Re-SEW-lutions 2016!

Embroidery on apron in progress

I know ... it's cliche ... :p


There's so many things that I want to do and even more things that I want to do better.  In my mind the New Year always provides this nice blank sheet, the first page of a book if you will.  What you write on this page will steer the mood and tone of the year ahead.  Sometimes they are only good intentions but what's so wrong about that?! (read my disclaimer).

First up is my grand 2016 My House Tapestry by Tilda project.  Something I've wanted to do since I got the book some years back.  How many years back exactly is not important! ;)  All my fabrics are washed and onward to construction.

The sock that I've knitted thus far.  I think I botched the joining stitches so I am starting over again, but with a shorter leg portion.  That's the beauty of knitting and crochet ... raveling is easy.  A thorough sock guide and pattern by Christine Perry can be found here.

I've agreed to SAL (Stitch-a-Long) with Lillie on an old WIP from 2008.  The Rose Sampler.  I've completed 8 pages, 4 more pages to go.

 
And then there's the HAL (Hex-a-Long) with JW & MW on the Dilly Bag.  I stopped some months back but it will be revived this year.  I am using the Bionic Gear bag that Jackie W gave me to stuff all my hexagons for this project.

I've laid out a piece of chiffon fabric to be cut into a simple sleeveless top.  I'm learning to work with sheer fabrics.  Let's see how it goes.  It's the famous Sorbetto pattern designed and generously provided free by Colette Patterns.

There are a few quilts I want to make this year.  I am looking for some mindless, effortless piecing. First up would be Lori's Log Cabin Variation.  Her helpful cutting instructions can be found here.

Pic from Lori's blog

And then there's just some simple squares, red and white maybe?

Pic from Pinterest

As for the teaching front their some new developments, still at the discussion stage and some new ideas that's percolating in my head.  So overall a busy and productive 2016!

Hungarian Embroidery

Hand embroidery is such a delight to stitch  Sometimes known as stitchery.  It's not as rigid as cross stitch where there's a right and wrong way.  In embroidery it comes down to free form and every stitch is a testament of the stitcher's inherent skill.  I have been stitching a long time and even then I am nowhere near perfect.  I always do try to get neat and uniformed stitches.  The journey is what it is all about.

I've since sewn a new apron and it's my curse for not being able to leave a solid fabric alone! :)  I'm thinking of embellishments even before I cut the fabric!  I love the Hungarian embroidery designs by Kate & Rose.  Their having a year end sale up till NYE.  So I had to get the Faraway Garden Pattern that I've been eyeing.  I've even stitched a free pattern by Kati on a top some time back.  Also I've been meaning to sew up the Roza top pattern naturally with some Hungarian embroidery.

The apron is a natural cotton twill that I bought from Spotlight.  It's thickish and hence copying the pattern was difficult.  So I've settled on my next favourite method of transferring the design using chalk tracing paper (I prefer the Clover brand) that is commonly used in dressmaking.  I copied the design to a small piece of interface (paper works just as well) and then place it on top of the chalk tracing paper.  I used the sewline nib (a pencil / pen is also fine) to outline the design again.  As you can see the results are very clear.

I stabilised the reverse side of the design with a a good quality soft fusible interfacing that does not bubble, unlike the other local variety.  It is available in my Facebook Shop if you would like some.  I use a 7" Morgan embroidery hoop.  My favourite embroidery needle is by Richard Hemming & Sons in Size 4.  I use 3 strands of embroidery floss to mimic the thickness of Perle No. 8 thread.

Now that I've got my embroidery all prepped, time for some quite hand stitching tonight :)