A Little Bit Of Knitting

While my sewing machine has been busy stitching panels for my big project, I decided my knitting machine should be brought back into service 

 It lives in its own unit and even though I have had it 35 years, it still works like a dream.

I thought I would familiarise  myself with the workings, by doing a little project, I havent used the machine for a few years.

Like riding a bike it all comes back to you and before long she was purring away like an old friend.

 I did this childs jumper, just needs the ends sewing in and the neck band catching down

I am pleased it still works fine and I think this coming year we will become good friends again.

A Special Big Project

I have spent the last few months making preparations to do a special big sewing project.

 This time it is for us

The Golden Tapestry,  collection was inspired by the tapestries, paintings, ornate furniture and engravings in the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France

I bought the design back in summer and have been collecting together everything I need for it.

Silk Dupion for the fabric, gold metallic thread, stabilisers, batting and interfacing. 

For the main part I have chosen Black silk dupion, stitched with gold metallic thread, the border I am doing in gold silk dupion with black stitching.

I have done the first six panels of the background

There are 32 panels for the background alone, then another 28 for the border, it will be 50 x 40 inches when finished   

Once all the panels are done they are joined together like a jigsaw.

It is all being done on my embroider machine.

 

I have been really looking forward to getting this started.

 

Nifty Sewing Kit

I have been taking part in a sew along run by Sweet Pea Designs, this month it was a design for doing a sewing kit,

Got round to doing mine today.

 Its all made in the hoop on the embroidery machine,

lots of usefull little pockets and two zipper pockets as well as a scissor pocket,

 I made mine in all one fabric, there was an embrdered flower on the front panel included in the design but I omitted it I wasnt that keen on it.

 The whole thing closes up and is fastened with  Kam snap, I now dont have to bring a box of bits up from the cabin I can use my sewing kit and keep it all together.

Winter Project

I have a bit of a winter project on the go

I am stripping down and refurbishing a treadle sewing machine.

 It is very grimy,

 badly stained with nicotine

 The belt is perished

 All the parts need a good clean down

 There isnt much in the way of workings to these machines

 The table needs a to be restored as well

There metal plates have so much detail on them

So the plan is clean it all down and oil it, then the table will be cleaned up, I have found some great you tube videos on restoring vintage machines, it is still possible to get parts.

I have ordered a new belt and some needles.

Cleaning involves lots of elbow grease, sewing machine oil, WD40 and metal polish.

This one of the videos I am watching and following 

I would be interested to know if anyone has tried this.

A Couple Of Wreaths

I have been playing around with a couple of ideas for Christmas wreaths

 Candy Canes and Gingerbread

 I have added real candy canes to it

 And a nice big jingle bell

 This one is for our feather friends

they should enjoy the season too.

Sew Sew Sew

The past few days I have been busy sewing, orders to do, new stock to make for my stall. 

 This is a new line

 The leaves are all made fro Organza

 A novelty gift, underwear

 Faux Fur hats

 I have a mountain of faux fur so lots more hats to come

Embroidered toilet paper, another novelty gift.

Wedding Sandles

Back in summer I was commissioned to design and make some bare foot sandles for a bride,

I have just been sent photos of the bride modelling them on honeymoon in Thailand

 I am really pleased with them, they look so pretty, 

I made the lace and hand stitched them together adding ribbon sequins and gem stones.

I do like it when something works out like it did in my head :-) 

 

Decorating My Jacket

The other day I got this design and thought it would look great on the back of one of my fleece jackets

 I loved the design as soon as I saw it

 22 different shades of thread went to make up the design

 and the stitch out time was over 4 hours

 watching it all stitch out and build up was fascinating 

now I know that Martin wont be pinching my jacket, we have lots of fleece jackets and they all look the same, I will have to look for some more designs to do my other jackets.

A few Photo's

Here are some photos of what I have been making recently

 Scottie dogs

 Fridge magnets

 Faux fur Scottie

 and another one

 The pair together

 Scary cat

 tea light fairy houses

 lace owl decorations

 bare foot sandals for a bride

 Childrens animal masks

 glasses cases

 welcome sign

Cushion for the happy couple