Stitching Sundays 30

Stitching Sundays 30 - how did that happen?  Over this last 30 weeks, I have achieved far more with embroidery, sewing, patchwork and making than I would have thought possible! The photo collage above shows a variety of projects I have completed, including decorations, bunting, embroidering a felt piece which I started three years ago and trying patchwork for the first time (collage created using picmonkey).  I am sure that without the added excitement of having something to share on a Sunday, I would not have achieved so much.
Having said all that, I have decided that I am not going to continue posting on every Stitching Sunday. This doesn't mean I am going to stop making, sewing, embroidering - far from it (especially as I have discovered a love of split stitch!) - but I shall be sharing my projects on an 'as and when they are progressing' basis.
I would love to attempt to make myself a skirt that actually fits; a simple A line, knee length or a little longer, perhaps in denim, so that is the next challenge I have set myself.  I am a beginner at clothes making so am hoping this won't be a project too far!  I would also like to mend a childhood knitted rabbit toy (Gonga), who needs sorting out and a new pair of felt shorts making, so there is something else I'll be doing too.
It has been great to join in and I hope to have many more projects to share in the future.

Stitching Sundays 28

 Not much progress with actual making this week, but I have been planning and looking at my materials to see what would look good together.  I realised that the stash of material which holds all my memories was just too diverse to be used together, unless used with a neutral background and made into a cushion cover, or something like that.  Having realised this, I decide to look at the other material in my stash and see if I could create some pleasing combinations.

 Here are the results of all the playing - just three combinations at the moment, but it's a start.  Above on the left is my favourite puffed sleeved dress material with some other pale blues.

The pink selection features my wedding dress bodice silk on the left, a dress material my sister used to make me a fifties inspired dress when I was about 18 or so and another pink material I bought when I made the rabbits.

The turquoises look a bit washed out, but are quite vibrant in real life.  The fabric at the bottom left is from a bridesmaid dress which belonged to my Mum and the others are ones I bought when I made my seasonal bunting.  So, having decided on these, I now need to decide what I am going to make...I am still leaning towards little patchwork hearts, or squares. I hope to have done some actual construction by next Sunday, all being well.

Stitching Sundays 22

Sundays do seem to come round quickly, although when I can have a day doing what I would like to do, it's wonderful!  I spent this morning lazing around in my dressing gown, thinking about my next embroidery project and investigating my home made felt stash to find suitable colours.  
This afternoon, having got dressed (!) I made a start while listening to the Classic serial on Radio 4 (Anthony Trollope's Barchester Towers), which was so enjoyable! If you missed it, here's a link - well worth a listen.  Anyway, I digress...

I chose four colours from my stash and found that I had subconsciously chosen exactly the colours I had used in my winter bunting!

 I also found out that the colours seem to be popular in Scandinavian craft work.  I am making circular decorations with different stylised snowflake patterns on them and so far, I have finished one.

I also really like the little Scandinavian-inspired birds featured on the background and am going to make a couple of them to join the Winter seasonal tree.  These are from one of the gorgeous books my lovely husband bought me for Christmas.

 Here it is and if you like 1950s and 1960s inspired designs and the cool colours of Scandinavian interiors, I can guarantee you'll love this book!  Details can be found here.  So, a really nice project to be getting on with, while listening to the machinations of the clergy in Barchester. A perfect Sunday, really.

Stitching Sundays 12

 As you know, I finished the snowflake embroidery on my bunting...on the turquoise piece...

 ...and the shiny silvery-grey piece.  I managed to get the bunting made even though I had to sew the bias binding on twice, because I hadn't sewn it close enough to the edge (you would think that I would have got the hang of that by now, having made at least five bunting projects over the last year).  I am not sure that the snowflake embroidery will be that obvious once the bunting is hung up, but I'll know it's there.

 So, here's the finished product.

 Even though it isn't quite winter yet, I hung it on the mirror, just to take a photo.

I am pleased with the combination of colours and patterns and I shall be putting it up properly on December 1st.  Now, what is my next project?

Stitching Sundays 10

Although Chrissie isn't writing a specific post for Stitching Sundays, I am continuing, as I am finding it a great way to actually start and finish projects.

 I took the majority advice over whether to add stitching to the leaves on the felt piece so here are a few close ups.  I like the way that the line of stitching has made the leaves look 'puffier'.

 I chose colours which would show up against the leaves, without being too dominant.

 I think it looks good.

 So here is the finished piece.  I am still undecided about what to do with it.  If it is going to be the centre panel of a cushion, I need to find a wool blanket I can cut up, or make some large pieces of felt.  I shall check our blanket situation first...
Although I haven't totally finished this project, I have got the next one ready.

I'm going to make winter bunting using the materials above, which I really like (particularly the two seed head patterns).  The two plain fabrics on the right are going to have a snowflake embroidered on them and then they will all be made into bunting with dark grey bias binding.  Once it is finished, I will then have seasonal bunting for the whole year.