the pop bottle curtain

 

I am giddy.with.excitement to share with you all today! 

It all started with Madame Samm asking me to do a tutorial for Sew we quilt.  She asked me to do a tutorial/pattern for a paper piecing project, which prompted me to design the pop bottle pattern.  That, in turn, led me to the idea of creating a kitchen curtain for our new home that we'll be moving into soon, using the pop bottles as a border for the bottom edge.  I don't have measurements for the window, so I'll have to finish it off later, but you'll get the just of it. 

Thank you Madame Samm!

 

 

Here's where the curtain will eventually hang.

 

 

So if you want to make a curtain of your own, or something else with the pattern, let me walk you through a brief how-to.

First off, you'll need to print off the pattern.  You can adjust these to whatever size you like, or if you want to do them the size I did, just save this image to your computer, then print it off with no centering or adjusting with your printer.  The pattern will be approx 2.5 X 8.5".

Keep in mind:

1. the image is already reversed for you. 
2. you will need to leave a 1/4" seam allowance around each edge of each of the 4 sections (since it's not included in the pattern).

If you look closely at the pattern, you'll see three lines near the top of the pattern that are bold.  Cut on those lines like so, creating four sections that you will paper piece separetely.

 

 

I'm not going to go over with you how to paper piece since there are so many great tutorials online.  The one I used to teach myself how to paper piece is this one, at Quilter's Cache.  It's super basic, but will help you to understand how it works so you can move on to more intermediate patterns like the pop bottle!

Once you've paper pieced the four sections,

 

sew the cap sections together, then sew the cap section to the top bottle section, then sew those to the bottom bottle section.

 

 

And there you have it, your first pop bottle.   The only other detail I added to the bottle was to embroider the kind of soda each bottle has in it on the label.  Lime for green, creme' for tan, grapefruit for pink, etc.

You could do so many things with these, a long pillow, a tea towel with several of them as a border, a tablecloth with these all around the edges, or a curtain, like I'm doing!

One more thing, if you decide to make this pattern (or even if you don't!), come over and join my Sewtakeahike pattern and Tutorials group on flickr.  I'd love to see you there!

~Penny

 

p.s.  Make SURE you go over to Sew We Quilt and enter the giveaway Madame Samm is offering up on my post there!  Who wouldn't love 22 fq's of Rashida's new fabric, I heart??

(photo courtesy of Sew We Quilt)

Comments

[Kerry]

I love it Penny- I wondered what it was for and the curtain is perfect- 7 pop bottles sitting on the wall! Great for your new place!

[Gail B]

Great paper piecing project :)

[sheryl]

A sweet design and would be perfect for a teenager's room, too! Thank you Penny...

[CJ]

This is such a cute design! I've never seen anything put together like this. I bet this could be cool incorporated into different kind of bottle shapes if possible. Like shot glasses, or mugs even?

Thanks for the idea! :)

[simone]

How cute! Have to try it, even though I am not a paper-piecing-person,

[Merete Vatshelle]

Love the bottles! Thanks for the tutorial at Sew we Quilt.

[Jane]

Saw your tutorial at Sew we Quilt, great idea for a kitchen curtain

[Karen]

HI Penny. Your tutorial is great fun. The curtain looks great. What a wonderful way to brighten up a room!!

[Elizabethd]

I'd love to adapt it for a grandson's quilt!

[Susan Barreau]

Hi Penny, I have just become a Follower as I saw your tutorial over at Sew We Quilt. I have always found paper piecing difficult, but you make it look easy! Also love your strippy, scrappy quilt too.
Hugs n Blessings from Sue in Oz xx

[charlotte]

Another cute idea. Nice job Penny.

[Lyn]

Thank you for your clear instructions...I'm sure it will make a lovely curtain for your new kitchen...

[Leila]

This is the coolest curtain I've ever seen. Love it Penny!

[betsy]

Thank you for the tutorial. It is adorable.

[Marianna Bergkamp]

Wonderful tutorial! Thanks for the work! It is one with lots of possibilities, jkust change the fabric!

[Lesley]

Thanks! A wonderful idea! Loved the bright colors and the excellent tutorial!

[Lisa Marie]

I came over from Stash Manicure. Such a cute tutorial!

[Lynne]

Penny Penny Penny Penny Penny, probably the best thing ever anyone's ever made ever - if I had another month in Ringo Pie, it would be bottles, this is just sooooooo fab and you're never stop amazing me. Love love love love love

[Carrie]

Thank you for the great tutorial. I haven't tried paper piecing and was reading about it this weekend. Will put it on my to try list. Love the Fairy Tale Sailboat quilt.

Thank you again.

[Jenny]

fabulous penny!

[Margaret]

What a fun project!
Saw your tutorial on Sew we Quilt. Thank you.
Margaret

[kelly jo]

Saw your project on Sew We Quilt as well - too cute! I love it, makes me thirsty!

[Toni Anne]

I saw your name at Madame Samm's and I immediately thought of "big Bang Theory". I love Sheldon( Jim Parsons) on that show. Thanks for such a great tut, what a great idea, I would never think of soda bottles for a curtain. I'm a follower, from a while ago. ;->

[suesue]

Love it! I guested at Madame Samm's a while back for a chair tutorial with selvedges. Your pop bottles are so, so cute~can't wait to see the finished curtain hanging! suesue

[Michele]

I found you through Mme Samm and I have to tell you that you paper piecing ladies make it look so easy. I may get up the courage one day to try it myself.

[Suz]

Love the pattern! I'd love to see the curtains when they're up!! Thanks for the post on Wantobe Quilter!! I'm your newest follower!!

Hugs ~~ Suz
inspiringcreativeness.blogspot

[VickiT]

Penny ~ I had to come over from Sew WE Quilt to tell you how awesome this project is. My son's fiancee is a nut for anything Coke. She would love something using the coke fabric I bought a few years ago to make my Granddaughter an adorable little reversible dress from that fabric complete with a machine embroidered pop bottle. This would be super cute on a pillow.

I don't like beer myself but I bet this could be used for anyone that has a bar in their home with a window nearby. You could make the bottles to look like different beer brands. That might be a cute idea for a guy too using that idea to make a beer bottle pillow maybe?

Anyway, super cute idea. Thank you so much.

[Tricia Anne]

Your tutorial is fabulous! I have really been admiring this sort of sewing and hope to give it a try. :o) Have a super week! Trish

[Judi Boyce]

I love the nostalgia of this project! Very cute :)

[Carol C]

I've come over from Madam Samm and think your blog is great. Your tutorial is wonderful also. Can't wait to see what's next.

[ursula]

Thanks for the great tutorial. Can't wait to see the finished curtains.

Ursula

[quilary]

Great pattern, thanks for sharing :)

[Angela]

Super cute! And I love that kitchen curtain - such happy colored pop!

[P.]

That is just so cute, Penny! Thanks for the tute!

[Renea]

Cute tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

[Ella]

I've only tried paper piecing once, but I definitely have it on my short list to try again! Thanks for the cute pattern.

[Dana]

I came over from Samm's place, this pattern is so cute, I like the idea of tea towels from this pattern, wonderful. Thank you.

[patricia]

New follower here! I love this tutorial. Good luck with the new home!

[dawn]

Love the tutorial Penny! What a great idea to use as a curtain. Thanks for sharing.

[Sharon Griffith]

Hi Penny thanks so much for sharing your pp pattern over at Madame Samm's and for your wonderful blog. I have become a follower and will be coming back often....have a wonderful day

[Brenda]

This is such a fun idea for the kitchen!! Never thought of doing curtains. My hubby would learn a new appreciation for my stash if I created something wonderful like this! ;) I really like the mason jar soap dispenser, too. Will look great in my primitive kitchen. I am gonna have a blast looking through your site... Thanks!!!

[randi]

this is a fantastic block. simply adorable!

[Thimbleanna]

That's adorable Penny! It's going to be perfect for your new kitchen. I can't wait until you move -- how fun to have a blank canvas for your quilting!

[barbara (in Tennessee)]

really cute new follower

thanks for the tute on stash manicure love your blog

barbara

[melissa]

This is so cute:) thanks for teaching me how to make it!!!

[Ktquilts]

Love it Penny!! Way cute! Enjoy your home, praying the move will go smoothly.

[Stray Stitches]

Wonderful design! Thanks for sharing your tutorial over at Stash Manicure.

[Debbie]

A great little pattern....would be so cute on cookout apron and towels. Thanks.

[evelyn]

Hi Penny, I just came over from Stash. Great Tut. I had to quickly scroll down so hubby wouldn't see it. He would want this done in beer bottles I'm sure! Yesterdays post was about your pencil sharpener. Yep, it is almost the same as the one I grew up with, maybe a little older. Mine is from the 60's, and sits proudly in my sewing room. Great facelift!

[Marcia K]

Loved you over at Sew We Quilt. I have some windows that need curtains, and perhaps I will now be able to get up the nerve to make my own. Goodness knows they would look better with just about anything on them!! :) Thank you for your inspiration, I am now following your blog, and can't wait to see what else I will learn.