You've seen shutters on the outside of windows. They add a very traditional feel to a home's appearance.
When you make them yourself out of fabric and hang them inside the house they add a real country feel.
Materials Needed:
- 1 Yard of fabric (This is an approximation due to the difference in size and shape of windows.)
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Scissors
- Batting
- Measure tape
- Marking pen
- 4- 1/2" plastic rings
- Needle
- Pins
Figuring Out Your Measurements
- Measure your window from top to bottom and side to side. Make sure you write down your measurements.
- It doesn't matter if is is two side by side windows or one large window. Treat the side by side windows as if they are one large window.
- Figure out what one third of the width of your window measurement equals. It doesn;t have to be exacting. If your window measures 34" across your measurement is 10-11 inches for the width.
- For the length of your shutters use the exact measurement.
Preparation
- Now that you have the measurements, you will need to adjust them to allow for seam allowances. Add two inches to your width and height. If your width is 10" and your height is 30", your fabric measurements will be 12" X 32".
- Cut out four pieces of fabric using your measurements.
- Cut out two pieces of batting the same size as your fabric.
Sewing
- Place two piece of fabric right sides together.
- Lay a piece of batting on top of the fabric and pin around the edges.
- On your sewing machine sew all the way around the edges of the fabric leaving about a four inch opening to turn the fabric.
- Turn the fabric right side out.
- Hand sew the opening.
Marking Your Fabric
- To turn your rectangle into a shutter you need to make some marks on the fabric that you will then sew on the machine.
- Make a line 1 1/2" to 2" from the edge on all four sides.
- Find the center of your rectangle. Measure and mark a three inch band that will span across the shutter when it is hanging upright. Make sure it does not extend out of your first mark and onto the edge of the shutter.
- Above and below the three inch band and inside of the mark where you outlined the shutter you will mark across the shutter every 1 1/2" or so.
- Your fabric should have a series of bands on the top half that stop at the three inch band and continue below the three inch band.
- There should also be a 1 1/2" to 2" border all the way around the shutter.
Finishing Up
- Sew each of the lines you marked on the fabric. The quilting will make your shutter appear.
- Hand sew two rings on the top back of each side of your shutter.
- Hang your shutter by the two rings.
Make different shutters for the different seasons or holidays to swap out and give you a fresh look.
The copyright of the article Create Fabric Shutters for the Inside in Sewing/Needlework is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish Create Fabric Shutters for the Inside in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
 |
