YARDSTICK HOLDER

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SUPPLIES:

1/3 yd. Black Duck Cloth
(Wal-Mart at about $4.99 yd.)
Iiron-on Interfacing
Embroidery Thread
Bobbin Thread
3" of Cording

Cut the fabric as follows:
5" X 39" duck cloth
5" X 35" duck cloth
5" X 6" duck cloth
5" X 35" iron-on interfacing
3" piece of cording
(to be used as a loop to hang the holder)

Iron the interfacing on the backside of the 35" piece of duck cloth. Serge one end and press that end towards the interfacing to form a 1" hem. This will be the top piece on which you will draw the thread vine with loops. I use chalk or a chalk pencil. Use the triple action straight stitch and the color of choice to stitch the vine. I used silver thread for my thread vine. I did not use metallic. Embroider the designs wherever you want to place them. I rotated them differently each time and tried to have different colors.

I hooped up stabilizer and sprayed it with spray adhesive and then placed the fabric on top of that to embroider instead of trying to hoop. See my non-hooping instructions (click the link).

Serge one end of the 6" piece of the duck cloth and press it under 1".

Lay the 39" piece down on the table. Place the 35" piece on top of it right sides together with both lower edges meeting. Place the 6" piece on top of the 39" piece right sides together so that the two hems butt up against each other and the top edges meet.

Pin in place at the corners first and then at the hem area to hold both pieces together with the back piece. Fold the cording in half to form a loop and place the cut ends at the center top between front piece and the back piece. Pin in place with the loop part going towards the center of the cover. Place pins to hold the rest of the pieces together and then sew a 1/4" seam all around the cover.

Cut the corners of the seam off to reduce bulk. Try to press the seams open. This makes it easier to turn the pieces inside out. Turn and then press the edges so the seams will be nice and flat.

Choose a decorative stitch and start stitching on one side where the two hems are butted together. Stitch all around the outer edges about 3/4" from the outer edges and continue stitching until you come to the area where you started. Using a decorative stitch makes the ruler area seam very stable so the stitches will not tear out when you insert the yardstick in and out continuously. Insert the ruler into the slot between the two hems.

J.H.