Back to Stitching
18 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Craft, Sewing Tags: Craft, Finished Projects, Handmade Shop, Sewing, Stitching
Today I visited our local, and quite well known, Handmade Shop to do a stitching workshop.
I have been shopping at the Handmade Shop since it opened and admired all the gorgeous things so many talented people had made. I’ve bought a lot of presents for various friends there. Over January they doubled the size of the shop and now have a space up the back to do workshops for 10 people.
When I saw that the first workshop was a stitching sampler & included learning to sew on a button I was thrilled and quickly registered to attend. I arrived at the right time, and just as it started. Disappointingly I hadn’t left enough time to grab a cuppa before the workshop, which I had been thinking about while driving into town.
Vanessa, the instructor, told us about her background which included a lot of crafty things, including making wedding dresses. She was very good at explaining slowly what to do & was very very patient. We started off with running stitch, followed by whip stitch (a personal favourite of mine) and then chain stitch. The last thing she showed us was how to sew on a button. The stitches were all familiar to me from the Prints Charming stitching workshop I did last year, but the refresher was very helpful.
I managed to finish my sampler:
I’m not particularly happy with the colours I chose, but the choices were limited when I was picking & the lady next to me quickly grabbed the pinks I had been admiring. But I finished it!
We also discussed with Vanessa other types of workshops we would like to do – so now I will be watching out for other interesting crafty things for me to learn.
Shopping Bag – day 2
09 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Craft, Sewing Tags: Craft, Sewing, shopping bag, unfinished projects
I haven’t forgotten about working on this project. So tonight I thought I would attempt the next few steps. I had to inspect the fabric & look at the grain. Luckily the fabric I have chosen made it really easy to feel the difference between the straight grain, cross grain & the bias. An easy step!!
Finding that one quick & easy I decided to keep going. The next step was pinning & cutting. After discovering that the pins were quite sharp, I managed to get the bag bit pinned onto the material. Cutting was the much much bigger challenge as I discovered my fine motor skills really were lacking! A little bit of pattern was cut, the lines are definitely not straight, but the bag & the straps are now cut out.
And onto the next step – sewing. And I attempted to use the sewing machine straight off without testing on some scrap material first. Big mistake!! The machine made some strange noises and the bobbin was getting tangled. So I pulled it out, put it back in again & had another go. More strange noises & more attempts – why couldn’t I get this bobbin thing working? The machine instruction book came out – one step missed – I needed to pick up the bobbin thread – I will never ever ever forget that again.
Managed to pick up the bobbin thread after 3 or 4 goes and did a little practice on some scrap. It went OK so started on the seams of my bag. Started merrily sewing & more tangles appeared – forgot to put the foot down! Right started again, remembered to do some back stitching & had both sides sewn. Next step was to do some zig zag on the seams.
Remembered how to switch the machine over to zig zag & had the first side done – not right on the seam, but I think it will be OK. Then started on the second seam. Started zig zagging & noticed how clean the needle appeared to look – up & down, looking great. Then I realised why – the needle had become unthreaded and the sewing was looking perfect because I wasn’t actually sewing anything!
Battle to thread the needle & then I realised I had to pick up the bobbin thread again! Another battle was fought & I finally managed to zig zag the other seam.
Next step – iron the seams. That will have to wait until I bring out the ironing board for other purposes.
Am hoping to eventually conquer the sewing machine & end this war – I don’t think the machine likes me very much…..
Starting Something
17 Jun 2011 2 Comments
in Craft, Sewing Tags: Craft, Sew It Together, Sewing, unfinished projects
Way back in March I was lucky enough to win this pattern at Sew It Together:
from the very talented Nicole Mallalieu. Thank you very much Nicole – the perfect prize for someone terrified of their borrowed sewing machine.
On my day off this week I once again ventured into my local quilting store (which has very very helpful staff who can not do enough to help when I tell them I am trying to sew and have no idea what I am doing). The lovely lady suggested I should look at the material on special and so I ended up with this:
And tonight I opened the pattern. The first suggestion was to play with the sewing machine, so I opened its lid and had a look. Thought I would try sewing some scraps together – but it didn’t work because I didn’t have the presser foot down. Even worse the needle became unthreaded. Luckily the very brilliant Sheridan had given me the instructions for the machine and even more luckier I knew where they were!!
After reading through them, which was like swahili, I managed to rethread the needle and successfully made a pocket out of some scraps (and I even sewed both bits of material the right way round). And then I tried doing a zigzag stitch.
After such brilliant success I decided I was ready to try step 1 – look at the pattern, understand what is written on it & then cut it out. Looking at the pattern was fine, could do that. Reading the pattern with Nicole’s instructions I could manage. But the cutting out – I was pretty scared I would completely ruin the wholething. But I managed it – fine motor skills are not my strong point and it is a little crooked.
And now I am up to step 2 – hopefully will manage that in the next few days.
Just thought I would also show the delightful fat quarters I purchased from Posie’s Patchwork at the Handmade Market here on Saturday:
When I brought them home I discovered that they would go beautifully with some material I also was given at Sew it Together by Retro Mummy (thank you Corrie). Now to think of a project I would be capable of that would do them justice.
And as I was spending time in my new room (and I now have a room, as well as my bedroom in my new house) I thought I would also show you one of my favourite things about my room:
All created by my very dear friend Kate, a very talented artist who sells her work on Etsy and never ceases to amaze me.
Apologies for the very terrible photography too – it was at night, the lighting is shocking in my room and my poor old Canon ixus 4 mega pixel camera is on its last legs.
Something is finally finished!
13 Mar 2011 3 Comments
in Craft, Sewing Tags: Craft, Finished Projects, Sew It Together, Sewing, Stitching
Over the last few weeks I have been a bad blogger – never seems to be enough hours in the day to sit down and write something. My house has been sold, I have bought a new one & the moving process starts next weekend. So I have been flat out dealing with solicitors, real estate agents, builders, painters and everyone else who needs to involved in a move as well as starting to pack!
As well as moving I am also planning a quick trip to Sydney for a special event – Sew It Together, organised by my incredible friend Chaletgirl! As part of Sew it Together I decided to take part in the name tag swap – a very ambitious project for me given that I have never finished anything, let alone made something for someone else!
So here is the completed product, which I know has arrived:
My photography skills are excellent here as you can see by the shadow over the name badge! I felt a bit sorry for the recipient in that she was receiving something made by an very much beginner, as opposed to some of the beautiful work done by others.
So this time in 2 weeks I will be sitting on a bus on my way home after a hopefully wonderful weekend away where I will have seen some old friends and made some new ones, as well as meeting some amazing people whose blogs I regularly enjoy!
And thanks to my other wonderful friend Narelle for helping me to work out how to make a name badge!
Kelli
I finished!!
23 Jan 2011 2 Comments
in Craft, Sewing Tags: Craft, Finished Projects, Quilting, Sewing, Stitching
12 blocks for my friendship quilt all stitched. Not a great photo, but then my camera isn’t that great either. It has taken me nearly 10 months to get to this stage. A lot was done quite quickly, but then everything ground to halt as the rest of the world took over, I dabbled with some knitting & tried out a sewing machine for the first ever time. I really enjoyed doing this stitching, it was something I had never done before, but definitely something I will keep doing. Have just started my next project – stitching some Prints Charming panels that my dear friend gave me for my birthday last year.
Now to start the next stage – need to catch up with the lady who started me on this, who I think is probably the busiest person I know!!
Zumba!
28 Oct 2010 2 Comments
in Craft, Exercise, Friends, Sewing, Weight Tags: 12WBT, Craft, Quilting, Sewing, Stitching, unfinished projects, Weight Loss, Zumba
For the last three weeks I have been going to Zumba classes at Salsambada – once a week on Tuesday evening. I have managed to juggle babysitters, get dinner organised before I go and head off for me time.
I was very apprehensive about going – I had heard it was fun, but it looked like it needed co-ordination, something I certainly don’t have. I managed to convince a couple of friends to come with me and we headed off to the Serbian Club.
To my surprise it was so much fun. A whole hour to myself, dancing (which deep in my heart is something I would love to do & look at salsa dancing very wistfully) and exercising without realising. I didn’t think I would be able to keep up, and certainly didn’t think I would be fit enough. But all these morning workout sessions have achieved something – while I sometimes feel tired, and sometimes have a stitch I can make it through the whole hour.
The best thing about where I am going is that there are 3 or 4 instructors. So lots of people to watch and people to help. They do it slow and then speed things up – you can go at your own speed to a certain extent. The instructors also teach Salsa so they know the steps well. And they look like they enjoy it too!
This week my friend and I both felt like we put a whole lot more effort in as we are getting better at being able to manage the footwork. So instead of taping our feet we are doing kicks. And keeping in time with the music.
Zumba is my new friend, and hopefully one I will continue on with into next year, and not finish with once 12wbt is over.
In other news, today I paid my deposit for Sew it Together next year. I feel like a bit of a fraud as I still haven’t finished any sewing projects or even the practice knitting project. So I had better get moving on my last block, finish cutting out the material for my quilt top & sew it together and then get started on some of the embroidery projects I have. I am really looking forward to it, just need to get myself together!
Kelli
Random Thoughts
05 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooking, Craft, Family, Loo, Noos Tags: baking, Craft, Family, Loo, Noos, Sewing
Lots of things have been happening here lately. And I haven’t had time to put any coherent thoughts together on them. So in pictures, here is what has been happening:
I attempted to fix something for the very first time. This is a very special cushion. I bought it back when Loos was 2 and getting his first bed, complete with Bob the Builder bedlinen. It quickly became one of his essential items and has since been taken everywhere he has slept, including camping in the middle of nowhere. However, the material is getting thin and so Bob developed a large hole in his face. After many tears, I offered to try to hide the hole with the lent sewing machine…..a bit of a challenge for me! So after many attempts, including forgetting to lower the foot, getting the thread from the bobbin tangled up and going in the wrong direction, I managed to cobble it together and hide the hole. Loos is happy, but it does mean we are now on the hunt for a new cushion – and it has to feel the same, but doesn’t necessarily have to have Bob. I am thinking of finding a cushion cover of a similar size and stuffing it with the disgusting old stuffing from the current cushion – it will feel the same and smell the same, but just look different.
We have also had bookweek.
I sent a socceroo and dracula off to school. I absolutely detest bookweek and any day when we need to organise costumes. The Sunday before (the dress up day was Tuesday) we started discussing costumes. Nothing like being prepared, as I had tried desperately to blank it out and was hoping for the boys to tell me that they are too old for this dressing up nonsense. Anyway, Loos wanted to go as Battle Boy when he was looking for the Red Baron, so I needed to create a French peasant boy farmer circa 1916. Noos wanted to be some bloke with battle armour. At 10am Sunday morning, there was no way I was going to manage either of those. So we remembered that Loos had been a particularly good Vampire for his birthday last year, and I was able to convince them that there really is a book called Dracula. As we had lots of soccer outfits I tried to convince Noos that he could be an English soccer player and that there would be at least one book somewhere in the world about them. He insisted on being Australian so we ended up at the shops to buy a cheapish socceroo outfit and some Vampire teeth. And the most amazing thing of all was that Loos won a prize for his costume in the k-2 group. A minor miracle for this creatively challenged family.
We have also had a birthday here. And I discovered that pavlovas are easy to make.
I have put off trying to make one of these for years as it all looked to hard. But it was nothing like I expected, and I even managed to make 2 a week apart, one as a practice and one as the real thing. They were both consumed with much gusto and appreciation and encouragement to try again. From this, I have learnt that I need to challenge myself more often, and to try to make the things that look hard to do. Still not going to attempt a sponge though!
And here is the birthday boy, with a new haircut.
This is much anticipated as we have now ditched the Justin Bieber look alike hair and moved to something much cooler, when he bothers to do it.
Not much else to report on here. I need to get crafting again, my friendship quilt needs the last block traced and stitched and then I can find out how to put the whole thing together. I have also managed to cut up some more blocks for the practice quilt I am trying to make and the knitting has ground to a halt. Round 3 of 12wbt is looming and I need to get all the craft things happening to minimise the opportunity for mindless eating!
Look what I did!!!
16 Jul 2010 2 Comments
in Craft, Friends, Sewing Tags: Craft, friends, Quilting, Sewing, Thank you, unfinished projects
My first ever quilt top!! And I didn’t really do it all myself. The wonderfully generous Sheridan helped me – she taught me how to cut, has lent me her old sewing machine & showed my how to sew the squares together.
When I had my first go at the machine she reminded me that I probably hadn’t touched a machine since year 7 sewing – um, not quite. I didn’t get to use a sewing machine in year 7 sewing as it took me the whole 8 weeks to handstitch around a stuffed toy – so nope, no sewing machine playing for me at school. This was the first time I had EVER used a sewing machine. And it was fun.
It is not perfect and it is very small, but I did it. I think this is also the first time I have even had fabric in my house! And this afternoon I have cut out more squares to make a second quilt top, with the plan to then sew them together. At the moment I am planning on making this little quilt bigger and then the next time I meet up with Sheridan she will show me the next steps to turn this into a quilt.
We have had a very busy school holiday period here, and there will be a few other things for show & tell over the next few posts. But I think our holiday highlight was the visit from Sheridan and me learning how to use a machine!!
A few thank yous
25 Jun 2010 1 Comment
in Craft, Friends, Gifts Tags: Craft, Knitting, Sewing, Thank you
On Tuesday I was able to be the luckiest person in my office. This amazing display of flowers arrived in my office (and please ignore the horrible mess surrounding the beauty, it is the end of financial year and there are a stack of clients I am trying to keep happy) from my amazing friend, Sheri of Chaletgirl, and her lovely husband and children. They certainly brightened up a very dark week as deadlines loomed. The reason for the flowers will be more widely known shortly. They were so very much appreciated and a wonderful surprise, so thank you dear friend.
And then later in the week, this arrived in the post from Donna at Craft Junk and Creative Controller. I won a prize on her blog and was thrilled to receive this parcel. Not sure what to do with the material, but as Sheri is coming to visit in a few weeks, I am sure there will be some assistance provided there. There were lots more balls of wool than what I have shown here – these were happily played with a my bible study social night on Wednesday. I took my parcel over to show it off, and it came in very handy when we pulled out our knitting. I am really looking forward to trying out all the needles, including the DPN’s (see, I am getting the lingo already) though they may need to just wait for a little while, as I come to terms with perling. And I now also have some crochet hooks to start to learn crocheting. Think my life is going to be very busy. Thank you Donna, your gift is very much appreciated.
And I have been doing more knitting, and stitching, and dealing with the politics of p&cs, but will save all of that for another day.
Kelli
I finished it!!
03 Jun 2010 1 Comment
in Craft, Knitting, Loo, Noos Tags: Craft, Finished Projects, Knitting, unfinished projects
Finally after 6 years I have finished the scarf for Noos. And I can now date when I started – I found the receipt for the nylon wool, Winter 2004. I am not particularly proud of the workmanship, but I am proud that I have actually finished something!!
You can see quite clearly that the scarf became wider during the knitting process – found me some extra stitches! But after that point it isn’t too bad, especially as I changed knitting needles recently. I don’t think I can say I did this all myself as I am pretty sure my Mum started me off. But I actually did the casting off all by myself, thanks to the instructions that the lovely Donna from CraftJunk sent me.
I now have an order for Lou for a red scarf – I think I will try something that involves more than just a knit stitch. And I will keep on going with my stitching – started block number 10 tonight. 2 more after that and then I need to work out what to do actually do with the blocks!
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