caro-rose-creations

Op shop find

My daughter and I took a drive up to the Sunshine Coast to buy some fabrics.  I wasn't very pleased with the selection so didn't buy very much, she did a lot better.  We stopped for lunch in Malaney where the dogs lay around bored waiting for their owners to finish their shopping.

And I found this little Indian purse in an Op shop for $2.00.  It looks as though it is a piece of recycled fabric which I intend to recycle again.  Into what? I'm not sure yet.  All the work that has gone into this embroidery and then not valued.  An emboirderer's worst nightmare.

I also found some beautiful cheese.  Worth the trip just for that.

It probably would have been cheaper..

It probably would have been cheaper to buy a little dress at Target but then I wouldn't have had the pleasure of making it.

 

 The fabric was from back in the days when I was working as a buyer for dress fabric in a Department Store, 1980's, light poly-cotton.  Great for washing, drying in the dryer and no need to iron.  I added a 3" hem so it can be let down as she grows. 

How did I make it? 

I took her measurements;

1. chest at armpit   +   1 inch for ease   (20")
2. length from armpit to approx waist   + 1" for hem and seam allowances (5 1/2')
   
3. length from armpit to mid knee    +  hem  allowance  (14"+3"hem)

Cut the fabric

fabric 1 (pink check)

 Measurement No 2, In this case 5 1/2 " deep across the width of the fabric (selvedge to selvedge 45" )

 fabric 2   (flower print)

Measurement No 3  less measurement 2 , in this case 12",  across the fabric to match fabric 1.

4 pieces 15" x 2" for straps

Construction - straps

Sew straps so that they have a finished size of about 3/4". 

There are lots of different ways you can do this, so quick some slow. 

I like to sew the slow way.

I sew  together the edges on the wrong side and then turn through.

Iron flat with the seam now placed in the middle of the strap. 

 

 

I push a small amount of fabric back into the strap at one end and then sew close to the edge all the way around.  Put aside to attach later.

 

 

Construction - Body

Sew two pieces of fabric together across the width, neaten edge and top stitch the seam.  Over-lock or neaten around the whole piece.

Turn over small hem at top edge and sew down with a straight stitch.

 

Using tailors chalk or some other removable marker,

Mark 7 lines across fabric  at equal distances from each other as a guide for attaching the shirring elastic,  (see note at end).

After shirring the width should be about your chest at armpit measurement.  (Make sure you remove the marked lines at this point.)

Sew the edges together matching the elastic ends.  I then sew this seam flat so it doesn't irritate the wearer.

Turn up your bottom hem at a measurement equal to the length from armpit to mid knee.  I added a wide hem so that it could be let down.

Attaching the straps

 The join in the fabric now sits at centre back

Measure in 1 1/2" from the side and attach the front straps to the top hem.  I turn my ends under and sew around the edge to do this.

Place your back straps to sit just inside your front staps and attach.

With all those words you can see why it took so long.  I'm sure I would have been quicker if I hadn't been in this wheelchair.

Now I need to make a little flower to go onto a hair-clip to finish it off.

Note about shirring

Nearly every sewing machine manufacturer has a different recommended method of doing this.  Some wind the elastic onto the bobbin, some have a special foot attachment.  In some classrooms I would have 4 or 5 different machine brands and some of them were so old that shirring elastic hadn't been invented, so I devised this method for old machines and no attachments.

Set you machine to zig zag at about 2.5 length and 1.8 width.  The needle should swing just either side of the elastic.

Tie a knot at the starting end and zig zag into position using your marked line as a guide.  Leave a tail of about 5".  Do this for each line. DO NOT GATHER AS YOU SEW.

Make sure the beginning of each piece of elastic is secure by sewing a line of straight stitch down the edge.

Pull up your elastic like gathering thread to the size required and secure the ends. If you pull the fabric top and bottom you will find that the elastic will align itself.

Of course if you have a machine that does shirring just use the recommended method.

The Flood Quilt

It is almost a year since the floods and it is time to get on with my quilt.  I designed this quilt in New Zealand during a workshop with Cherl Comfort.  I had seen some of Cherl's work when I had been in NZ before and found it very creative and challenging.

I think it is the profound thinking that she puts into her designs that appeals to me.  In her series Absence and Existence  the limited pallet is complemented by the use of texture.

Cherl is part of a group of women who own Distressed Threads.    I bought so much of their fabric whilst I was in NZ and I know I could use some more.  Because they are hand dyed and treated the variation of colours is just wonderful , (I'm talking myself into more fabric I can feel it.)  I personally think that the fabrics they produce is unique added to this all the creating goes on whilst the ground shakes around them in Christchurch. 

Here is Cherl in the back yard.

And Chris in the paddock.

(images from their website)

Artificial Silk

I think that this is rayon.  These are adds for wools from the early 1930's or it may even be late 1920's.  I wonder where all these manufacturers have gone?

I was taken with this little drawing in the add for Sunlit Fingering 2ply.  I think that it would make a great embroidery border for a childs dress or even a little picture for the wall. But fancy making childrens clothing in 2ply?  Life was a lot slower back then.

Alterations

I have a busy week ahead of me with some bridesmaid dresses to alter.  I really think it would have been easier if the girl's had gone to a dressmaker to have their dresses made rather than buying off the peg.  The dresses cost $500 each and they don't fit properly, too long, too short and too tight around the bust.  So I have quite a bit of work ahead.  I do wish they had read this label before they bought those dresses.

(Source: Needleprint)

Spinning

It will not be long before all the Golden Orb spiders will be returning to the garden and spinning those beautiful webs.  Beautiful that is unless you happen to walk into one.

I see that in the latest issue of Selvedge there is an entry about the only large textile in the world that has been created from the silk of these spiders.  It will go on display at the V&A in January 2012.  The piece is 4m long and they had collect the yarn from more than 1 million Golden Orb spiders in Madagascar. 

It makes a beautiful piece of cloth but that many spider webs!! Just over the top.

The other purchases

I did buy a small parcel of things for myself at the show.  Some fabric to make a bag from Kelani fabric .

 It was difficult to decide just what to buy here they had so much great stuff.

Some books from Quilt Mania. 

Both books are by Saito Yoko, who's work I admire.  I bought them for inspiration more than for the patterns.  The second book has French on one side of the page and English on the other. My personal 'Rosetta Stone'.

A cross stitch pattern from Janie Hubble Designs.  I very rarely buy a pattern but I have been searching for a way to keep all my embroidery scissors safe.  Why didn't I think of this?

And on the same stand Yvette Stanton had an add for her new book due out in 2012.

I see she will also be teaching a class in Brisbane in February 2012 of this technique.

 Now, many of us have been following the work of Meri and her work with Guimaraes Embroidery .

So now there will be a book in English, which will be a great help because my Portuguese is terrible and the Google translator isn't much help.  There is a great website in both Portuguese and English that contains videos of how to do the stitching called Bordado de Guimaraes.

If you click on the booklet at the top right hand side of the page there is a booklet with some great patterns and designs.  (You will have to download this.)

This site also has a great on line free PDF 230 page book,( in Portuguese and English) giving the history and development of this technique.  Although these samples are in white many of the traditional pieces are worked in colour, especially red thread but a warning, you must like bullion knots for this technique.  There are lots of them.

Pick a Pocket Challenge - Part 2

As promised here are some of the other pieces from the challenge. (You can click on the picture to get a larger image.)

"Mr Ollie"  (My favourite)

The Winner

Highly Commended

Judges Choice

Aukje Boonstra Tasmania "Filling Pockets is easy" No 1

Both of these pieces were inspired by the Bag and Purse museum in Amsterdam.

 
No 2

Virginia Koster Tasmania  "There are pockets at the bottom of the garden"

Fay Twining Tasmania  "Guaranteed to Snag"

Fay Twining " Pickie little bits"

Lois Ogden Victoria "Lady's Pocket"

There were other entries that I was unable to photograph.  I think the thing I found most interesting was how different each pocket was from each other.

The last of the Textile Fair

I don't know where the past week went but it is now that long since the Textile Fair and there was one challenge, run by the Thread Studio that I wish I had spent more time looking at.  It was called  Pick a Pocket and there were some wonderful inventive pockets.

Once again, like most challenges, what I liked wasn't what the Judges liked but that is the nature of these things.  I photographed the names of most makers but I have missed a few for which I apologise.  (I will put up the first 10 today and the others tomorrow.)

Part 1

Maker unknown

Elizabeth Roberts Tasmania

Loise Wells WA "He wishes for the cloth of heaven"

Jenni Kirkham WA "Oberon's Gift"

Jenni Kirkham WA Ophelia's Heart

Sandra Shampion Tasmania "Worn Pocket"

Jean Singleton New Zealand "Raggety of Pocket"

Wendy Seddon Victoria "Pocket full of Sunshine"

Ali George Queensland "Dragons and Butterflys"

Penny Compton South Australia " Pick a pocket or two"

There is some wonderful ideas and inspriation here.  More Tomorrow.

How many sugars in your tea? (and other stuff)

Fabric from tea and sugar.  This is just in the development stage but I'm sure someone will take it the next step.

 

Well I think I have rescued the charity quilt now I have to quilt it.

It is starting to get cool here and there has been lots of snow down on the alps but it will not be winter until the leaves fall from my rain tree.  (This is keeping the shade on my front garden and the house very cool.)   Yet outside the sun shines and yesterday Charlie and I bought a cup of coffee and a cake and headed to the off leash park which was empty.  No big dogs today, just lots of space and long grass.  I expected to see her running around, but no she just sat on the table and said "where is my coffee?"

She didn't even budge when a family walked by making lots of noise,

or when a noisy minor flew in to peck up the crumbs.

Still it was lovely out there and the gardens are filled with a late bloom of daisies, they are making up for no flowers during the flood.