Sandra Loves Sewing: Sizzix 657605

Sandra Loves Sewing: Sizzix 657605: Is it called stress patchwork, if you are sewing blocks with no purpose? Just sewing patchwork for something to do?  Maybe it is. U...

Sizzix 657605

Is it called stress patchwork, if you are sewing blocks with no purpose? Just sewing patchwork for something to do?  Maybe it is.

Using my Sizzix machine, and using the 657605 Rectangle 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" I've been putting together these blocks.  I'm unsure whether their end intention is for a baby quilt, lap quilt or full size bed quilt.

This doesn't help my dilemma of what to give a friend for her 50th birthday (she already has a lap quilt as a gift some time ago).

Spotlight are running out their Sizzix range for fabric, so I am trying to collect as many cutters as I can at a reduced price. I am a convert to this machine.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Sandra Loves Sewing: Free pattern you say? So Sew Easy "It's a wrap" t...

Sandra Loves Sewing: Free pattern you say? So Sew Easy "It's a wrap" t...: Well, by this stage you know of my dissatisfaction with working with stretch.  I guess you ask (maybe not), why I persist? I just don&...

Free pattern you say? So Sew Easy "It's a wrap" top.

Well, by this stage you know of my dissatisfaction with working with stretch.  I guess you ask (maybe not), why I persist?

I just don't give up that easily.  I always think as a teacher (no, not a sewing teacher), that when you find something difficult, that that is area you need to work the hardest on to perfect.  So, this is what I'm trying to do, prefect the technique, this is my aim this year.

I am also having thoughts of purchasing a cover stitch machine, I know, that in the end the home sewing machine will give results looking like it's home made.  The side of me that wants everything perfect will crave this new piece of machinery.

Hence, here lies the problem, prices range from around $800 - $4000; and if I'm going to save up $4000 I'm going to be thinking a trip to Europe and not a trip to my sewing room!  I so want to go back to Spain, Malta and London; as I feel that there was so much more to see.  I digress..

So, in my quest to find the perfect top pattern I came across a great free pattern at So Sew Easy (http://so-sew-easy.com), "It's a wrap" top.  This is the first PDF pattern that I've ever used, sort of couldn't be bothered with printing all those pages and then sticking them together, but ...

Yes, this top is as easy to make as the title of this pattern is.  I also like the sizing, as I think it is more true to sizing than most commercial patterns.  The instructions are wonderful, with some great tips. The pattern called for you to first try it in a cheap stretch for the toile, I had picked up some fabric in a sale for $2 a metre (originally $9 a metre, just love a bargain) from Spotlight.  You know what, I think I like my toile and will wear to work tomorrow!  I am encouraged by today's effort.

I've also made it in another fabric.  Now, can you spot the error I made in the toile? (Lucky the fabric is busy).

What have you been working on?

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Cushion cover number 4

Working with these Japanese kimono pieces has been interesting.  Their texture so delicate, the workmanship in each piece has been interesting.  It appears that kimono’s are largely sewn together by hand stitching, and where machine stitching exists, it is also painstakingly accurate.

I would never have cut a full kimono, to me, it would be like cutting a wedding dress – I would equally find this hard to cut apart.

When I’ve been taking apart the lining from the outer shell of the kimono pieces, I did this wondering what the story behind each kimono was.  “Did you belong to a beautiful woman? Or a Japanese man?”  “On what occasions were you worn?”  There are some pieces that I think would have been day wear, and others where the silk is so luxurious it left me craving for more pieces like it.  (Alas, not so).

Then to my surprise, one kimono piece has given me a hint of it’s past life.  I found this sewn kanji on it:

I asked a friend to translate from a poor photo taken on my phone.  She said it is most likely a girls name, “Michiko”.

Here's a close up of the fabric:

So, I decided that this cushion cover will be simple.  Here it is:

I wonder, is it usual for a child’s name be on a kimono?  Can you enlighten me?

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra

Ottobre Woman 2/2006 Design 2 - T shirt

I think I have a hate/hate relationship with stretch fabric.  It's not something that I enjoy the feel of.  Like anything, if we don't enjoy coffee, we make a poor cup of coffee.  If we don't like cooking the meal is just average not great.  There must be an intrinsic love of your medium.  I just don't love stretch fabrics, and so, my struggle to work with it.  I acknowledge that the fabric doesn't need ironing; new stretch washes so easily, but still, I do not love it.

On this occasion I needed new tops. I choose three stretch fabrics in white, red and yellowish/green. Intention that I would get them done in a day.  I purchased these from #super_cheap_fabrics on #Sydney_Road. I made the one in white and have undone around the neckline four times.  On the fourth try, I decided that I would just live with it.

The twisted mess:

This pattern calls for a neck binding, I tried this, it was a twisted mess.  Decided to then turn the binding inwards, looked no better.  Unpicked this, then tried a stay stitch around the neckline, a bit better, not great.  I unpicked for the final time, decided to create a facing that was interfaced, it looks better, it's stretched.  I'm not undoing it again.  I've just got to live with it.

Fourth and last attempt at the neckline:

Well, it's still stretched a bit, but, I will live with this version and use this technique on the next top.

I still haven't made the two other tops, I need therapy after the first one.  Need to work with cottons and silks again, much more soothing and predictable.

Besides finally adding a facing to the neckline, I lowered the neckline from the original pattern to give it another look.

Happy sewing everyone.

Sandra