Now that my name tag is out of the way, I can work on my monthly poems.
This is me transferring the poem onto my linen (it’s deadstock french tea towel linen).
I haven’t finished January or February yet, but my extra spools of silk have arrived.
Embroidered Name Tag
For my in-person stitching class, we were asked to make name tags. And the lovely teacher, Barbara, suggested a 3D element. There butterflies and dragonflies, but I chose a flower.
The petals are edged with floristry wire, which I then covered in blanket stitch using one strand of DMC cotton.
The centre of the flower is a french knot slip. On another piece of fabric, I draw a circle and covered it in french knots – using Pearl Cotton 8 in two colours. I stitched a running stitch around the circle, stuff it and pulled it tight. And then attached it to the background – (I added the petals after).
My name is stem stitch using pearl cotton 5, and outlined it using a metallic thread.
Feather stitch, stem or vine and a chain stitch border.
I have laced it to a piece of card.
Filed under Bedazzle, Cardstock, Embroidery, Fabric Stash
Project Update
I have been working on my February sock. My left twist has improved, but it is still a slow process. The yarn is lovely (it’s from here). We are now watching The Wheel of Time season two.
I have also made some stitching progress. I have run out of the light green silk that I am using for the Ivy ‘veins’, so I have started on the Ivy leaves, which are just straight stitches using all seven strands of the silk (and trying to make them fluffy).
My silk has arrived for my two poems (January and February)
So I need to get back onto them, so I have four stitching projects with deadlines (not terribly hard deadlines)
- January Poem
- February Poem
- Name tag for stitching class (this is an in-person class here)
- Language of Love
I am still waiting for my March supplies to arrive, and I haven’t yet decided on a poem.
Filed under Embroidery, Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
Using my Cricut to print an embroidery design on fabric
I used my Cricut (Maker 3) to print (in washable marker) an embroidery pattern onto fabric.
I had the pattern as a pdf.
I used Inkscape to trace it and remove the background – I am a beginner with Inkscape. I am googling every time I try to do something.
Then I uploaded it to design space, and selected pen.
It worked really well – definitely something I will do again (maybe with a finer pen?)
Filed under Cricut, Embroidery, Fabric Stash, Inspiration, Software
More Machine Embroidery 2
I used my embroidery machine to make a notebook cover. The design is from Designs by JuJu.
The design and the instructions were very good – I particularly like the pen pocket.
I used very thin batting (the same type I use for framing), and the cross-hatch quilting design. It takes three hoopings, but there is no attaching things to the underside of the hoop.
The fabric is Liberty (from Spotlight), and apart from the satin stitch, I used normal sewing thread.
I think I would prefer the elastic to go from the back to the front, rather than front to back. (The piece that holds the book closed.
More Machine Embroidery
Miss A is a fan of formula one (weird) and very much a Mclaren fan girl. We bought a hoody (well two, in case one got stuffed up) and found a machine embroidery pattern from here.
I used two sheets of cutaway no show mesh, which I hooped, and I floated the hoody. I should have used a topper because some of the stitches did sink into the fabric.
Filed under Bedazzle, Digitizing, Machine Embroidery
Knitting Update
While watching various TV shows (Invisible Boys was particularly good), I have been knitting.
The Habitation Throw is by Helen Stewart and I am using the yarn from the Kate Davies Design Advent Calendar. It’s an easy pattern – perfect for TV knitting – there is just one row with K2tog and YO where you need to be paying a little bit of attention, otherwise it’s all knit.
I have started socks for February. Using my yarn from Tasmania. I am doing a twisted rib cast on (K1(tbl)P1) and then I am going to do a simple twisted stitch pattern for the leg, from the Twisted Stitch Sourcebook – I am struggling a bit with the LT (left twist), I knit a swatch and I did improve, so hopefully the actual sock will be fine.
Filed under Colour Work, Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
Language of Love Start
The linen is beautiful (I wonder if I can get more?) and we are using Au ver à soie silk. I have re-instated my hoop stand (this one) and I am finding it is working well. I can position my magnifier in front of it and stitch two handed.
I can’t recommend Rebecca’s courses highly enough – she is a fabulous teacher.
Filed under Embroidery, Inspiration
Fabric Cutting with my Cricut
One of the things I wanted to be able to do with my Cricut was to cut fabric.
I ordered the rotary blade, read some blogs and had a go.
I used some of the shapes in design space, and did a basic cut. I wanted to test the process.
I starched the fabric and it worked really well. I thought it hadn’t cut at all, but as I pealed off the fabric, the shapes were left behind.
Now I have applique projects on my mind.
Filed under Applique, Cricut, Fabric Stash, Inspiration
A finished Hat
I finished my hat for Miss A.
The yarn is from Cable Tie Knits (4ply in Tangerine colourway).
The pattern is the Sledding and Snowballs hat from Lena Mathisson. I did the fold-over brim version. It was a good pattern, very easy to follow.