I’ve been smitten with anything and everything chevron-patterned these days – and I’m dying to incorporate something with a sassy graphic pattern into my home! (Apparently the chevron tile floors at the flip weren’t enough to satisfy my need for chevron.)
Some ambitious bloggers have DIY’ed some chevron in their homes, and I think their projects are totally inspiring. Are you smitten, too?
1. Everything LEB; 2. Neustra Vida Dulce; 3. KFD Designs; 4. Leaf House via Centsational Girl
I decided to try to add a chevron pattern to my breakfast room chairs (you can read about that ongoing saga here, here and here). It turns out that the key word here is “try.”
It all started out well – I printed out several copies of a chevron pattern that I found on the web and taped them together to form a large stencil.
Then I taped the stencil to my slipcover and made sure everything was straight with my laser leveler.
Then I marked the peaks and valleys of each zig and zag (I made mine a bit wider, about 3 zigzags thick) with a fabric pen – I had made small holes in the stencil using my seam ripper at each peak and valley, and pen marks were going to be my guide when I went back with painters tape to tape out the pattern.
Here’s how my pen marks looked – can you see where I was going? (And it’s true, you can tell by the wrinkles that I don’t iron.)
Everything went really well until I rounded the edge of the chair to move onto the front side of the chair – then things got super wonky. It was impossible to keep the pattern level!
I’m sure someone out there has figured out how to make the chevron pattern go around a curve, but it turns out that person is not me. So, what I’m saying is, this project was a big fail. No chevron patterned chairs for me! I’ll have to slip it in somewhere else in my house – maybe pillows?
But don’t worry – I came up with another idea and have finally conquered this chair conundrum. Two of them are totally finished and, if I do say so myself, they are looking fabulous. I can’t wait to show them to you!
Do you have a project that turned into an epic fail? Or am I the only one?
And while we’re all sharing here, go ahead and join in on the blog party! The topic is “The trend I’ve been wanting to try in my home is…” Here’s all you need to do to join the party:
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I can’t wait to see what you did for your chairs. :)
Oh man what a bummer! I hate it when projects fail. I’m trying to think of one, I’m sure we’ve had Big Fat Fails too…but since I’ve been up since 4am I’m just a little tired and my brain isn’t working yet. I can’t wait to see what you finally decided to with the chairs!!! You’ve got me on the edge of my seat. (hehehe)
What a bummer with the chevron! But you were braver than me to even try.
Kim@NewlyWoodwards´s last blog post ..Renovation progress report – week 31
The first thing I thought of as I was reading through the post is “how is she going to continue the pattern around the seams?” And then I got excited because I thought you had found a really good trick to getting it all lined up! But, wha- wha. It still remains a world mystery. :P
The only idea I would have to paint or mark stripes of any sort on a 3-D object would to put the chair on a large turn table of sorts and affix it so it doesn’t move. Then project the design onto the chair from an overhead projector. Making sure never to move either the chair or projector! Can we say involved!
I know, it’s tough!! I thought about doing stripes of painters tape all the way around to keep things in line, which might have worked, but by that point I had made up my mind to do something else. I hate that the chevron pattern bested me!! ;)
Can’t wait to see what your solution was! I love when people share fails!! Thanks! (I linked up, but… kinda messed up the title… I’m still so new to this!)
Great patterns! I can’t wait to see what you did – glad you got them all fixed up for your birthday party! I hope you have a blast :)
Jen Rames´s last blog post ..Yellow Cake with Buttercream Frosting – from Scratch!
Thanks, Jen! We’ll miss you! And I only got 2 of them finished. Ha, I don’t know why I thought I could finish them in time!
Okay – I want to incorporate chevrons into my home too, and I may have just found the PERFECT solution! Check out this rug! The largest 8×10 or so – is TOTALLY affordable! I’m dying here!!!!
http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/milliken-vibe/techno-black/2795568315-54078.html
http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/117335/warning_youll_be_jealous_of
GET IT!!!! Please do, I’ve been wanting it but I have no place for it . . . yet. Maybe I’ll have to just find a place for it. :) Get it and keep us posted!
I think I should win an award for the most epic fail ever. I stapled my finger while working on a craft, had to have surgery AND stay overnight in the hospital…. and of course it cost me an arm and a leg. Here is the story on my blog http://christinecoates.blogspot.com/2011/02/crafts-can-be-dangerous.html.
I just read your post about it and OMG!!!!!
yep…. I’m that cool (and a natural blonde:). Thanks for reading my post! I love your blog!
Awe, I hate when projects don’t work the way you want. I’m glad you figure it out though!
I feel your pain! I’m working on a chevron print desk and have been making errors left and right! It’s currently sitting (rejected) in the garage until I have the courage to try again. :)
Meredith @ Welcome to Heardmont´s last blog post ..Surprise! Hi from Dallas
Ahh that would have been so much fun!! The pattern looks tricky, to recreate —
How do you add one of those like pages to Tumblr? How do you add one of those like pages to Tumblr?