Stitch Story Continues

Hope Everyone

Just a quick call in today. I’m on a sort of mini holiday (or rather a slight change in routines !) this week. It’s Bank Holiday Monday here in the UK and I’m starting the week with a leisurely day. Each day, this week, I hope to bring a bit of a photo story which identifies a highlight of my day as well as news on the Stitch Story : Miss Mitchell.

I’ve been out on a run this morning, it’s a lovely day and we are breakfasting in the garden - quite an unusual thing for us ! There will be a bit more gardening and lots of sitting around for the rest of the day (I hope).

I also have a little news about my Stitch Story, which should gets lots more attention this week. I’ve made another broach/badge for my Story. I think it’s more suitable than the first sample (read back last week for the background to this). Hopefully, I will finish the badge later and get it ready for sewing into my Story.

              

I’ve also made a few hearts from polymer clay. I’m hoping I can add these little button beads to key areas in my Story.

Thanks for calling in today.

Fibre Friday (4/5/18)

Hi Everyone 

It’s another Friday roundup of my fibre projects today. It’s all about knitting socks this week. I’ve always got a pair of socks on my needles but each pair usually takes a month or so to make. I tend to knit just a few rows each evening on the current sock project. However, over the last few weeks I’ve been knitting almost exclusively on socks. I’ve started my third Helen Stewart sock pattern and I’m still quite keen to keep going. Read back if you would like to see all of the socks and their progress over the past few weeks.

                       

The Magnolia socks, my second pair of socks in the Helen Stewart range, (left image) have acquired a contrast toe and a picot crochet edge. I need to sew the ends into these socks and block. The socks are a lovely snug fit and I’m keen to try them out as soon as possible.

The Fragment socks (right) have just started, yesterday, but I do like the pattern and can see myself knitting another pair for one of my boys. This pair will be for me. I love the colour of my sock yarn - Melon Balls on Fire by Ginger Twist Studio in their Sheepish Sock yarn.

As usual, with Helen Stewart sock patterns, I’ve gone up a size on the needles, 2.5mm instead of the suggested 2.25mm. The larger needle gives a good stretchy fabric with my very tight gauge.

Other fibre news, my spinning has suffered again this week ! I didn’t make specific times over the week for my spinning sessions. However, I’ve timetables next weeks sessions, so I will get back on track. I’m also starting to organise my own personal Wool Exploration Project. This will link into the Knit British initiative but I’m organising my own schedule to coincide where possible. Take a look at the Knit British website  here to understand what this initiative is all about. I’ll share more on this next week. Today, I’m going to organise and plan (on paper) the way forward. The wool exploration will sit alongside whatever my current spinning project demands. The big spinning project for me is a jumper quantity yarn for a mans jumper. I’ve a way to go but I’ve broken the spin into weekly spinning targets so I’m unfazed by the task !!

Thanks for calling in today.

 Have a great weekend. I’ll be back on Monday.

Stitch Story Embellishments

Hi Everyone 

Yesterday, I mentioned I had some extra ideas for making more patches. So, this is what I’ve come up with :

                   

This patch is more of a mini pennant, hanging on one of my handmade metal pins. I’ve also developed a loop which will be stitched into the top seam, where the lining is stitched to the outer bag. For the mini pennant (patch), I’ve used a pre made piece of navy Felt with a few very thin layers of dry felted fibres. The Felt piece was then doubled to form the patch, giving the patch a solid feel. I’ve also embroidered hints of flowers/stems with a red whip stitch edge onto the ‘patch’. The colours I’ve used are similar to those of my Miss Mitchell image but I’m not sure the final patch sits easily with the rest of my Stitch Story - too much of a purple statement compared to the rest of the elements. 

I wanted to make the patch as a construction sample and did think it would be great for my bag. However, I’m going to make a second sample. I can already see improvements to the construction technique so this will give me an opportunity to find the right colours and more flower like patterns for my second attempt. I like the idea of adding one of my butterfly buttons to the patch. You can read back for more on the Stitch Story over the last few weeks.

Thanks for calling in today. I’ll be back to tomorrow with Fibre Friday.

Making Workshop News

Hi Everyone 

I wanted to share the results of a Making Workshop, held yesterday, as part of our ongoing Stitch Story Project. The idea for the workshop was to produce small patterned fabric pieces to use with individual Stitch Stories (read back on the blog for lots more on the Stitch Story Project). All our Makers produced amazing pieces of printed fabric. We used small (5x5inch) Gelli plates with acrylic paints to produce the patterned fabric. Makers used colours and images which reflect their individual Stories and experimented at the same time. No one had any previous experience of Gelli Plate printing, so the results are very impressive. We had some plastic printing plates with lots of different patterns as well as found objects (from around the home) including plant leaves. The main idea was to simply play with making marks in the paint.

Gelli Plates are an amazing tool. Essentially, the plates allow mono printing without a Printing Press. The Gelli Plate people produce great You Tube videos demonstrating how the tool can be used. Check this particular video for fabric printing https://youtu.be/A_fxu4HuLFo. There are lots of videos on the Channel sharing all types of ideas for using the Gelli Plates.

                        

The idea for our experiments yesterday is to use the printed fabric in some way with Stitch Stories or simply frame the pieces for display. Everyone had a lovely time getting messy and playing with shapes and colour - I love to see adults enjoying themselves in this way. Lots of smiles and quiet satisfaction! I had a lovely time, just watching the happy Makers.

My own Stitch Story is moving on and Im hoping to start stitching the patches in place today, again read back for more on the Stitch Story. More on the progress with my Project next time.

Thanks for calling in today.

Stitch Story Decisions

Hi Everyone

I suggested yesterday- all my Stitch Story : Miss Mitchell plans would be in place. I think, I’m there ! On detailed inspection,  a few of the patches needed extra finishing, mostly the edges needed some attention. Many of the basic errors came about because I failed (repeatedly) to account for stitching or printing too near the edges of my patches ! My solution to these issues is to add a back to each of the patches. See example in my photo.

                        

I’ve added (simply placed at this point) ribbon to edge some of the patches but mostly I’ve placed finished edge patches in their own little spot. I’ve added butterfly buttons to the mix and they are very pretty. The butterfly image works well with Miss Mitchell and holds the whole design together. The only thing I need to keep thinking about is the little crochet frame. I’m still unsure of how to use the frame to best effect. I also want to add some form of hanging element using one of my handmade silver pins. I need to keep thinking about that one today.

I’ve also decided that on the back of the ‘bag to be’, I want to embroider some words. At the moment, the words will be Once upon a time ..... I like the relationship with a Stitched Story idea as well as the Miss Mitchell link. Then, there’s the handles. My plan for the handles are to add some cord inside a padded fabric short piece of fabric.

I can see the finished article and am very excited to complete the project. 

Thanks for calling in today.