Daniel and I drove to Wilmington today for a craft fair hosted by the PA Guild of Craftsmen. This was a juried show, something that was obvious in the work displayed - there were some really stunning booths. My favorite of the day was something called Sculptured Papercutting created by Sue Keefer. From a distance it looked similar to quilling (interestingly, the only booth that I recognized today that I visited at the Kutztown festival last month was Paper Petites quilling), but up close it's entirely different. She uses a combination of painting, cut work, lifting, and shaping to create 3-D work from a single sheet of paper, and her work is beautiful. Unfortunately she has no website and we didn't have the money today to spend on artwork since I start school next month, but I hope to see her again at local festivals.
There wasn't a lot of needlework available at today's show - one booth of full size quilts, one of really lovely miniature quilts, and this woman, who creates fabric pictures through the use of applique and decorative machine stitching. Up close, her work had a really amazing amount of detail in it. The rest of the fiber artists were mostly weavers or selling clothing or purses; there was no needlepoint, cross stitch, or embroidery at all which was a bit disappointing. Daniel did find several glass booths to browse, though, so it was fun for both.
Over the past several days I've been working on a long coat for which I cut the pieces my freshman year of college, but that I'd never gotten around to stitching. I don't remember why I laid it aside; it's too bad that I've taken this long as I love the pattern and the fabric combination (a red felted fabric with a gray lining and a gray tussled-looking faux fur trim) and it is cut to fit the freshman me rather than the me of today. But I needed something to work on earlier this week and I thought it would be nice to clear out the space in my sewing cabinet while finally seeing this coat sewn, so I pulled it out. Right now the outer coat is assembled and I've begun to add the trim and sew the lining. I love having the serger here as it's making seam finishing much quicker, particularly on the easy-to-fray lining. I'm not sure exactly what to do about a closure for the front of the coat but otherwise it should be complete later this week after which I'll post some pictures.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Serger class, Wild Ginger, and an Etsy project
Monday night's serger class at my sewing store was great. The teacher - daughter of the store's owner - has been working with sergers since they became available for home use many years ago. There were only about nine students in the class versus the 20 that were in my last sewing class at the store, and one of her sisters helped out so that everyone was able to receive individual attention when needed. It is not nearly as difficult to thread this machine as it first appears and we learned several cool tricks for serging. I also picked up a book that came highly recommended on http://sewing.patternreview.com, The Ultimate Serger Answer Guide.
On Tuesday I took the plunge and purchased the pattern drafting software that I have been eyeing for a while, Wild Ginger's PatternMaster Boutique. Daniel helped measure me and I constructed a dress sloper based on my measurements to test it out. The sloper is complete other than the zipper which will have to wait for this weekend's trip to Joann's. I think there's going to be some adjustments needed to the measurements but it's hard to tell for certain until the zipper is in place.
Lastly, I've been working out some plans for a small bifold wallet. I traced some credit cards and cash in my notebook drawing the wallet around it, and then constructed a 1/2 size mock-up in muslin. It has a vinyl sleeve for an ID plus five credit card slots and two pockets for cash - I'm still uncertain on what closure to use or if I should just let it go without. I think it will do well as a first item for my Etsy store, though I'm having some trouble deciding on fabric. It looks like a guy's wallet to me and most of my fabric stash is littered with flowers or girly paisley. I think some more fabric hunting may be in order.
On Tuesday I took the plunge and purchased the pattern drafting software that I have been eyeing for a while, Wild Ginger's PatternMaster Boutique. Daniel helped measure me and I constructed a dress sloper based on my measurements to test it out. The sloper is complete other than the zipper which will have to wait for this weekend's trip to Joann's. I think there's going to be some adjustments needed to the measurements but it's hard to tell for certain until the zipper is in place.
Lastly, I've been working out some plans for a small bifold wallet. I traced some credit cards and cash in my notebook drawing the wallet around it, and then constructed a 1/2 size mock-up in muslin. It has a vinyl sleeve for an ID plus five credit card slots and two pockets for cash - I'm still uncertain on what closure to use or if I should just let it go without. I think it will do well as a first item for my Etsy store, though I'm having some trouble deciding on fabric. It looks like a guy's wallet to me and most of my fabric stash is littered with flowers or girly paisley. I think some more fabric hunting may be in order.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Fun with sergers
I'm signed up for the serger basics class at my sewing store next Monday evening, the same day that we return from our vacation. The timing on this is perfect - I'll pick up my sewing machine and take the class the same day, and it means I'll spend less time unsure of what to do with my serger.
I've been reading through the owner's manual that came with the machine - the reviewers online were not exaggerating the problems in this manual. It took me a while to puzzle through the stitch settings for the machine, but I compared the manual to the Bernina Feetures book and was able to test out all of the 3-thread settings on the machine. As a trial project, I created a quick business card case out of some cotton fabric. I like how it came out - it's large enough to hold 20-30 cards depending on their thickness, and I added a pearl snap to the front.
I think it's going to take some time for me to get used to the counterintuitive features of this machine - several of my sewing habits won't work when serging. For example, I pick up the foot a lot as I'm working to turn corners, and I'm normally really diligent about backstitching to secure all my work. Neither of those would work on the serger. I also use the stitch guides on the sewing machine plate a lot, and while there are guides on the serger they don't work in the same way. For my trial project I actually drew the cutting line on the fabric so that I would know where to line it up - I'm hoping the class will give me some better ways to handle that situation. Overall, I really like the machine. It's not nearly as daunting as it first seemed at the store, and I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of it.
I've been reading through the owner's manual that came with the machine - the reviewers online were not exaggerating the problems in this manual. It took me a while to puzzle through the stitch settings for the machine, but I compared the manual to the Bernina Feetures book and was able to test out all of the 3-thread settings on the machine. As a trial project, I created a quick business card case out of some cotton fabric. I like how it came out - it's large enough to hold 20-30 cards depending on their thickness, and I added a pearl snap to the front.
I think it's going to take some time for me to get used to the counterintuitive features of this machine - several of my sewing habits won't work when serging. For example, I pick up the foot a lot as I'm working to turn corners, and I'm normally really diligent about backstitching to secure all my work. Neither of those would work on the serger. I also use the stitch guides on the sewing machine plate a lot, and while there are guides on the serger they don't work in the same way. For my trial project I actually drew the cutting line on the fabric so that I would know where to line it up - I'm hoping the class will give me some better ways to handle that situation. Overall, I really like the machine. It's not nearly as daunting as it first seemed at the store, and I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of it.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
All Good flag
One of the problems with music festivals is finding one's campsite among the sea of tents. Daniel and I always tend to use other people's stuff as markers - last year someone brought in a giant weather balloon that was great as a point of reference. At least it *was* great until the night it poured and the balloon's line became twisted on something at ground level. We got soaked as we wandered around trying to find the balloon and our site, and we heard many other festival-goers complaining about the same thing.
This year Daniel decided to make our own flag for our campsite. The design of this was entirely his - he modeled it after 1960s concert posters, and used my profile from one of our wedding photos for the face. He wanted the flag to be viewable from two sides but face towards the pole on each side, so he reversed the design for the back and adjusted the shape of the lettering so that it would appear correctly against the hair.
After creating the design on his computer he handpainted the lettering and the face, and traced in pencil the hair's shape on some really cool cotton fabric that we found at Joann's. I outlined the hair on my sewing machine with black thread in a short zigzag stitch. Given the flag's 18"x24" size and its height at the campsite, we decided that a satin stitch wasn't necessary - it would have eaten thread and taken forever. There was no interfacing or stabilizer between the flag and hair layers as I sewed and it didn't pucker very much. I pinned well around the outside and used a few pieces of Stitch Witchery within the shape to hold everything together. Once the hair was completely stitched I trimmed all the excess fabric from around the stitching.
After both flag sides were sewn and ironed I added a piece of medium weight sew-in interfacing to the flag and finished by sewing and edgestitching all four edges. The flag will be attached to a 10' pole through the 6 metal eyelets on the top and side edge of the flag. Daniel's constructing the pole right now - it is of PVC pipe and is in four sections so that we can stow it in the car and assemble it at the campsite.
This is officially the last project for the festival. Now all we have to do is pack.
This year Daniel decided to make our own flag for our campsite. The design of this was entirely his - he modeled it after 1960s concert posters, and used my profile from one of our wedding photos for the face. He wanted the flag to be viewable from two sides but face towards the pole on each side, so he reversed the design for the back and adjusted the shape of the lettering so that it would appear correctly against the hair.
After creating the design on his computer he handpainted the lettering and the face, and traced in pencil the hair's shape on some really cool cotton fabric that we found at Joann's. I outlined the hair on my sewing machine with black thread in a short zigzag stitch. Given the flag's 18"x24" size and its height at the campsite, we decided that a satin stitch wasn't necessary - it would have eaten thread and taken forever. There was no interfacing or stabilizer between the flag and hair layers as I sewed and it didn't pucker very much. I pinned well around the outside and used a few pieces of Stitch Witchery within the shape to hold everything together. Once the hair was completely stitched I trimmed all the excess fabric from around the stitching.
After both flag sides were sewn and ironed I added a piece of medium weight sew-in interfacing to the flag and finished by sewing and edgestitching all four edges. The flag will be attached to a 10' pole through the 6 metal eyelets on the top and side edge of the flag. Daniel's constructing the pole right now - it is of PVC pipe and is in four sections so that we can stow it in the car and assemble it at the campsite.
This is officially the last project for the festival. Now all we have to do is pack.
My new serger :-)
Having gone through some serious serger envy lately, I've spent a lot of time researching serger features and particular models online. PatternReview.com has been particularly helpful in this regard, as many members have posted extensive reviews of their machines. It took me a bit of time to overcome my fear of threading and determine just what I plan to *do* with the serger, but eventually I narrowed my list of desired features to 2/3/4 thread capability, differential feed, and rolled hem - preferably one that did not require replacing the stitch plate.
The goal was to find a machine that I wouldn't outgrow in the next several years, but definitely not one that would cost in the thousands and have more features than I would probably ever use. Also, I decided to shop for a used machine rather than a new one so that I could get a better quality serger in the same price range. My favorite local sewing store always has several used sergers available and the owner thoroughly inspects each machine before selling it, so I headed over there today. My sewing machine was due for its yearly inspection and there was a Bernina foot sale this weekend anyway, so it was a good day to go serger shopping.
The first reconditioned serger on the shelf was a Bernina 800DL, which is the make and model that I'd been most heavily leaning toward while reviewing machines online. The price was great as well - roughly $100 less than I expected a used 800DL to cost me although I wasn't expecting to find a used one at all. This machine has exactly the features that I wanted (not to mention that I was really hoping to find another Bernina - I love my sewing machine). After some quick discussion we decided to purchase it, and it came home with us today. I'm thrilled :-)
This sewing store has a 2 hour basic serger class the week of the 16th which will cost a fee since I purchased my machine used (free classes came with my sewing machine since it was new), but would definitely be a great way to become more acquanted with my machine. If they're already booked for the class I also found two serger classes at another local Bernina dealer that would occur before the start of school next month. I'm going to call on Monday and see which date is available.
The goal was to find a machine that I wouldn't outgrow in the next several years, but definitely not one that would cost in the thousands and have more features than I would probably ever use. Also, I decided to shop for a used machine rather than a new one so that I could get a better quality serger in the same price range. My favorite local sewing store always has several used sergers available and the owner thoroughly inspects each machine before selling it, so I headed over there today. My sewing machine was due for its yearly inspection and there was a Bernina foot sale this weekend anyway, so it was a good day to go serger shopping.
The first reconditioned serger on the shelf was a Bernina 800DL, which is the make and model that I'd been most heavily leaning toward while reviewing machines online. The price was great as well - roughly $100 less than I expected a used 800DL to cost me although I wasn't expecting to find a used one at all. This machine has exactly the features that I wanted (not to mention that I was really hoping to find another Bernina - I love my sewing machine). After some quick discussion we decided to purchase it, and it came home with us today. I'm thrilled :-)
This sewing store has a 2 hour basic serger class the week of the 16th which will cost a fee since I purchased my machine used (free classes came with my sewing machine since it was new), but would definitely be a great way to become more acquanted with my machine. If they're already booked for the class I also found two serger classes at another local Bernina dealer that would occur before the start of school next month. I'm going to call on Monday and see which date is available.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
needlepoint project and bellbottoms
My office was closed two days this week, so I've had plenty of time to sew and do some other handicrafts.
The first picture is of a needlepoint project that I finished on Monday. It was a 5"x5" kit from Joanns - I'd never done any needlepoint before and wanted to see what I thought of it. Most of my hand needlework experience is in counted cross stitch - this was less similar than I expected it to be. First of all, the canvas wasn't woven like most cross stitch fabrics are, and it was much stiffer than I was expecting. Also, while the symbol and lettering were charted the background image was printed directly on the canvas.
The stitch is also very different than cross stitch - while it looks like a half cross stitch on the front side, it's called a "basketweave stitch" for the pattern that it makes on the reverse. Instead of starting in the upper left corner and working horizontal rows, this stitch starts in the upper right corner and works in diagonal rows. It took a bit of adjusting for me to get used to seeing the charted design in that way. I like how the finished project turned out and enjoyed stitching it - I'm debating on starting another needlepoint project in the future. I've been wanting to create stockings for Daniel and me from two of Howard Finster's Christmas paintings, and needlepoint might be a good way to go with that.
Also on Monday I finished my jeans for the All Good festival. These were from the Goodwill - they were missing all four buttons at the top of the jeans, but otherwise were in good condition and they fit well. I sewed new buttons on the top and added the belt and the flares.
The belt was a trim from Joanns - it's a mix of velveteen ribbon and hemp with accents in embroidery, paint, and some sequins. I tacked it in place behind each belt loop and finished the two front edges by hand. The button is decorative only - I didn't want to risk the trim falling apart if I tried to put a buttonhole in it, so the belt attaches at the front with a hidden hook and eye. It also covers the four buttons at the top of the jeans.
The flares are from a green/blue/purple varigated eyelet fabric. I added a 8" wide flare to the inside and outside of each leg and sewed them by machine. The last time I made bellbottoms I did it by hand - this was much quicker! Overall I like how these jeans turned out.
The first picture is of a needlepoint project that I finished on Monday. It was a 5"x5" kit from Joanns - I'd never done any needlepoint before and wanted to see what I thought of it. Most of my hand needlework experience is in counted cross stitch - this was less similar than I expected it to be. First of all, the canvas wasn't woven like most cross stitch fabrics are, and it was much stiffer than I was expecting. Also, while the symbol and lettering were charted the background image was printed directly on the canvas.
The stitch is also very different than cross stitch - while it looks like a half cross stitch on the front side, it's called a "basketweave stitch" for the pattern that it makes on the reverse. Instead of starting in the upper left corner and working horizontal rows, this stitch starts in the upper right corner and works in diagonal rows. It took a bit of adjusting for me to get used to seeing the charted design in that way. I like how the finished project turned out and enjoyed stitching it - I'm debating on starting another needlepoint project in the future. I've been wanting to create stockings for Daniel and me from two of Howard Finster's Christmas paintings, and needlepoint might be a good way to go with that.
Also on Monday I finished my jeans for the All Good festival. These were from the Goodwill - they were missing all four buttons at the top of the jeans, but otherwise were in good condition and they fit well. I sewed new buttons on the top and added the belt and the flares.
The belt was a trim from Joanns - it's a mix of velveteen ribbon and hemp with accents in embroidery, paint, and some sequins. I tacked it in place behind each belt loop and finished the two front edges by hand. The button is decorative only - I didn't want to risk the trim falling apart if I tried to put a buttonhole in it, so the belt attaches at the front with a hidden hook and eye. It also covers the four buttons at the top of the jeans.
The flares are from a green/blue/purple varigated eyelet fabric. I added a 8" wide flare to the inside and outside of each leg and sewed them by machine. The last time I made bellbottoms I did it by hand - this was much quicker! Overall I like how these jeans turned out.
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