Fabricate 17 innovative sewing projects

that make fabric the star

S u s a n Wa s i n g e r
crinkled pleats
table runner
C reate a fabric that will never just lay around
flat and uninteresting. Make one that
moves, and undulates, and plays with the light
and shadow almost like falling water. It starts
out simply enough–a slightly iridescent silk– but
with a bit of folding, and some twisting, and then
a nice long tumble, suddenly you have a material
with a mind of its own. A beautiful mind...
Put it to work in a simple scarf or try this lovely
table runner that manages somehow to be earthy
and celestial all at the same time.

Susan Wasinger

project name | 3
 crinkle then sew
1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

4 | fa b r i c at e
 materials cut and stitch finished size of runner = 14˝ x 72˝

fold
1 yard of natural fiber silk
width
or rayon 2˝
cut size of silk 11˝x 69˝
11/2 yards of cotton
velveteen
cut size of velveteen 19˝x 77˝
lightweight iron–on
stabilizer
border
matching thread end view of runner construction fold 2˝
silk

velveteen

instructions {for the table runner}

1) Wet fabric thoroughly. Lay it out flat and take hold of the top
corners. Fold the fabric down about 1-inch. Then fold this pleat
back on itself in the opposite direction. Keep folding, forward and
backward until you have worked your way across the fabric. Use
clothes pins to hold the pleats in place.

2) Begin twisting in different directions as tightly as possible. As the

rope of fabric gets tighter and tighter, it will begin to twist back on
itself to create a two-ply twist.

3) Secure the fabric ball with lots of rubber bands running in differ-
ent directions. Cut the leg from an old pair of panty hose, and stuff
the rubber-banded ball into the toe. Knot it in place. Put it in the
dryer with a few towels and let it tumble until completely dry.

4) Center the silk fabric side to side on the velveteen with right
sides together. Line up the top edges of each. Pin and sew.
This scrumptious fabric
5) To finish the ends, start by trimming 1/2 inch from the top side of makes a simple scarf
that manages to be
the folded border. Cut the back side at a diagonal as shown in the
completely gorgeous
photo. Now fold the back side piece under the top piece making a and quite posh. It
neat corner and folding in all the raw edges all the way across. Pin requires a minimal
to hold. amount of sewing.
Simply machine or
handstitch a tiny rolled
6) Now fold the rolled edge up 2 inches to make the border equal hem to finish the edges.
with those along the sides of the runner. This will cover the raw

ta b l e r u n n e r | 5
 gallery
project

texture pattern

6 | fa b r i c at e
dimension shape

project name | 7
Now you can make the fabric
that “makes” the project

C lassic techniques and inspired experiments stitch together beautifully in this unique sewing book.
If you’re an uncompromising crafter who refuses to settle for ho-hum fabrics, then make your own
using these clever, simple, exciting techniques. Drawing on haute couture, historic costume making, and
modern fiber art, this book takes you step by step, starting with the inspired ideas all the way to the stunning
finished product. Beginners and experts agree, there is the perfect-something for everyone in Fabricate.

Pleats , cr i nk l es , and tu f ts :
Susan Wasinger has 1 for tuny fol ds...... .r ich , textu ral silk ta b le r u n n er
been sewing since she 2 wave pl ea ts...... . st itch ed pleats scu lpt t h e bo dice of a s undress
was four years old. Her 3 r uc hed fl owers...... .r u ffled blo o m s o n an eleg a nt clu tch
4 cut pl ea ts...... .m ake a p lu sh an d invit in g r u g
work, in media from
5 tuf ted puffs.... create a co nfect io n er y detail o n a sk ir t
graphic design to architec-

ture to eco-crafts has ap-

la mi nates and over l ay s :
peared in Stitch, Natural 6 f used pl a st i c ...... . lu n ch sack m ade f ro m h eat-f u sed recyc l e d ba g s
Home, and Metropolitan 7 l a mi na ted wool fel t...... .co lo r f u l, p layf u l layers wrap a l a pto p ca se
Home Magazine. She has 8 sheer over l ay...... .fab r ic an d t h read co llag e b o rd ers t h is c h i c to p

also been featured on

HGTV’s Look What I Did.

Cut and f r ay fab r i cs :
9 fa ux c heni l l e...... .layered, cu t, f rayed ir resistab le silk eve ni ng w ra p
10 f rayed c i rc l es.... n atu ral, ear t hy to n es o n a wh im sical cu r ta i n
11 “sha g” fa br i c ...... .m o d fabr ic of eco -f r ien dly felt fo r a p i l l ow

sur face emb el l i s hment:

12 a ppl i qué...... a m o der n , g rap h ic ap proach o n an u r ban e m esse nge r ba g
13 Ja pa nese c rossha tc h...... .sim p le q u ilt in g o n a patchwo r k pot ho l d e r
14 bur n- out vel vet...... .g rap h ic sh ap es h eat-set o n velvet fo r a hea dboa rd
15 dots a nd swi r l s...... .exu b erant d abs an d swir ls o n a m u st- h ave ha ndba g

Paperbound, 8½ x 9
128 pages matr i x fab r i cs :
100s of photographs, 16 swi r l i ng f ree l a ce...... yar n , st r in g,an d t h read m ake b eau t i f u l pl a ce m a ts
dozens of illustrations
17 fl y i ng fa br i c swa tc hes...... .t iny t r ian gles flu tter across a l a m ps ha d e
ISBN 978-1-59668-094-4
$22.95
February 2009