Archive for » May, 2010 «

31
May 2010

A little felt delight

I love working with felt, it’s a lovely thing to play with. You can bend it shape it anyway you want it, come on baby, it don’t care.

Wait, what? Anyways, this brooch is one I made for a swap on Swap-Bot. It’s a sneaky little design in that it’s not stuffed, per se, but you do cut smaller versions of the main shape to sandwich in between the main pieces. This gives it some dimension without weighting it down too much or making it too foofy for wearing.

If you’d like to make one yourself, you can find the pattern and tutorial at Bugs and Fishes – do be careful though because there’s a lot of gorgeous things to make over there and you could end up making everything (oh noes!).

Since this is for swapping, I wanted to present the brooch in a pleasant way, to make it all the nicer for the person who will get it, so I decided to make a matching felt envelope to tuck it into, and here’s how I did it. Click any image if you’d like to see it slightly more bigly.

Step One.
Put whatever it is you’re going to store in the envelope onto your felt sheet. Leaving an edge around it of around 1 – 2 cm, cut your felt up the uncut side.
(the gap at the edge is to make sure you have room to freely place your item inside, if you cut it too exactly, you might find it’s a tight fit)

Step Two.
Fold your felt strip over your item, this will tell you how big to  make the pocket. I painted in a yellow line so you could see where the raw felt edge was, it all kind of blended into blue. Once you have your pocket size, cut a flap to fold down over the pocket. You could use a template, I just eyeballed it.

Step Three.
With your envelope all folded up how it will be in the end, slip some pins in were the flap starts, and where the fold is. Unfold your envelope and you’ll see a marked out area – if you’d like to add embellishments or whatever, this is the easiest spot to do it – it will be be the back of your envelope.

Step Four
This is optional really. Add your embellishments.  I decided to cut another cloud shape from the pattern and stitch that on, but you could embroider, stamp, paint or whatever you like. Remember that this envelope is unlined though, so try to minimise loopy bits on the reverse – you don’t want your treasure getting caught up on loose threads.

I didn’t photograph the “sewing on the cloud” bit, you can imagine that for yourself if you’d like to.

Step Five.
Fold the flap closed and pin it there. Pick out a button and play around with it till you like where it sits (keep in mind any edge decorations you might want to do later – leave room). Once you’re happy with it, mark the button spot with chalk or air fading marker (or cheat and eyeball it like I did) and cut a slit in the flap.
Now, sew the button in place on the front of the envelope. Again, use chalk, pins or air fade marker to line it up to the slit you cut.

Step Six (Last step!)
Hand sew up the sides of the pocket. I used blanket stitch because I like how it looks even when it’s wonky (I am usually a wonky stitcher), but you can use any stitch you like. As you can see I also did the flap edge – you don’t have to do that. The main two places to sew are down the side, the rest is optional.

You could even – if you wanted to get really fancy – sew the sides of the button hole. I didn’t. Lazy.

And here is the back of the envelope, with brooch. I’m really pleased with how it came out, and I hope you found these instructions useful. The basic envelope shape and pattern can be customized in a bajillion* ways, to match whatever you have inside or to clash with it!

*I counted.

Category: Finished Projects, Patterns and Tutorials, Sewing  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
30
May 2010

The Care and Feeding of the Button Jar

When I was a mere slip of a child, my mother had a jar full of odd buttons. It was a large, heavy jar made of dark brown glass with a white tin lid. I remember it vividly because I played with it a lot. I would take it down from the book shelf, unscrew the lid and spill the buttons into a delicious colourful heap on the floor. I would examine each button one by one, sorting them by colour or by size or by shape. There were a hundred different kinds of button in there, from the basic plastic to mother of pearl, and even a couple of vintage buttons in the shape of elegant flowers, with green velvet centers.

I don’t know where that jar went, I assume mama threw it away in one of her cleaning out fits, which is a dire shame. While at Spotlight the other day, they had little bags of mixed buttons on special, so I bought one. The bag split once I got it home, so today I went to Savers and picked out a button jar.

The other night, when I couldn’t sleep, I tipped these buttons onto the bed spread and played with them. I don’t know what it is about buttons, especially in a pile. They are incredibly tactile, they need to be moved, and examined and played with. The feel of them running through my fingers is a soothing thing, examining each of them for colour and shape and anything else is a bliss.

So, what is the best way to care for and feed your button jar? It’s simple, actually. Any lost buttons, unwanted buttons or odd buttons should be tossed into the jar where they will wait patiently until you need them. For example, I bought a strip of three buttons to make eyes with for a toy. The third button now lives in the jar, waiting for a project to present itself.

Buttons cut off old shirts and blouses belong in the button jar. A true button jar has at least one button which still has thread in the holes, cut off a garment and tossed into the jar. It’s true you’ll never have a perfect match, should you need a button to replace one that’s lost, but you’ll be almost sure to have a “close enough”.

Perhaps it’s a hang over from Make Do and Mend, but I have a quiet thrill about my button jar.  The other night mama dug through the bag to find buttons to replace the ones on a vest. The original buttons ended up in the mix, and so now there’s buttons with a story to tell, all tucked away in my little jar.

The best kind of jar? Well I like one with a history in itself, which is why I bought a second hand one. It has a nice, tight fitting cork lid. No matter what jar you select, a tight fitting lid is vital because button jars are often knocked or dropped, and are more than happy to send buttons all over the place given the chance.

With the right conditions, and careful care and feeding, you’ll probably find your buttons breed. This is a good thing, and don’t be amazed if you find a button in your jar you can’t remember putting there. It’s the magic of the jar.

Category: Supplies  Tags: ,  2 Comments
28
May 2010

The Martha Machine

I can’t say I am a giant fan of Martha Stewart. Oh I know, she’s done great things to encourage craftiness, which I’m always in approval of, but as a presenter, she’s pretty lacking. Now that Australia has digital TV, in amongst the Corrie repeats we have the Martha Stewart Show, and I don’t get the fuss. I tried to get the fuss, and I can’t.

First of, uh, all she’s uh.. um not.. uh that eloquent with uh her presentation uh style. I know public speaking is a tricky deal, especially when you’re being internationally broadcast. I know also that “keeping it real” often means skipping the autocue, but seriously, if you can’t get through one sentence without an “uh” “um” or “ooh” then maybe you should be working from notes.

I can overlook that as a personal style, I really can. What I can’t get my head around is how wealthy she is, and how she reminds her audience of her wealth. “I had guests over for dinner, and it was a disaster. I had to send them out to look at the stables while I fixed it”. “Today we’re looking at peonies, which are a beautiful flower and so easy to grow – here’s one of my gardening team from my farm to explain” “This is my property in Maine, it’s about 600 acres…”. Okay we get it, you’re rolling in cash. I suppose if you’ve got it, then flaunt it, but it does get old really fast.

As for WHY she’s rolling in cash, I suggest you go look at the Martha Stewart Range in any craft supply shop. I can get glitter at my local discount store for a buck. OR I can buy the exact same glitter with “Martha Stewart” written on it – same size box, same quality glitter – for $4.95. I can get plain, flat fabric flowers for less than half the price of Marthas’ range. A burnisher – used for making crisp folds in paper is $14.95 from Martha. Christ on a cactus, no wonder she’s got gardening staff.

Finally, I take issue with her “crafting”. I totally agree that making hand made items should be accessible for anyone. Crafting should not be an elitist activity. Anyone should feel that making something is something they can do. However, when you’re the “crafting queen” and your idea of “making easter baskets” involves hot gluing premade birds to premade nests with premade eggs…

So there’s why I don’t watch the Martha show. Coz she shits me with her expensive supplies and her 47 farms and her gardening team. If anyone needs me, I’ll be up to my elbows in fabric, making stuff.

Category: Crafting, Opinion  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
26
May 2010

Confessions

I’m pretty harsh on young Justin Bieber. Mostly because he’s a no talent upstart with a legion of girlfans who consider him marriage material. However, it’s true that in the early teens and pre teens, a persons tastes are not entirely … developed. Would you like some proof? Okay.

Now, at 31 I would like you to know my tastes are highly refined and excellent. All of them. Who said Right Said Fred? Get out. (I love the Freds). But if we were to wind the clock back to around 1990, you’d find me adoring the following.

1. Corey Feldman.

Lord I was obsessed. Some magazine printed a list of all the movies he’d been in (there was no IMDB back then) and I kept it and highlighted them as I hired/copied them (VHS baby WHOO). We were going to get married. Totally. Yup. Gunna happen.

How did it end? I still think he’s alright looking, but it became increasingly apparent that he’s not a particularly good actor, and is also a total douche. These things, combined, put me off the corey train. I still love “Stand By Me” and “The Goonies” though.

Ratcat

I was in the fan club, I got up early to watch The Factory and Rage to see if they were on. I thought they were AMAZING. Maybe they were, my newly aged ears hear a lot of off key shouting, but that’s youth. Blind to the shouty lyrics. Cheesy too. Terribly cheesy, cliched and loud. Just like music should be, dammit.
How it ended. I think I just outgrew it.

3. Alex Papps

He’s the one in the red robe at at the start of that clip. He was DREAMY, even with mullet. He played Frank in Home and Away. I watched the Frank and Bobby wedding episode 9 million times, had the wedding poster on the wall. Oh Alex Papps.
How it ended. He fell off the television for a while and I moved on.

So that’s three. I was going to add Tiffany to this list, because I thought she was awesome. I Youtubed and guess what? I’m right, she was awesome. Also, as someone in the comments for the vid that’s coming pointed out “Oh wow, a teen singer who is fully clothed”. Those were the days, my friends.

Category: Blather  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment
22
May 2010

Cross Stitching Tips.

If you’ve never stitched before, a big kit or chart can seem a bit daunting in the pants, but never fear! I have some tips for joo. They are not endorsed by any one but me, so if your Auntie Millicent says “What are you doing it that way for? Any fool knows that’s wrong!” you can say “Some doofus on the internet said it was okay!”

Always bear in mind I have a slapdash way of doing things. Let’s get movin’

1. Pick charts and kits that appeal to you.
That might seem like “duh” but really it’s kinda important. Unless you’re making a gift specifically for someone else, it’s best to stick to things you want to stitch. Even if you find it on special for 50 cents, there’s no need to force yourself through a dull kit. I’d still buy that though, for the fabric. I’m just sayin’

2. All the top arms of your Xs should go the same way.
Generally, you’ll see cross stitching instructions telling you do to the bottom arm left to right – / and the top arm right to left – \. That’s pretty traditional, but you don’t have to do it that way if you’re more comfortable doing it the other way around BUT – and this IS important – no matter which way you do it, all your stitches should be worked the same way.  If you vary your top arms you’ll lose the smooth even look cross stitch has, and it will be a bit less pretty.

3. Mark your chart!
If you think you’ll be working your chart again at some point, photocopy it first then mark it as you go. If not, just go wild on the original. I like to use a highlighter or yellow felt tip to mark the stitches I’ve done.  It’s a lot easier, for me, if I can still see the symbols under the markings. Otherwise I feel like I’m working blind when I change colours or start new rows. But however you do it, drawing over the stitches you’ve just done will help you keep your place.

4. Start smallish, but be brave.
Quite a few of the Cross Stitch magazines include a free mini kit, or you can pick up mini kits at craft stores for a few dollars. If you’ve never cross stitched before, these are a great way to jump in. The projects can usually be done in a couple of hours and you’ll get a feel for how it all works.

After that, you really can go for about anything you’d like to do.  I mean, I wouldn’t suggest a 18 page chart for project number two, but you could certainly do it. Take your time, enjoy the process and you will get it done.  What I’m saying here is don’t feel you “can’t” just because you haven’t been stitching long. Of course you can. Dive in!

5. Don’t be afraid of UFOs.
We all have them. Lurking. UnFinished Objects in the closet. Aieeee! Fact is, sometimes we get bored with a piece, especially if it’s large. Don’t feel you have to slave through it to the end. Fold it away for a while, work on something else, and get it out later when you’re fresh and ready to work on it. You’ll enjoy the process a whole lot more.

6. Buy the best you can afford
Fabric tends to be the pricy side of any embroidery, as the threads are generally around a dollar or so. You don’t have to buy linen fabric and linen thread, but it’s worth it to get the best you can afford. Cheap Aida in particular is horrible to work with – you’ll strike it in the cheaper kits. It feels rough. Off brand threads are fine for whipping up a card but for larger pieces, and pieces you’ll want to frame or gift, it’s worth buying DMC or Anchor or another big brand. You know they’re colourfast and you know they’ll work up well. Again, you’ll enjoy the stitching more.

7. You don’t actually need a lot of kit.
I’m not saying it’s not FUN to accumulate a million bits and pieces, because it totally is. However, if you’re put off by walking down the embroidery aisle at your local craft shop thinking you need one of everything, you don’t. All you really need is some hoops or frames in various sizes (to keep your fabric taut while you sew on it), a pair of scissors and some needles. You also need a good light source – a daylight bulb is ideal, but you honestly don’t need anything other than a nice bright lamp or overhead light.  Pinky swear it.

That’s about all that springs to mind. Oh, apart from letting your needle hang.

8. Let your needle hang.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Do this often. Once you push the needle through to the back of the work, every so often let it hang. As you work, the thread will twist and your stitches will start to look narrower. Dangling your needle lets the threads untwist and returns you to nice, fulsome stitches.

See? Not demented.

Okay this is  a SUPER long post to not have any pictures in it, so here’s a pic of my current WIP.

I highlighted the dog hair for ya coz I didn’t want you to miss it. You’re welcome.

It’s a frog, btw. The WIP I mean. Ribbit!

Category: Embroidery, I'm trying to help!, WIP  Tags: ,  2 Comments
21
May 2010

Oh Really, Owls?

Really! Again for Swap-Bot I finished these guys today.

They’re not QUITE as classy or well made as the originals which I shall link to later on in this post, but I think they came out pretty cute.  The main bodies are just three pieces, the pointy owl top and the base.

The base, being round, is a touch tricky for people like me. I suggest when you make them (there is no IF you make them, it’s all WHEN. I mean seriously, LOOK at them) you just take it super slow and careful. Unless you’re an amazing sewing person, in which case – bah on you.

I also recommend leaving a much larger gap in the side for turning and stuffing as you need to slip a cardboard base in there. Lots easier without having to fold the card.

Here they are having a little conflab about the future, they are destined to be shipped off to the US tomorrow or Monday for my swap partner.

And here they are rushing off to find their passports and pack their luggage, which consists of a collection of magazines for the plane, and hats in case of hot sun conditions.

Mama has “ordered” two of these for my Aunts birthday, so there’s more to come. Now you’ve seen them and want some for yourself, the best thing to do would be to wander on over to the tutorial and pattern on Lollychops.  It’s possibly the most entertaining tutorial ever.

Category: Finished Projects, Sewing  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
20
May 2010

Supply Squee

I don’t quilt, but I love Fat Quarters. Love them.  They’re the perfect size for dolls, softies and other smallish projects and cheap! I usually buy the Flat Fats for around $3 a go, which is pretty good value.  Today, at Spotlight, I found the most amazing thing. Check it!

Would you like to know what that is? Shall I tell you? Well okay then. It’s a box of 28 fat quarters.  Guess how much it cost? “I dunno Frog, I reckon probably, at $3 a go, 28 FQ’s would be $84″. You’re right, it would be. This box? TEN DOLLARS. It works out to about .35 cents per FQ.

You can see why I grabbed the box, right? The lady at checkout glanced at it, scanned it, read the screen and then picked up the box and took a long look at it. “Oh my god!” she said. “I know!” I said. So excited.

No idea what the patterns are like, to be honest, as they’re so pretty all rainbow’d up in the box I haven’t opened it yet, but even if I personally don’t like the patterns, it’s all cool as sometimes when I make stuff I use patterns I wouldn’t normally enjoy, and it all comes out so good.

Ten bucks. Not a word of a lie.

I actually went to Spotlight to get some smaller hoops for embroidery as the only one I can find is large. I know I had some other ones, but I have no idea where they be. After cross stitching my framed lady (which was mailed off today) I’ve got the bug again. Digging around in the “Fabulous Finds” racks where I found the FQs I found some kits. Huzzah!

Not bad for the price. I also have some others I should work on, as well as a wedding sampler to get moving on when it arrives. Busy busy times!

Did I mention the FQs? Yes? Okay just checking. They were ten bucks, you know.

Category: Embroidery, Sewing, Shopping  Tags: , ,  2 Comments
20
May 2010

Don't flatter yourself, Akker.

Jason Akermanis of footballing fame has stated that gay footballers shouldn’t go around telling people they’re gay, because it will make everything uncomfortable in the change rooms, what with all the naked men and whatnot.

It reminds me somewhat of a conversation between two male friends who had just finished High School. I shall call them Henry and Steve. So Henry tells Steve that a third guy, Wayne, is gay. Steve freaks out and says “No way, I spent HOURS with him in the edit suite!”. Henry replies “Yes, and he was probably thinking of your cute butt the whole time”. Steve cries. Well not really, but almost.

See, the thing about homophobia that stems from “I don’t want some gay guy looking at me” is this: Pretty  big ego you have on yourself there, isn’t it? Let’s clear up some factoids.

Gay men do not just jump on anyone.
Okay some do, but so do some straight men. See, just as being a straight man doesn’t mean you figure every woman wants a ride, being a gay man means you don’t figure every MAN wants a ride. Do you see?

You might not even have to worry.
Why assume that a gay man will even find you attractive enough to look at twice? Do you find every single member of the opposite sex attractive? No, of course not. It works JUST the same way for gay people you know.

It’s a compliment, actually.
If a woman looked you over, you’d be all tingly. Gay men are just as good at checking out hotties as women are, so take it as a compliment. Someone thinks you’re hot enough to check out! Doesn’t mean you have to go home with them.

How doubled are your standards?
If you have no issues with two women getting it on in a bedroom setting, then you should have no issues with two men doing the same. Seriously, it shits me up the wall that lesbians are “hot” and gay men are “disgusting”. Think about it, you doofus.

As for Akker, well I really hope he gets himself sorted out, the man has some issues.

Category: Opinion  Tags: ,  3 Comments
18
May 2010

The Dame Was Framed

So after a marathon session last night, I finished my Framed Lady. I’m going to be honest with you, it was a case of “Third time is the charm”. Here she is, in all her shiny (and unpressed) glory.

Small confession, her left arm.. or is it right? The one pointing down and not holding a flower anyway, I messsssed it uppppppp! Her hand is supposed to be more… well claw like actually. I made a mistake somewhere in the ground area under it, and I cannot for the life of me see exactly where I went awry. I’ve checked, counted, checked, counted and everything looks fine, but is still somehow wrong. I don’t know. I think it’s okay as it is. Yes? Validate me.

As mentioned, I actually had two stabs at this lady before starting this one. The first go was ruined by dodgy grid product. I picked up a clear perforated sheet that is designed to let you stitch onto any fabric, then dissolve the plastic in warm water. It sounded so much easier than the waste canvas method, which I usually avoid because I can never pull the threads out cleanly. I think this stuff would work super well for very small designs, it’s not made for larger things that are worked on longer term. Things stretch, shift and generally get messy.

As I worked down the left border I realised that even though I’d been super extra careful to tack the stuff on tight and smooth, it was buckling. You can see the ripples in this shot even. It was a MESS. Stitches vary in size and tension, the whole thing is slipping on a diagonal and it looks like hell. Ghastly stuff, won’t touch it again.

The second attempt I didn’t even photograph, I just gave up about 4 rows in. I was stitching the negative space on black aida with perle cotton. It looked like a dog had eaten it then brought it back up.

Here’s my poor old dog eared chart. The yellow is attempt 1, the orange is the final attempt, and the blue is attempt numero two.

You’ll notice the design is very blocky, and it did take some will power to not throw some half stitches in there to smooth it out a bit. It’s actually a filet chart from I-Don’t-Know-What-Year, but if you’d like to see it in all its glory and perhaps have three goes at getting it right yourself, you can grab the book .pdf from right here. Made available by the Antique Pattern Library.

Category: Craft Fail, Embroidery, Finished Projects  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment
17
May 2010

Variegated Experiments

I’m a sucker for variegated thread and yarn.  I’d say around half my yarn stash is variegated in various forms, from the subtle tones of one colour to a whole matching palette.  Since I mostly crochet pretty simple things, I like the variations to make it more interesting to work and look at.  So, when faced with a cross stitch project that was to be worked in 1 colour OR a variegated thread I jumped hard on the chance to play with variegation in embroidery. You should also know that “variegated” is one word I can never spell correctly on the first go, so this constant repetition of the word is making my brain ache. Next post will be about cats. I can spell that.

Anyways. Moving swiftly onward. I’ve been working the piece with the usual method – making one whole cross before moving to the next one. Overall this has given it a nice graduation, but being me I wanted to see what else I could do with it. Since the main piece is for a swap, I couldn’t very well start fecking about with it, so I picked up some more thread and had a play.

This sample is stitched in the generally common method (as far as my research could tell me). Instead of doing all the bottom legs of the cross, then going back along the row, each stitch is fully worked before moving on. This seems to eat a lot more thread, but it does give a nice graduation of colour. It also seems to take longer, but I might have been imagining that, who knows? Sometimes I think I’m a princess, so it’s safe to say I could be making crap up.

This one is done in the usual cross stitch method, all the bottom legs are worked, then all the top legs going back along the row. I tried to fudge making a larger sample by looping my thread over the hoop before returning, but it’s still given me a nice toning. You can see best along the bottom the effect of two tones of thread.

Finally, I shook things up mad style (I’m a rebel baby) by separating two strands of the thread, then turning one around so the graduations didn’t match up. You can see where the tones start to match each other on the bottom row of stitches. You can also see, if you’re looking close, a long black dog hair. I have a border collie in the house.

So why use variegated thread? Well, it’s a quick and easy way to create interest in borders or alphabets, and a good way to add some depth to large areas of background, or embroidered water, sky, trees… Depending on how you use it, you can give a chopped up colour effect like the bottom sample here, or you can make a smooth graduation like the top. It also makes each piece your own, as no two variegates will  varie their gates in the same way.

As for the piece I’m working in variegate right now, it’s from a pattern from the 1890s or something like that. Since it’s all “one” colour, I decided to make it more fun for myself (and maybe the person I send it to) with fancy pants thread.

That’s the border, I took a bunch of photos of the border because it came out so well (I’m easily amused). I’m about half way through the center, so I’ll post that when it’s done and you can be super impressed with my skillz.

Category: Embroidery, Experiments, WIP  Tags: ,  2 Comments
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