Dress finish, embroidery finish, Xmas gifts, 2015 review and looking ahead to 2016

Happy New Year to all

Now that Christmas gifts are all given I can show some photos of mug rugs that were given as gifts.  I put these inside coffee mugs along with some biscuits.

 

 

 

 

 

 These were fun to make and I spent a lot of time making them to each persons interests.  I do like these, but have yet to make myself one.

 

I also finished my embroidery project.  This was an owl from the adult colouring book Enchanted Garden.  I adapted it to an embroidery design and finished it with some crazy quilting in a hexagon shape.  At the moment this is hanging on the wall of my sewing room.  Hopefully one day, more hexies will be added and I'll make a quilt out of them.  That is well off in the future though.

 

 

I made this beaded paisley a few months ago and have been waiting for the right place for it.  It seemed to belong with Mr Owl. In the top photo you can see it on the bottom left.  Here is a close up.

 

 

I finished a dress.  This has been on my wanting to do list for a long time.  It is a Kwik Sew pattern #4068.  I like pockets so I added a couple of in-seam pockets on the side.  It is a lot lower at the front than I am comfortable with, so I'll need to wear a cami under it.  If I make it again I'll want to redraft the neckline to make it at least a couple of inches higher.  Also it has elastic on the sleeves to create a gathered effect, which is OK, however I'd probably not bother with that again as I think ordinary sleeves would be fine.

 I was very happy with how the skirt was gathered.  I used the technique shown here.  In brief I used the same settings given in the tutorial,  using 4 threads on overlocker,  left needle tension at 9, right needle tension at 7 and differential feed set at 2.  It worked a treat and so much easier than pulling up gathering threads sewn on a sewing machine.  If you use this technique just remember to mark your gathering fabric before overlocking, and mark the fabric the gathers are to attach to at the same points.  I marked at each quarter of the garment on both the skirt and the bodice, then all I had to do was match the markings and gently pull the gathers to match the bodice.

 

 

 



Rather than using a normal zipper I used an invisible zip.  As you can see it wasn't quite perfect as some of the zipper can be seen where the bodice and skirt meet.

 

You may notice this is the first time I've modelled my garments.  It finally clicked in my brain that the camera on my tablet has a time delay so I can set it up on a table, put the timer on, and on selfie mode and have time to pose before the photo clicks.  From now on, expect to see more of me (not necessarily a good thing!).

 

Now is a good time to reflect on how far I've come in 2015.   I've learned to sew invisible zippers, patch pocket, in seam pockets, rouleau loops, collars, lining, sewed buttonholes and buttons with the sewing machine and learned to use an overlocker.  For 2015 I've completed 30 garments, a chart is on my 2015 finishes page showing types of garments and pattern company.

 

Looking ahead to 2016 I still have a lot to learn.  I'm wary of setting goals, as this is my hobby so I should enjoy it and not feel as if I have to do something just because I set a target.  However, having said that this year I would like to;

 

1. Consider what is needed in my wardrobe and try to pick things that will work, both in terms of fabric and design.  I made a lovely lavender coloured linen jacket, but lavender doesn't go with anything so I've never worn it.  I want to avoid more of these errors.  Maybe concentrate on blues and reds as I seem to gravitate towards these colours.
2. My winter wardrobe is getting tired, my trackpants and sweatshirts could do with replacing, so come winter that is what I need.
3. Experiment with more BurdaStyle patterns for 'something different'.
4. Find a trouser pattern for a TNT and make some trousers.  So far, apart from Culottes, I 've not had any luck with finding a trouser pattern that suits or fits.   I'm hoping StyleArc's giveaway Barbs pants will be the one.
5. Try to fabric shop only for specific patterns.  However no shame in failing this if fabric is at bargain prices. 
6. Post reviews on Pattern Review.  I love reading other peoples reviews, seeing how they found the pattern and what fabric they used, so time to start giving back.
7. I've used this blog as a means of recording what I've done for myself.  I need to try and include more information so others can enjoy reading it.  Again time to give back, as I enjoy reading other folks blogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New Sorbetto top and WIP's

I made a pair of trousers from some blue chambray using Simplicity 1699.  I don't have a photo of those yet, so will post separately when I get around to that.  I had enough fabric left over to make another Collette Sorbetto top.   I added red bias binding to the central pleat and around the neck to make it more interesting.   I toyed with the idea of using mismatched red buttons down the centre pleat, however I decided less is more, and just used one button at the top, again for a bit of added detail.   This time I lengthened both the top and the sleeves.

As always I have a few WIP's on the go.  This is from an adult colouring book, Enchanted Garden.  I haven't joined in the current craze for adult colouring, not really my thing.  However some of the designs would look really good done in embroidery.   I first made some copies of the page I wanted to embroider so I had copies I could colour in and one to trace the design onto fabric.  Once I was happy with the colour scheme I found threads from my stash that matched.  This is the embroidery progress so far on the owl I am doing.  Stitches used are detached chain, rope stitch, feather stitch, fly stitch, satin stitch, fishbone stitch, french knots and buttonhole stitch.

 I am also doing a Hardanger.  It is on a purple fabric with white thread.  In hindsight I wish I'd used a white fabric, but with so many hours invested already I don't want to stop and change now. This is using an old Burda pattern. I want this to go on top of a scotch dresser in my bedroom so needed to change it somewhat so the dimensions are the correct size for the dresser.

October projects

I had a couple of major finishes this month.  My goldwork stumpwork embroidery and my first crazy quilting project.

For my crazy quilt project I wanted to make a case for my tablet.  I had a peacock theme as you can see. The case is held with a Velcro strap with a brass peacock that I got from a place that sells supplies for paper crafts.  It is lined in a green peacock fabric, padded and the back fabric is a purple peacock fabric, the same as you can see on the closure.

The two peacocks on either side were done using the tutorial on Pamela Kellogs blog
I'm proud of this peacock feather, I found a photo of a feather online and then tried to imitate it in embroidery.

The left peacock is framed by wisteria.

A beaded peacock, with sequins feathers.  My mother reckons this looks more like a kiwi, and every time I look at it now I'm seeing a kiwi.

 

A little ladybird hiding on a leaf underneath the white peacock.

 

I finally finished this goldwork and stumpwork project.   I started this years ago but it became a UFO.  I picked it up again earlier this year.  I'm glad I did as I love how it turned out.  Below are close ups and the framed picture.

Stumpwork pansies

 

Goldwork

 Completed picture

Framed

 

Spider and web

I am wanting to try different seam treatments and also wanting to make some Christmas gifts for my girlfriends.  I thought a way of combining the two would be to create monogrammed tissue holders, like the one I made for my mother last month (see September post).
 Before embroidering the monogram I wanted to practice the pieces so ran up a quick crazy quilting block made from a pack of charm squares.  They aren't normally colours that would draw me, but pieced together like this I quite like them.

Below is the crazy quilt block and seam treatments.

Block.  Flowers are lazy daisy (detached chain) filled with French knots with chain stitches for leaves and more French knots scattered.  To the right of daisys are bullion roses with fly stitch stems.  At top left you can just make out twisted chain stitch with oyster stitch flowers.

 

Interlaced chain stitch, to the left is woven chain stitch

The left seam is buttonholed chain stitch with French knots, at bottom is wheat stich in yellow with an orange straight stitch down the centre and French knots.  The right seam is raised stem stitch.

I've completed 3 monograms so far.

C.  Stitches are raised stem stitch, detached chain, French knots, twisted chain, oyster stitch and beads

E:  Stitches are  Interwoven Chain stitch, wheat stitch, French knot, oyster stitch, twisted chain, straight stitch, detached chain

M:  Stitches are detached chain, plaited braid, oyster, bullion rose, fly stitch, French knot, twisted chain