Showing posts with label machine stitching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label machine stitching. Show all posts

Friday, January 31, 2014

Friday Finish: Easter Postcard


I am not sure I would call this a finish, more like a failed experiment, lol. I wanted to try a postcard and decided to just go for it and see how it worked out. I made a mess, but I learned a lot, about what not to do.

I used Peltex for the base of the card, it is double sided fusible, so a nice product to use for postcards. A friend send me precut pieces, so I could use them for practice. I took scraps of fabric from my basket and just laid them down in a random pattern, then ironed them to the Peltex. I wanted to do machine stitching, so I realized if I wanted to stitch, I could not have the plastic back on it, so I put the backing on too, big mistake. If you are doing a lot of stitching, wait to put on the back side;)

It was not my best week to be doing fine work, my lyme is messing with my nerves again, so I don't have the control I need for this. I stitched all over the place, and my jerky motions made the stitches jump and as you can see, it is a mess. I will have to slow down, working too fast with free motion is another bad idea, on small pieces. I used a design from an old book I had, with country designs, perfect sizes for practicing.

It is a fun project to do and fun to experiment, well worth a try if  you have never made one. I will be doing more and getting used to stitching small areas and I think it would be fun to do some mixed art ones.

Things I did learn was, use a 90 sized needle if you are working on Peltex, otherwise your thread breaks. Variegated threads are fun to use if you don't want to change the threads, it gives you a variety of colors on one spool. For the appliques I used Pellon fusible.

I cannot believe I am showing you this, but some of us, learn better from our mistakes;)


For the back, I used a postcard print out and traced the lines on. You can find printables that you can use for the back. I used a Pitt artist pen to do the lines and word, it dries immediately and it waterproof.

This is why you want to wait to put the back on, not a pretty sight. Even though this one was a mess, it was fun and I can't wait to try some more.


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

New Pin Keeps!

I decided to I wanted to make one of Red Brolly's designs into a pin keep for myself.
I stick my needles in a pincushion and the hand sewing ones, always get lost.
So, I made this to hold my favorite ones. I used art markers to color in the design, then I stitched around that.



I made it into a trifold, so it has room for needles and scissors. I used velcro for the closure.
My machine stitching was off a bit, but good for practice and since it is mine, it doesn't have to be perfect, just practical;)
The green wool is one of the first wools I ever bought from our local store. It was a cheaper one, but thick, so it felts up too much with washing and dying, but perfect for wool projects.

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway, and check out the posting to learn more about me.



I also received a wonderful gift in the mail yesterday. We were having an egg contest at our primitive quilt group and Dorothy sent me this wonderful pin keep as a thank you for hosting it. Isn't it wonderful! She also gave me some vintage thread that I can use in my art projects.