Each month, we feature a favorite Alabama Chanin embroidery technique as part of our Swatch of the Month Club. Additionally, we offer suggestions as to how you might put your completed swatches to use. Past month’s project offerings have included the DIY Clutch, DIY Book Covers, and DIY Swatch Pillows. This month – with 6 completed swatches to utilize – we offer instructions on how to construct a Tied Wrap. Our wrap uses our completed swatches from January through June; each reworked using a White/Natural colorway.

SUPPLIES

6 completed Swatch of the Month panels (or 6 – 10” x 16” cotton jersey fabric swatches of your choice)
1 – 20” x 48” rectangle of cotton jersey fabric, for optional backing layer
2 cotton jersey ropes 18” long (see page 8 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design)
Basic sewing supplies: scissors, needles, thread, pins, and Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, which includes all necessary instructions for completing swatches and Tied Wrap.

Complete your swatches for each month, according to the instructions given. Visit the following Journal posts for a refresher on each month’s technique.
January: Reverse appliqué
February: Outside reverse appliqué
March: Beaded embroidery
April: Appliqué
May: Beaded ruffle stripe
June: June’s Spring embroidery assortment

The wrap will be made up of two rows of three swatches, arranged according to your design aesthetic. Begin by laying out the first horizontal row of swatches (lengthwise), pinning together the edges of each block with wrong sides together. This is a smaller, 6-swatch version of our original DIY Swatch Shawl. Find instructions for that project here.

You will be stitching the swatches together using outside floating seams, meaning your seam allowances will be visible on the outside of the wrap (see page 45 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design). Seam the individual blocks together with a straight stitch, wrap-stitching the beginning and end of each seam. Pin and seam together the second horizontal row of three swatches, and then pin and seam the two rows together with the same type of outside floating stitch.

OPTIONAL:

Once you have your completed rectangle made from the 6 swatches, add an optional backing layer to add stability to your wrap. Place the two pieces of fabric (your completed swatch rectangle and the backing fabric) wrong sides together. Stitch the two rectangles together using a straight stitch. When you reach the edge of each swatch, work the straight stitch under each of the floating seams, as shown in the illustration below.

Once you’ve completed the 6-swatch wrap rectangle, you simply need to add the ties. Attach each cotton jersey rope at the midpoint of each 20” edge, 1/8” from the raw edge.

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

January
Fabric – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Top layer – White
Backing layer – White
Stencil – Paisley
Treatment – Reverse appliqué
Button Craft thread – White #1
Textile paint color – Pearl Silver
Knots – Inside

February
Fabric – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Top layer – Natural
Backing layer – White
Stencil – Anna’s Garden
Treatment – Outside reverse appliqué
Button Craft thread – Cream #256
Textile paint color – Pearl Silver
Knots – Inside

March
Fabric – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Top layer – White
Backing layer – White
Stencil – Fern
Treatment – Beaded embroidery
Button Craft thread – White #1
Beads – Chop beads
Bead color – White
Knots – Outside

April
Fabric – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Top layer – Natural
Backing layer – Natural
Stencil – Anna’s Garden
Treatment – Appliqué
Button Craft thread – White #1
Knots – Inside

May
Fabric – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Backing layer – White
Ruffle color – White
Treatment – Beaded ruffle stripe
Button Craft thread – White #1
Bead type – Chop beads
Bead color – White

June
Fabric – 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Top layer – Natural
Backing layer – White
Appliqué fabric color – White
Stencil – June’s Spring
Treatments – Appliqué, reverse appliqué, embroidery, beading, sequins
Button Craft thread –White #1
Textile paint color – Pearl Silver
Embroidery floss – Cream
Bead type – Chop beads and bugle beads
Bead color – White
Sequins – White

Follow along on social media and on our Journal with the hashtags:
#theschoolofmaking
#swatchofthemonth
#buildawardrobe2016