Nov 24

We took a walk today at Biddeford Pool. 

Not going near any woods today: 

it's the last day of hunting season!

(we passed a few desperate-looking pickups parked next to the woods.)

So off to the coast! We walked the beach and 

scrambled over the rocks at South Point. 

I find rock-scrambling is a bit slower, more cautious

 now that I'm over 50.

OK, over 60.  (details, details...)

But the rewards are ever the same:

Cold blue sea, sky, rocks, wind, bright sun.

This may look like tangles of threads and yarn,

 but it's actually veins in the rock

My old man and the sea. He grew up right here.

This foliage is not 'past peak'.....

He remembered the rock with the ring; called it a "haul-off".

'All the fishermen used them back in the day'

But who drilled that hole? How old is that iron?

Then we found some carvings in the stone...

"1968 Oleson"      a trick of the shadows makes it look like raised relief

"1918" initials

this one has the Creator's initials

One last look around, and

time to scramble (carefully) back again!

Aug 10 Wool Applique Tutorial 2

I designed this little wool applique door knob hanger last year.

I have made 3 of them so far, and the pattern is available in my Etsy shop. 

Instant download from my Etsy shop

This pattern has chain stitch embroidery for the vine, so you have to transfer the pattern onto black wool. Since you can't shine a light through the black fabric (well, you can try...), you can't just trace with a marker. Tissue paper to the rescue!! This is an old technique, and less messy than pouncing technique (don't even go there!). 

Here's the way I did mine:

1. Trace design onto tissue paper. You only need to trace the parts that will be embroidered.

2. Trim off excess paper. 

3. Pin the tissue paper to the fabric, making sure it's centered.

4. Knot your thread, and stitch over the drawn line with ordinary sewing thread. 

       Color should be a reasonable match to your embroidery thread.

Stitch right through both the paper and fabric.

just do a basic running stitch, and tie it off as usual.

5. Carefully tear off the paper, pulling to the side, not straight up. 

6. Now you are ready to embroider. The chain stitch Perle cotton will easily cover up the green sewing thread. 

I hope this is helpful to you. If you have other favorite ways to transfer designs onto dark fabric, feel free to comment. Maybe pouncing isn't as messy as it sounds!

Happy stitching! 

-Sue

Aug 7 Wool Applique Tutorial 1

Preparing your project

This is how I cut out wool pieces for appliqué. For this demonstration, I was making small round ornaments or coasters.

Background pieces: freezer paper method:

Freezer paper allows you to trace and cut an exact shape (here we are just doing a circle) and the paper also supports the wool nicely while you're cutting, so you get a cleaner cut.

1. Draw your background shape onto the smooth side of the freezer paper, using pencil. 

I used a cashew can lid as a template...and had a snack too.

2. Cut roughly around the shape, leaving a small margin that will be cut off later. 

3. Lay paper on the wool, waxy side down. 

4. Press to adhere the paper to the wool. 

about 5-10 seconds with the iron should make it stick on

 5. With sharp scissors cut out the shape exactly on the drawn line. Remove paper.

and have a few more cashews....

I also cut out the backing pieces at the same time.

 Small design pieces: Fusible web method:

Fusible web allows you to trace and cleanly cut your wool pieces, and you can then position and bond them in place. I usually use Heat n Bond light, which is light enough to stitch through easily. 

The alternative would be to cut out with freezer paper and then pin or glue everything in place. I find that fusible web gives better results, especially with small pieces. The fusible web protects the wool from fraying and makes the project very portable.

It is important to REVERSE your image (or make sure your templates have already reversed for you)

1. Trace your (reversed) image onto the paper side of the fusible web.

use a felt pen (Sharpie fine or similar)

2. Cut out the web roughly, leaving a margin. Press the web onto the correct color of wool using your iron (follow manufacturer's instructions).

I'm making little pineapple ornaments using green and gold wool scraps.

 2. Cut out the wool exactly on the drawn lines. Peel off the paper.

peel off the paper and flip the piece over so it's shiny side down, then press

 3. Time to stick the first piece of wool onto the background! Sometimes it's important to put the pieces on in the correct order!!  For example, the green foliage must be put on before the gold pineapple fruit.
Peel off the paper, and place the wool shiny side down. Make sure the piece is exactly where you want it, then press with your iron to adhere. I gently spritz with a little water just before ironing so that it will make steam as well.

The pineapple foliage goes on first. Press to adhere. 

 4. Add additional pieces, spritz and press again. If you make a mistake, don't worry, you can usually pull the piece off (you may need to reheat it a little) and reposition it.

Add the gold piece, spritz again, press again.

all ready for stitching!

5. Time to stitch your project! Be aware that really tiny pieces will not be adhered very strongly, so you should stitch them on first. That way they won't get lost.

6. Backing piece: In this example, I cut out extra black circles (using the freezer paper method). After the appliqué stitching was all finished, I pinned the backing on and blanket stitched around the edges. If you wanted your piece to be a little stiffer, you could cut out your backing with fusible web.