Make Your Own – Fabric Covered Letters
A while back over on Nest Goodies I mentioned that I’d seen some gorgeous fabric covered letters (search their site for ‘fabric letters’ as it’s a flash site) for £12 each, in shopping heaven itself, the new Anthropologie store on Regent Street. After admittedly getting a bit carried away on ebay when I was pregnant, I have plenty of fabric to make use of, so after buying papier maché letters from Panduro Hobby for £4.50 each (search for ‘large white letter), I used scraps to make my own. Great decorative pieces, they also make lovely gifts and don’t take very long once you’re organised and have prepared your fabrics.
All you need is fabric, scissors and trusty PVA glue. The letters are 17 X 16 cm with a 5.5cm depth so a decent size.
I recommend ironing the fabrics beforehand so that they look as smooth as possible. Cut around the letter leaving around 0.5 cm excess around the edge so that you can fold over and iron a (0.5cm) hem to make the edges neat.
Starting from one side, glue the edge of the letter (a not too heavy line of glue should do it) and then lay the fabric in and smooth it into place – if there is excess glue on the edge it will come out so have something to wipe it.
Work your way around the letter and make sure you smooth it out as you go, ensuring everything is staying lined up where it should be.
For the sides, I used a long piece of (contrasting) fabric. Measure the width and add on .5cm each side for hems as before etc and glue on all the way around lining up the folded edges of the fronts as close as possible.
Total time to make: Probably around 30-45 minutes if uninterrupted. Some letters will be a doddle compared to others….
A bit of digging and I found more letters at The Craft Barn (and cheaper too) for £2.75 each although I haven’t seen them in the flesh. I will update with pics of the remaining letters where I’ll try out some ‘embellishments’ too.
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Category: Make Your Own
About the Author (Author Profile)
Natalie, 34, is the founder and publisher of Bambino Goodies and she's also a dating and relationship 'expert' who shares her insights on her own blog Baggage Reclaim, as well as contributing to various sites. Both a shopping and window (virtual) shopping obsessive, she loves well designed and aesthetically pleasing products (she has a degree in product design), has seen a resurgence in her art and design skills and has started making-her-own, is also a bit of a gadget and gaming lover, and has an unhealthy addiction to Waitrose. She's mum to 'the bambino', Saria (4) who is the original inspiration behind Bambino Goodies as well as Nia (2), and lives in Surrey with 'the boyf'.Subscribe
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Oooh! Thanks for this, I have a “B” sitting in my little boy’s bedroom waiting for me to work out how to cover it with fabric, You’ve done the hard work for me so I’ll have no excuse now to jazz it up! I’m off to get some glue!
It’s a really nice project to do and the end result looks great on display. Glad I as able to help!
Looked at these, thought ‘lovely’, then thought ‘sewing’. So no needles and thread involved? Genius, I’ll definitely be practicing my alphabet!
Thank you so much for this. I have been totally inspired to make my own since reading your article – and thank you so much for doing the legwork and finding out where the letters could be found. I have just finished my first three letters and am thrilled with them.