Carol Zentgraf - Pillows, Cushions and Tuffets

Pillows, Cushions
and Tuffets

Carol Zentgraf

2004 by Carol Zentgraf
All rights reserved.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio or television.

Published by

700 East State Street Iola, WI 54990-0001
715-445-2214 888-457-2873
www.krause.com

To place an order or obtain a free catalog, please call 800-258-0929.

Library of Congress Catalog Number 2003114959
ISBN 0-87349-693-0
eISBN: 978-0-8734-9693-3

Edited by Christine Townsend
Designed by Becky Robinson
Printed in the United States of America

DEDICATION

Id like to dedicate this book to my husband Dave, and our children Dan and Carolyn, for their love and continuing support of my creative endeavors.

FOREWORD

Quite frankly, when Carol told me she was doing a book that included tuffets, I had to go to the dictionary for clarification, as the only reference I had for this word was the nursery rhyme, Little Miss Muffet. Until reading this book manuscript, I had no idea of the excitement this decorator piece could bring to a room.

Pillows are always a source of comfort for snuggling in on a rainy day, or for support while watching a late-night movie. From a decorating perspective, use them as a means to introduce a spark of pizzazz into a mundane rooms color palette. One can never have too many of them (like the wonderful fabrics theyre made from). Im sure Linus would have much rather had a soft pillow than a blanket!

In this book, Pillows, Cushions and Tuffets, Carol has made the most complex looking details easy to create with simple, step-by-step instructions. Even matching those challenging, uneven stripes becomes a piece of cake if you follow her words.

As long as Ive known Carolthrough her work on Sew News, Sewing Dcor, and other published worksIve thought of her as a home dec prowith a great sense of style, and the ability to write directions anyone can follow ... and this book is one more work that reinforces my opinion.

Have fun creating these decorator accents for every room in your home!

-Linda Griepentrog
Sew News editor

Acknowledgments

This book has been a pleasure to write, and I couldnt have done it without the support and assistance of a great group of individuals and companies. Id like to acknowledge and thank the artisans and companies listed in the for generously supplying the products used, and give a big thanks to the following individuals:

First of all, to my husband Dave, for living amidst a sea of fabrics, then pillows, cushions, and tuffets that took over our home, and for never minding when the only activity in the kitchen involved sewing. Also to my talented and creative daughter, Carolyn, who came home from college for her summer break and hit the door sewing cushions and covering chair seats. And to my mother, Carolyn Ryan, for her always-cheerful support and for spending a week at my house cutting fabric non-stop.

To my long-time friend and Krause acquisitions editor, Julie Stephani, for her encouragement and good advice; to my editor, Christine Townsend, for all of her help; and to the rest of the great group Ive worked with at Krause.

To my former boss and sewing mentor, Sew News editor Linda Griepentrog, who gave me the opportunity to be part of the textiles and sewing industry, sent me to skill-building seminars, and taught me the finer points of acquiring a fabric stash. Also for giving me permission to feature pillows I made for Sew News in this book.

To Annette Bailey, editor of Creative Machine Embroidery magazine, for letting me use photos of pillows and a bench from the magazine.

To my friends, Marilyn Howard and Elizabeth Dubicki, for their sewing skills and their pillows that are included in this book; Kari Lee of The Leather Factory for letting me feature a suede tuffet she designed; and fellow Krause author Nancy Cornwell for being a source of encouragement and inspiration.

To the owners and great staff of Jackmans Fabrics in St. Louis, Missouri, who helped me plan the cover projects and tropical grouping and provided the fabrics and trims used for them; to Sew N Sew in Waupaca, Wisconsin, for the use of the Viking Designer I sewing machine which appears in photos in this book, and Hansons Furniture in Waupaca, Wisconsin, for graciously opening their doors to me. Thanks to the Edler and Stephani families for their generosity.

Introduction

Ive always loved decorating, especially with accessories, so this book is a natural culmination of two of my favorite hobbies: decorating and sewing and painting too, but just a smattering. Making these accessories is all about funyou can let your imagination run free and just have a good time. The sewing is easy; some projects dont even require a needle or thread, only a minimum amount of fabrics and trims, and you can enjoy the satisfaction of creating something unique. After a long, busy day, you may even discover that there can be something therapeutic about using the staple gun or drill needed for some of the tuffets.

So why pillows, cushions, and tuffetswhat do they have in common? For one thing, they can all make any room a more comfortable place to be. After all, everyone loves to sink into a big pile of pillows, relax with their feet on a tuffet or sit on a comfy, cushioned seat. These accessories also add the finishing touches to your dcor. They reflect your taste and personality.

If you enjoy looking at decorating magazines or browsing through upscale home furnishings stores, youve probably noticed that many warm and inviting or eye-catching rooms owe at least part of their good looks to accessories. High-end decorating catalogs, too, often feature wonderfuland priceypillows and cushions or elaborate tuffets to add a designer look and character to room settings. The good news is you can capture these same looks for a fraction of the cost when you make them yourself. You can also custom-design them to suit your lifestyle and dcor. Whether youre looking for an elegant, traditional accent or a fun-loving accessory to add a bit of whimsy, you determine the look with the fabrics and trims you select.

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