diy by Grace Bonney 77

diy project: chela’s fabric screen

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chela edmunds is textile artist from melbourne, australia. she recently moved into a new apartment in brooklyn, ny and found that her beautiful windows overlooking the park only had enough blind coverage to reach chest-height. in order to let the sun shine through and maintain some privacy she created this simple but chic felted screen. she was kind enough to share her full project steps with us today, so if you’re looking to let light into your home and maintain a little bit of privacy, this diy is just the ticket. thanks again to chela for sharing her felt screen with us!

CLICK HERE for the full project after the jump!

Inspiration

Materials:

Measuring tape/ rule
soft lead pencil or dressmakers chalk
template for the circle (I used a tea canister)
sharp scissors
a sewing machine
thread
felt fabric (measured to the width and length of the window)

steps
Instructions

* Measure your window, width and height.

* Use felt fabric. The piece of felt should be long and wide enough to cover the whole window. It is important to use felt as it will not fray at the edges.

* Using you circular template and soft lead pencil, trace circles side by side to cover the whole piece of felt.

* cut out the circles using a sharp pair of scissors. This will take a long time (it took me 3 hours) but its very meditative so enjoy it!

* Sew the circles in rows stitching straight through the centre, one after the other in a continuous line for the width size. For my window this was 11 circles but it will vary for you window and template size, so measuring is important.

* Finally sew all the rows together to make the height of the window and form a grid. This took me 25 rows of circles but again will depend on your window.

* Simply hang the screen with drawing pins and voila!

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Categories
diy / diy projects
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77 Comments

Mouse

Awesome idea! It’s so practical, too–I hate having to block the sun out in the interest of privacy. Or be an exhibitionist in the interest of sun. I’ll totally make this at some point!

michelle

Did you stitch the circles with a line of stitching through the middle of each circle, and then across the rows? I can’t see the stitching in the last step.

Stella

Love it! I needed something for my bathroom window so my boyfriend can shower with the light on at night! I just hope I can handstitch this…

S

This is perfect!!!! I’ve been searching all over the web for unique window treatments and this is fab!

kathryn

i am having trouble with the link to chela’s site.

such a great project! i think i’ll do it today :)

Allison

This is just what I’ve been looking for. I can’t imagine how long it will take me to cut out enough circles for my 3 large windows though!

Emma

When I first saw this, I thought the circles were sewed onto a sheer curtain!
I think I’ll actually try it this way – it will afford a bit more privacy and I’ll be able to whizz through it on a sewing machine instead of doing it all by hand.

Karen

Ewenique, the .com is missing in Chela’s url. Add it after the .blogspot

Beautiful screen.

stephanie

oooh– this will be a perfect solution to my daughters’ room. We have a polka dot thing going on in there and I can so see these in white felt as a fun but not too crazy window covering!!
Thanks for the idea!

Stephanie May*

I LOVE this project! I can’t wait to try it! But, I am a little confused about the actual stitching – I wish there was a better visual of the stitches/thread going through the circles…

chellsbells

Hi All, thanks for all the lovely comments. I am so happy to share this. A few answers -* tracy: a drawing pin is just a push pin or tack. *Michelle, you got it exactly ;) I should have used darker thread to show the stitching. ……and thanks Karen, yes, the link is 2x2innyc.blogspot.com my website is currently under construction but I will let Grace know when it is up.

susan

I’m sorry–I don’t understand the sewing part. Did you sew a straight line through each circle (creating a cross) or did you just sew a couple centimeters where each circle connects to its neighbor. thanks!

chellsbells

Hi Susan, Sew the circles in rows stitching straight through the centre, one after the other in a continuous line for the width size. Repeat for the other direction – it will form a cross and the continuous thread saves time cutting and adds strength to the fabric.

megan

another request for more specific sewing instructions- did you sew by hand or machine? the more detail the better…

Gillian

I love this! I’m mentally picturing using a contrasting thread color for patterns/emphasis. OOOH, the ideas!

Stacy

This is perfect!!!! I have a dear friend that loves unusual things and she has been looking for a window treatment that would let light in, but slow vision! this is so great! Thank you so much for sharing!

Tiia

So great!! This would be just perfect to our balcony door! Just to find the time and energy to do this… Well, just have to start :)

Ashley

I loooove this idea! So cool. So many possibilities, too – you could mix in a few different colors, etc. Welcome to Brooklyn, Chela!

TexanNewYorker

@megan — a sewing machine is listed in the materials column, so I think it’s safe to say this was machined. Now you’ve got me wondering if I could do it by hand, though, since I don’t own a sewing machine . . .

Manette

What a brilliant idea, so creative and provides just the right amount of filtered light. Thanks so much for sharing.

Surya

Nope, the craft punch won’t work. I had to throw away one, coz I broke it trying to cut perfect circles out of felt. In fact, if anyone has any ideas on how to cut felt in perfect circles, I would love to hear it!

Erica

Love the screen so perfect to let in the light but still give some privacy.
Where is that picture of the bed with the leaves on the wall from? I love it! Anyone know anything about it or where it is from?

Mari

Love, love, love!
I have the window about that size in my entry way and when I sit on the couch in my living room, I can see the mail box. This window screen is perfect for me to see the mail being delivered but lounge in the house in my PJs :)

Liza

We recently had a window installed to allow more light into the house and this screen is the perfect solution to my privacy vs. sunlight dilemma. Thanks for sharing!

Tinabobina99

Sonny, my Sizzix Big Shot die-cutting machine has a circle die which cuts lots of materials, including felt.

Emily

I have seen someone in the street wearing a scarf made like this but with smaller circles. Would look great with random placement of contrasting coloured felt too.

Anna

I love how simple this is! I also like how it doesn’t look super bulky over a window. Great job! I’m going to have to try this soon :)

madeline

I love this! I’m wondering if I could sew a tab on each circle on the top row (or maybe every second circle would be enough) so I could thread it on a curtain rail. Perhaps some sort of ribbon for the tabs.

Holly Hudson

For those readers near scrapbook stores, or fabric stores, MANY have diecut machines and have various size circle dies! This would be a godsend & would allow you to be meditative for a short while instead of hours! Some neighborhood elementary schools may allow you to use their diecut machines, too! Providing brownies or a seasonal treat for the office secretary & staff should help get into the room with the diecut machine! enjoy

jenna

love the screen! but more important, love the chair. where did you get it?

Jaclyn

So where do you pin the screen? directly onto the wall/window frame?
And I’m wondering if there’s a nicer way to hang it up. Any suggestions?

Monica

I really love the image in the inpiration section called natural colors, that has the really creative wall decoration of branches and leaves! Does anyone know how to do this? Or have any links to similar things? Because i really want to recreate this in my room!

sara Amrhein

Oh wow!! I am so very excited about this project! I am in the process of restoring our new apartment with my husband and have a window this will be perfect on! Thanks for the post!!

Tawnya Chatmon

Great Idea, I going to try it for my kitchen windows!

Amber

I’m thinking about cutting out the circles and gluing them together with the string in between. Doubles the time on cutting circles but also eliminates the sewing.

Amber

Glue would definitely make the felt too stiff. I don’t have a sewing machine so I’m hand-stitching. I want to be buried with this thing wrapped around me. My tombstone will read “Circles. There were so many circles.”

Anne

Love this, too!
Might try with some different shape maybe. Will try with paper first how maybe a bamboo-stick pattern will look.
Has anyone finished stitching by hand yet? How long did it take you?!

Sonia

Love the idea! I’m sure gonna use this, in a different form though..I’ll be linking when I’m done!

Amber

It took me two weeks to hand sew everything together. I used a thick rose colored ribbon to make loops at the top, too. I’m moving into a new place next week and can’t wait to put it up!

Claris

Excelente justo lo que necesitaba para hacer una cortina preciosa, gracias por la idea!!

Amanda

Can you use a circle punch on felt? I’ve never tried and don’t want to spend the $15 if it won’t. Thanks!

ROBIN

I MADE THESE IN HOLLOWEEN COLOR CIRCLES FOR THE HOLIDAY THEN THRU A HOLLOWEEN SHEER OVER THE TOP THEY LOOK RELLY COOL AND THE FELT KEEPS THE COLD OUT BUT LETS THE LIGHT IN WHITCH IS AWSOME I ALSO PUT HOOPS AT THE TOP AND HUNG EYE SCREWS THE WALA FLIP THE HOOP OVER AND THERE HUNG THEY LOOK SO COOL AND WAS SO EASY I’M MAKING X-MAS ONES TOO..

ris

First post I fell in love with 4 years ago. Still hooked to design sponge.

Angelica

I still don’t get the sewing part. Can you please translate it for someone that has never sewn anything before? Thanks!

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