How to Make Your Own DIY Decorative Throws
Using Fabric in Different Styles for Interior Decorating Magic
Jul 7, 2008
Whether your decorating style is traditional, exotic, or streamlined and modern, use informal throw-over covers to give your sofas and chairs a dramatic new look. Large pieces of fabric that have some thickness and weight are the most suitable. A quilt is ideal, as is a suitable blanket. A length of heavy cotton duck (plain woven cotton fabric) is ideal for a fresh more minimalist look. A large paisley throw or a soft rug would add grandeur to any room.
Country LookUse heavy checked cotton to give your room a country look. Blue and white stripes, ticking, and French toile will give you country with a French flavour. You might like to try a mixture of toile, stripe, and checked for a classy-layered country emphasis. Cushions can be added in contrasting fabric.The beauty of decorating with throws is that you can change your throws with the seasons, choosing strong colours and textures for winter, and light bright ones for the warmer days of summer. Use this look to completely cover your couch or chair, or try smaller throws to drape over the backs and arms of your upholstery.
Sewing a Throw from Fabric you Love
Sewing your own throw is simple. Find some fabric you love and go to it. Shops selling material for decorating often have ends of suitable fabric on sale. It’s fun coming across a piece of beautiful fabric at half price or less.
For heavy weight material all you need to do is sew around the edged on your sewing machine and add tassels at the corners. You can sew on ready-made tassels or make your own with embroidery cotton. Some material such as plain linen look good left unadorned. There’s nothing as fresh as a linen throw draped to completely cover a chair, with some material draping casually onto the floor.
Hand Sewing a Throw
If you don’t own a sewing machine you can hand stitch around the edge of the throw using hemstitch, backstitch, or a simple running stitch. It's effective to sew the running stitch in contrasting embroidery cotton on lighter fabric or wool on heavier fabric for an interesting effect.
The amount of fabric you need depends on whether you want an accent throw or a cover for a whole sofa. A metre of fabric gives a good sized accent throw to drape over your couch or chair, while two metres of fabric would be ideal to completely cover a couch.
For lighter materials such as lightweight cottons you may want a lining in a contrasting material such as a check or stripe, or a plain colour if the top of your throw is a pattern. The simplest ways is to cut your material the same size as the front of the throw. Sew them together with the right sides on the inside, leaving enough length open to turn the throw out the right way. Then stitch the opening by hand. Add tassels, braid or decoration of your choice.
Layering Throws
If you have a sofa you want to completely change the look of you could put a large throw of heavy cotton or linen over the whole sofa draping onto the floor. Don’t attempt to anchor it too much (you could use corner ties if you want to) but the casual look of a draped cover is an integral part of its charm. Then layer smaller throws in lighter fabrics in rich colours or patterns over the back or arms. Hey presto, you have a new look!
