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Thursday 28 October 2010

My sewing project - curtains for bay windows

I love sewing.

As far as I remember, I started sewing when I was 12. Small projects for a start, like making a pencil case, simple table cloth, apron for mom and scarf. When I grew older, my interest in sewing also grew bigger. I started to fancy dress making. My sisters became 'fashion icons' when the dresses I made for them turned out to be so beautiful,  and of course one so many times they also became 'fashion victims' when something went wrong and they have to suffer wearing uncomfortable dresses because I forced them to. hahaha. Everything is made on trial and error basis. I never went to any sewing classes. They were too expensive for me. The good side of it, I have to work hard to improve my sewing skill from time to time. Mom gave encouragement all the way. She bought lovely fabrics for my new project, she let me borrow her sewing machine and the necessary accesories, she did not even interrupt me when I was concentrating with my sewing works.

After several years, mom asked me if I was ready to sew curtains. I said I don't know, because curtains seem like something so huge and heavy and time consuming. Anyhow, one day she bought a beautiful pastel colour fabric with small flower prints and lovely tassles and white tapes and told me to sew a curtain for the living room. To my surprise, the outcome was very nice, though very simple too. Alhamdulillah. Thanks, mom, for giving me a chance to prove myself.

Since then, I started to make curtains. Every year during Eid Mubarak we hanged new curtains that I made. I enjoyed it very much. With my own pocket money, I bought a second-hand sewing machine. One day, Ann, a very good, long time friend came to my house for a visit. We started talking about ourselves and I told her I am mad about sewing. I showed her my work and she was impressed. Very little did I know that Ann is also good at sewing herself. So that day, she taught me how to make scallops for the curtains. Masya-Allah, very beautiful. I will never forget her kindness in teaching me new things in sewing. May Allah grant her more knowledge and grant her happiness in life. Thank you, Ann!

Until now, I never have to buy curtains from the drapers anymore. I made them myself. I sew curtains for mom too. She is one demanding customer, though. hahaha... Must follow exactly what she desires for her curtain or she'll turn sulky! Oh mom! I love you so much!


Last year, my husband bought me a seamlock machine so that I need not go out to the regular tailor to have the edge of my fabrics sewn. That's a pleasant surprise. "For my crazy wife" he said. Well, he knows I am crazy about sewing...Thanks, dear, for understanding me. Alhamdulillah, with the new seamlock machine, my works became much, much easier and I can finish a project within one or two days only.





I attached herewith some pictures of the curtains I sewn myself.




This white and red organza are from last year's Eid Mubarak. It consumed about 40 metres of fabrics. I like the soft flower prints. I doubled it up with plain white organza. Very soft and soothing. I like it very much during windy days when the wind blew each piece of the curtains and they moved as if they were dancing.





To make it more attractive, I use crystal beaded fringe of matching colour.
 
 
 
 
 
At my place, if you go to a draper and ordered for something like this, you might end up paying around RM1,000 to RM3,000 (about USD285 to USD857). I spent less than RM500 (USD143) for the fabrics and accessories. Phew! That's a huge saving!
 
 
 
This year's curtain, I chose something retro for a change - lace fabrics
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I made the scallops from satin to contrast the lace fabrics. As usual, that was a trial and error kind of thing, but I am glad they complement each other nicely.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
And add up some frills to make it lively. I have to confess, making frill is really taxing, but look at the outcome... trust me, it's worth it!





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
The result....Taraaaa...... !
   
 
 
I already have another great idea for the curtains next year, but as for now, that will have to wait. I need to concentrate on my study. And I am also huffing and puffing for air all the time due to my pregnancy. So, I'll let time decide when the new project will actually take place. Insya-Allah, if God wills.... Perhaps next time I'll post on my sofa cover project. That was really a huge makeover for my living room!

p/s: Girls, this is one of the many ways you could fulfill your past time and benefit from it, Insya-Allah. You may say you don't know anything about sewing. I was like that too, but alhamdulillah, the courage I have in me and also strong supports from everyone around me make it easy for me to learn step by step. If you can't sew, then maybe you can cook! Or create some decorative art from recycled waste such as cardboard, bottles or old newspapers. Better still, you can also share your knowledge by giving tutorials or tuition classes to children at your place. All these will be rewarded handsomely by The Almighty, insya-Allah.




Show that you are a talented muslimah! For good cause, Insya-Allah.

15 comments:

  1. MASHALLAH!! You are soo talented! The results were amazing. You have todo thjis a sell your stuff it will sell and Allah knows best. Don't let it go to waste. One day I will find something I am good at and put it into making I hope.

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  2. Masha'Allah sister, you are very talented, the curtains you sew are beautiful and like you've said they cost so much less than buying them ready made. This is such a great hobby, I enjoy sewing too, but not nearly as good as you, I become impatient very easily and then end up doing a poor job, and I dont like that, but its exciting to think of new ways to make things. This post is very motivational, and you're right there are so many constructive things that women can do with their time. The problem is that some people see sewing as an old fashioned thing, but this is so far from the truth, its something you can enjoy doing. Thank you for posting this!

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  3. Sis Aabida, I always receive requests and orders from relatives and friends who asked me to sew for them, but sadly I can't entertain all because I did not have that much time to spend on sewing.

    As for you, I believe each of us have their own talent granted by Allah s.w.t., the matter is whether we realise our potential or not. I also believe you have your own special talent. Turn it into something beneficial, Insya-Allah, you'll be satisfied. Good luck and tell me about it later, ya! Take care sis... :)

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  4. Sis Zarina, I also have moody times when I sew half way and left it just like that, unfinished for days, even months, because I get bored. The trick is, sew when you want to, stop when you feel tired or distracted. You can always continue later. Don't worry if you are not good at sewing. You'll gain the skill as you move on.

    If you think sewing is not your thing, there are many other things you can do that could result in a positive contribution.

    I have a friend who is also a single child of a rich family. She loves to read and her parents bought her lots and lots of books for her. She always feel so lonely in her life with no one to talk to. Wanna know what she did? She turned an empty room at the back of her house into her very own "community library", stocked it up with her books and get some tables and chairs arranged nicely and invited children from the neighbourhood to come and spend their time to read and do homeworks! Masya-Allah! That, to me, is so wonderful!

    Insya-Allah, sis. If we have the courage, we can contribute positively for the sake of Islam. I believe in you. Have a nice time with your family! :)

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  5. You did such an incredibly beautiful job with those curtains! MashaAllah, sis, they look like the ones we buy from those expensive shops! And you have such good taste with regards to color and design of the fabric too, mashaAllah.

    I started sewing recently; bought a Singer machine sometime last year. I haven't sewn anything grand yet, just bedsheets and pillow covers - simple designs. But that in itself saved us money too.

    It's such a wonderful feeling to sit back and see your creation in use (and admired by people, of course) :)

    And it is really sweet of your husband to support you and buy you that seam lock machine.

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  6. That's great, sis Nadia! I have always wanted to sew bedsheets, but haven't found the right fabric yet (because I hardly have any time to go window shopping nowadays)so as for now I have to put the project on hold. I agree with you, it feels great looking at the finished outcome. You keep up the good work, ya! :)

    And yeah, my husband is sweet for buying that machine for me. Wanna know why? He said "small investment leads to big savings". He's relieved I will not ask him to buy expensive curtains from the shop now that I have both machines!

    Cunning but cute!

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  7. Haha, I must agree that your husband is a wise man. And I must also stress that he's lucky to have a wife who makes an effort to save :)

    May Allah bless you and your family with so much happiness and health. Ameen.

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  8. Masya-Allah, that's so sweet of you. Thank you very much. Ameen to your dua, sis. Love you!

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  9. Mashallah, nice blog and I am glad to meet yet another talent sister in the blogging world...:) I am not very creative but its good that atleast I can admire people like yourself and hope to more creative in the future, inshallah.

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  10. Blue Pearl, welcome to my blog. It's not really a new blog, actually, but I've been active only recently. Alhamdulillah, I'm glad you like it. I've been to your blog too. Masya-Allah, you are an awesome writer yourself. I am impressed!

    All the talent that I posess come from Allah s.w.t. He is so kind to give me this tiny bit of advantage. Alhamdulillah... I am grateful.

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  11. Kak Ati is talented in so many other things. Not only sewing.

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  12. huhu... Dalila... don't be too sure about that.. You haven't seen yet the 'disastrous results' I hid under the bed! hahahaha....

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  13. As-salaamu'alaykum sis,
    Love the curtains, you did a wonderful job!
    ...I know, very old post..but I like reading about sewing :)

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  14. Waalaykum salam, Sketched Soul,

    Welcome to my blog! Alhamdulillah, thanks for the compliments. I have more to post on this blog, but always there's too little time to really be able to sit and write... :(

    Hope to hear more from you in the future.

    Take care! Wassalam.

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  15. Great post, I love this,a very informative post along with pictures makes things much more clear and easier to understand.

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