Patchwork Household Items

There are many household items that can be made from patchwork. These can either be pieced together from blocks to fit your pattern of the item you wish to make, or you can use small blocks that you first join together to form a piece of material and then cut your item from that.

Numerous articles, for example cushions, place mats, wall hangings and Christmas stockings can all be made from patchwork.

Beautiful and useful bags of all sizes can also be made this way. Think of shopping bags, bags for knitting and sewing or for use for storing any household objects. Even handbags can be made in this way.

In a country style bedroom patchwork bags can look stunning on display. You could hang them on doorknobs or on a peg rail against the wall. This looks very appealing and charming in any cottage style bedroom.

Fabric created from patchwork makes beautiful linings for wicker baskets. Join all your bits and pieces of fabrics in the colours of your choice and then cut out a piece the size of the bottom of the basket. Remember to add a seam allowance.

You then measure the depth of the basket adding on enough to make a cuff on the top end as well as enough to fold over to form a casing. This means that once the lining is in the basket you will fold the "cuff" over the basket and to secure it you will thread a cord through the casing. Make the cord long enough so that you can tie it in a bow for decorative purposes.

The length of the strip can be obtained by measuring the sides of the basket and adding a seam allowance for the side join and for joining it to the bottom piece.

First join the side seam and then pin this piece to fit the bottom piece. Sew together and then mark the front side where you would like your cord to be threaded through. Make a buttonhole here large enough to receive both ends of the cord. Sew down your casing and thread the cord through the buttonhole and pull in to fit the basket securely. Tie your bow.

There is no limit to what you can create with patchwork. You can put all your crafting talents to work when you make household items. You can appliqué motifs on your patchwork and decorate them with embroidery stitches and beading. There is no limit to the possibilities.

The beauty of this craft is that there will never be two items that will look the same. The same pattern will produce many different versions as each time you will probably use different textured fabrics in various colour schemes creating a whole new look.