Thank you all for entering my contest, it was fun reading the comments and quips. The winner of a free pattern is Kim Budash! Congratulations Kim, you can pick any pattern from my E-Crater store and email me with your choice.
For everyone else, I thought I would offer my newest idea as a freebie. I wanted to try a technique with Press and Seal and I have been wanting to make something as a gift that I can give to members of our choir, especially the ones who sang at Dani's funeral and I thought this would be a wonderful gift for them.
As for the press and seal, I liked it in one way and not in others. I found sewing through it, hard with the larger needle that I use for pearl cotton. It stayed on but the lettering faded as I went and I used a black art pen on dark wool, so I am sure that didn't help either.
This is how it looked with the stitching on the Press and Seal.
It pulled off fairly, easily but then I had to get around those small letters, that was not easy. I pulled and the stitches pulled so it messed a few up. Then I realized it would be easier to clip as much as I could and that made it easier to pull out the pieces between the stitching. Once I got going, it went faster. I also messed up on some spacing, and I guess it shifted a bit, the design is not perfect and I had a hard time following lines with the chain stitch.
I took out some of the stitches on the wing and fixed it up a bit. I cut out a second piece of wool and a piece of batting cut smaller than the design and blanket stitched them together. Then I added some leaves and red balls. I used pearl cotton through the top and put the leaves on top of that.
This is how it came out. I am not thrilled with this one, the wings are a mess and I think the lettering needs to be lighter? You can also add a bell to the bottom, this one is rusty but I may use new ones for choir gifts. What I want to do is try another but make it neater and not so prim, as the gifts.
Here is the pattern I used, you may use it for yourself or as gifts. All I ask is, if you come up with a better look, please share. I really wanted to make something special and I think this is a wonderful idea as a gift so please share you pieces with us and better ideas to make nicer lettering.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, filled with joy and adventures.
The bell is 5 1/2" long, but you can make it as small or large as you want. I think this would be nice in a larger version to put on the wall.
Lovely design Debbie. I wonder if you threaded a regular needle with a heavier thread and without a knot you did a running stitch to perforate the plastic if it would help when you used the Perle cotton? Would be more time but could make things a bit easier..
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they will love receiving those gifts from you.
That is very nice of you to thank them with that special gift.
ReplyDeleteI think the press 'n seal would drive me crazy...love the sweet design :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove your design, Debbie. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI think the press and seal works great. I clip close and then use tweezers to remove the small pieces.
ReplyDeleteHave never tried the press and seal, that's a great design!
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering about the Press 'n Seal method. Wonder how it works with a finer needle.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for a gift! Thanks for sharing the freebie as well as the info on your experience with Press 'n Seal.
ReplyDeleteThis is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI hope this doesn't come across as rude, but "it's" should not have an apostrophe. They way you have it written, "it's" means "it is"; it doesn't who ownership, as I am sure was your intent.
Cindy
Beautiful work! I now use Transfer eze. It dissolves in water. Once I stitched everything, I just wet the piece and let it dry. Comes out beautiful. I can photocopy anything on it and stitch it out! It's also what I use for hand embroidery towels. I just love it! Cheers!
ReplyDelete