A Spoonful of Sugar

Make. Bake. Create.

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Press
    • FAQ
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Crafts
    • Crochet
    • DIY
    • Embroidery/Cross stitch
    • Gift Wrapping
    • Knitting
    • Miscellaneous
    • Paper Crafts
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Australia Day
    • Back to School
    • Valentines Day
    • Easter
    • ANZAC Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bars & Slices
    • Bread & Pastries
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Confectionery
    • Cupcakes & Muffins
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Ice Cream
    • Jams/Preserves
    • Main Meals
  • Sewing
    • Sewing Tutorials
    • Quilting
    • Sewing & Quilting Patterns
  • Family
    • Back to School
    • Family Fun
    • Our Home
    • Parenting
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Pattern Store
    • Etsy Store

Sewing with Liberty Fabric

March 23, 2024 By A Spoonful of Sugar - 2 Comments

Hello friends – Let’s explore the enchanting realm of Liberty Tana Lawn fabrics! 🌼✨

The Legacy of Liberty Fabrics

Liberty of London, an iconic brand known for its floral and graphic prints, has been at the forefront of fabric innovation since 1875. They are synonymous with high-quality prints and textiles. Their Tana Lawn cotton is a testament to their legacy, boasting an exquisite feel and exceptional quality. I love working with Liberty fabric and have a small selection of favourite prints to include in special projects.

What is Tana Lawn?

Tana Lawn is named after Lake Tana in Ethiopia where the original cotton grows. Known for its fine thread count, it mimics silk’s properties with its soft, durable, and wrinkle-resistant nature. Sewists love using tana lawn for English Paper Piecing, smocking, quilting, clothing and other small projects. Liberty has a huge range of tana lawn. They are especially known for their small print florals. I love to use Liberty in my English Paper Piecing projects.

Sewing Tips for Tana Lawn

Working with Tana Lawn can be a delight if you keep these tips in mind:

– Use a sharp, fine needle to prevent snagging. I suggest a size 60/08 or 70/10.

– Opt for French seams for a clean finish and neatness.

– Press with a warm iron to preserve the sheen and maintain the integrity of the fabric.

– Use a clear starch alternative such as Best Press or Flatter before pressing to stabilise your fabric prior to cutting.

– Ensure your pins are super fine – such as SOHMO entomology pins or Clover Silk Pins which are ideal for fine fabrics to prevent snagging.

– Cut with a rotary cutter: the crisp weave of Liberty Tana Lawn benefits from a rotary cutter which minimizes shifting and ensures clean, precise cuts.

-Handle with clean hands – the smooth surface of Liberty Fabric picks up oils easily so working with freshly washed hands helps maintain its beauty.

-Test machine stitches on a scrap – some sewing machines may need a finer thread tension or adjusted presser foot pressure to sew Tana Lawn smoothly.

– Embrace hand sewing – Tana Lawn is fantastic for English Paper Piecing or delicate hand embroidery, thanks to its silky texture.

Caring for Your Tana Lawn

Tana Lawn is easy to care for:

– Wash at 40°C on a gentle cycle.

– Use mild detergent without bleach.

– Avoid tumble drying; air dry instead.

– Iron while damp for a smooth finish.

Liberty Capel Tana Lawn

Iconic Designs: Capel and Betsy

Liberty’s classic prints like Capel, with its delicate floral pattern, and Betsy, a small-scaled stylized floral design, have become staples in the sewing community. They stand out with their timeless floral charm, perfect for any sewing project. These are my two favourite designs.

Embrace the beauty of sewing with Liberty Tana Lawn.

Here are some sewing projects and free tutorials, made with Liberty fabric. Click on the photo to find out more details on the project.

Hexie Garden Pouch: Hexie Garden Pouch features a sweet hexagon flower on the front and is perfect to showcase your favourite small scale floral fabrics combined with coordinating ginghams and stripes.

Liberty Rainbow Pouch: Create a pastel rainbow pocket with Liberty Capel. This useful pouch has an exterior and a divided interior pocket. Ideal for small project pouch, makeup, pencil case, or storing all manner of treasures.

Classic Wreath Ornaments: Add a touch of warmth and traditional elegance to your holiday decor with Classic Wreath Ornaments, crafted from linen and wool felt, featuring an English Paper Pieced wreath. 

Jingle Bell Coaster : Jingle Bell Coasters will add festive cheer to your holiday table. Shaped like a Christmas bell, they feature a coordinating band, a ribbon tag, and a sprig of holly. Alternatively reduce the size of the template and make a smaller ornament.

Gifted with Love Pouch: Gifts are extra special when they are presented in a sweet gift pouch featuring a foundation pieced heart.

Parisian Pouch: This sweet little pouch is perfectly sized to hold make up other supplies.

Hexie Sewing Kit: The Hexie Sewing Kit sewing pattern will show you how to make a handy zakka style sewing accessory for crafters on the go.

Pretty Drawstring Pouch: The Pretty Liberty Drawstring Pouch is made using our Pretty Drawstring Pouch sewing tutorial.

Liberty Tissue Cover: I always like to have a few small gifts on hand to include in swap packages or birthday gifts. Tissue Covers are always a popular handmade item – they are practical and pretty – and are perfectly sized for your handbag or car.

Dress Form Gift Tags: Complete a gift with a handmade tag featuring dress forms following our easy tutorial – it just adds a nice personalised touch. 

Mini Yoyo Wreath: Sweet yoyo’s have been assembled into a mini wreath. Read more on our blog post.

Gift Packaging: Tie a strip of Liberty to a jar of shortbread. Get the recipe and more details on this post.

For more Liberty inspiration, read the following blog posts:

Liberty Gifts to Sew

Liberty Scrap Buster

Hello! Are you new here? If so, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here and receive a bonus sewing pattern and welcome discount. Our newsletter includes free tutorials, articles, and new patterns. Welcome to the world of sewing enthusiasts.

Filed Under: Sewing, Sewing & Quilting Patterns Tagged With: Liberty, Liberty fabric, scrap sewing, scrapbuster, sewing, sewing pattern, sewing tips, sewing tutorial, Tana lawn, tips

« String Star Quilt Block
Sew and Stow Pouch »

Comments

  1. Cheryl says

    March 24, 2024 at 6:59 pm

    Thank you for this post on working with Tana lawn. I have a few gorgeous pieces (including Hello Kitty!) but have yet to work with it, knowing I could use a little guidance beforehand. The fabric is so fine! I just ordered the silk pins and now I’m off to shop for Best Press. Hello Kitty! Here I come…

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      March 28, 2024 at 4:12 pm

      I am sure your Hello Kitty project will look amazing!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
×

Categories

Archives

PURCHASE PDF PATTERNS

We offer over 100 affordable PDF sewing patterns available for download from our store website or Etsy store. Each pattern includes detailed instructions, numerous photos, and templates.

WEB STORE ETSY STORE

Instagram

📷 Want to take stunning photos of your sewing p 📷 Want to take stunning photos of your sewing projects? 📷Whether your showcasing pouches, bags or Dresden Needlebooks, great photos make all the difference. Here are 5 essential tips to make your product photos shine.✨️ Stability - Keep your camera steady for crisp, professional images
💡 Lighting- Natural light is your best friend. Soft, diffused light brings out details beautifully.
🎨 Background - Use a white/light background and let your project take centre stage.
🖼 Styling - Add complementary props to enhance the story of your handmade item
🔍 Focus - Make sure every detail is sharp and clear for maximum impact.Swipe through to see these tips in action with my Dresden Needlebook (pattern link is in my profile,).💭 Tell my your top tips for photographing small sewing projects! Drop it in the comments below.
📌 Save this post for future reference.#sewingphotography #handmadephotos #craftingtips #dresdenneedlebook #sewinglove #sewing #makersgonnamake #sewandsell
✂️ Tip of the Week! ✂️Let’s talk rotar ✂️ Tip of the Week! ✂️Let’s talk rotary cutter organization—because dull blades are no fun! 🚫😵Here’s a simple color-coding hack to keep your tools sharp and your cuts crisp: 🟡 Yellow cutter = paper (perfect for reusing old blades!) 🔵 Blue cutter = fabric (clean, precise cuts every time!)Switching between materials has never been easier—no more accidental mix-ups, no more ruined fabric! Try it out and thank me later. 😉Want weekly sewing tips delivered straight to your inbox? Comment NEWSLETTER below and I’ll send you the link! 📩#SewingTips #QuiltingHack #RotaryCutter #CraftingMadeEasy #quiltingtips #sewingroom #sewingtools
👜 5 Reasons to Sew Small ✂️✨️Big impa 👜 5 Reasons to Sew Small ✂️✨️Big impact, small stitches. Whether you're crafting gifts, stocking a shop, or simply enjoying the creative process, sewing bags and pouches, is the perfect way to make something fun, practical, and stylish without committing to a larger project.Here's why sewing small bags and pouches is a must try!🌟 Great for gifts
🌟 Perfect for selling
🌟 Versatile and practical
🌟 Beginner Friendly
🌟 Scrap busting MagicReady to dive in? Comment SMALL and I'll send you a link to my blog article, sew Small: the Joy of Making Bags and Pouches.#sewsmall #handmadebags #pouchmaking #scrapbusting #sewinglove #bagmaker #sewsewsew #sewingcommunity
🌿 Spring is in the Air! 🌿Nothing says spri 🌿 Spring is in the Air! 🌿Nothing says spring quite like blooming gardens, chirping birds, and a cozy little birdhouse! 🐦🌷 Bring a touch of nature to your quilting with our Birdhouse FPP Block, available in four sizes (3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″).This scrap-friendly design is perfect for adding charm to quilts, pouches, bags, and more! Whether you're a foundation paper piecing beginner or a seasoned pro, this block will make your projects sing. 🎶🧵 Grab your favorite colorful fabric scraps 🏡 Create the cutest birdhouses 🎨 Get creative with your spring-inspired designs.Ready to start stitching? Comment BIRDHOUSE and I'll send you a link to this fun quilt block.Tag us in your makes—we’d love to see your Birdhouse Blocks in action! 🌿✨#QuiltingFun #FPPQuilting #SpringSewing #BirdhouseBlock #ASpoonfulOfSugarDesigns #beginnerfpp #beginnerquilter
🌈 Rainbow Pouch 🌈My latest rainbow pouch i 🌈 Rainbow Pouch 🌈My latest rainbow pouch is made using an assortment of my favourite Japanese small scale floral prints in all the colours of the rainbow. Most of the fabrics are designed by Atsuko Matsuyama. I love the pretty colours and floral prints.Rainbow Pouch is a fun way to showcase your favourite colourful prints. I combined the rainbow pocket with sweet polka dot linen fabric and a lovely pink striped zipper.If you would love to make your own rainbow pouch, you can find the pattern in our Etsy Shop and Pattern Store. Store links are in our profile.What would you put in your Rainbow Pouch?#rainbowpouch #pouchmakker #sewfun #sewsweet #sewingpattern #giftstosew #sewingcommunity #scrappysewing #atsukomatsuyama
🌟 5 Tips for Sewing for Men 🌟Struggling to 🌟 5 Tips for Sewing for Men 🌟Struggling to find the perfect handmade project for the men in you life? Comment MEN and I'll send you a link to our article with 10 great ideas.Whether your sewing for Fathers Day, birthdays, or just because - these 5 essential tips will help you create gifts they'll actually love!🧵 Choose masculine fabrics
🧵 Add texture and hardware
🧵Keep it functional
🧵 Tailors projects to hobbies and interests
🧵 Stick to sleek and simpleSwipe through for project ideas. Want more inspiration? Comment MEN for a link to our article.  Save this for when you need inspiration.What is your go to project for guys?#sewingformen #handmadegifts #DIYgifts #makersgonnamake #sewfun #giftstosew
Follow on Instagram

Featured Pattern

Travel Sewing Kit Pattern

Featured Tutorial

Retro Drawstring Bag

Featured Recipe

Lemon Pound Cake

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
×

Popular Posts

  • Lavender Sachets
  • Life Lessons from Sewing and Quilting
  • Pin Perfection: Everything you Need to Know about Sewing Pins
  • Charm Square Fabric Tray
  • Happy Scrappy Cards
  • Retro Drawstring Bag
  • Sew Small, Sew Smart: The Joy of Making Bags and Pouches.

Copyright © 2025 Lisa. K. Cox - A Spoonful of Sugar