choosing a certain color I'm "stuck" with it in my decorating scheme. So, I tend to stay neutral.  BLACK! This does have mustard checks in it, but it actually blends well with my decor year round.  This was 100% cotton fabric.  I did not buy home decor fabric.  You could, but expect to pay a little more per yard.  I figured using this fabric I could throw them in the washing machine when they need it. Now once you have your total inches convert it to yards.  You will have left over fabric! So then you could make table runners, candle mats, etc. the possibilities are endless or you could make another swag! I only have one window in my living room so I had a lot left over.  Now I did line my swag as you can see with simple muslin.  You don't have to.  I prefer to because it looks more finished from the outside and when it doesn't lay quite right it still looks good.  I really think if you used just a solid fabric that coordinated with your other fabric would look awesome!!! Purchase the same amount of fabric in both fabrics if you are lining them. It is up to you if you want to wash your fabric first.  I highly recommend it.  I did NOT and one of the fabrics shrunk a little more than the other and it's kinda off if you look close.  All ready to start?

I'm going to use scrap fabric to show you since I'm not quite ready to make a swag at this time for the window.

Step One..

This fabric is folded in half. 

Most fabric is 44"-45" wide.  Take your pretty fabric (the front of the swag) and measure half  which is normally around 22"-23" You will measure the side that is cut.  Now you will either need to cut or rip your fabric in half giving you 2 pieces 22-23" by the length of the swag. Ripping sounds harsh I know, but it will give you a very straight line.

Step 2...

If you are using a backing fabric like muslin do the same to this piece.  Please be aware muslin can come in differing widths.  Measure your width carefully and cut or rip it the same as the front piece.

You should now have a front and back to your swag.

Step 3...

This step we will cut what I call the "drop."  This gives it the "fishtail" appearance.  How did I come up with this you might ask? Well, I measured a friend's that bought a swag like this at the store and used those measurements. :-)  Alright so how do you do this? You can layer your fabric right sides together (front and back) and cut them together or you can do them separate.  

You should have a long rectangular piece. The short side of the fabric is at the right side of the picture in the pic below.  Measure up one side of the long side of the rectangle 22" Shown below by the blue tape. Draw and cut a straight line from the 22" mark and the corner of the opposite side  It will save time if you layer your fabric. :-)  Now do the same to the opposite edge. BE CAREFUL and make sure your diagonals are going in the same direction!!!!! Learn from this girl lol!!!! Let me clarify this.  Make sure when you are cutting the opposite edge that the long side is at the top just like this one.  Basically it is a mirror image.

You still with me?

Sewing!!!!

Step four...

I'm going to tell you how to do this because the way I did it didn't work very well.  I've thought about it and this way should be much easier!  Your fabric pieces should be rights sides of the fabric facing each other.  You should be seeing the back of the fabric.  I really suggest using a sewing machine for this.  How I envision this is going to work should be pretty simple.  Find the half way point on one of your long sides of the fabric.  I suggest using the side that is the shorter of the two.  You'll see why in a minute. Using a 1/4" seam start sewing at that midpoint down the side to the corner and around the short sides back down the really long side around the other corners  coming back 6 inches or so from your original start point.  Stop sewing and backstitch.  You should have an opening to turn your swag right side out. HA!!! EUREKA!!!!  You will have to trim your corners slightly to get them to lay right before turning right side out.  Press your swag then whip stitch your turning hole closed.  This should be at the top of your swag when hanging it.  If it's on the bottom it should work just fine as well.

When I sewed my swag I tried to topstitch it and it looks horrid.  I didn't catch all the seams and once I washed them the first time those uncaught edges came out and it looks awful.  I really think the above method will give you a better look.  If you try it let me know how it works.

There you have it!  Just drape your swag over your curtain rod.  I'm a fanatic when it comes to being even.  This step takes me forever to do. LOL.

Hope this helps and please let me know if you have question :-)

My Dining Room Shelves

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.  We did here at the Homestead.  It wasn't until the next day Steve got really sick and the day after that I came down with it.  I didn't get out of bed for almost 2 days.  Of course now my kid's are getting it.  Thank goodness they don't have school!  The great thing about it is that Steve is a day ahead of me feeling better and I came home from work yesterday to a clean house and he even did my laundry!  I was so surprised!!!! So today I'm going to take it easy and maybe do some crafting.  I have a few projects started waiting to be finished.

Anyway, I had a question about my shelves in the dining room from one of you so I figured I would do a quick post on it so everyone could see. 

I bought this shelving unit at an antique store for less than $30.  I figured I couldn't pass it up because I wanted the "buttery" look at the time for my kitchen and this was perfect.  It already looked old and I didn't have to wait for Steve to build it. Needless to say it's not in my kitchen and it's not really looking like a buttery now. lol.

The overall height is 58 3/4 inches tall by 46 3/4" wide by 11 5/8" deep.  It seems pretty tall, but for me it wasn't quite tall enough so I put a riser under it.  It's the green thing under it.  Plus I didn't think the bottom shelf flat on the floor looked quite right. Now, I must tell you that this is actually two pieces.  It's a top and bottom as you can see in the picture below.  The top is 32" tall and the bottom is 26 3/4" tall. 

Oh and I have to say the height is from the bottom to the top of the back edge.  The top is a bit tapered.

The shelves on the top part are spaced about 11 7/8 inch apart and they are about 7/8 inch thick wood. If you look in the second picture up top the bottom shelves are spaced about 12 1/8 inch apart. The same thickness of wood was used at 7/8 inch.

I LOVE my shelves, however, they don't back up right against the wall because of my baseboards.  There is always the chance of something falling behind it.  That being said I like the color of my walls as the backdrop.  I also like it being in two pieces for ease of moving.  You all know I move my furniture around a lot.  So, if you are looking at building or buying something like this keep this in mind.  I hope this helped :-)

I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year.  I know I won't be able to post before then since I am working New Year's Eve.  I'm hoping my next post will be a How To make your own fishtail swag window covering.  I have also had a question on that too.  So keep your questions coming :-)  I'm happy to help if I can.

What I've Worked On

Here it is noon and I'm just getting up.  Truth be told I worked a 24 hour shift yesterday and my partner and I only got about 3 hours total sleep and that was interrupted sleep.  So, I came home and slept for a few hours. You know I'm getting too old to do this. lol. Anyway, since I can't get motivated to do much else I thought I'd show you some of the things I made for the Christmas season for the booth.  They are no longer available and I won't be making anymore until next year.  I need this time off between now and New Year's.  I'm re-evaluating things in my life and deciding on where I want to go from here.  All I know is there will be some major changes all around come next year, but that is another post.

Anyway, let's of course start with my stitching...


Both of the following are my own patterns...

This one was a free pattern that can be found here.  I also have a bunch of other free Christmas patterns on my Pinterest page Free Christmas Cross Stitch Patterns. Anyway, I added the the top part.

Next were some of my own patterns and designs Christmas goodies...  The only thing I have left is two of the Christmas trees at the bottom last I looked in the booth.

And of course pictures from the booth...  I stocked the booth quite a bit from my own collection.  I actually went through and condensed my decorating a lot!  I went from 6 totes to 3 totes.  Who knows next year it may get even smaller. :-)

I'm sure you remember my faux redware plates.  If not I have a tutorial for them if you go to the top of my page under my header in the tutorial tab.  Anyway, I had a Christmas blow out sale on Facebook to sell them.  I ended up making a ton more because of so many requests.  I'm so done making them for right now it isn't funny.  lol.This is the second batch I made.

The ones below are the ones I initially sold just to get rid of.  Then people asked if I would make more so I did.  All the ones above.  

 

This last picture was a special order for a customer. Can you see why I'm tired of making them? lol.  This is why I haven't made regular visits with all of you.  I've been one busy beaver!!!!  And of course working both jobs and trying to keep up here at home.

I should tell you as I was sleeping this morning I was dreaming of hearts.  You all know I don't do hearts! However, I think I'll make a few for Valentine's Day to sell.  I have several ideas and different mediums I'll be using to create them. Ughhh!!!! Why can't I just not think crafty things for awhile? Oh well... I do have a quilt started in my craft room right now, but this will be for me :-)  See it never ends!!!! lol

Christmas Decorating Part 2

As promised I will show you my dining room decorated for Christmas.  Again I really tried to simplify.  I'm still not there completely, but it is less than most years.  So instead of talking I'll just post pictures. :-)  Most of these pics had to be taken with a flash and this room is not this bright.  I will be adding a few close up shots on my Picturetrail.  I'm still working on it since I worked the weekend I didn't have time to update it.

 

 

 I did end up giving in and bought a new tree for the living room.  The boys like it now so I guess it was worth it.  I ended up moving the German twig tree to my bedroom and decorating it how I wanted.  So all of us are happy. :-)

Christmas At the Homestead

I have started decorating for Christmas believe it or not.  I have been so busy with the booth and special orders I haven't had time to breathe in the last few months.  I told you I'd be back and I haven't I just wish there was more than 24 hours in the day.  Anyway, you will notice I don't have a Christmas tree picture because, well, it still isn't decorated.  I have a German twig tree that I LOVE and put in my living room.  Steve made me get rid of my other tree when I cleaned out the garage this fall because the lights were starting to go out. Now, as of last night, both Steve and my son said they think my tree is ugly and that we need a bigger one.  Really???? So I said fine let's go look.  Then he said it has to be less than $100!!!! I'm sorry but most of the trees that I've seen for a $100 look cheap!!!!! So, he says fine we'll keep this one. Grrrrr.... men!!! lol.  I think just to prove a point I'm taking this one to the bedroom and leaving an empty spot in the living room.  I wanted a tree in the bedroom, but I either gave them all away or I'm using them in the booth or selling them in the booth.  Yes, I was decluttering the garage this fall. I'm off today so maybe that's what I'll do is move the tree. 

Anyway, this is my Christmas decorating so far in the living room...  I will add the dining room on Monday :-)  I tried to simplify this year.  I only kept the Santas and snowmen that I loved and sold the rest. I used greens, pinecones, and faux fruit.  I told myself I was not buying anything new this year to decorate with and I didn't  I condensed from 6 totes to 3 of Christmas this year.  That my friends was a great feeling! I will also try to update my Picturetrail this weekend, but I'll let you know for sure when it is :-)

The green apothecary is one of my newest purchases from a new friend I met on Facebook. 

Alright this is the tree undecorated of course.  But now you can see what we are arguing over... lol