Stole'n Again!
- fabman556
- Feb 22, 2019
- 3 min read
With a couple of stoles under my belt (not literally), I recently created a third, this time a Lenten stole for my senior pastor, by special request. I have discovered that stoles are quick and easy to make.
Pastor Jeff and I met for lunch and discussed styling details. I had looked through Pinterest images and pulled some ideas to review. See my Pinterest Stole Inspiration board here.
Pastor Jeff liked the multi-print patchwork effect from one image and the gold applique from another.
To begin, I gathered several purple cotton prints and cut them into 3" x 5" blocks, lined them up in an alternating red-tone, blue-tone sequence, and stitched them together into two long strips.
Using a neck pattern I printed from a Pinterest link, I shaped the upper end of each pieced strip. For the lining, I cut another purple cotton print into two 5" wide strips across the width of the fabric, and shaped the upper end to match the pieced strip. I stitched the center back seam of both the pieced strips and the lining strips.
After cutting two 5" strips of cotton batting and shaping the neck area, I stacked a pieced strip on each, pinned them in place and stitched through both layers along the piecing seams. [Some stoles on the market are made with a canvas interlining instead of batting, but I like the softer look of the batting when using printed cotton fabrics. It makes for a sort of quilted effect.]
For the appliques, I enlarged the images from the Pinterest design. First, I copied the image into Photoshop and removed the background. In Publisher, I pasted the revised images and positioned them to the correct size to fit onto each side of the stole. Next, I printed them out to use as patterns.
To make the appliques, I ironed paper-backed fusible web (Wonder Under) to the wrong side of the gold metallic Oly Fun fabric I found at Hobby Lobby. Oly Fun doesn't require an edge finish and is perfect for appliques. Flipping the patterns face down on the back of the fabric, I traced the pattern on the paper side of the Wonder Under, cut it out and removed the paper backing.
Find Oly Fun fabric here:
After positioning the appliques on the stole and adjusting them, I ironed them on using a pressing cloth to protect the surface of the metallic fabric, then edgestitched around them through all the layers of the stole.
With right sides together, I stitched along the inner and outer long edges of the stole and turned it right side out through one of the open ends. With a half inch turned in on each end, I inserted a piece of Stitch Witchery fusible web into each opening and ironed the hem in place. [Yes, there has been a lot of fusible web being used in this project. DTFM do hand work? No way.]
This project is the first to include a DTFM label. I've been looking for a source for printed or woven labels, but they're expensive. With a little Pinterest research, I discovered that I could make my own labels using satin ribbon and t-shirt transfer paper I found at JOANN.
I created the labels in Publisher using my DTFM logo, flipped the images horizontally (so the words read backwards) and printed that page on a sheet of the t-shirt transfer paper. By simply cutting a strip of the backward-reading labels from the paper and ironing them onto the ribbon (and then peeling off the paper when cooled), I created a row of labels for a fraction of the cost of professionally-made labels. I simply attached the label to the center of the neck area using a zigzag stitch.
It's good to practice a new skill until you "own" it, and to develop some best practices. I continue to research the techniques others use and I'm looking forward to making more stoles in the future!
Until next time, keep those sewing machines humming and keep perfecting your own new skill!
@danthefabricman
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