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Quickie Gift

I submitted this suggestion to Heloise and got it published. Since then I've expanded it to be decorative as well as functional. I've given this as a gift on several different occasions now I have requests to make more for other occasions. When you give this gift, someone will remember you often. Usually when this person goes to his or her closet he or she will feel a little more organized. When this person gets to take a garment off of the unique decorative clothes hanger that you made with your personal imprint, he or she may smile. You might chuckle to yourself because you made it with ease in only a few minutes. Whoever uses your beautifully embellished gift will have a suitably shaped garment. There will be no crumply bumps across the shoulders of the sweater, blouse, favorite T-shirt, or knit top.

Here's how:

Materials needed:
Clothing hangers made of plastic are best (any color)
Shoulder pads from fabric store
Fabric glue
Fabric paint with pointed tip applicator (coordinate with hanger color)

Decorative embellishments (optional)
Round cloth doilies, or two little quilter's squares to cover shoulder pad
Lace trim, or eyelet ruffle- any interesting trim that won't snag anything
Thread

Tools needed: sewing needle and scissors

Quickest method:

1.) Apply fabric paint around the edges of shoulder pads. 2.) At this point fold out and decorate one side of each pad with your fabric paint.. Make squiggles or stars or hearts, or any imaginative design directly onto shoulder pads. Let dry overnight. 3.) Fold the shoulder pad over the angled section of the hanger that goes to the top. Position at the far outer edges. 4.) Glue together the insides of the folded shoulder pad. Clamp it with clothespins, bag clips, or weight it down. Make sure the shoulder pad is secure and tight where it folds around the hanger so it will stay in place.
Now you have a garment hanger extraordinaire. Sweaters or knit garments arrange nicely on these hangers. They work better than the hangers commercially made for this purpose. Silky garments stay hung up better. Depending on the creativity involved, the unique clothing hanger is nice looking too.

Quick method with added embellishments skip step 1 and 2 and follow instructions below, then go back to step 3 and continue from that point

Cover the shoulder pads with corduroy, linen or jute, seersucker or faux suede. Small doilies can be folded over the pads and tacked on with needle and thread. Doilies are often sold in craft stores or notions department of fabric stores. Use your own taste, but don't use smooth or slippery fabric, as you would defeat your purpose. You can use fabric glue or sew the quilter square onto the pad. Seal any raw edges with fabric paint, and continue on from step 3.

More suggestions: Add some lace, or fray the edges of linen or jute. Interesting buttons or beads can be attached, as long the decorative ornaments don't have tendency to snag.

Shoulder pads can usually be found anywhere that sells fabric or can be found by the bagful at yard sales. I usually remove shoulder pads immediately whenever they come installed in a garment. When using recycled shoulder pads like these, they are usually of a nice print or color and can be trimmed with cord, lace or fabric paint and all you have to do is go directly to step 4 after applying the trim.

Learn more about this author, Carol G.
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