Begin Again ... 2020 Textile Projects

Today I'm sharing a number of 'other' projects that I have completed throughout this year.  

On the Friday before the UK's first full lockdown I was lucky enough to spend the day learning to weave ... I hadn't realised that I wanted to learn but a dear friend suggested it might be fun to try.

The two pieces on the left I created on the course, top right I created on the child's vintage loom in the bottom right photograph.  We enjoyed the day so much that my friend and I have invested in a small loom to share - so more projects will follow.

I like to have small projects on the go that I can do in the evening in front of the TV, this year embroidery has featured quite heavily.  I began by trying different stitches on a narrow strip of fabric which I eventually turned into a book.

Inspired by my love of the seaside. but unable to visit because of the pandemic, I created a triptych:

Sun,

Sea,

and Sand

I played around with circles:

Sometimes an idea for a project pops into my head for no apparent reason on this occasion it led to another stitched book this time created from a piece of screen printed calico:

These projects all involved hand stitching but I have been machine sewing as well - the quilts I have already blogged about.  I've also created some useful things too:-

Pencil cases:

I created the fabric for the blue one using my gelli plate.

Finally on the textile front I have been stitching masks for family and friends - never in a million years would I have thought I would make face masks and find it sad that I needed to.

I think that's it on the textile front or at least completed projects!!

Stay safe!

Sewing Weights ...

I love sewing and working with textiles but I had never heard of using weights to keep your pattern in place on your fabric when cutting out.  Recently on the Great British Sewing Bee (a UK TV programme) it seemed that most of the contestants were using weights ... I decided that if it was good enough for these contestants maybe I needed some and should make a set.  I thought about a colleague who is leaving our school this summer and decided a set would make a nice leaving gift ... I know that she sews but if she doesn't use them for sewing maybe she could learn to juggle!!

Here they are:

They are approximately 3 inches in size and are filled with plastic pellets.  The fabric is a beautiful linen with sewing and haberdashery images on it.  I only bought the fabric at the weekend at a craft fair from a lovely shop called Button Moon their stand was beautiful and full of fabulous fabrics and wool - I could have spent a fortune!!  The biggest surprise of all is that I've owned the fabric for less than a week and have already used some of it!!

Enjoy!

New cushion design ...

I've been busy with my sewing machine ... that's the beauty of having a few days off work!  I'm trying out some new designs hoping to find a winner!  This is the first of my 2016 cushions:

For VW Beetle fans!

It was inspired by the VW Camper cushion I made previously.

This is how they look alongside each other:

Enjoy!

More textiles ...

When my sewing machine is out of the bag I just can't stop using it - I'm also motivated by a school Craft Fair at the weekend and the need for stock to fill my table!  Tonight's contribution to the stock is more cushions but this time aimed at the younger people among us! I created similar cushions last year and they proved very popular and as I had some of the fabric left I decided to make a few more.  Here they are:

Enjoy!

Textiles not cards ...

My final post for this evening - no card, no stamps and no ink!  This is all about textiles my other favourite pastime.  At this time of the year I create to sell at local craft fairs - very small scale but fun and it gives me an excuse to get my sewing machine out.  It is also a way of justifying all the fabric that seems to find its way into my craft stash!

I like to design and create cushions - last year it was all about Minions and this year seems to be all about hearts and bunting.  These are some of the cushions I've made:

The photographs are not brilliant but hopefully you get the idea!

I also made more Christmas trees - always popular as table decorations.

Enjoy!