Completed Zipper Pouch

Good Afternoon!  I recently completed a zippered pouch.  I used reticello embroidery designs from one of Giuliana Buonpadre's books.  It is a cute little pouch about 21 cm wide and 16 cm long.  I had never worked with a zipper before and it was nice that I was able to use the zipper foot on my sewing machine for the first time. lol  I will admit working with the zipper was a little tricky only because you do not want to have your needle sew over the metal part of the zipper.  I found a great simple tutorial by Melly Sews called the 15 minute zipper pouch.  Mine took longer than fifteen minutes though because of the embroidery.  I used a silver satin material behind the reticello which I attached using double sided fusible webbing.  I could have also sewn the satin to the embroidery linen, but I like the fact that the satin can not move away from the linen.  I just cut a square out a bit bigger than the reticello window before ironing the satin and linen together.  Then I just followed the rest of Melly Sews' tutorial.  If you're interested in making your own zipper pouch, you can find it here.  There is also a video tutorial to accompany the written and picture tutorial.

For my pouch I used 20L Sotema Linen in Antique White, DMC Retos D'Alsace size 12, DMC coton a broder 25 in blue and silver for the embroidery, silver satin material as a backing for the embroidery, white cotton lawn with fusible interfacing for the lining, and a beige 7 inch zipper.  Instead of machine top stitching to stabilize the fabric near the zipper as Melly does in her tutorial,  I hand sewed a running stitch in a matching blue pearl cotton.  It was a cute, quick and fun project, and now I have a one of a kind pouch to hold my threads and smaller tools.  Here are some photos of my completed pouch:

Last time I posted, I mentioned our brood of birds.  Well, I am happy to say that both the chickens and the ducks are thriving, and love their new home.  They are now old enough to start settling outside.  We have the ducks and the bigger chickens in their new outside homes, but the little bantams are still inside with us.  They probably will be for another week or so.  Since the birds are becoming more self sufficient, I have more time for needlework.  I am also having surgery tomorrow. . . the last stage of my breast reconstruction.  Thankfully it is out patient, so I will be back home tomorrow evening, but I will have to take it easy for a month or so, which means even more time for needlework!  I decided to go ahead and make curtains.  I've been toying with the idea for a few months now, and I decided it is time to do it.  I'm working on a small kitchen valance right now to start.  I figured I would start with a small window before I try our large picture window in our living room.  I did order the linen from Italy for the living room curtains, and of course lots of thread!  For the kitchen valance, I am using Sotema 20L linen in a lovely butter cream color with snow white coton a broder.  I've drawn all the threads for the reticello border and will decide what other types of designs I will use after it is completed.

I'll post updates as I make more progress.  Well, I must go . . .I'm trying to get that last bit of the more strenuous housework done before tomorrow.  I hope you are all working on something lovely, and inspiring!  Have a wonderful day and until next time. . . 

~Happy Stitches!`

Rose Garden Purse

Good Morning!  Today I would like to share photos of the Rose Garden Purse that I made over the summer. . . I actually made two, but the other one was gifted to my eldest daughter.  I loved it so much, that I had to make myself one as well.  I used DMC pearl cotton in sizes 12 and 8, as well as Valdani Pearl Cotton in sizes 12 and 8.  The pearls are of course. Swarvoski Crystal, and the body of the purse is Duchesse Satin, while the lining is China Silk.  I purchased the kiss top frame from a seller on Etsy. 

The motifs for the purse are all available for purchase from the shop at Irish Crochet Lab.  This purse was in fact, inspired by Larisa Chilton who is the teacher/owner of Irish Crochet Lab.  She really is a wonderful instructor, and so very generous with her time and knowledge.  I encourage you to check out her website, and if you have always wanted to know how to make heirloom quality Irish Crochet Lace, her lessons will no doubt get you there. 

To be perfectly honest, this was only the third time that I had made a purse using a Kiss Top Frame.  I was a bit intimidated for a long time to try it.  I looked up tutorials online, and there is a lot of information on how to use these frames, as well as a plethora of You Tube videos.  This particular frame is a sew in frame.  The main tutorial that I used was by Stitching Notes.  This tutorial even teaches you how to make your own template, which is very useful considering there are so many different styles of frames available.  I researched other sites, to familiarize myself with the process, but this one was the best for a total novice, in my opinion.

Here is a sneek peak at my current Embroidery Project.  I am using Sotema 20L linen, and DMC Coton a Broder in various sizes.

I hope you join me again this week as I still have so much to share!  There is another purse, Miniature Painted Crochet, as well as the finished Punto Antico piece.  Have a great day and. . .

Happy Stitches!

Pins and Roses. . .

My little pincushion is finished, and doing it's job. . . holding pins.  :-)  After I finished stitching the rose, I measured the finished piece and decided on the dimensions, leaving about a centimeter all around for seams.  For the back of the pillow, I just used two pieces of Southern Belle cotton muslin.

 The front already had a piece of cotton attached to it, because I used it as a backing for the embroidery.  After cutting all the material, I stitched the pieces together using a running stitch on the sewing machine.  Then I laid the two pieces of the pillow together, right sides facing each other.  I sewed three of the four sides completely together using a zigzag stitch.  I sewed the two ends of the fourth side together, leaving an opening about 2 inches to be able to stuff the pillow, and when I was done, turned the pillow right side out.

I just used some craft fiberfill to stuff the pillow.  .  . last year I made all new decorations for our Christmas tree, so I had plenty of stuffing left.  After it was filled to my satisfaction, I hand sewed the opening closed, using a slip stitch (or aka blind stitch), and I was done!  I do wish I had used a blanket stitch on the edges of the pillow to add a bit more color, but all in all, I am very happy with my little Rose pincushion.

 

I have a couple of little flowers that I had stitched, when I first purchased Trish Burr's book.  I think I will make a couple of more pincushions out of them with my daughters.  It's Thanksgiving here next Thursday, and they only have to attend school 2 days next week, so I think it will be a good holiday craft project for the three of us.  Then we can each have our own little pillows.

Since I completed my pincushion yesterday, I spent a little time working on the Schwalm Sampler.  I have the last motif outlined and here is a quick pic of the little pigeon:

Cute little guy, huh?

For my next project, I am going to make a little reticello piece.  There are a few books I have been thinking of purchasing that teach this lovely Italian Embroidered Lace, but with Christmas so close, it will probably be a couple of more months before I can get any goodies.  However, I did find a free pattern and tutorial online in this technique.  I have a little bit of experience with Ruskin Lace, and more than a little bit of experience with needle lace, so I think I will be able to follow the pattern.  If you're interested in joining me, you can find the free pattern and tutorial at Casa Erba.  I'll be sure to keep you posted on this project.

Today, I am going to spend the rest of the day working on the netting of the Irish Crochet Capelet.  What are you working on today?  Whatever it may be, I hope you have a lovely afternoon. . .

'Til Tomorrow

Happy Stitches! 

Rose is Finished!

Good Afternoon!  The Burgundy Rose has been completed, and the little pincushion is almost done!  I am very pleased with how the Rose turned out, and the colors are gorgeous.  It was a little challenging stitching the last petal. . . it used the same colors as the petal next to it, and if one isn't careful, it could have ended up looking like one big petal, instead of two separate ones

I tried to "stagger" the colors on the last petal, and I also added a few straight stitches along the edge, to help distinguish the two separate parts of the flowers, and here is the end result:

I love Trish Burr's needle painting book, and I can't wait to stitch more of the projects from the book.  It is very informative and inspirational, however, if I hadn't completed Mary Corbet's Long and Short stitch project and tutorials, I doubt this little Rose would have turned out as well as it did. :-)

I worked on constructing the pincushion this morning.  The only thing left to do is to stuff it, and sew the last edge together.  I'll share these photos tomorrow.  I'm debating on whether starting another needle painting project, or perhaps some Aemelia Ars. . . it's been awhile since I made some needle lace. 

 I also had another idea for beaded crochet jewelry.  I was thinking of making a choker/collar this time with Swarvoski pearls.  I have a basic idea in my head.  Maybe I'll host a crochet a long to go with the piece.  Write down what I'm doing and give tutorials on the blog so those who want to follow along, can.  Plus, this helps me as well. . . if I ever want to recreate the piece, the pattern will be written down.  lol  Let me know what you all think, and enough people want to, then we can get started soon.

Alas, my Schwalm Sampler is calling to me. . . I am so close to finishing it.  :-)  But before I go, just a quick reminder that the Blog Giveaway for the silk bracelet is open for entry here.  I really hope this beauty finds the owner it was meant for.  :-)

'Til Tomorrow

Happy Stitches!