Tag Archives: Machine Embroidery

September 12, 2016 · 12:44 pm

Silk!

Silk!

Silk!

Every friday afternoon Miss P goes to a different primary school than her usual one. This different school is in a suburb a long way from ours – well outside my comfort zone. I don’t know where anything is or even what there is to do. There is no point in coming home after dropping her off, so I have been exploring.

Last week I put ‘fabric stores’ into Google Maps and surprisingly there was one 7 minutes away! Fabulous Fabrics! It was fabulous – so many beautiful fabrics – the beaded ones were amazing.

I bought 2 metres of silk – the pinkish one (called peony) and an ivory one.

I plan to make an embroidered evening bag/clutch thing. I want to use some of the designs from here – I just need to decide if I want an allover design or individual designs.

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June 9, 2016 · 2:34 pm

Journal Cover – Machine Embroidery

Journal Cover - Front

Journal Cover – Front

Journal Cover - Open

Journal Cover – Open

Journal Cover - Inside

Journal Cover – Inside

This is my first attempt at constructing a book cover in the hoop. There were three hoopings; front, back and then joining them together. It works quite well – I am happy with the size – it could do with a bit of top stitching around the edges (but that would have to happen afterwards and not in the hoop). I have joined the two halves using a wide zig-zag and then hidden that under a grosgrain ribbon. This bit doesn’t work so well, so I am thinking of other options – bias binding or an embroidered strip – plus I think the cover of the zig-zag needs to be a bit wider.

I put a silk dupion to use with my canvas work. I am still thinking about the best way of inserting the canvas work – I don’t want any raw edges showing.

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February 17, 2014 · 4:40 pm

Sampler Quilt – Courthouse Steps Block

Courthouse Steps Block

Courthouse Steps Block

I finished the four blocks that make one courthouse steps block. As I want this quilt finished, I’m trying to do a little often.

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February 3, 2014 · 11:42 am

Embroidery

Images from 'Royal School of Needlework - Embroidery Techniques'

Images from ‘Royal School of Needlework – Embroidery Techniques’

I really like textiles and embroidery. I like the look of embroidery and the stories behind the creation of embroidery, but I am too lazy/impatient to do hand embroidery. I do like machine embroidery – both free motion and the digitised version – what I would really like to do is create embroidery that looks like it has been done by hand using my embroidery machine. To this end, I have been trying to improve my digitising. I made this blackwork sampler and now I am trying to learn silk shading. I am discovering a few tips and tricks with my software (which is Embird) and like anything I just need to practise.

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November 30, 2013 · 2:20 pm

Bears Paw Block is Finished

Finished Bears Paw Block

Finished Bears Paw Block

This is the third of my foundation pieced blocks.

I can’t say I am that thrilled with my fabric choice, but I am determined to get this quilt finished.

Next up is Courthouse Steps.

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November 25, 2013 · 2:13 pm

Bachelor’s Puzzle Block Finished

Finished Bachelor's Puzzle

Finished Bachelor’s Puzzle

This is my second attempt at this block. In the previous version the finished block was too small – I forgot about seam allowances when I digitised the block!

Two blocks down ten to go.

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November 19, 2013 · 4:00 pm

Blackwork Sampler

I have done a practice stitch out of my sampler.

Stitching away

Stitching away

Here is the finished version …

Finished Sampler

Finished Sampler

My sewing machine had a bit of a moment at one point – the bobbin and top threads got all tangled, there was a horrible noise and it ground to a halt, however, I am happy with the final results. I think more stabilisation and a nicer fabric and it will be fine.

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November 14, 2013 · 2:49 pm

Digitising Blackwork

We have been away at Rottnest. Miss P went on camp and we decided to go too. It is such a relaxing place to go – no cars, nothing to do but read books and knit. I’ve made progress on Miss P’s cardigan (the yarn is Jo Sharp Desert Aran Cotton).

Sunrise over the salt lake

Sunrise over the salt lake

Sunset from our cottage

Sunset from our cottage

On the way to the look out

On the way to the look out

Salt Lake

Salt Lake – a different one

Progress on Miss P's Cardigan

Progress on Miss P’s Cardigan

Blackwork Sampler in Progress

Blackwork Sampler in Progress

I like grids, lines and crosses and I have always loved the look of Blackwork – I love how something so simple can be effective.

I have been inspired by this book to make my own blackwork sampler (using machine embroidery). I didn’t want to copy that one exactly, so I have used different fills. There are a number of blackwork resources on the web (simply search for blackwork embroidery). I found this one, which lead me to this page on 16th Century fill in patterns.

This is still quite experimental – I think it might end up being too small and the jump threads might test my sanity.

I’m using the Cross Stitch module of Embird, which is super easy to use and it comes with some built in blackwork fills (but I have decided to make my own).

I am wondering what kind of stabiliser I need? There are a lot of stitches and I suspect I need a sturdy stabiliser to stop it puckering.

 

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May 7, 2013 · 4:53 pm

Bear’s Paw Block Finished

Bear's Paw Block Finished

Bear’s Paw Block Finished

I stitched this out yesterday and it worked the first time so rare!

This is the last block I wanted to digitise for my sampler quilt. Now it is simply a matter of getting on with it.

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April 29, 2013 · 2:50 pm

Digitised Bachelor’s Puzzle Quilt Block

SewWitty's Bachelor's Puzzle

SewWitty’s Bachelor’s Puzzle

This is 1/4 of my Bachelor’s Puzzle block.  I did this in two pieces and then joined them, which means the finished block will have 8 pieces – I might be getting a bit carried away.

I have one more block to go to make 12, but I haven’t got one in mind yet.

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