March Foot of the Month: Shawl with Confetti Trim

Glamorous occasions call for garments worthy of the celebration. With prom and wedding season coming up we thought you might like to make a wrap to accent a special occasion garment. This shiny satin shawl is trimmed with cording using our featured foot of the month, the Brother three slot cording foot. Select cords that coordinate with the overall color scheme of your outfit to create this unique and special confetti trimmed shawl.

Materials and Supplies:

• Brother Sewing machine
  
• SA148 5mm Brother Cording Foot
  or SA110 7mm Brother Cording Foot
  
• Basic sewing notions including thread to match fabric, fine sharp pins, a point pressing tool for pushing out corners, and a press cloth.
• Sharp, fine machine needle for sewing.
• Fabric: 1 3/4 yards of soft crepe back satin. Cut two pieces measuring 21-inches wide by 61-inches long with length of fabric parallel to the selvedge edge of fabric.
• Pearle cotton or other fine, smooth cording.

Instructions for Creating Shawl

1. Gather supplies. See Figure #1.

[caption id="attachment_13737" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Figure #1[/caption]

2. Select one piece of satin to decorate and set the other piece aside to use for lining. Set up the machine for sewing using your desired thread color for couching the cording in top and bobbin. This example features thread to match fabric, but you may want to experiment with thread that blends in with cording. Stitch a few small samples on scraps if you are undecided.
3. Carefully unwind the cording and cut several pieces into lengths measuring approximately 18-inches. We used two pieces of light purple and one piece of white for each line of trim on this shawl. Since trim is applied in a random fashion you can begin with a few sets of strands and cut more as needed.
4. Thread strands of cording into appropriate slots, pull several inches to the back of the foot, knot cords, and then trim leaving 1-inch beyond the knot. You may find it easier to do this before attaching foot to the machine. See Figure #2.

[caption id="attachment_13738" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Figure #2[/caption]

5. Select a stitch to use for couching down cording. Selection will vary depending on your machine, but you want to be sure to choose a stitch that will cover the cords but leave fabric soft and pliable. Testing on scraps of the same or similar fabric is very helpful. Experiment with adjustments to stitch width and length as necessary.

6. Attach lengths of cording as desired on entire piece, swirling fabric slightly as you stitch. Create a random overall effect with multiple rows of cording. At the end of each length of trim you will want to tie thread in a knot and trim ends to match length of tail beginning of the cording. You can add as much or as little embellishment to the satin as you like. See Figure #3a. See close-up in Figure #3b.

[caption id="attachment_13739" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Figure #3a[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13740" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Figure #3b[/caption]

7. Lightly press decorated piece from the wrong side. Change to regular straight sewing to finish shawl. Pin right sides of plain lining piece and decorated piece together with all raw edges matching. Sew each long edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving a 5-inch opening along one side for turning shawl right sides out.
8. Stitch each short end with a 1/2-inch seam. Turn right side out by reaching into the opening. See Figure #4.

[caption id="attachment_13741" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Figure #4[/caption]

9. Push corners out with point pressing tool. See Figure #5.

[caption id="attachment_13742" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Figure #5[/caption]

10. Close opening with small hand stitches and carefully press finished shawl. You are finished! This shawl pairs nicely with a matching purse.