How to Put a Sleeve on a Wall Hanging-a Better Way!

Have you ever seen a wall hanging that was 

absolutely stunning, except for how the dowel created 

a curvey bump in the top?

I have, and it just made me cringe.

Your eye goes toward any change in the plane.

The Devil's in the details, folks! 

Don't slap the last bit together

just to say, "I'm Done!"

We're ALL guilty at some point.

The top photo shows how I start to pin a strip 

across the top edge of my piece. 

Do choose to go right under your binding. 

If your placement is down a few inches, 

you may have floppy corners.

Not pretty.

Lay your dowel rod under your casing, and pin over it. 

You'll create a curve in the casing, and not 

in you beautiful wall hanging.

Because your dowel is round, it has to take up 

space somewhere, and the casing is better than

the front. It should look like this. 

Now hand stitch on.

You'll have a smooth front, 

and no distortion in your work.

Sometimes we toil and sweat, and have Zilch to show 

for it. It's frustrating when you see no tangible 

progress for all your work. I think that's typical 

of work in our daily lives, and is why I enjoy sewing 

so much. At least at the end of a sewing session 

I can say, "See what I made!"

I'm dealing with stacks of homeschooling materials 

that need a new home. In turn, I can finally move 

the bookcases to paint the walls to deal with the 

lighting issues when photographing.

It sounds like, "This is the house that Jack built."

It is!

Meanwhile, we've had sewing at JoAnn's, and 

Marlene gifted Kelly with a handmade treasure

and a matching tote bag. 

Beautiful!

The weather has been horrendous here in Ohio, 

but the Llama Boys don't seem to mind. Misha

doesn't know when to come out of the blizzard...

but seems to be faring the winter much better this year 

in his new barn with windows. They spend hours 

looking out from the inside--

and in through the outside!

If they've been in too long because of the 

cold, you're guaranteed to see the 

Happy Dance when turned out. 

We should all be open to feel such joy! 

In a funk?

Shake it off!

Today I promise to practice

Joy.

Come on, Doxie Girls.

Lots to do.

Little time to sew.

Let's make it count.