How to Sew Floral Print to Animal Print

Whether you want to create a project like a tablecloth, table runner or placemat with assorted scraps you've got on hand or simply love the patchwork look, use these tips to sew patterns like animal and floral prints together. Even a beginning seamstress will be able to coordinate the designs for a professional finish.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Iron
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine

1. Choose animal and floral print fabrics that share a predominant shade to tie the look together. If you're using a leopard print, for example, pair it with fabric that features multi-colored or earth-tone flowers on a beige background. Also match the thread you'll be using to sew them together to this basic shade.

2. Match the scale of the designs so one swatch doesn't overpower the other. If one pattern is bolder, use a narrower piece and let it serve as a highlight to the table runner or cloth.

3. Wash and iron the fabric before you measure, cut, pin or sew it since each type of fabric may shrink differently.

4. Trim the pieces, leaving enough room on each edge to allow for a ½-inch seam. It's okay if the outside edges don't match up perfectly since you'll be stitching the fabric to the project's backing later.

5. Pin the pieces of fabric together with the "right" sides facing each other. Use straight pins to secure the edge and give you an indication of how far in to sew. Place the pins far enough in, however, so they won't run into the presser foot on your sewing machine (unless you want to remove them as you sew).

6. Begin sewing by backstitching to secure the thread. Most machines feature a button that will reverse the direction of the stitching while you press it, but if your's doesn't, simply switch the stitch length setting to use extremely short stitches for the first inch or so.

7. Sew the two pieces together, keeping the fabric edges aligned with either the machine's presser foot or a guideline on the plate beneath it to ensure your stitched line is straight. End the seam with another backstitch before clipping the thread.