Holes made with a Soldering Iron

12th September 2013

The postman arrived with my soldering iron at 12.30 yesterday and I started playing at 1.30pm!!
I needed a piece of glass, organza fabric and the lovely metal templates that were a birthday gift.
Of course it took me an hour to find the templates-I had put them in a safe place!!!!

Ready to go..

I practised cutting around some flower templates....

then square templates..

I have a collection of organza fabrics and this was made using an oddment which was really cheap, I love the colours. I 'cut' the squares in double layers and fixed with the iron onto a black piece of organza. There is NO stitching in this sample, it is all done with the soldering iron!!

Next I 'cut' flower shapes in white organza...

placed this on my dyed cotton, wadding and a backing fabric, then free stitched.

I think I'm going to have a lot of fun experimenting with my new toy!!

Black and White 'Holes'

11th September 2013

Spent all yesterday morning stitching and experimenting!!

I decided to try a 3D effect with fabric and stitching based on some work I did with paper in Unit 3.

I began by sandwiching 2 pieces of muslin and cotton with bondaweb for strength and also to seal the edges. I had never done this before but vilene was not suitable for my task. It actually worked quite well! Think I may try this method to make raised flower petals.

I cut a circle in the muslin and then a spiral.

Next I free machined using zigzag to raise the spiral off the black felt backing.

Unfortunately this photo doesn't show the effect very well.

I marked out the cotton fabric using a pencil as this gives a much finer line and would be covered by stitching.

I cut the pattern out so that I had flaps/holes in the fabric.

Then I had a great time free machining and 'went with the flow' trying for a variety of raised surfaces and was quite pleased with the result. 

Two plain fabrics in contrasting colours have a striking effect. I think this idea would look good on a  wall hanging but it would collect the dust!!!

The oval on the top right has the 2 flaps joined with stitch and this stands up about 1 cm.

Wish my photos were better, but at least they give you the idea.

I think I will try making holes in fabric that frays for a different effect next time and hope my soldering iron comes soon for more experimenting!!

Experimenting with Button Hole Stitch

10th September 2013

The first part of Unit 4 is about 'making holes'.

I practised using my automatic button hole stitch, again on felt.

A couple weren't successful for no apparent reason-good job I wasn't finishing a garment!!

I then used a variety of green yarns to weave randomly. (forgot to take a photo as I was enjoying playing). 

Next I couched some of the threads and to finish plaited 3 strands for the edging which was couched using red thread and a wide, long zigzag.

Not quite sure whether I like the result , too busy, but the idea might look effective in black/white.

I used some linen and made my own button holes as I had more control of the length  but the ends were not perfect so ended up' zigzagging' them a couple of times- it wouldn't pass a dressmaking exam but was effective in this project!

I stitched 4 long button holes which crossed in the middle( forgot photo!) then took some of my hand dyed yarn to weave through the slits. I used a raised embroidery stitch method and liked the effect, not perfect but an interesting idea for texture.

Again working on linen I made a cross using a narrow zigzag and larger space but didn't cut this time, instead I free machined a pattern which I had drawn out in my sketch book.I was quite pleased with the result.

Becoming a little more confident I followed another of my ideas to make a fish shape. I folded a piece of wadding into my dyed cotton fabric, marked the design with an air soluble pen, chose a variegated thread, experimented with stitch width and this is the result.....

I then chose linen and cotton from my dyed stash-will have to do some more dyeing- and used uncut button holes to make shapes...

I cut shapes, folded/rolled back the fabric and stitched......

The 'boat' was a complete surprise, the rolled fabric gave a 3D effect. 

These are the results of 3 hours of PLAY!!!

Lots of ideas whizzing in my head, think I might be digressing again!!!!

UNIT 4 !!!!

7th September 2013

I printed out my Unit 4 today and it looks really interesting and will certainly take me, yet again, out of my comfort zone!!

This unit includes making holes, soluble fabrics, edges, and cords and tassels.

I have never ever used a machine to make a button hole but I had to 'bite the bullet' today.
I had to follow the instructions from my manual-not easy- I find it much easier to be 'shown'.

I used felt to practise and for some unknown reason only the No 2 button hole setting seemed to be successful.

From left to right:-   top not quite right, kept sewing in the same spot, good except I cut the threads when making the opening!
The only success was with the simple programme.

The holes are the perfect size!!

I think I am going to need a lot of practise to produce samples from my ideas sheet!!

I also finished my wave cushion and am going to put it in the raffle at my friend's Macmillan Coffee Day.  

I think I will try the smaller wave next time.

I sent for a soldering iron today to experiment with making holes in man made fabrics. Can't wait to play.

E-book Review.

5th September 2013

Last week I saw a request on facebook for bloggers who would like to review an e-book. I have never done this before but decided to contact them with my blog details. A couple of days later I was asked to choose a book!

I chose :-                            Modern Smocking
                                          Canadian Smocking
                                          Techniques and Patterns Part 1
                                           By Debbie Shore

from                                    www.vivebooks.com

I chose this because the cushions on the cover reminded me of my mum who was always sewing. In fact she made a smocked, round, turquoise satin cushion for our caravan!!
The method mum used looked complicated, transferring a series of dots onto the fabric then stitching certain dots together.


As I am on a learning curve in everything to do with my laptop and I had a little blip downloading but vivebooks were extremely helpful.  I contacted them at 8am by e-mail and I had an answer at 8.15am, very impressive! It appears I had not downloaded to Acrobat (Adobe Reader)-problem solved.

I do love my craft books and now have quite a collection which I often browse through looking for inspiration so I wasn't sure about having a book on the computer.

This is a brilliant book! It is easy to navigate, has eight cushion designs and explicit instructions for making 12 and 16 inch cushion covers. Each design has a grid and instructions that can be printed out and, this is the best,  videos to show the methods with suggestions for fabrics.

I thought I would trial the Waves design with some silk fabric from my ever growing fabric stash!!


Drawing out a 1 inch square grid by marking the back of my fabric. This has to be very accurate so I taped my fabric onto my mat to prevent it slipping.

The finished grid ready for stitching.

I had the video in front of me to see the sewing method. 

 The back of the fabric.

The front with one side pinned in pleats. I have yet to make up the cushion but am pleased with the result.

 It took about 2 hours to mark out and stitch but I really enjoyed doing it.

 In fact I am going to order  Modern Smocking Part 2 as there are some more lovely designs using a variety of fabrics.

I sent off my Unit 3 on Tuesday and am looking forward to Unit 4.

The other news is my friend and companion on my textile journey has started a blog.

 I love the name   www.thoughtfulthreadsbyjo.blogspot.com and I am sure you will find it interesting.

Sample Showing Programmed Stitches.

3rd September 2013

This is a sample using my ice dyed fabric and programmed stitches.

I used calico, muslin, cotton and velvet.

Most of my work has been 'square' so decided on rectangular for a change.

I made a template and fiddled around with the fabric until I had a variety of rectangular shapes in the fabric selection. I backed the fabric with Bondaweb and cut out, positioned then ironed in place.

This process took about an hour.

I then placed two rectangles of very fine muslin with frayed edges overlapping some of the shapes.

These were just stitched down the middle.

A variety of stitches and threads were used, some with a twin needle.

 This is my least favourite sample and I am not sure whether it is the rigid shape or being restricted to using only programmed stitches!! There is so much more freedom and flow when free machining.

 On reflection it can't be the straight lines but the rectangular shapes because I like my square sampler!

I have left my least favourite task in Unit 3 until last!! Drawing and collage and I don't think it will be on the blog.

I am also reviewing an e-book from vivebooks so watch this space....

Paper Making Weekend

2nd September 2013

I had a BRILLIANT weekend paper making and met some lovely people.
I think I may become 'addicted' to courses!!

Here are some photos of paper with labels! Unfortunately there wasn't enough time to label all the papers and I can't remember what was in some of them.

I love this one, the pattern is so delicate. Clematis seed heads.

Thistle paper, we collected the thistle seed heads earlier in the day.

Dandelion paper, we collected the dandelions and this paper is really pretty.

Red and blue jute was added to the dandelion pulp to produce this paper.

We arrived at Stone Creek Silk Barn near Hull at 9.30 after a good journey from Blackpool. 

Ruth Brown,textile artist,  hosted the course in her craft barn and Jonathan Korejko was the paper maker.

He showed us the equipment and explained about the cotton pulp and natural plants to add to the pulp.

This was a big bowl containing water, cotton/paper pulp and plants which had been whizzed in the blender. Floating in the bowl is the screen and deckle.

The couching tray where the paper pulp is transferred onto a cloth ready for pressing.

This is Jonathan demonstrating one of the paper presses.

Picking the thistle heads.

The thistle seed heads were placed in a bucket to soak then whizzed in the blender ready to add to the pulp to make a lovely textured paper.

Paper pulp on the left and flowers in water on the right.

This is daffodil and tulip 'paper' ready to be couched (rolled onto a cloth) off the mesh. The pulp/flower mixture has to be swished with the hand before the mesh and deckle are lowered into the mixture and then brought up to the surface. 

The cloths with the 'paper' are then pressed and carefully removed onto a piece of paper to dry.

The cloth has to be removed very slowly and carefully so the paper isn't damaged.

This is lavender and blue/red recycled paper pulp. The smell was amazing and the finished paper has quite a strong lavender scent.

The first paper we made was with just white pulp which was pressed with a leaf, vein side down on the paper.

The embossed leaf paper was lovely and I may stitch it when it is completely dry.

The top paper is the embossed leaf and the bottom is one of my photos of Chesil Beach 'laminated' in two layers of paper.

These photos show Jonathan demonstrating how to prepare long leaves ready for soaking and whizzing.

The leaf is scraped with a sharp knife to reveal the fibres which when cut and whizzed provide colour and texture to paper/cotton pulp.

This is celery being scraped to access the fibres. This is quite easy to do when the celery has been frozen then soaked in water before being whizzed.

My handmade papers!

Back to Unit 3 work tomorrow.