sewing

It’s all about fabric around these parts

by kath_red on March 8, 2012

in Books, Newsletter

I have put my crochet project on the slow train while the fabric cutting and sewing gets to go on the fast track. I have a deadline and need to get sewing.

One day into sewing for a few hours straight and already my back is playing havoc — early intervention is required. I have moved my sewing machine onto my kitchen bench height cutting table so I can stand and sew. And wow much easier, faster and better on the back. Great when cutting, sewing, trimming, pressing requires getting up and down all the time from the sewing seat. Now I just move a little to the side, sew, step over, trim, turn around press and repeat. Great. Also I had Rob install the design wall, which in between major projects has to be taken down as I don’t have space for a permanent design wall, not in my sewing space at a convenient location at any rate.

Before getting started on a big project I like to do a little procrasti-cleaning — actually it’s an essential way to get in the head space required and to create the surroundings that I need to work. I first sort all the fabric I am going to be using (this takes a while), then I put everything else away neatly (again a day or two here — yikes!). So I clear and organise and arrange everything so I can find the essentials (and the non-essentials are out of my way). I also spring clean my sewing machines, take them apart, dust and oil them and change the needles [Weeks Ringle has a really great post on how to Spring Clean your sewing machine].

As part of all this spring cleaning in my sewing room I happened upon a pile of mending. Ugh! Jeans with tears and missing buttons and such — so I quickly dealt with them using a fast patching method (double sided fusible webbing is very handy – especially if you have some already fused fabric scraps available). Then I found a pile of fabric that the kids designed and ordered from Spoonflower. I knew I would not be in the headspace to do anything with it once fully involved in The Project, so I spent half a day cutting out pajama pants using old pj’s as a guide. [Use this tutorial to draft your pattern and make the pants].

Then, and I never thought I would say this, I made underwear with the leftover fabric. Wow so easy and cute and comfy and they actually wanted handmade underwear too. Who knew! I didn’t actually use a pattern, again I used underwear as a guide [and this pattern as a guide too] and had to fiddle a bit to get the fit right, as the stretch on the store-bought underwear fabric is different from the lovely organic jersey I was using. Success!

Don’t forget: If you haven’t already got yours — Grab an Action Pack Magazine for kids — it’s the Mad Scientist Issue: In our 9th issue of Action Pack Magazine for kids, we continue to encourage kids to think and do for themselves, to be independent and creative learners, they are able to explore science through art, cooking and experimentation. We also encourage parents to become observers and co-learners rather than having to take control in a teacher role. In this issue kids are able to go through a journey of self discovery and learn that science is indeed fun and real! You can purchase a copy here.

At whipup this week: Crochet Afghan Free pattern roundup :: Guest post from Jennie of A Little Vintage  about her Creative process :: Guest post from Weeks Ringle discussing her latest book and magazine and some colour tips too :: Guest post from Caroline and Maryanne discussing their sewing series — beyond the basics :: And if you missed last weeks news click here.

Also: 

Reading this week:
Having an Australian book week with the kids this week:
  • Stephanie Owen Reeder is a Canberra-based writer and illustrator, her book Amazing Grace: An adventure at sea is a true story about a girl in 1876 who used her horse to save lots of people from a shipwreck. Beautifully written and illustrated and presented and is a fascinating historically accurate account. This National Library of Australia publication features archival paintings, survivors’ accounts, newspaper articles and original photographs.
  • Playground, compiled by Australian Children’s book author Nadia Wheatley (published by Allen and Unwin), is a compilation of Indigenous Australian stories, photographs and beautiful artwork, which allow a wonderful insight into Aboriginal childhood.
  • Shy the Platypus by Leslie Rees, has been republished by the National Library of Australia after being out of print for over 20 years. Originally published in the 1940s, this beautifully presented Australian Children’s book has been updated with additional artwork from the NLA collection.

[Thanks to publishers and distributors for sending me books to review, I don't get paid to post reviews but I am an amazon affiliate] (Australian’s can purchase craft books online through can do books or booktopia or else browse booko for the best prices.)

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Guest post | Convection Mittens

by contributor on January 26, 2012

in Guest Blogger, Whip Up Tutorials

Katie grew up in Ohio and now lives in Boston, so she knows the value of a good double-layer mitten. She has been known to draw diagrams to illustrate her point. To read more about her creations, visit her blog: Foxflat

How to make Convection Mittens

Convection Mittens are serious handwarmers for serious wind and cold! They’re for when whimsical winter accessories just don’t cut it, and for all the times your hands can’t be shoved into coat pockets (carrying grocery bags home, pulling a sled, holding a dog leash).

When I saw how much fleece-lined wool mittens cost in stores, I tinkered with a pattern that could be made quickly and cheaply. Convection Mittens are sewn from felted wool with a fleece lining. They can be made in a couple of hours using repurposed thrifted clothing, and the pattern can be enlarged or shrunk on a copier to fit your whole family’s hands. Give them a try – I’d love to see how they turn out!

Pattern: 
DOWNLOAD PDF: includes illustrated instructions and a printable pattern for making your own pair of Convection Mittens.

Materials: 
Sewing machine, shears, needle, thread :: 1/2 yard (metre) each of felted wool and thin polyester fleece

Notes:
Felted wool and polyester fleece can both be purchased new, but they’re easy to find at a thriftstore. For the fleece, pick out a thinner weight pullover or a pair of pajama pants. Black fleece is always classy for adults, but for kids you could pick out something in a fun color or pattern.

For the felted wool, find a lightweight, 100% wool sweater with a care tag that says “dry clean only”. It’s going to thicken significantly when it shrinks, so it’s important to start with something lightweight or the felted version won’t be pliable enough to go through your sewing machine. I chose a tweedy solid, but you could also pick out a fun pattern like snowflakes or fair isle. Felt the sweater at home in your washing machine. If you haven’t felted a sweater on purpose before, The Magic Onions has a nice photo tutorial. The one thing I would add is that I always shave the final product with a disposable razor to remove extra fuzz.

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Sewing books: Fresh Quilting + 123 Sew

by kath_red on November 7, 2011

in Books, Sewing+Fabric

November: Month of books at Whipup.net

1, 2, 3 Sew: Build Your Skills with 33 Simple Sewing Projects by Ellen Luckett Baker, published by Chronicle books.

When I say I love Chronicle books, it’s not because they are also the publishers of my two quilt books – its because they do quality, beautiful, practical books: pattern sleeve, spiral binding, lovely photos, pleasing design – and well edited too. Ellen Luckett Baker’s book is a Chronicle book and has all these great qualities, plus what she brings to the table – which is well made, well designed, thoughtful and lovely sewn projects.

In this book Ellen has gone back to basics to introduce the new to sewing crafter some basic skills which can then be built upon in a series of three projects gradually increasing in difficulty level – great concept and well achieved! For example – pillows – begin with a basic scrappy straight sewn design and learn about an overlapping pillow finish. Move on to blind hem applique and buttonholes and then learn about reverse applique and making a hook and loop fastener – all while making a series of three pillows. Tote bags are another great example – begin by learning about squared corners, then add in a divider and then learn about drawstring closures and French seams. Brilliant.

Project excerpt: You can make the mouse pincushion using this video tutorial.
Ps. Ellen is multi-talented and has just released a line of fabric with Moda. Congratulations Ellen!

Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, and Inspiration By Malka Dubrawsky, published by Interweave Press (December 7, 2010).

Malka Dubrawsky and Interweave books – what an amazing combination – one of my favourite improv quilters and one of my favourite book publishers all rolled up together: Malka’s stunning colourful designs, combined with Interweave’s attention to detail – love it – and the book delivers!

Malka’s quilts and patchwork designs are all about colour and pattern. She dyes and over-dyes her own fabric and combines these in eclectic and clashing and fun ways that are part gypsy and part country but the final result is completely modern! Her stitching may be a bit wonky at times and her corners may not meet up perfectly – but for me that not only adds to the charm of these improv quilts but also the accessibility of her style – she all about fearless quilting and sewing – just getting in there and doing it. Her fearless style embraces flaws but also discovers new methods, exciting colour combinations and fantastic designs.

PS. You can purchase Malka’s beautiful creations in her Etsy shop.

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Guest blogger series | Umbrella holder tutorial

by contributor on October 15, 2011

in Guest blog series2 2011, Sewing+Fabric, Whip Up Tutorials

Guest blogger: Nicole blum from one golden apple

Hello crafty ones. I am so pleased to be a guest here while Kathreen is away. My name is Nicole Blum and I blog about crafting, sewing, and the other stuff of life over at one golden apple.  As a freelance craft developer for magazines, I am lucky enough to be making something on most days, and my etsy shop ensures that some of it is sewing- my absolute favorite way to create. I just finished a sewing book, co-authored by Debra Immergut, which will be hitting the shops in the spring.  It is called Improv Sewing and will contain over 100 projects I’ve designed to inspire and encourage, new and seasoned sewists alike, to be really creative and playful with their sewing machines.

I LOVE to make clothing, and my upcoming book Improv Sewing will map out how to fill your closet without buying a single pattern. Today, however, I want to teach you to make something fun and super cool for your home. Sometimes I find myself wanting to stitch designs on fabric without even knowing what I want the finished project to be.  Pillowcases and tote bags are always a great way to showcase your handiwork, but today I came up with a way to use some tube I had sitting in the studio closet – my man builds things and this tube is a leftover piece from making footings for our barn.  If you don’t have one, they are easy to get at any building supply place.  I have seen similar projects online before, but they are usually painted.  Painting is fun, but sewing is more fun to me so here is my tutorial for a pretty and very useful…

Umbrella Holder

What you’ll need:

  • an 18” length of sonotube* (mine was 10” wide) of course, use what you can get your hands on.
  • fabric you fancy that can wrap around the tube with 2-3” to spare and is 18” tall
  • contrasting thread
  • chalk

Directions:

Cut fabric to size:  Use a measuring tape to determine the circumference of the tube. I pinned the fabric around the tube to illustrate about how much extra you might want to have.

Draw your designs: I use chalk to draw out designs I am going to stitch over.  Sometimes I use vanishing ink, but sometimes it doesn’t vanish- test it first.  You can can use cookie cutter shapes, trace circles from jar lids, or you can go for it and free hand, which I recommend, because really, what do you have to lose? I drew some flower shapes – I like their imprecise form. I recommend starting with simple and large shapes.  It is easier to sew a good line around gentle curves than tight ones. Please pardon the wrinkles, they will be pressed soon.  The light makes them appear worse than they are, swear. Press yours, ladies.

Stitch your designs: Now comes the fun part. Set your machines so the pressure on the foot is decreased.  The tighter the turns, the more you will need to manipulate the fabric, so the more you want to decrease the pressure.  On these big flowers, I set my foot pressure on 2 and it worked grand. Set your stitch to a regular straight stitch or a straight stretch stitch (which is what I did here for a nice bold line). If this is your first time drawing on fabric with thread, you might want to practice making a curve on a scrap piece of fabric.

Stitch around the shape you drew once or twice and then move on to the next one. My tip for success: Keep the needle moving and gently turn the fabric as you need to.  Use the most pressure you can on that foot while still being able to smoothly turn your fabric. Straight lines should be sewn with full pressure so the feed dogs can grab and move your fabric along. Use your fingertips to push the fabric where it needs to go.

Add some lines along the raw bottom and top edges: Instead of hemming the raw edges, simply stitch lines of straight or zig zag (or any stitch, really) stitches along that edge.  This will stop raveling edges and it defines the edge nicely.

I use my presser foot to space my lines.  Line up the the toe on the right side of the foot with the first line (and it was aligned with the raw edge to start).  I used a straight stitch for speed and I spaced them evenly (mostly, not perfectly).  You could stitch several lines and let them undulate gently too- crossing sometimes even.

Sew seam to create the sleeve: When your decorating is all done the way you like it, fold the fabric in half lengthwise and stitch your tube up.  Draw a line with chalk at the correct distance- you want it to fit snuggly. Stitch one line with a regular straight stitch and then try it on the tube for size.  If it isn’t tight enough, your next line of stitches can make it a little tighter.

Continue stitching the way you desire- meandering lines, a new stitch type for each line, whatever.  I made straight, evenly spaced lines for this project and then pinked the edges.

Slip it over your tube and you have a really nice little holder for whatever is tall and doesn’t fit in the usual places.  I could have one of these just for the swords that my 6 year old makes.  It would be a great place for roles of colored art paper- nice and protected- or to display branches for a winter bouquet. I ended up painting the tube yellow because the fabric was a little short- measure twice, cut once.  Oh well.

*Sonotube: Round, large cardboard tubes designed to hold wet concrete in place until it hardens – found in hardware stores.

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Embroidery inspiration

by kath_red on June 17, 2011

in Fibre+Needlework

For on-the-go stitchers a spot of embroidery is just the thing. Take along your bag of goodies with you to the couch, to the kids sport, to the dentist and you will always have a little something to keep you busy where ever you are.

Here are some delightful embroidery designs, ideas, patterns and tutorials I have come across lately – for your enjoyment and inspiration:

Download a cute little tree motif design from Lark Crafts for use in all sorts of designs. Found via I write it down - with some very sweet embroideries. Lark has more doodle stitch along motifs for you to try out – including these Woodland children and

Wild Olive has some sweet Tie embroidery patterns (for father’s day) on her blog. And if you go back through her pattern archive you can find lots more great embroidery designs – like this Tea design and this One lump or two. You can also find one of her designs – pumpkin spice latte - on whipup when she was a guest over here. You can grab the pattern for this spring fling design (pictured above) from Sunshine and Carousels.

Article on Cross stitch at the London evening standard. Via Crafty crafty where I also saw this internet sampler and these cross stitch your vote charts from My little stitches. Also you must check out her venetian cutwork rosette of Dilma Rousseff (pictured above). And find out about this cool project too – CR-3D – textiles or codes.

I discovered Denise Litchfield’s vintage fabric softies via Emma Lamb’s blog. Denise’s hand embroidered primitive softies are made with rescued fabric, lace and buttons and vintage feedsack fabrics. While at her blog I found these adorable stitched house brooches (pictured above).

Find lots of free embroidery designs at craft gossip - like this cross stitch flower design from doe-c-doe. And be sure to head on over to Bad birds embroidery pattern section – so much wonderfulness there.

I also love to sift through the Feeling stitchy flickr group and blog where they are running a June stitch-along - quick its not too late to join. You can find some great resources over there too – like stitch tutorials and sorting your needles. Speaking of great sites where you can get heaps of inspiration – make sure to visit MrXstitch (stitch artists and cool things), and Pin Tangle (patterns and tutorials).

So september has some very cute designs with tutorials to help you make them. Like this Pinocchio embroidery pattern (pictured above), her spring in a hoop design and her early Elephant design.

I love this cross stitch orange (pictured), Sublime stitching – totally metal design, this vintage transfers design website, these Entomologie designs (pictured) and available at the whatdelilahdid shop.

If you are now dying to learn embroidery – check out Carina’s e-books and her embroidery tutorials. And this post from Whipup’s archives Your guide to online stitch instructions.

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