Have you ever had a project that you know SHOULD be cruising right along but it seems to be dragging out of you? Unfortunately, my god daughter's jacket is going this way. I do love the way it's turning out, I'm just not having much fun making it. I think the problem is that this is the 6th time I've made this pattern. And the second time I've done the raw edged applique technique. It turns out differently every time, but still -- I'm bored. I want something new. I want something selfish. I want to play with
Christmas fabric! (Remember the
charm square packs?) So after this one is finished, I think the pattern is going into semi-retirement. At least until dd grows out of her
current version.
BUT -- having said that, there is progress. I've got the two fronts laid out. One has been cross hatched, the other is pinned and waiting for me to sit down at the machine. Then both are getting a bit of experimenting. I've already tried it on the back and I like it so far. The cross hatching I'm doing totally avoids the largest daisies in the jacket. (these are actually left from a panel I used in other projects)
Instead, the daisies are getting free motioned following (kind of, ok, so not really) the daisy print. I'm really liking how this is turning out (even from the back) -- but I really dislike doing the cross hatching! Now I have to decide if I want to continue the piecing to include the hood -- or leave well enough alone and use some larger pieces of the orange stripe and hot pink and orange polka dot I have and piece the hood from those. Hmmmn.
Other than that little bit of progress, I've been trying out a new skill. I've been admiring the embroidery work of
May Britt at Abyquilt, Anne at
Quilting Bebbs, Leigh at
cinnamon sticks, and of course
Tonya and beginning to re-think my
position on handwork. While I'm not quite ready to do anything as fun as Tonya's
threadies or her
crusty, I do think I could do some simple embroidery. In fact, the Christmas quilt I am thinking about may have an embroidery or two (or three or four, haven't decided yet) in it. Soooo -- I should probably practice first hunh? Well, yeah, that was what I thought. I found this
cute little kit at Borders when I was cruising the craft books. Seemed like a way to try it out, with some cute iron-on patterns (the ones in the kit are by the same lady who does
these fun and funky embroidery patterns) and a couple of tea towels included for practice. So, I took the plunge. So here you go -- my very first embroidery. Some cute flowers and an Eiffel Tower in honor of Tonya (and yes, it does need to be ironed).
And another shot of a close-up of the stitching. Nothing fancy, just stem stitches. And I followed the advice in the kit about using all six strands. I won't do that again -- it's ok, but it just seems too bulky to me. I did enjoy it, and it was a great sit on the couch project. Full steam ahead then for my Christmas quilt embroidery, and I have a nice little embroidered tea towel as a practice exercise. Now I only have one question -- what does one do with a tea towel? And an embroidered one no less?
Have you ever had a project that you know SHOULD be cruising right along but it seems to be dragging out of you? Unfortunately, my god daughter's jacket is going this way. I do love the way it's turning out, I'm just not having much fun making it. I think the problem is that this is the 6th time I've made this pattern. And the second time I've done the raw edged applique technique. It turns out differently every time, but still -- I'm bored. I want something new. I want something selfish. I want to play with Christmas fabric! (Remember the charm square packs?) So after this one is finished, I think the pattern is going into semi-retirement. At least until dd grows out of her current version.
BUT -- having said that, there is progress. I've got the two fronts laid out. One has been cross hatched, the other is pinned and waiting for me to sit down at the machine. Then both are getting a bit of experimenting. I've already tried it on the back and I like it so far. The cross hatching I'm doing totally avoids the largest daisies in the jacket. (these are actually left from a panel I used in other projects) 
Instead, the daisies are getting free motioned following (kind of, ok, so not really) the daisy print. I'm really liking how this is turning out (even from the back) -- but I really dislike doing the cross hatching! Now I have to decide if I want to continue the piecing to include the hood -- or leave well enough alone and use some larger pieces of the orange stripe and hot pink and orange polka dot I have and piece the hood from those. Hmmmn.
Other than that little bit of progress, I've been trying out a new skill. I've been admiring the embroidery work of May Britt at Abyquilt, Anne at Quilting Bebbs, Leigh at cinnamon sticks, and of course Tonya and beginning to re-think my position on handwork. While I'm not quite ready to do anything as fun as Tonya's threadies or her crusty, I do think I could do some simple embroidery. In fact, the Christmas quilt I am thinking about may have an embroidery or two (or three or four, haven't decided yet) in it. Soooo -- I should probably practice first hunh? Well, yeah, that was what I thought. I found this cute little kit at Borders when I was cruising the craft books. Seemed like a way to try it out, with some cute iron-on patterns (the ones in the kit are by the same lady who does these fun and funky embroidery patterns) and a couple of tea towels included for practice. So, I took the plunge. So here you go -- my very first embroidery. Some cute flowers and an Eiffel Tower in honor of Tonya (and yes, it does need to be ironed).
And another shot of a close-up of the stitching. Nothing fancy, just stem stitches. And I followed the advice in the kit about using all six strands. I won't do that again -- it's ok, but it just seems too bulky to me. I did enjoy it, and it was a great sit on the couch project. Full steam ahead then for my Christmas quilt embroidery, and I have a nice little embroidered tea towel as a practice exercise. Now I only have one question -- what does one do with a tea towel? And an embroidered one no less?
15 comments:
Cute stitchery pattern. And you have done beautiful work. I never use more than two strands of thread. And when I do fine details like faces I use only one strand. At first I used steam stitches, but now I only use backstitches.
Line a basket...and look like a goddess of domesticity next time you go to a picnic!
That jacket will be gorgeous, but I know what you mean, something new sparks us up! Tracey
The jacket looks terrific so far. If it were me I'd just piece the hood rather than doing all the fussy stuff. Your embroidery looks terrific. Like May Britt I only use 2 strands of embroidery thread unless the design calls for 3. Some I use stem stich, but most are now done with back stitch. Enjoy your new found hobbie, it's very addictive.
Well done on the stitchery it is a cute little pattern.
I only ever use two strands at the most and one for fine detail. I agree with you that it looks bulky in six strands.
Your stitching is very good. Would never have thought this was your first attempt.
Nice progress on both the jacket and stitchery!
I adore the jacket. The colours are gorgeous. I'm a embroidery beginner too. I am using all 6 strands at the moment, but that is because I'm stem stitching names and words onto a quilt and if I use 3 or less they won't stand out.
Thanks for visiting my blog... it lead me to yours! What great blog! :o)
Congrats on diving into embroidery! Isn't it fun. I also love Sublime Stitching and have been putting off buying Jenny Hart's book (I'm on a book diet at the moment). HAH... you've totally motivated me to go off my diet! I just love your Eiffel Tower - how adorable!
ooh-la-la! Your French embroidery is tres manifique. The jacket quilting looks very good, too. I'm with you on cross hatching, just finished one, it is such a pain... but does look good!
This jacket os going to look so cool! I love the free motion on the big daisy, must be fun to do!
Those flowers have such beautiful detail. And that Eiffel Tower is such a sweet design :)
cute little eiffel towers. glad to see you doing some handwork - it gets addictive, I promise. can watch tv while you do it without the sound of the sewign machine. buffy will sounds so much better this way! sorry about the internet woes - very sucky.
One hangs it in the kitchen to look pretty. I'm with May - I never use more than two strands at once.
Your jacket is going to be cute, but I totally understand about getting bored....
I love your Eiffel Tower embroidery -- very cute. I've recently dragged out an old cross stitch project in order to have some handwork going on. Usually my handwork is binding, but I'm enjoying doing something a little more interesting...
look at you, girl! Wowzers!!! Can't wait to see the finished product....sorry about your broken internet!
the Eiffel embroidery is so adorable !!! and you said it was your first attempt ? impressive !!!
I was not much online lately, but not the reason why I didn't comment on your blog... I realized today that the link I have to your blog haven't updated since June 1rst (weird ?!)... so I got plenty to read all of a sudden !!!
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