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Try these
suggestions to make your projects more professional, and your
creative time more enjoyable:
- It's easy to create a block of fabric
from a single kente strip. Cut it into three to five
pieces of equal length, then immediately zigzag or serge
the raw edges to prevent raveling. Slightly overlap the
edges and use a zigzag stitch to join the strips. This
creates a square or rectangular block of fabric suitable
for a pillow from, placemat, journal cover of other
creative use.
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- When finishing your quilts, try sewing cowrie
shells or African beads through all thicknesses of the
quilt to anchor the layers, as an alternative to quilting
the piece, or even in addition to quilting stitches.
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- There's an easy way to remove those large
stick-on mill labels you find on authentic African prints.
Simply apply water to the BACK of the fabric where the
label is, using your fingers or a sponge. Let sit a few
seconds, then peel the label right off. Then iron fabric
dry or let it air-dry. (This tip is from Moses Coulibaly,
owner of Sokah Imports in Brooklyn)
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- On many authentic African fabric prints,
the name of the mill or country of origin is clearly
printed along the edge of the fabric. Cut the names out
and incorporate them into your quilting, craft and sewing
projects for a "designer label" look. Some
familiar mill names are Sotiba, Afriland, Homeland, and Afritex.
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- Stabilize the loose weaves of fabrics
such as mudcloth and korhogo panels by fusing interfacing
to the back. Test the interfacing first on a corner or
scrap of the fabric to determine how soft or firm the
finished piece will be.
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- Save broken strands of beads and shells,
earrings, stray buttons and other pieces for your creative
projects. Recycle them as decorative embellishments for
picture frames, wall hangings, lamp shades and more
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- Always back the fabrics you use for
pillows with fusible fleece. It gives the pillows more
body and helps the corners to keep their shape. Trim the
fleece approximately 1/2" smaller than the fabric to
reduce bulk at the edges, but be sure that the fleece is
caught into the seam to add stability.
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- When using a staple gun to upholster a
stool, fabric screen, or other home dec piece, color the
staples with paint or felt tip markers in appropriate
colors to make the staples less visible.
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