More finishing things off

I did a post a few weeks ago about some languishing UFOs which I'd finally finished.  Well I've finished some more.

This bead embroidered pendent was made in October 2015, you can see the original post here.

When I was putting pendents on chains the other week, I tried this one on a chain, but it wasn't right.  it needed something different.  I thought I'd try a beaded rope so I got out some suitable seed beads and my copy of Seed Bead Stitching by Beth Stone.

The photo above shows the samples I made.  On the left is a spiral which just didn't look right, I can't remember what the middle one is, and the one on the right is a peyote tube.  I really like the peyote tube but it was too big for this pendent.  Instead I chose a tri-stitch from Bead Play everyday, also by Beth Stone.

I didn't take a close up of the beaded chain but it is quite delicate.  I've worn this a few times recently.

I can't find the origins of this project.  It was cross stitched a long time ago, at least 4 years I think.  All it needed was stuffing and the turning gap sewing up.  I'd neglected it so long as I'd cut the linen too close to the seam and it was fraying.

I put lavender in it and sewed it up as best I could.  It now lives in my knicker drawer so I don't suppose the messy seam matters.

Finally I have this rather strange bunny to show you.  Again, I can't find a post about him, but I think I made him before my nephew was born and he's 4 now.

I made the pattern up myself, I have no idea where I got the idea for such a weird bunny from!  The pink bits on the ears are appliqued and I embroidered a face, but I used a pale pink so it's barely visible.

All I had to do on this fella was stuff him, sew up the turning gap and sew on his tail.  There were three different pompoms with him so I selected the one below.

I wasn't sure what to do with him, I was just pleased to get him out of the UFO basket (or rather drawer, though I do have UFO baskets, and bags and piles...) so he lives with my Jellycat bunnies in the bedroom.

I've got to keep on top of this finishing off, I must have scores of UFOs... 

Dressmaking.... yes, really

I love the Great British Sewing Bee and I'm always in awe of people who can make their own clothes.  I did a basic dressmaking class a few years ago and enjoyed it, but I've always thought that I will wait until I've lost weight until I try it.  Fast forward a few years on anti-depressants and you get me, even bigger than before.  Ah well, maybe I shouldn't wait?

I bought a copy of Sew as I've never read a sewing magazine and thought I'd give it a go.  It had this free pattern with it which seems doable.

Except I'm bigger in all measurements than the sizes given.  I taped on some paper, measured myself and did some (probably wrong maths) and graded the pattern.

No, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing!  I didn't even google it, I just guessed!  I have now cut the pattern pieces out (I'm making it from an old duvet cover so if it doesn't work it doesn't matter) and just need to sew them together....

Something totally not me - apron

Silversmithing is a messy business.  It's dusty, OK, so the dust is tiny particles of silver, but it's still dust.  From the beginning we were told to take and apron and it took me a full 14 lessons to remember I needed one!

Of course, it had to be handmade.  I had a flick through my many books and settled on a pattern in Sweetwater's Simple Home by Lisa Burnett, Karla Eisenach & Susan Kendrick.  There was one thing that annoyed me straight away.  The top has a scalloped edge.  Here is the pattern in the book.

See that?  Enlarge 200%.  Why??  Why couldn't you have just printed it bigger?  I'm seeing lots of negative space on this page... room for a bigger pattern clearly!  That's just laziness and thoughtlessness on the publisher's half.  I didn't have access to an enlarging photocopier so I decided to take a different tack.

I used this fabric with circles, I did my best to match 2 pieces up right-sides together and then sewed round the circles to create a scallop.

It doesn't match perfectly (this is the other side), but it's not bad!  Haha, take that lazy book publishers!

And then this happened.  Stupid Wendy.  

I think this took me less than 2 hours to make.  The ruffles were probably the most time-consuming part, after chosing the fabrics of course!  The main fabric is from Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille.  I thought the bottom ruffle was too, but saw it was a fabric by Valorie Wells.  No idea what the others are, other than the solid grey ties which are Kona Charcoal.

I really should have taken some measurements of my body before starting this.  It was designed for a size zero 6' woman.  Bear this in mind if  you make it.  I could do with another 4" or so on the width of the top part as this just kind of hovers between my nipples.  It's also too long, the top ruffle sits below my knee!  OK, so I'm a busty 5' 1", but I bet there are more busty 5' 1"s reading this than 6' size zeros!

At least it keeps me clean...

I wonder what I was showing you on this photo?  Clearly the back of the apron, but why?  Answers on a postcard...

Chevron shoe mat

I have finished the shoe mat that I was making a few weeks ago.  A lot of you expressed horror that I would put muddy shoes on such pretty fabric, but hey, it's better than putting shoes on ugly fabric!

I made a panel from HSTs in a chevron design.  I used a charm pack of Fancy by Lily Ashbury and some Kona Coal.  The finished mat measures about 40" x 16" so it's long and skinny and it fits perfectly underneath the radiator.

Here is a picture of the back.  I have no idea why I've taken a picture of the back or why I might have thought you would be interested to see it!

I layered it right sides together with an old towel, sewed all round leaving a gap, then turned through.  Anything to avoid binding!  

I quilted it with my walking foot, just echoing the chevron.  I was hoping to avoid quilting the outer edge as it would be lots of stopping and starting, but it just doesn't look right without quilting.

I chose to only do two lines of quilting in the triangles though.

I think it looks pretty cool from the back.

And here it is complete with muddy shoes!

rope baskets

At January's meeting of the East Midlands Quilt Group, the lovely Ange showed us how to make rope bowls using cotton cord.  I used white 4mm cotton cord to whip up this baby.

I say whip up, it took me the entire meeting, in between gossiping and stuffing my face with cake.  They are brilliant fun to make and the possibilities are endless.  I really wish I'd taken photos of some of the other bowls the group made.

The next day, I wanted to make another, so decided to use up the rest of the rope, just keep going until it was all used.  I also incorporated some fabric scraps for a dash of colour.

It turned out massive!!  I made a right mess of attaching the fabric scraps, but I really like it anyway.

I wanted to use up the rest of the roll so that I wouldn't have oddments of cotton cording hanging around, but now I want to buy more and make more baskets!

coffee cosies

I made these coffee cosies just after the New Year and completely forgot to show you!  Mum had requested crochet versions for her and dad for when they're out and about, but I couldn't find a crochet version I liked.  I decided to sew them instead.

I chose suitable fabric - mum loves pigs, dad loves Notts County (a football team who play in black and white).  They are quilted in a simple grid.

I didn't follow a pattern, I used a cardboard sleeve that I'd swiped from a coffee shop as a template and just winged it.  Both are bound and I chose nice big buttons to fasten them.

Mum loves green as well as pink, so I chose green for the inside and binding.  Dad got different black and white prints.  I sewed the binding on by hand as I just can't do it on the machine and think that those of you who can have special superpowers.

Erm, seem to have taken loads of photos and can't think of anything else to say.

How about a flat one?

needlepunch pouch

Before i start, I'd like to say thank you for the comments on my last post. I had some messages of support which were lovely to read. It real does help to know people understand and/or care.  So thank you.

I made a little needle punch / punch needle picture ages and ages ago... let me have a look.  Oh!  February 2013.  So three years ago.  My WIPs just get older by the day!  Anyway, I pulled it off one of my many WIP piles and made it into a little pouch.

I don't know what the fabric is that I used, but I wanted something that went with one of the threads used on the main piece.

That unsightly buldge on the back is one of my needle punches, see...

I lined it with an old Petit Ecole print that I thought matched the colour scheme.  

I've made loads of pouches in my time and I STILL can't get the zip ends neat.  I don't know how other sewers do it.

Knitting basket

Way back in 2010 I made myself a crochet bag.  I have just spent 20 minutes hunting for the post about it, but can't find it anywhere. You're just have to take my work for it.  I also made a shorter version for mum which you can see here.  

At the Festival of Quilts, she asked me to make her a taller version with pockets round the outside.  We chose the fabric and then of course, I did nothing!  When my sewing motivation returned at the end of the year, I got right on it.

There are two things crying out to me in this photo.  Firstly, it looks out of proportion.  Funnily enough, in person it doesn't.  Maybe it was the camera angle.  Secondly, fabric direction.  Yes, I messed that one up!  It is lined in the same green spot fabric that I used for the top of the outer pocket.  The pockets go all the way round and I've separated them with lines of stitching, leaving pockets of various widths.

I think the proportions look better in this photo.  I used the same pattern as for the first ones, but only the measurements and the base template.  I put it together in the way that made sense to me, and of course the pocket was my own invention (clearly not a new one!).  It stands quite firm as it's got a layer of fusible fleece and a layer of medium-weight interfacing.  It's not quilted as mum's not a fan of the quilted look.

The inside is possibly not as neat as it could be, but the lining isn't baggy so I call it a success!

The T-shirt who dreamed of becoming a bag

Another post about a morning spent at Debbie Bryan, we're becoming regulars!  This was a free event.  We were asked to bring along an old t-shirt to be converted into a simple shopping bag.  I don't actually have any old t-shirts so mum brought some of dad's with her.  I picked a black one with a hash tag pin-tuck stitched into it.

The black, raised lines were already on the t-shirt.  We were let loose with fabric paint, stamps, pens, embroidery threads, lace motifs and ribbons.  I went for some Perle cotton 5 and added 3 lines of sashiko stitching in 3 different shades.

We then cut the arms off the t-shirt, and the neck band and some people sewed theirs up in class.  I didn't as we only had 2 hours and it took me that long to do the stitching (yes, I was gossiping when I should have been working!).  I did it at home on my machine as I thought that would be much more sturdy for carrying around shopping than doing it by hand.

For some reason this outdoor picture has come out a funny colour!  Also, you can't really see much here - I didn't think to take a photo of it acting as a bag, so you'll just have to either believe me or call me a liar!

This is mum's:

She was in the process of embroidering little birdies and adding some bits of lace and ribbon.  She was going to finish it at home, but I haven't checked up on her...

oink

So I made a pig.  Mum bought the pattern and an FQ of fabric at the Festival of Quilts and asked me to make him for her. He is weighted down and holds a basket for threads.  I'm not sure what made me decide he was a he.  It's not like he caused my any trouble at all.  Do you randomly assign things as male or female or is it just me?



The pattern is by Cross Patch.  I've got no idea who designed the fat quarter as it was selvedge-less.  I had an urge to sew and, coincidentally it was an empty Sunday so off I went.

The pattern was quite good, other than it didn't give any instructions at all for making the nose!  As you can see in the photo above, the snout is rounded, but pigs have a flat nose and the pig in the photo had a flat nose.  There was even a template to cut his nose out of felt.  I wung it and it was fine.

The eyes are embroidered on, I'm not that happy with them, but you can barely see them as the ears flop over the top all the time anyway.  Another thing overlooked by the pattern designer is a tail and I didn't think to add one in.  This could be a Manx pig.

There is supposed to be a yo-yo on his bum somewhere, but having made the yo-yo as instructed, I thought it looked silly on his bum so I left it off.  It was my first ever yo-yo.  And my last.  Don't like them.

I used a Tilda fabric to line the basket in mum's other favourite colour.  She's going to use it when she's beadweaving to catch all the bits of beading thread that get cut off.  She also said she'd use it for keeping her scissors in after finding a small collection down the side of the sofa cushion.

He's weighed down with aquarium gravel so sits very sturdily and securely on a table top, waiting for bits of loose thread.  At the end of the pattern I was instructed to sew the basket tabs to the bottom of the rabbit's feet.  Good job I didn't get confused and go and sew up a rabbit...

If you are a pattern designer, can I suggest proof-readers??