Safety Notice: Handmade items made from this pattern may contain small parts or long cords that pose choking or strangulation risks. Not suitable for children under 3 years. Please see the full safety disclaimer at sewmag.co.uk/safety.
Freshly picked floral blooms will look beautiful displayed in these slip cover vases. Stitched as a rectangle with machine embroidery and appliqué decoration, the ends are brought together and hand sewn to form a cylinder that fits snugly over a vase or jam jar filled with water. They are a great way to freshen up the look of a room and can easily be customised to match any season, décor or vase size.
Stitch a tall vase cover
Back 23cm x 29cm of plain lemon fabric with fusible interfacing. This is enough to encircle a large glass jar. Cut three strips of floral fabric in pink, purple and green, measuring 29cm wide but in varying depths. Pin the pink strip at the bottom of the lemon fabric, then the purple print, followed by a 2cm gap, then the green strip at the top. Edge stitch in place and sew ‘Pretty spring fresh flowers’ in the 2cm gap using teal coloured thread. Iron on the reverse.
Cut strips of yellow, pink and green floral fabric, measuring approximately 1.5cm deep. Stitch them over the previous three wider pieces. Cut another 23cm x 29cm from lemon fabric, then lay the stitched piece wrong side up on top of it and pin in place. Allowing for a 1cm seam allowance, machine stitch around three sides leaving the fourth end open. Trim excess fabric from the corners and turn right side out.
Trim a piece of thick pelmet interfacing just big enough to fit inside, insert it, then machine stitch the opening closed. Topstitch all the way around, 3mm in from the edge. Wrap the finished cover around your chosen vase or jar, overlapping the edges, and mark with pins where you will need to sew. Hand stitch to form a cylinder.
Make a short vase cover
Cut 18.5cm x 28.5cm of lemon fabric and back with fusible interfacing. This will be enough to cover a regular-sized jam jar. Cut 6cm x 28.5cm from purple floral fabric and stitch it across the bottom, adding a scallop stitch along its top.
From floral print fabric, cut seven rose heads and arrange them across the lemon fabric. Add leaves cut from printed green fabric. Secure them using acid-free glue or back them with light fusible interfacing to prevent fraying. Add detail to the roses and leaves, then stitch the words ‘the delicate scent of a rose’ along the top. Iron on the reverse.