Tuesday 20 December 2011

The tabs along the top

The Banner will be carried on a T-shaped pole arrangement, with the carrying pole up the back, and a cross-piece from which the Banner itself will be suspended.  In order to do this, it needs loops or sleeves of some sort to hang from.  It's these I'm making next.

I'm using six of these tabs, as I'm going to call them (apologies if there's a correct term I'm not using!), three on each side of the carrying pole, leaving enough room for the pole fittings.  So, I needed six pieces of linen-lined velvet, cut to size and edged as usual:


Machine stitched, the seams herringbone-stitched for neatness, and turned right side out:


Using tailor's chalk, I marked on the back of the panel where they should go (the markings made sense to me, at least!):


The tabs were folded over to form a loop and tacked in place:


Then, using upholstery thread, they were back-stitched in place, plus for extra security, I stitched the sides down too, plus the usual herringbone stitching along the top:


This is not the neatest bit of stitching I've ever done, but going through so many thick pieces of fabric was not easy!  Oh well, it won't be seen.  Here they all are, stitched down:


I ladder-stitched the fronts of the tabs to the front edge of the panel, giving the finished view of the back:


Even thought the colours never come out very well in the photos, the eagle-eyed may notice that the tabs look slightly darker than the rest of the red.  This is because the pile of the velvet is going in the opposite direction.  I considered making the tabs from two pieces of velvet, so that the pile could go in the correct direction both front and back, but that would mean the weight of the Banner, which will be considerable, would be on a seam, and I really don't think that would be strong enough.  So, I decided it would have to be one piece, with the pile going the right way on the front.  The back, I'm afraid, will just have to be slightly wrong, and I'll have to hope no-one else notices!

2 comments:

  1. The banner is coming together so quickly now! It certainly is a change from the months of embroidering the flowers and leaves, stitching them on the velvet and adding the vines. I can't tell you how interesting it has been watching this come together. I'll feel lost when it's over, but I bet you'll just have a complete sense of satisfaction!

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  2. More a sense of relief, I think!

    Though I think I'll feel a bit lost without it too, now.

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