Simple Gifts to Stitch

Earlier this summer, I received a copy of the new book Simple Gifts to Stitch: 30 Elegant and Easy Projects by Jocelyn Worall. There are some wonderful home and baby sewing projects in here for varying skill levels, as well as some helpful sewing tips (and my favorite - a glossary of fabric terms). There are a few projects in here I think I'll try in the future - particularly around holiday gift-making time. But right away, the first project that grabbed my attention was the Pintucked Table Runner. Something about pintucks pleases me to no end. I can't explain it - but the same thing goes for pleats and gathers. Strange, I know.

The pattern called for linen, but I didn't have enough linen to make a runner the length I wanted, so I went for some crisp shirting fabric I had on hand, and used muslin as the backing. I'm pleased with how it turned out - the directions were easy to follow and it worked well with the fabric substitution too.

Ah, pintucks, how I love thee.

Comments

[Eren]

Recently got this book as well and have my eye on the pintuck pillows. I have rolls and rolls of linen lampshade fabric that is aleady "tucked", so I think it would be a good use for it. Love your table runner...so versatile and will be perfect for fall. I can already see leaves and seed pods strewn about on it.

[erin scissorhands]

that's really pretty! i love the color.

[Julie]

It came our beautiful! Love the bowls full of pine cones & rocks...

[Lucia Figueiredo]

Hi Amanda,

I've been silently reading your blog for a while. I really love it! I'm from Brazil, but currently living in Germany. I was wandering if you know the work of the Dumont family...
They are a mother and daughters team that does the most amazing embroidery in Brazil. Their website is terrible (no pictures!), but I've found some pictures of their work in a Flickr album. If you are interested, check it out at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47169174@N00/431490212/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47169174@N00/431486210/

They also use their embroidery as ilustrations for children's books. These are simply breath-taking! But I couldn't find any decent pictures...
Hope you like their work!
Best wishes for you and your charming family!
Lucia

[Madeline R]

Beautiful. We have a farm. I have to say, unless you are way more energetic than I am (well, you are) and you are so capable - never mind... I was going to say that a farm could keep you from doing as much writing and crafting and beaching.. We have a farm. But it is my dh who does most of the farming. You've inspired me to make some butter (we don't have a cow but do get raw milk).

[jean]

that is really nice amanda. love the rocks. That table is like a beautiful blank canvas.

[bigbucketgirl]

You're braver than me! If I were to attempt that..they'd be the wonkiest, totally un-straight pintucks ever. Of course..i'd say it was all part of the design!
Well done you!

[Plumtickled]

So beautiful! I find pintucks to be mesmorizing myself, I wonder why? Any dress, top, skirt or household item with pintucking gets my hand ran across it! Weird.

The table runner is great.... thanks for sharing!

[Qalballah]

I love the runner but love the bowls on them. I need a new table. OOh then I could sew a runner. And napkins. And tablemats...

[chicketychun]

Love it!!!

[Julia]

this looks great! i hadn't heard about this book- will have to check it out.

[UNIFORM Studio]

I love this -especially how the tucks are asymmetrical. Your table looks beautiful:)

[mj]

I love those pintucks so much too!

[shannon]

Oh, SouleMama... how DO you find the time... your crations are always so perfect!

[DML]

Beautiful runner. It had never occured to me to make one, even though I am always disappointed by the selection I see in shops, as I like understated things. Great job.

[Alyssa]

Lucia- holy moly, that embroidery is inspiring! Thanks for posting the link.

[Rebekah]

Beautiful! I'm adding the book to my wish list now!

[rhea]

Hey Amanda, My parents had a farm when I was little... nothing huge, just a cow and 2 goats. One of my earliest memories is of a new calf being born and I put on my new one-piece summer-suit (remember those things??? I believe it was made out of terry-cloth...) and ran outside to see the new baby cow and before I made it to the barn my Dad (who was in the top story of the barn) threw a bail of hay on top of me. Obviously, not on purpose, but a classic case of "not-looking." And my second earliest memory is of my Mom being REALLY mad at my poor old Dad. Anyways, I turned out okay. My Mom's left her hippie days behind but Dad's returned to his roots... I get fresh eggs from him every week (Once you've had fresh, you can't go back...) and his next purchase is going to be a cow. Neat, huh? And I LOVE the table-runner. This is the direction sewing's going in... clean, simple and graphic. I'm all about it.

[Mrs. B.]

So very perfect!

[Andrea Heinz]

Pintucks are so elegant but understated. I think that is why we love them.

[lera]

I was just looking at that book on Amazon last night.

Did you need a special pintuck foot for your machine to make it?

[Amber]

What a beautiful and classy runner. I love pintucks, too-----I seem to enjoy any little fussy part of sewing. I'm going to have to check out this book!

[Toni]

There must be this crafty wave length we all pick up on, I am just about to make a runner too! Cute tucks you've got there :)

[molly]

i LOVE the pintuck table runner. So funny you posted this today. I was just getting reacquainted with my sewing machine manual and realized there was a pintuck foot and setting. I've always wanted to try it ever since I saw some pintucked pillows in an old M.Stewart mag awhile back.

[jessi]

Oh, I don't think you're strange. I have a great affection for pintucks and pleats and such too. As a girl, I was always attracted to clothing patterns with them - and luckily, my mom would usually happily sew them up for me!

[autumn]

Love the runner- looks like a great book to check out!

[geek+nerd]

I have to pick that book up! I've looked through it, and the pin-tuck runner is the first thing that I loved too! There's just something that's so simple and classy about pintucks - sharing the love over here. Nice work!

[Pien]

Amazing, you're blogging. Every day it is a surprise and pleasure to visit.
I found the latin name of the Highbush Blueberry!!!!!!! (Vaccinium corymbosum) I hope I can find it here.
Love

[Margo]

beautiful table runner! I have more of a housekeeping question: do you use table runners often? As decoration? As a way to protect the table? We usually use a tablecloth over a table pad, but I would love to display our table more by simply putting a runner over it. I thought I would ask for your thoughts since you, like me, have a busy house of children and use your table hard.

[SOULEMAMA]

lera - I didn't use the pintuck foot (actually forgot I even had one that came with my machine). I just folded and ironed. Felt quite nice and rhythmic actually, so there was no complaining from me. If I were to do gobs of pintucks, I might consider the foot.

margo - I suppose the table runner is more decorative than anything. 75% of the time, our table has a tablecloth on it - a vinyl one underneath and a cotton one on top (keeps the frequent spills from being a nuisance that way). I guess there's no rhyme or reason as to why and when I use a runner instead - sometimes I just feel like seeing the top of the table. ;)

[Mefuza]

So pretty. I would love to be a fly on your wall. You are always creating wonderful things.

[sarah]

Amanda,

Your runner is beautiful! Love the pin-tucks too (not to be confused with pin-worms, which is an entirely different story! LOL)

I wanted to tell you how beautiful your photography is these days. Not just the camera, but your whole "eye" as a photographer has really changed and evolved since the early days of your blog. Awesome work mama!

[charlotte]

I love pintucks! You've just given me inspiration for the next project.

Your runner is just gorgeous!!

Thank you :)

[Montessori By Hand]

Amanda, thanks so much for drawing your readers' attention to the Mei Tai pattern a few days back. I received some very enthusiastic responses from your readers who purchased the pattern!

By the way, I've nominated you for the "Nice Matters" blogging award. Thanks for everything!

Meg

[Bex]

Hmmmmmm, it's all about texture me thinks...

[Zen Mama]

Oh, that is so simple and elegant. I can't wait to check the book out. I'm really loving the wood leaf shaped bowl too. Very tactile.

[Beth]

There is nothing strange or irrational about a love of pintucks. I think they're droolworthy just about anywhere. I love this runner and it has be thinking about Xmas gifts....or pintucked cushions......hmmm...

[Diane]

So simply stated but very beautiful! You must be really pleased with the outcome. It looks lovely the way you've displayed it too!

[Anna]

Okay, this is not the first time I have been teased by this book, but I think this project has pushed me over the edge. I, too, love pintucks!

[Heather]

Such an inspiration. It turned out lovely, will have to get that book! I have the perfect fabric for this.

[Zelia]

Ah! i should order some of these books... Portugal never has these books... i should order:)