An Upcycled Mid Century Firkin Style Sewing Basket
June 19, 2019
I love it when I find unusual stuff at the thrift shops, like this firkin style sewing basket.
It was waiting for me to pay $9.99, and give it a makeover.
(When you click on the bold Amazon, Old Sign Stencils or Dixie Belle Paint Company affiliate links you will be taken to the products I use for this project. If you order it does not change the price or service at all. As an Amazon Affiliate, Old Sign Stencils Affiliate or Dixie Belle Paint Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
I washed it down good with Dawn dish soap and hot soapy water.
This is the back view.
The finish is not in great shape. It has a few spots with missing veneer.
I removed the hinges and cleaned them with a soft cloth and ketchup (I saw this tip on the internet). It removed the gunk.
I brushed on a couple coats of Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Paint in Hurricane Gray
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I did not distress the sides and legs, just the table top. I used 220 grit sandpaper.
I used the Wedding Ring quilt style stencil from the Artminds 26 paper pattern stencils pack, found at a Michael's store.
I pounced on the pattern using Dixie Belle Chalk Finish Paint in Drop Cloth
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A larger vintage wooden thread spool was cut in half, and the halves were screwed into the basket tops as knobs.
I then applied Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax in Clear
using an INTEX SUPPLY Fiber Rag.
using an INTEX SUPPLY Fiber Rag.
Here is the stenciled top, with the spool knobs.
It's an unusual piece!
A perfect place to hide your knitting or stitching on the sides, and also a spot for your pattern books.
Fun and functional!
Project Update!
For the most part I think you liked/loved the spool knobs idea, but a few suggested they would look better painted. I wanted the vintage lettering on the tops of the spools to show.
So, I painted just the sides of the spools with my Dixie Belle Hurricane Gray Paint, and applied more clear wax.
I think I like this better!
I think the all natural spools were too light, too emphasized.
What do you think?
Pin for later!
Thanks for visiting!
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What a nice redo of a useful piece if you're a crafty person. I am always drawn to any writing on spools, I suppose a thin gray wash would tone down the natural look of the spools for someone else's taste. Can I get a jolt of your energy? You are an inspiring Energizer bunny.
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