Slow Stitching

Just look at this cover......doesn't that make you WANT to get inside  and explore what lies within?

In a nutshell...The Hand Stitched Surface Slow Stitching and Mixed-Media Techniques for Fabric and Paper by Lynn Krawczyk is all about stitching, stitching by hand, with a variety of threads on a variety of surfaces.

If you are looking for pre-planned designs, florals or wildlife....this is not the book for you. This book is all about having fun with your stitching....about thinking differently, being free and creative, its not about serious, perfect stitches, it is about releasing your creative, quirky, playful side.

You will begin with great info on the basic tools you need, the needles, their differences, types of threads, fabrics, paper (yes paper) and card that work well to get the best results with your projects. 

In addition to clear instructions for many stitches.....you are shown ways to further use each basic stitch to create even more interest with them, and what can be acquired by combining them.

Lynn provides examples exploring colour/ colour combinations and its impact in stitched compositions.

The book contains beautifully photographed instruction and templates for all 15 projects. (8 fabric, 7 paper) .......some I found VERY interesting and others.....hmmm, not so much, but I am aware that not everything appeals to everyone.

Note : The full sized templates can be scanned from the book or downloaded for printing.

You will also be guided through a few Mixed-media techniques, like glue resist/ dyeing, stamp carving/stamping, and making a paper stencil help you add more even interest to the surfaces you'll stitch. 

The projects involve improvisational stitching....basically, once you have followed the instructions to get the base of your project ready (what you will actually stitch through) you will make the decisions as to what stitches or combinations you want to use....it's kind of doodling with thread....you make it up as you go along.  you can find at Quarto Knows....here  or Amazon ......here

Those who know me, know that I am a bit of a perfectionist, I must have order.....improvisational, free form or wonky anything is tough for me, so I decided to test myself a little and try something from the book. This project is way out of my comfort zone but as I work along I am finding it quite interesting.....I started with this composition 

began some stitching and continued to make slight changes.

I have to admit.....it is becoming a little addictive.....playing with shape, colour and stitch

Currently still a work in progress...... What will it be and where it will end????? stay tuned LOL! 

Design your own clothing....Interested?

Occasionally, the opportunity to review books comes my way. Sometimes they interest me, and at other times....not so much. But as a former dressmaker/designer, I was keen to have a good look at a new, soon to be released, book called Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method Customize Fitting Shells to Create Garments in Any Style.

The 176 pages of this book is filled with the information needed to get you started on the path to designing patterns for creating your own unique garments.  It all begins with a basic commercial pattern ....(something similar to this)

Basic pattern example

From here, you will learn how to create the Master patterns (also known as "blocks" or "slopers") necessary to begin each of your new designs.

The author explains the importance of building a master pattern "library" from which to work. With properly fitting master patterns, (bodice, sleeve, skirt, and pants), you are ready to begin your adventure in bringing to life the look and style of clothing you want to wear. 

Sara takes you through the process with clear, detailed, step by step instruction. Along side these explanations, you will find an abundance of reference photos and many valuable tips to help you understand the process as you work through the exercises.

You will learn about dart manipulation, ease adjustments, lengthening and or shortening, as well as creating design details such as flare, pleats, gathers, yokes, pockets, necklines, collars, plackets, facings and more. Design applications that can be used to create a vast number of different styles, of course, some are more complicated than others and so the author encourages you to start with a few easier design details to help you understand the process and build your skills.

 

While, the instruction is beautifully presented.....containing a lot of in depth information, I would suggest that you do need to have at least some knowledge of garment construction and terminology.

As someone who has worked in this industry, I want to point out that having the ability to design your own clothing is not something that happens overnight, there is a great deal to be learned, so you do need to be patient, and to understand that you will need to build your skills, starting with some basic changes to style lines, dart manipulation, learning and understanding the importance of ease, and most importantly fit. 

If a well fitting basic garment pattern is not what you are starting with, you can not expect the designs you create to fit, move, and look the way you desire. 

I might suggest that if you are not confident in your fitting abilities, you may wish to enlist the help of a friend or perhaps even seek out a competent dressmaker who may be willing to adjust your fitting shells for you as these will be the base for your master patterns, giving you the confidence of knowing that your master patterns are going to work for you as you dive into the world of fashion design and save you a lot of time and frustration.

Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method,

Customize Fitting Shells to Create Garments in Any Style. 

By  Sara Alm ( author, pattern maker, designer, and sewing instructor )

Release date May 15 2017

8.5"  x 11" 

176 pages

you can find it  at Quarto here or on Amazon  here   or Indigo   here

Feeling BUGGED!!!!

I have no idea how long it has been....but apparently, none of my gallery links worked. I thought the problem had been corrected.....nope, it seems not.... learned today that they just sent you to an "error"page.    ARRRRRGH!!!! 

BUT.....they ARE  working now.....gosh...at least I sure hope so.
By clicking on the photos on my side bar, Project Gallery, Doodle Gallery, Snowflakes and My Toy Sewing Machines...you should be taken to a photo gallery of each of them.....you can  also find links on "Galleries" page in the tool bar above.

This doodle was inspired by the variety of bugs I have been dealing with...technical and otherwise.

Following and Creating Knitting Charts

Sometime in March of this year, I took an online class through Craftsy, a knitting class using stranded colourwork techniques. The class project was perfect for using some of the yarn I had reclaimed from sweaters.  While I have done colourwork and Fair Isle in the past....I had not taken the time to learn the proper way to do it and my work was never as neat as it should have been.

Once I got used to a different way of holding my yarn, I picked up the technique quickly. This Cowl was the provided pattern from the class (which you can find here) 

look how neat it is on the inside

of course....now I wanted to see if I could create my own charts. I accomplished this with the help of an app I found, called 8BitPainter (it is meant to be used for drawing simple pixel art) but it works great for creating needle work carts too.  In the photo below, you can see the chart I created with the app on my iPad mini, and the cowl (in progress) I knit following my chart.

Such fun to be able to combine needlework techniques with modern technology.

Nature's Weather Forecasters

I really enjoy being able to simply sit and watch the birds. (and maybe doodle a bit)
One of my favourites are the comical Juncos.  In my area, these little guys show up in the late fall....as soon as I see them I know that the cold weather is here to stay......in the same way, they forecast the return of warm temperatures by their disappearance......well....they have not packed their bags yet so I guess we are not quite done with cooler temperatures.  Year after year these birds have been pretty reliable weather forecasters

Spring Bouquet

It seemed to me that the time had come to freshen up my blog banner.....(it had not been changed in quite a long time)
I decided to feature my latest doodle,  Spring Bouquet.

I drew it on my iPad mini...using the Concepts app and my stylus, Pencil by Paper 53

I have to admit that I kinda cheated a little.....how?  you might wonder.....well....I drew only 1 half of the doodle and using some of the tools within the app, I copied, flipped & fit 2 halves together.
Once I was happy with that part of it, I went on to refine and add more details to it.

It was an interesting exercise....trial and error helps me learn more ways to play with line.

Doodles Transformed

Once again, I am thrilled to show what has become of some of my doodles.

I have posted several times about how honoured and excited I have been each and every time Trish Burr....Embroidery Artist, Teacher & Author has approached me about transforming a design of mine into one of her incredible works of thread art.

Her new book White Work with Colour has been released and I can finally show you the small part I played in its evolution.  First of all, let me tell you that the book is gorgeous and, as with all of Trish Burr's books and patterns, the attention to detail is phenomenal.

pages from White Work with Colour - Trish Burr

This book ( 8.5"x 11" ) is beautifully laid out, with concise, clear, detailed instructions for 17 different projects..... along with everything you will need to know to ensure success.

Some of the time, Trish is drawn to a design I have already shown, and at others, she has a specific idea in mind and gives me the opportunity to draw something just for her.

Pages from White Work with Colour - Trish Burr

 3 of the projects in her book White Work with Colour  (Zen poppy, Doodle bug and French country vase) are based on my doodles .....oh...but wait....... take a look at what she does with them

In the following photos, you can see the original doodle I sent to Trish paired with her amazing transformation of it.

There is yet another of my doodles currently under going the Trish Burr royal treatment...but that will be kept under wraps until a later date.

Spring inspired doodle

So happy to welcome the arrival of Spring.

Spin and Ply

My experimenting with reclaimed yarn continues.  After deconstructing this lambswool sweater, I found that the yarn was extremely fine.

SO.......I decided to create a drop spindle that would allow me to "ply" the yarns together

A few simple bits from the hardware store came together to form a surprisingly effective spindle.

the yarn plied on the spindle is shown on the left and to the right, is a purchased sock yarn, as you can see they look very close to the same weight.  They knit up well together.

below, you can see the single ply as it came off the sweater, along side the yarn that had been plied on the drop spindle in the process of being knit

I also have a some reclaimed silk on the go.....it is being plied and dyed and turning out wonderfully

Knitting with reclaimed yarn

Okay, I seem to be stuck in knit mode currently.  I deconstructed another sweater.
This one was labeled 70% Cotton / 30% Lambs wool. 

This is a look at the amount of yarn I managed to salvage, (roughly 340g ) and the start of my very first sock

and here is the completed sock, now to see if I can actually make its twin