Other colours could have an equally eye-catching effect, depending on the decor you would like them to match – a deep red, perhaps, or emerald green, midnight blue, dove grey, pale lilac or a burnt orange. Alternatively, for a very unusual effect; try the same technique using several shades of a colour and cut the fabric into smaller pieces to create a beautiful patchwork quilt effect.

You Will Need:

(To make a throw measuring about 195 x 105cm)
* am white velvet, at least 1 loom wide
* Weighing scales
* Sewing machine
* Fabric detergent (liquid)
* Tacking thread
* Needle
* Scissors
* Ball of string
* Weights
* Quilting thread
* Overalls, apron or an old shirt
* Rubber gloves
* Protective mask
* Packet of dark petrol dye (ideally cold dye)
* Small glass jar
* Plastic bucket (stainless steel, if heat is required for the dye)
* Fabric conditioner
* am satin at least 1 lscm wide
* pins
* Silk thread to match the velvet
* Iron

Tie short lengths of quilting thread loosely around the double sausage-shaped fabric. leaving gaps of about select between them, all the way along. At one end. take the ends of the ‘core’ string and tie them together firmly. At the other end. hold both of the core strings in one hand and with the other hand
push the fabric so it wrinkles up. When the fabric has been concertina. tie the core strings securely. Submerge in lukewarm water for at least an hour.

Wearing overalls, gloves and a mask, mix up the dye in a glass jar, following the manufacturer’s instructions and carefully observing any safety recommendations, then pour into the bucket. Place the fabric in the dye bath. Leave until the dye has produced a strong colour. stirring regularly. Once
dyed. rinse thoroughly under cold running water. Untie. wash (as in step 1) using fabric conditioner, spin and let dry.

Cut off the overlooked edges of the velvet, then place it on top of the satin, right sides together, and pin around all the edges. Tack over the pins about
2cm from the raw edge. Remove the pins.

Weigh the velvet in order to determine how much dye to use. With the sewing machine, overlook the edges of the velvet so that it does not fray, then machine wash (on a low temperature, using a gentle cycle) to remove any finish. Spread the damp velvet right-side down on a large table. With tacking thread. mark the centre lengthways. Cut a double length of string and lay it along one of the long edges. Starting at the edge. roll the fabric around the string. Continue rolling until you reach the tacking thread in the centre. then use weights to hold the rolled velvet in place. Repeat from the other side.

Lay the throw out completely flat, in its centre and pin through both layers. Then pin again, working outwards from the centre at 2-3cm intervals both
horizontally and vertically, to produce a grid shape of pins holding the layers firmly together. Thread a needle with a double length of silk thread. At one of the pinned points. make two small stitches on top of each other through both layers (starting at the reverse of the throw), leaving a tail of thread when you start and finish. Tie the two tail ends together, being careful not to distort the fabric by pulling too tightly. Trim the ends to about 15mm (if you cut them too close to the fabric they may come undone). Do not worry about leaving loose threads on the reverse of the quilting – this is a traditional feature of quilting and will give your work authenticity. Work over the entire throw, removing the pins as you go.

Cut the satin to the size of the velvet (the velvet may have shrunk). Machine stitch 15mmm from the raw edge, leaving a gap of about l5cm in the middle
of one long side. Remove the tacking and trim excess fabric from the corners.

Turn right side out. Press the edges flat, taking care not to crush the pile. and neatly hand stitch the opening edges together.