52 Tags Challenge - Tags 12 & 13

 Two more tags have been completed and I am still enjoying this immensely. The small size of each tag is a challenge that is fun to complete without stretching on over a long time. Each tag is a chance to try a new idea or technique that may lead to more creating.

Tag 12 was another learn a stitch week. This one was blanket stitch which some may also call buttonhole stitch but buttonhole stitch is created in a slightly different way. The prompt provided much food for thought and then it was time to search through fabrics for a starting piece. I had a small section of handpainted calico left from a previous tag that I thought might work well. Not much of the lace I have been using left but on this went and I attached it using blanket stitch. I am very familiar with using blanket stitch to join edges together and as a means of attaching applique but have not explored using it to embellish fabric. What fun to use it this way. It can be overlapped with different colours, The length of the stitch can be varied and it can be used in a straight line or in a curve. It can even create great spirals! I loved trying out different weights of thread as each one changed to stitch slightly.

Tag 12 by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Tag 13 was a great prompt. It was entitled Layers. The video prompt suggested a single colour palette but as usual Anne encouraged viewers to follow their own path if they wished. Anne used gold but I decided to go with another of my favourites and looked through the collection for all things pink. 

A trip down memory lane as I remembered what the fabrics had been used for. Some are from the '90s and others are much more recent. One might even be from the the late '80s as I have just spotted it on a cross stitch that I completed way back then.

Tag 13 by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

More time spent with a needle and thread stitching each layer in place and adding some embellishments. I even added a tiny bit of thread weaving. Can you spot it? More time spent looking through the button collection and laces as well.

Have you joined the many over the globe who are exploring with needle, thread and fabric? Please leave a comment with your thoughts.

More From a Beginner Quilter

 Time for an update on my quilting journey. I collected another 10 inch square of the required white fabric and cut a 10 inch square of some fabric that caught my eye at a recent swap and sell session.

While at my local stitching group I asked for some tips and tricks for sewing this particular block - a disappearing pinwheel variation. The best tip was the apply some spray starch to the blocks before sewing and cutting to help combat the bias seams.

The next thing I remembered was to slow down by using the half speed button on my sewing machine thus stopping the lead foot sewer from speeding too much.

Slowing down when cutting was something that I also remembered to do.

Attempt 3 by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Looking better and I tried a different layout but there were still some things that were not quite right. Cutting again was tricky as I did not quite get the measurements correct. I am hoping that this one can be used but if not it will come home with me and be turned into something else. My outside edges were still uneven so on to attempt number 4.

With this one I used plenty of starch and checked that my 10 inch squares matched. I slowed down with my seams and used my quick unpick liberally when my seams were wonky. I went back to the arrow pattern for this last on and all in all was very happy with how it turned out after some seam ripping and resewing.

Attempt 4 by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

What do you think? Have I improved over the four attempts? I have definitely learnt and remembered some valuable sewing tips.

52 Tags Challenge - Tag 11

 

Tag 11 - rings by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Another tag prompt was released on Friday. This time it was all about blanket stitch around rings. Another new technique to have a go at exploring.

First of all a bit of creative thinking to find a ring of some sort in the stash. In the end some jump rings were found in the beading box. At the same time the fish bead begged to be used so it found its way onto this tag as well.

Adding the blanket stitch to the rings was great fun with just a little difficulty when the thread pulled through the tiny gap in the jump ring. The perle thread was just the right size for the 10 mm rings and I was able to use all the blue hues.

I added some lace again and used some fabric that has found its way onto another tag as well. I experimented with colouring the lace with my Inktense watercolours. Did this the hard way as I had added the lace before thinking of adding colour so slipped some paper underneath to stop the colour bleeding to the pink fabric that is behind the lace. 

Have you ever tried colouring fabric with watercolour? How did it go?

52 Tags Challenge - Tag 10

Tag 10 - Suffolk Puff by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Tag 10 and the prompt was Suffolk Puffs and a bit of lace. As usual the video prompt was great to watch and very easy to learn from it about how to make a Suffolk Puff. I had never tried to make one before. Thanks to Anne Brooke for the inspiration and for all the shared tags on social media that also provide inspiration.

Found a few more fabrics in the stash to experiment with and cut out two circles to have a go. Quite easy to stitch around the edge of the circle turning a small hem in as you go. A little trickier to keep the stitches even so that the gathers in the puff are even. I did not like leaving the open section in the centre so found the perfect button. It has been waiting for its time to shine for quite a while. A well stocked stash is a blessing when taking up a weekly tag challenge.

 Practiced my fly stitch, french knots and pistil stitch and continued to experiment with metallic thread. My lace pieces are the same as on previous tags - have not run out yet but the time is coming nearer.

Suffolk puffs are also know as Yo Yos and can be created in many sizes. Have you tried one? How did it go?

52 Tags Challenge - Tag 9

 

Tag 9 - Bits and Bobs by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

The tag challenge is into week 9. The prompt this week was Bits and Bobs and a Gift. 

Lots of invitation in this to explore the accumulated stash for items to use. I had recently unpacked a gift that came with an Etsy purchase and it was pinned to a piece of grey fabric. The fabric was just the right size for the base of this tag which was just so fortuitous that it had to be used. Alongside the fabric it came with a quote that I could use as well.

Lace and buttons to tie back to the other tags created and more stitching of french knots and fly stitch but this time experimenting with metallic thread. Not so easy to use and some interesting knots created.The flower button, fabric circle, starfish button and the fabric scraps are all part of the stash that has grown over the years.

What is in your stash? Where do you keep your treasures? Is it sometimes hard to part with something that has been there for a while?

Lessons Learnt - A Beginner Quilter

 I have always admired the quilts I have seen at craft fairs but never really had a go. Having now joined the Break O'Day Stitchers I have the opportunity to create blocks for the community quilts they create. This seems like a good way to learn about creating quilts a little at a time.

I sew clothes and other items but as with all new skills there are things that can go wrong. There are techniques specific to the style of sewing being used. 

Last week I watched a demonstration of creating a block by sewing two 10 inch square together and then cutting this apart to create a quilt block that has a pinwheel in the centre. 

screen shot from https://bit.ly/3kxKGtd a PDF re disappearing pinwheel blocks

Collected my 10 inch square  of matching background fabric that will be the same in all the blocks. Came home and cut the contrasting 10 inch square, put the two together and went to the sewing machine to stitch around the outside edges.

Have I got my quarter inch foot attached? Check

Started sewing and even though I have sewn for ages it was interesting to see that I am not yet great at sewing a consistent quarter inch seam. I tended to curve out at the end of each side.

Off to the cutting mat to cut this square on the diagonals. Now I have a rotary cutter, large mat and have used the cutter to cut fabric for pouches, bags and other items but even so I found cutting the diagonals interesting. 

Didn't remember the tip about using my recently purchased rotating cutting mat. First diagonal cut easily but then how to cut the second without moving the fabric?? Move myself around my cutting table, line up the next cut and go. Whoops the rotary blade moved away from the ruler! Now my resulting squares are not going to be consistent.

Oh dear. Well I continued as there was still more to learn about this technique. 

Press open my four HST pieces - new vocab here. HST stands for half-square triangle. Lay them out in a pinwheel pattern and then start joining these together. My squares are not equal (because of my rotary cutter mishap) so this will be a struggle.

Got them sewn but still struggled with the consistent quarter inch seam. On thinking about it afterwards the other factor affecting the sewing is that most of the seams were on the bias. Something as a seamstress I maybe should have considered.

Struggled on and ended up with a very 'not square' square. Somehow I do not think that this will be added to any community quilt as it is too small as well. Whoops there goes one of my two pieces of background that each block needed to have. 

Attempt Number 1 by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Biggest lesson learnt....

Just like sewing clothes it is wiser to do a test run with not so precious fabric first.

Found some calico and cut out a 10 inch square. Found a contrasting fabric and cut out the second 10 inch square. Slowed down at the sewing machine and really focused on my consistent quarter inch seams. Found a youtube video and a PDF to refresh my memory of the demonstrated instructions from last week. Used the rotating cutting mat and slowed down with my cutting so that my blade stayed in contact with my cutting ruler and my squares are all the same size. Using the rotating mat made it so much easier. 

Joined all the squares together and here is try number 2. 

Attempt Number 2 by MrsSOnline is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

What do you think? Is it better that try number 1?

Next lesson learnt...

Take a close look at the two images...

The arrowheads are pointing in opposite directions! I am not sure if this will be a problem with the community quilt but it is another lesson in looking closely.

I now feel ready for attempt number 3. That will be with the second piece of matching fabric so fingers and toes crossed that I remember all lessons learnt.