LINING AN EGG




From Maureen Williams

  • Use either satiny or velvet fabric. Measure the inside of the egg from top edge to the bottom and back to the top edge and add an inch. We'll say it measure 5 inches, so we will cut a circle of 6 inches across.

    With a needle and thread make small stiches over and under about 1/8 of an inch from the edge all around the circle. Place a pin to mark the outer edge of the circle in 4 equal spaces. place a band of glue around the inside top of the egg.

    With the thread, draw the fabric into gathers equally spaced between the pins. Starting in the back, press gathered fabric in place. You can use some small pinch clothspins to hold the fabric in place to let dry. Do the same to the front, then the two sides. press the fabric in place equally spaced all around the top edge.

    When dry, pull the thread out, the rest of the fabric will stay loose. Glue a fancy gold braid along the inside top edge of the egg to hide the edges of the fabric. You can do the same with the top section.




    This jewel box made by Betty Bruce

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    A Lining with Music
    from Michele Jeffries

  • An ostrich egg was used. It was cut in half for a hinge ring. The fabric used for the lining was a light, stretch velvet in white. A touch-n-play (music box) was also added. The steps are:
    1. Measure the circumference of the egg at the cut line.
    2. Measure the depth of one of the halves of the egg.
    3. Cut two strips of fabric to these measurements (on the cross).
    4. Take one strip and fold in half width ways, so right sides are together, then sew the width ends together. (this is the depth measurment)
    5. Repeat step 4 with second piece of fabric.
    6. There should now be two fabric cylinders, one for each egg half.
    7. At one end of each of the fabric circles, fold a hem of ¾cm and then run a gathering stitch along it.
    8. Put this aside for the moment.
    9. Get a touch-n-play of your choice.
    10. Cut two circles big enough to cover the t-n-p.
    11. Take one circle and run a gathering stitch
    along its edge.
    12. Fit it over the t-n-p, pull thread ends together and tie off.
    13. The circle needs to be big enough to meet on the back side of the t-n-p.
    14. Now take the other fabric circle, and run a gathering stitch along its edge.
    15. Get a piece of foam as close to the size of the t-n-p as possible.
    16. If you can't find any foam use a piece of cardboard and some of that fuzzy filler.
    17. Fit fabric over the foam circle, pull the thread ends together and tie off.
    18. Glue the t-n-p into the centre of one half of the egg and foam piece into the other.
    19. Back to the two larger fabric pieces.
    20. Gently gather the hemmed edge until it fits round the t-n-p edge.
    21. When size is exact tie threads and glue hem edge into egg neatly round the t-n-p.
    22. Run a fine line of glue, round the inside cut edge of the egg half and gently smooth fabric into place.
    23. Trim off any excess fabric.
    24. The two halves should now be fully lined.
    25. A braid can be added to the cut edge after the hinge ring has been put into place.



    Here's an example of a push and play
    music box in the lining

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    From Phyllis.......

  • I read with interest how you line your eggs.  I like more fullness for lovely drapes and I do it differently. 

    In the bottom of my eggs, I sprinkle BB pellets or shot weights and pour Elmers glue through them so none is loose.  Let it dry completely and then put a little cotton batting over the BB's.  (for padding)

    Then I line the egg.  I never let the edge of the fabric ravel.  I use a drape stick (or a ceramic needle tool) and do not sew the edges and draw up.  I mark the fabric in 4 sections to line it up and start with the drape stick to tack the fabric around the egg.  Took awhile to master the drape stick but it is faster than the sewing.  To each his own.  Just the method taught to me. 

    The BB's give weight and stability to the egg.  I scrape the edges of the inside of the egg clear of membrane as the membrane will dry out later and take the lining loose.  About 1/8th down from the edge, I put a bead of glue (elmers or 527 are favorites of mine)  Using the drape stick, or a ceramic needle tool, I start tucking the fabric into place moving the material into folds and gathers.  Small clothespins hold it all in place while it dries.  I do not turn the edge of the fabric under.  I cover the raw edges with trim. 



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