Gather Ye Hangers

At last I am able to bring you the promised tutorial on how to make padded hangers really easily. The ones you buy in the shops are mostly machine sewn and that is quite hard to replicate if you haven't a sewing machine, or like me, you aren't keen on things machine sewn, preferring to do things by hand.

YOU WILL NEED
Some thin -ish material. You can make them with upholstery fabric. I've done this to match my spare room, for guests to hang their clothes, but it's not an easy project if you are a beginner. If you are sure of your sewing skills then go ahead and make one from a thicker material.

A wooden hanger or a good quality flat plastic one.

Some wadding - the sort of thing that wears well and doesn't move is patchworkers wadding. Ordinary stuffing will do but you will need to carefully glue it in place. It might even be a good idea to run a few stitches through and over it to make it stable.

Some lace - should you want to decorate the bottom of the hanger. Wider lace is easier to manage.

Thread- this needs to be nylon or strong thread as you will be pulling your running stitches quite hard to gather the material around the hanger.

Ribbon - as a decoration....and anything else you might like to add. Pretty trims like you find on underwear, look good, little rhinestones and pearls - anything that takes your fancy.

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO

Cut your material two inches bigger than your wooden hanger.
Wrap the wadding around it, securing as you wrap with glue or stitching.
Fold your material in two. Round the edges.

If you want lace on the edge, sew the lace to one of the edges, turning a tiny hem as you go.

With the strong thread, sew running stitches to the edge, turning a hem as you sew and passing through BOTH the pieces of material. Now make a small incision in the folded edge right in the middle and pass the wire hook through it. Finish the stitching but don't cast it off.... leave a long thread and PULL it tight.
This will gather the material around the hanger. Once it's as tight as you would like it, finish the stitches and cut the thread.
Now tie a bow around the wire hook where it emerges from the material and glue in place. Decorate as you wish.

If you want to make a hanger without lace then the fold goes to the bottom of the hanger and you will gather the top. Sew the running stitches along the top ( folding a hem as you go ) and slip over the hanger leaving a gap for the hook to protrude.

For the rest, the process is just the same. ( click the images to make them larger ).

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When I got married I made myself a hanger for my wedding dress. I was an older bride and so I didn't have a white fru -fru dress and actually, I hired it. It was cream lace with a handkerchief hem and though I was only in possession of it for a few days...it looked really nice on its hanger. I still use that very hanger today for other clothes. It's a reminder of the day I got married - with me every day.

Below is the wedding hanger with my honeymoon nightdress and negligee. There is a small silver horseshoe sewn to the top. :)

I have made hangers for other occasions too and for other people as presents. If you are a bit handy with the needle, you can make them embroidered with names, flowers, or monograms.

 This little hanger has been slip stitched and not gathered and tiny pearls sewn on here and there.

I rather went to town on this one!

You can add little lavender bags ( a future tutorial ) to keep the wardrobe sweet smelling and it's a great way to use up tiny bits of lace or ribbon you have hanging ( forgive the pun ) about! :)



There is just one thing about making these hangers One is never enough!