Preparing Squares for Stitching ( I forgot to post this, another senior moment!!!)

5th March 2014

I have spent a couple of hours today preparing more squares for applique stitching.....

......I know it doesn't look much but it did take a long time.

The teacher in me wanted to develop maths language with these squares!!!!!

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We managed to get Jack vaccinated today, it took 2 sedative tablets, a muzzle and three people!!

He has been quite sleepy this afternoon, I wonder why???

Richmond Walk -Spring

11th March 2014

I am in Richmond to help my sister celebrate her special birthday!

We spent a leisurely morning opening presents and cards, receiving flowers and phone calls!!

We had planned to go up the Shard but it was too cloudy so we took my favourite walk to Richmond and the park was really beautiful....

...magnolia...

...view of the Thames...

....not sure of the name of this tree....

....leaves and blossom so beautiful...

...magical....

...love this curly willow....

....we had a little retail therapy, coffee then headed back to prepare a meal for 12!!

This was my contribution, a 'christmas' cake with home made marzipan and no icing!!

I also have number sparklers to put on!

I used my soldering iron and organza to make the flower decorations, fingers crossed it tastes ok!

Update

7th March 2014

Beautiful day here so we went to Lytham to enable me to deliver some of my cards to a boutique....

...perfect day for sailing.

Stitched my shapes....

..this proved very challenging as my machine did NOT want to satin stitch on 2 layers of fine wadding!

Stitched the star with silver thread.

Prepared 2 more squares....

...this play-mat is taking quite a while but I am enjoying the process.

Experimenting with Quilting

4th March 2014

I must have been sewing for about 4 hours today and really found the quilting very relaxing!

I first used programmed stitches and feed dog up.....

...zigzag but the machine missed some stitches, will have to hide with applique design!

Next feed dog down and free machining....

....made a paper template...

.....to produce this...

......lots of meandering loops...

....stitched using narrow satin...

....then stitched in straight stitch

....this idea was in my Manipulating Fabric book, unfortunately the book sample looked much better!

 I will try this again but won't use satin stitch next time.

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After last weeks fiasco at the vets ( Jack went BALLISTIC, bit Ray who had to go for a tetanus ) where they were unable to administer vaccines and made us another appointment for this morning after we had given Jack a sedative.

Ray was wearing his thick, leather motor bike gloves but we were still unable to put the muzzle on Jack and the vet gave us 2 tablets for tomorrow!! I do hope it will be third time lucky!!

This is Jack 3 HOURS after the sedative.....

...fast asleep on the sofa in the sunshine, but this only lasted for 30 minutes!!

Think of us tomorrow.......

Prairie Points

3rd March 2014

I had never heard of Prairie Points before I had Unit 6 so thought I would try out the idea today.

Instructions state:-   cut a square of fabric, fold in half.....

..then fold down from the centre, a little fiddly....

...I played for a while and pressed the folds as I went along and ended with this border edge!!

Next time I will try making Prairie Points with a finer fabric. 

Playing with Piping!

2nd March 2014

The last time I used piping was about 30 years ago when I helped out an upholsterer and I was using an industrial machine and zipper type foot!! 

Today is going to be another learning curve!

I collected together some of my dyed fabrics and yarns....

I had some piping cord, zipper and piping foot ready.

The piping foot was quite fiddly to attach and there wasn't much space between the foot and feed dogs which made it difficult to sew thicker fabrics!

Unit 6 suggests using the zipper foot to enclose the cord then attach this between two pieces of fabric with the piping foot. I followed instructions and it worked except when I removed it from the machine the piping fell out!!!

This was because I made the mistake of having the material the wrong way round!

Note to self:- always make sure the raw edges are on the right hand side of the piping foot!!

I also made a fine braid with my yarn. 

On this example I couched the braid on the darker strip of fabric then piped the cord with the lighter...

...I encased a piece of cord with white organza and piped to make a fine edging...

...front...

...back, I used a darker thread in the bobbin....

( just a thought , this method could be used for binding an edge )

....this piping wasn't as neat as the thicker one perhaps I need another piping foot with a smaller groove.

I continued playing...

...couched cord, piping and programmed stitch to make an edging....

..front..

.....back...

...two rows of piping and programmed stitch, another firm edging idea...

.......I ruched the fabric after I had used the zipper foot then piped but had to pull through as the fabric was too thick. Think I might try this with a fine muslin or scrim as I like the effect.

....piped then stitched down the sides.

I watched Sewing Bee this week and thought the piping on the pockets and collars looked really good and gave a professional finish, also a good way to finish a cushion but I could only use finer fabrics with my machine. 

Might have a go at Prairie Points next.... or some more quilting!

Watch this space!

Book Cover

1st March 2014

I decided to make a cover for this book....

....spent the morning free machining on my tie dyed fabric backed with fine wadding....

..front... 

...back...

....it was fun to do and is certainly unique!!

The weather was lovely this afternoon so we went for our beach/promenade walk....

...my husband didn't wear his wellies and couldn't cross over the water onto the beach so had to go back up the slade....

.....this is Jack refusing to move because he can't see Ray anymore!!!

I rather like the reflection.....

...think I must do some piping samples for Unit 6 tomorrow, I have been putting it off!!!!