The Power of the Sari

Can we talk about the sari for a minute? Although saris are traditionally worn as clothing by the stunning women of India, they are also a great source of large swaths of fabric. You can often find them in rich, saturated colors, patterns and textures at very reasonable prices.

I recently purchased this gorgeous silk vintage sari on Ebay from the seller sushila_art.The cost with shipping from India was $20. When it arrived, I was stunned by its beauty and amazed by its size - 16 feet long x 42 inches wide.

Most saris have a main body color (the smaller green paisley pattern shown above) and an accent color on the end which is typically no more than a yard long. They also come with a cotton band along part of one side (the one in the photo below is green). This band is useful is if you want to actually wear the sari but can be easily removed with a few snips a pull of the thread attaching it.

There are so many things you can do with a sari. I can't possibly cover them all here but I'll give you a few ideas to get the creative wheels turning. First, if you aren't that into sewing, saris typically have finished ends and sides and can be used as amazing table runners or tablecloths with little or no alteration. The sari pictured below is one I found at a thirft store. It's polyester instead of silk so it makes for a great, low-maintenance table cloth. How boho chic is that?

Many saris are made of high quality silk which is perfect for making pillow cases that won't contribute to wrinkling your face and are easy on your hair. I've also used highly decorative sections of saris as accents in pillows like the two pictured below.

 

With fairly basic sewing skills you could turn a sari into this season's hottest trend, the kimono. A quick search on Pinterest for "DIY kimono" will yield plenty of tutorials. 

The spectacular sari pictured above will ultimately become two curtain panels for my home office. That's right curtains - another great use for a huge sari. I hope I've inspired you to get on Ebay and start looking at saris and I promise to post a tutorial when I get around to making those curtains.

Doily Table Runner

There are so many beautiful, handmade things I find at thrift stores and garage sales that just  aren't my style. Yet I have a hard time not rescuing them because someone put so much love and time into them. Doilies are a great example. I am proud to say my house is doily-free with the exception of the ones I have stashed out of sight in my craft closet. With my stash in hand I set about to figure out how to make something pretty and dare I say modern from doilies. Here is the result.
  

Project Steps

If you'd like to make your own doily table runner follow these steps. Or, if you prefer to skip the hard stuff, you can also buy one here.

Step 1: Source between 8 and 12 vintage doilies. I often find them at thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales. You could also raid your grandmother's linen closet. Look for interesting designs, similar colors and sizes. If they have a few holes or damaged spots but are overall in good shape, you can mend them or hide the flaws in your seams.

Step 2: Soak the doilies in a hot water and OxiClean® powder solution for between 24 and 48 hours. This will pull out stains and any yellowing that has happened over time. Don't ever be afraid to use your vintage linens. I've rarely met a stain I couldn't conquer after a few days soak in this OxiClean® solution. After soaking, wash the doilies with like colors and air dry flat. 

Step 3: Once dry, inspect each doily for holes and mend them using a similar thread color. You want to catch any loose loops to keep them from unraveling further in future washings. This step is actually pretty easy - if you can sew on a button you can mend a doily.

Step 4: Iron each doily and get it as flat as possible. If you find you have one that just won't flatten, put it to the side for another project. Use medium to high heat and a spray bottle filled with water for the best results.

Step 5: Start laying the doilies out in a row until you achieve the desired length. Look for shapes that fit nicely together but aren't too matchy-matchy. The goal is a bit of organized chaos. 

Step 6: When you are happy with the overall design and length you're ready to sew them together. Overlap each doily a few centimeters, pin together, and then sew along the seam by hand using thread similar in color to the doilies. Small stitches will do the trick and in the end it'll be hard to tell the right side from the wrong. 

Step 6: When you're done you'll have a gorgeous, modern table runner. Enjoy!