Base your room scheme on the
panels for a pulled-together look.

Tie Treat

Gingham ties and edging add a special cottage touch to these floral panels.

• 4-1/4 yards floral fabric
• 4-1/4 yards melon-color gingham fabric
• 5 yards drapery lining
• Matching sewing threads

1. Sew with right sides together, using 1/2-inch seam allowances, unless otherwise noted. Cut two floral pieces, each 39 x 76 inches.

2. From the gingham, for each panel cut two 4-1/2 x 76-inch pieces and two 4-1/2 x 46-inch pieces. For each panel, cut twelve 11 x 4-1/4-inch pieces for ties. Cut two lining pieces, each 46 x 83 inches.

3. Pin one 4-1/2 x 76-inch gingham strip to each long edge of a floral piece. Sew. Pin a 4-1/2 x 46-inch gingham strip to each short edge of the floral piece. Sew. Press all seam allowances toward darker fabric.

4. For each tie, fold a gingham strip in half lengthwise with right sides together; press. Sew across one short end and the long raw edge. Turn right side out; press. Repeat with remaining strips.

5. Starting 1/2 inch in from a top corner, pin a pair of ties to the top edge of pieced panel so the raw edges of panel and ties are aligned. Repeat at 8-1/2-inch intervals. Sew ties to panel.

6. Pin lining to pieced panel, sandwiching ties between layers. Sew panel to lining, leaving a large opening on the bottom edge for turning. Turn right side out; turn raw edges of opening under 1/2 inch and press. Topstitch around the outside of panel. Repeat steps for second panel.

Don't let leftover gingham fabric go to waste. Use the extra to sew decorative pillows or accent a bed skirt, such as the one shown. To create, measure the distance around the bed skirt. Cut 4-inch strips to this measurement, piecing if necessary. Press under raw edges 1/2 inch. Sew the gingham strip 1 inch from bottom edge of the skirt, top-stitching the top and bottom edges of the strip.