Linda Lee, designer and author of Sewing Stylish Home Projects shows how to make a brightly-colored octagonal table topper using dupioni and China silk. Each band around the eight-sided piece consists of shades of a color group.
Materials: 12 colors of dupioni silk fabric China silk fabric several manila folders or template material large piece of paper silk thread sewing machine
Figure A
Steps:
On a large piece of paper, use a ruler and pencil to draw the pattern in the desired size. To do this, draw a centered octagon. Draw a line from each corner of the octagon to the length of the design. Pencil horizontal lines between each line to form five layers of pyramids that share sides, making the fifth pyramid layer thinner than the others to serve as a border (). Draw a centered line in each pyramid in the third tier, halving them. Draw two lines in each of the pyramids in the fourth tier, dividing them into thirds.
Figure B
Cut out the octagon and one stack of the pyramids. Cut the third pyramid in half and the fourth pyramid into thirds on the drawn lines. Adding 1/4 inch to all pieces for seam allowance, transfer these cutout shapes to manila folders or other template material and cut out (figure B).
Figure C
Using the patterns created in step 2, cut out fabric pieces (figure C). Repeat seven times for each remaining side of the octagon.
Figure D
Stitch the two pieces of the third tier together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Stitch the three pieces of the fourth tier together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance (figure D). Repeat seven times for each remaining side of the octagon.
Figure E
Stitch the tiers together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, forming a larger, multicolored pyramid (figure E). Repeat seven times for each remaining side of the octagon.
Figure F
Stitch the eight multicolored pyramids together (see four sewn together figure F), leaving one edge unstitched.
Figure G
Mark a 1/4-inch seam allowance (stitch line) along the perimeter of the octagon, starting and stopping 1/4 inch from the end of the eight sides (figure G).
Place the octagon along one top edge of the pyramids and stitch along the edge, starting and stopping 1/4 inch from each end (marked in the previous step). Shift the octagon to position the next side of it on top of the next pyramid and stitch. Repeat for the remaining six sides.
Figure H
Cut a back mimicking the size and shape of the topper from the China silk fabric. Place the back and topper pieces right sides together (figure H) and stitch around the perimeter, leaving a small opening to turn the piece right side out. Turn right side out and stitch the opening closed.
Resources Sewing Stylish Home Projects: Over 30 Accessories for Your Home
by Linda Lee (ISBN: 1561583375)
Taunton Press, 2001
Order this title.
The Taunton Press, Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com Guests Linda Lee
Interior Designer, ASID, IIDA / Owner, The Sewing Workshop
2010 Balboa St.
San Francisco, CA 66604
Phone: 785-357-6229
Toll Free Phone: 800-466-1599
Website: www.sewingworkshop.com Also in this Episode
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_ShinyTableTopper_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureA_Pattern_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureB_ManillaFolderPatterns_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureC_CutPieces_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureD_StitchPiecesTogether_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureE_StitchPiecesVertically_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureF_StitchPyramids_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureG_Sew2QuarterInch_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2003/04/18/opl419_1_FigureH_SewOnBack_e.jpg",350,450))
