Swedish Embroidery

I took a class in Swedish Embroidery last night. It was a lot of fun, if you ever have the opportunity, go for it. There were five of us and we were a little overwhelmed in the beginning, but after we got started - we all took off like Gang Busters....

The Embroidery is done on Huck toweling, with Pearl #5 thread (floss). Very easy to work with. You use a #20 tapestry needle. I added some ecru cotton lace that I picked up at the thrift store (4 1/2 yards for $.99).

All Debbie Mumm

Fun, Fun, Fun

As usual, I am having a ball with the sewing. My little machine is being pushed to the limit - and sometimes, I must admit, it balks...

I have been using a lot of Debbie Mumm fabrics, which have been reasonable lately - I love her stuff - the big, gathered bags are with her fabric on the outside and a solid contrasting color as a lining. They are made from square pieces with casing all around - two opposing side have thick elastic and the other two opposing sides have heavy ribbon or leather thongs.

The fleece throw is also a Debbie Mumm which I found in the remnant shelf. The purse and matching hat are an experiment - I have no idea what I will be doing with them.

Oh dear, I guess you will have to tilt your head - I forgot to flip the pictures --- blogspot won't let me put the third picture on this post, so I will do another.

hobo bags & stuff

It's been a while since I have posted here - usually that means I am having trouble getting my pictures uploaded to where I want them - My Pictures - Adobe Pictures is very forceful and keeps taking over -

Spent three hours at my favorite thrift store today - I could walk up and down those aisle forever - I'm a big 'touchy feely' person, and a thrift store is right up my alley. I was looking for wool sweaters - a side project and friend and I are hoping to do entails boiling a 100% wool sweater with detergent and then patting and patting until it 'felts'. When it is dry, we will cut a round opening on top, cut out the sleeves and we should have a 'bag'. I'll let you know how we do - I found a wool sweater that already is on its way to felt (someone washed it in hot water).

This hobo bag has a contrasting fabric as a lining and I made a matching hat - my twin came by yesterday and insisted on taking the whole set with her for a silent auction in Lake Havasu - so I never had time to take a picture of the hat - it came out pretty well. When I finish the hat for the other hobo bag, I will take a picture of them together.

ruffled apron

I am hoping to post two pictures of the apron I finished this week. One is full length and the other is a close up so that you can see the colors and pattern of the fabric. It has nice long ties and covers all the way around the bottom half of a person. Ruffle is nice and full.

I am thinking of donating this for our Silent Auction that the mobile park association will be holding at our Easter (Saturday before) luncheon.

Instructions for Super Easy Pillowcase!

Main piece 27" X 41" (3/4 yard)

Border piece 11" X 41" (1/3 yard)

Accent Strip 3 X 41" (1/8 yard)

Lay 11" border piece face up on table

Lay main piece of pillowcase face up - lined up with border

Press the 3" accent piece in half the long way and lay face up on top of the main piece (temporarily pin together at top)

Roll the main piece of fabric from the bottom up staying below the accent piece - then fold up the border piece to the top and re-pin all the raw edges together. Stitch along the edge then reach inside and start pulling the fabric out. You will have a finished edge with all the stitching on the inside.

Putting right sides together, stitch a French seam or surge edges together.

Yippee! You have a beutifully finished pillow case!

Happy Sewing!

Pillow cases

This is a small example of the pillow cases I have been making- so far - 10 sets. I do the body of the pillow case in a print, a small band of solid color or a contrasting color - the bottom band is usually a darker color taken from the body of the pillow case. All three pieces are sewn at one time, extracted from a tube-like piece and then the top and side is sewn - in all - three seams - lots of fun - quick results.

One of the pillow cases has a 'Monet' like print - it is gorgeous. The other is done in yellow and browns.