I Have Been Crafting

I have been crafting honest
I have worked on an idea for a memory cushion

Its made from the shirt of a loved one and an embroidered patch is added.

Then there was a play cooker for the little ones, made from a chair cover that slips over a dining chair, ideal for those short on space or grandparents to have for those little visitors.

Motor home keyrings

An applique motor home cushion

The applique is done in leatherette with glitter vinyl for the windows

Easter bunnies, the ones in terracotta pots are table decorations the other two are holding chocolate eggs.

Wedding season is upon us

Lace horseshoes to bring good luck

Today's make pinafore's for little tots getting ready for the summertime.

 I think this bring me up to date 
Told you I have been crafting. 😀

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 :-) 

 

Using Soluble Laundry Bags

I came across a comment on these as I was looking for advice on metallic thread, I had never come across them before, a quick look on Amazon and there is loads there they are used in hospitals and care homes mainly for putting in soiled laundry so it doesn't have to be handled, what a great idea. 

My thoughts were are they the same as the soluble stabiliser I use with the sewing machine 

I ordered a pack of 25 bags. £13.30 with free delivery

• Fully Water Soluble Laundry Sacks
• Designed to completely dissolve in a wash at 60°c +
• Size approx 457mm (18") x 660mm(26") x 840mm (33")

They arrived in a couple of days and yesterday I tried them out, they are similar in thickness to the Solvy Stabiliser which I buy 12 inch by 9yd for £15.90 the RRP is £25 so a considerable saving using the laundry bags, almost 3 times the amount for less money.

 

 I hooped up a double layer and picked out a freestanding lace design, and set the machine to work, I didn't expect it hold with FSL as the Solvy doesn't either, part way through the design the stabiliser started to give way as expected.

nothing unexpected there, to do FSL I usually use the woven soluble which at £72 a 25mt roll is expensive, or if it is a small design I use the heavy Solvy which is £32 for a 9mt roll so its expensive stuff 

here is the same design using the heavy solvy 

As you can see it still tears a little. 

So back to the laundry bags, they still have a great use, when you need to use a soluble stabiliser with fine fabrics or for doing monogramming on towels of fabric with a pile, it will work great 

Here I am using it with organza for lace snowflakes 

I had no problem with it all with such a sheer fabric

after they were stitched 

The excess laundry bag from the hoop tears off easily, I trimmed up the organza 

Soaked them in a bowl of warm water, the soluble plastic melted away no problem

Here they are drying off, perfect.

So to summarise, the laundry bags are cheaper and I can use them instead of my expensive stabiliser for items that need no visible stabiliser. defiantly worth having and keeping in stock.

Another tip, all the off cuts of soluble stabiliser I pop into a bag regardless of which one they are, the scraps can then be dissolved in water and used as fabric stiffener, it can be painted on or sprayed on.