Sister's Choice Quilts

Let's Talk Embroidery

I wish I could say this was my work, but it isn't.  Just an image I found on the Internet.  However, I have been doing a lot of thinking about embroidery lately.  I am reading the best book, "A Single Thread" by Tracy Chevalier, which is about a single  English woman in the 1930s who lives a lonely life and takes up with an embroidery group who is making prayer kneelers for Winchester cathedral.  There is plenty more going on plot-wise, but right now I am focusing on stitching.  The plethora of discussion on stitches and embroidery designs has gotten me thinking about rekindling my stitching project that has gone into a UFO box.

So, all you embroiderers out there, tell me about your stitchery methods.  What sort of needles do you prefer?  How about thread?  And most important, what stitch do you use for lettering?  The backstitch or the stem stitch or the running stitch?  Do you use a hoop?  What is the best advice you pros can give a newbie?

 

All Stitched Up Club

Shabby Fabrics is offering a new Block of the Month program, featuring patterns created by Kathy Schmitz.  Each month you construct a little mat combinging patchwork and embroidery.  Shabby Fabric provides the kits which include fabric and embroidery transfers.  You also get a spool of Sulky thread and a Micron pen.

Now, you all know I do not have a good record when it comes to completing embroidery projects.

Still, I am tempted when I see these cute things and feel the draw to join in and give it yet another go.  I was thinking since these are small complete monthly projects, it wouldn't seem like such a monumental task to put them together, as completing an entire quilt top would be.  Besides, I want to do more handwork, and have a little portable something to pick up when I am watching Eva or visiting Grandpa.

So, I joined up. 

The program starts with February, then March, etc...  The idea is you work one month ahead and complete a seasonal mat you can put to use in the upcoming month.  I like the idea, I like the size of the projects, and I liked the price.  So now, let's just see if I can get that March mat made up!

Birdie Stitches March Block & Info on the Red and White Quilt

Thanks for all your supportive comments regarding my experience taking Grandpa with me to the quilt show.  I sure did think of a lot of things I might have said to that horrid woman who swiped his chair as he was preparing to sit in it--unfortunately I had a delayed reaction and stood stunned with my jaw dropped to my chest when it happened!  I will say that the expression on the face of the woman who had offered him the chair next to her was priceless.  "What just happened here?"

I did find out (though my readers' helpful and knowledgeable comments) that the red and white quilt in yesterday's post is called "Nearly Insane".  There is a book by the same name written by Liz Lois that is for sale on amazon.com.  It has one review, which is pretty bad.  I have not seen the book, but the reviewer had plenty to criticize.  Check it out.   Evidently, (according to the reviewer), the author gives no instruction on how to construct the blocks, nor does she name the blocks!  Now, that is a problem!  It does sound like if you buy the book, you had better get one of those block encyclopedias that tell you how to make 100 blocks in various sizes! If any of you have bought this book, or made the quilt, please comment on your experience.  We would all love to know how you fared. 

UPDATE:  Please read the comments below for a link to another red and white Nearly Insane quilt and some dissenting opinions on the book.  Check out Ranette's quilt.    Good gravy, go to Tazzie's blog and look at her Nearly Insane quilt!  And Floribunda's NI quilt.  Thanks to you readers who responded!  What awesome quilts.

Several people commented that the Farmer's Wife quilt would be incredible if done in a two color scheme.  Can you imagine it in red and white?  Now why didn't I think to do that?

I finished the third block in the Birdie Stitches project while I was away last week.  I felt there should be a little something the end of the rainbow, and copied an idea I found on the Birdie Stitches Flickr Group.  My shamrocks are a little wonky, but so is everything else in my block, so I guess they can stay.

When I was tearing through the Road to California quilt show last week, I stopped briefly at the Bird Brain Designs booth and purchased a pattern.  And took a minute to look at the amazing work on their samples.  They seem to favor using perle cotton thread, which gives a nice bold look, without the bulk of using more than three strands of regular embroidery thread.  One of my readers, Connie H. suggested that I might like to do this with my Birdie Stitches blocks. 

These little stitchery designs were impossible to pass up!  I see them in the centers of some red and white quilt blocks....  Hopefully I will be proficient enough to make these after finishing 12 Birdie blocks.

Tomorrow I will share with you my major purchase at the show.  I scored Big Time!  Something I never thought I would find in a million years.

 

Birdie Stitches February Block

I am making good progress with my Birdie Stitches project, and have completed the second block.  This is the block for February--Kissing Birds.  (Sounds like "Kicking Bird" from Dances With Wolves).

The stitching with fewer strands of thread (the flowers, stems and floating hearts) are definitely more forgiving than the thicker six strand stitching for the birdies themselves.  I like the strong outline the six strands give, but the stitching with three strands just seems more refined somehow.  After another block or so, when I get more practice, I will show you all what the back looks like. 

Am I ever being brave--it is like when Kirstie Alley wore a bikini on the Oprah show. lol  I will be setting myself up for all sorts of comments like old Kirstie got.  "No WAY is she 150 pounds".  "Look at the cellulite, will ya'".  "What is she THINKING, going out in public like that?" What is the embroidery equivalent of that?  "Oh my.  Look at those lumpy stitching lines".  "Doesn't look like she can sew straight to save her life".  No, I know you all are kinder than that!!

I am learning all sorts of embroidery lingo.  "Traveling".  That is when you jump your needle across your stitchery and leave a big line of thread on the underside that is visable through the top of the finished project. A big no-no.  "Orts".  Those teensy snipped threads that pile up next to your sewing chair.  Or if you are like me, they pile up on the arm of the couch, on the floor where I am sitting, on the end table...

Busy week, this week. I am finding myself quite on the go.  And man, is it ever slow going with 90 year Grandpa in tow!  He is a good sport though, as long as I keep him in snacks and newspapers to read.  He also likes to stop now and then and buy me lunch!

 

Birdie Stitches Block One

Here is my first Birdie Stitches block, finished this weekend.  I found myself really enjoying the hand embroidery work.  Just so you know, this project calls for using six strands of DMC embroidery floss for most of the stitchery.  I have never used so many strands at once, ever!  I do like the thicker bold line you get with the outlines of the figures, but is it ever hard to thread the needle!  I broke three needle threaders just on this first block.  I think for any sort of fine detail, you would have to use just two or three strands.  I plan to experiment with that on my next block.  If any of you out there have completed this project, did you use six strands of floss as recommended?

I am using the Frixion pens to trace my embroidery designs, which have been recommended in the past by a lot of folks, including me. 

The beauty of these pens is that markings come out when washed.  (Yes, I know they can come back if you freeze your project, but I have no plans for doing that--would anyone?)  Anyway, turns out the marks disappear if you iron them or let the steam from your iron anywhere close...

Ooops.  Guess I didn't think that through.  No harm done, though, I got the design retraced in no time.

Corey (Little Miss Shabby, who designed the project) does state that she made up all her blocks BEFORE doing any tracing.  My line of thinking was that it was easier to fit just the center square (minus the patchwork borders) on my light box to trace it.  I have traced four block centers, and will avoid pressing the borders until I get them embroidered.  The remaining eight blocks I will construct with borders, then trace, as Corey recommends.

I am having fun studying up on various embroidery stitches and techniques.  There is a great site called Needle n' Thread by Mary Corbet, that I have discovered.  She has wonderful tips and a lot of sensational videos showing how to do various stitches.  I have to say that as helpful as a book full of diagrams on how to do embroidery stitches is, there is no comparison to seeing someone actually DO the stitch in front of your eyes.  Right now I am trying to explore different ways of securing the end of the thread in my work.  I've been making a knot on the back, but it turns out there are much better methods!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Birdie Stitches

Along with the optimism I feel for the new year, I have a gazillion ideas for new projects dancing around in my head.  Sara had purchased the jelly roll in the photo above a couple of years ago, with the thought of making a quilt.  Life got in the way and she never made it and passed the fabric strips on to me.  It is an adorable collection by American Jane (Sandy Klop, designer for Moda) called Look and Learn.  What am I going to do with it, you ask?

Well, I discovered a new blog called Little Miss Shabby (through Mary at Lake Pulaski), and are there ever a lot of ideas for projects there!  Last year in January of 2011, Little Miss Shabby (Corey Yoder) started a free BOM that features scrappy patchwork surrounding twelve embroidered blocks.  The project is called Birdie Stitches since every block has an adorable little bird or two in it.  Obviously I am late to the party (again), but now all the blocks are up on her blog and I can print them out and get started with my stitchery.

See how darling they are?  I wasn't kidding.

This is the last block Mary on Lake Pulaski completed, which she posted on her blog this week.  I hope with this practice, my stitching will become as even as Mary's!  I love her choice of fabrics, and the modern cheerful feel her block has.

Corey also started a Flickr group, which you can check out to see the blocks other participants have created.

Once I picked out the fabric I was going to use, I had to go purchase some embroidery floss to coordinate with it.  That is the beauty of this project, you can customize your birdies to go with whatever fabric you choose to use.  While I was at JoAnn's this handy little item caught my attention:

Isn't that cool?  You can wind your floss around little cardboard "bobbins" and keep them tucked into the little pockets within the pages of the plastic sheet protectors.  Put the sheet protectors full of floss into a 3 ring binder, and you can easily see at a glance what colors you have on hand for your stitchery projects.  It was totally cheap too--under $4.00.  In fact, all the floss I bought plus these sheet protectors and cardboard bobbins totalled around $9.00.  Oh, and since the bobbins are cardboard, you can write the number of your floss color on it in case you run out and need to get more.

So, there you go!  A fun little stitchery project for these wintery days.  By spring, you could have an adorable quilt for yourself or someone you love.

Monday Blues

I don't have a lot to show for my weekend, unfortunately.  We put our house back on the market and had agents wanting to bring their clients through.  This of course, is a good thing, but I wasn't quite ready for them.  I had about two and a half hours to put the house to rights before the first group came through.  Let me just say, it will be a miracle if we find half of the stuff I jammed into closets and drawers....  But, wow, does the house ever look nice!

 
I did make another zippered bag for my son, who is thinking he would like one for every small electronic gadget he owns.  As you see, I have departed from the Terri Atkinson pattern and am now doing my own version.  I can easily customize the size of the bag, and for a guy I am elimating the sweet patchwork.  My quilting is more dense than she calls for in her pattern as well. 

I made lots of progress on my Eventide quilt, which I will show you all tomorrow.  I had to do a major tidying of my sewing room, which now looks great but is completely impractical.  No more ironing board, and all my rulers and things have been stashed away. 

 
I also met with my embroidery class, which as always was super fun.  I love this Renoir painting of a woman embroidering.  The colors in the painting are the exact colors I am using for my project!  Which, at the rate I am going, should be finished by 2025, should I live that long.

Got sidetracked once I got to class though.  I picked up some simple little cotton Onsies and thought they would benefit from some embellishment.

 
Sweet.  My work is pretty crude next to my friend Connie's though.  Just look at these adorable squares she has embroidered for a project.

 
 
 

 

 

More Embroidery Notions

 
These two objects pictured above, when placed together make the best embroidery hoop!

 



When I was stitching with my new friends last Sunday, many of them were using this type of hoop.  It is made by The Colonial Needle Company and costs....$2.60.  No kidding.  It is called a Spring Tension Hoop and supposedly can even be used for machine embroidery.  What I like about it is that you can just pinch the two grips together and really easily reposition your hoop while you are stitching.

 
I have been printing out free embroidery patterns from the Bird Brain Designs website.  Many of the ones they offer for free are simply adorable.  Not too cutesy though--no kitties doing laundry or anything like that.  I have been using my printer/fax machine to enlarge the patterns to about 130%.

 
Today I am going to get my Blueberry Mocha Trails blocks ALL completed and maybe even get started on stitching the rows together.  If time permits, I may even get started on a new crafts project!

I am going to try my hand at making a little cosmetics bag!

 
How cute are these?  This is a pattern by the brilliant Terri Atkinson of Atkinson Designs.  They are a wonderful way to use up your fat quarters.  And those button embellishments are too much.  Most quilt shops are now carrying the zippers you need for this type of projects.  My LQS, Prairie Queens has them in every color of the rainbow.  Isn't it great that so many quilt shops are now carrying embroidery supplies and notions, plus all sorts of embellishments for other sorts of projects?

 

 

Exploring New Crafts

 

 

I spent yesterday afternoon in the company of some very pleasant women, who all came together to stitch embroidery projects.  I left the group feeling so excited about exploring this new craft further.  My camera is acting up, so the pictures I am showing are various ones I got off the internet.  They do reflect the types of projects the women in the class were working on however.

The favored patterns seemed to be by Crabapple Hill.  The instructor had completed a gorgeous pillow from the Autumn/Winter/Spring/Summer series.  Another woman was working on a pattern called "Nesting", which is one I must make for myself. 

 
Isn't that stunning?  She told me that she plans to make it the center medallion of a quilt, and surround it with pieced quilt blocks.  There is a new fabric collection called "Lilac Hill" by Brannock and Patek that is due out in March.  I am thinking this group could be lovely, made up into various star blocks surrounding that center medallion.  I better email Fatquartershop to reserve my bundle!

 

My goal for 2011 is to immerse myself more completely in the world of embroidery and applique.  I love how these embellishments enhance the look of a quilt, and it would make me so happy to improve my skills in those two areas.

So, if you were to make a resolution to try out or gain expertise in a new craft, what would it be?  Scrapbooking?  Rug hooking?  Knitting?  Tell me what you would like to do.

Taking the Plunge

I took a deep breath and took the plunge---into embroidery.  I started out with a couple of super simple patterns from Bird Brain Designs.  The one in the photo above was FREE!  If you sign up for their newsletter, you will get free seasonal patterns, which are adorable.  There was a super cute witch themed one a couple of weeks ago.

How cute is that???  Love her little French Knot wart.

This is the other one I finished over the weekend.

I can tell you that it is easy and it is fun.  I did the low tech method of transferring the designs onto my tea towels---tape the pattern to the window and tape the towel over it and trace.  I kind of messed up the cross hatching on the top of the acorn, but as Grandma Higgins used to say, "A man going by on a bus would never notice".

One thing that is registering with me is that there is a heck of lot to learn about all the various threads that are available.  DMC seems to rule, but there are other brands as well, such as Cosmo, which are very popular.  I have been watching You Tube tutorials, and have been getting conflicting information on how many strands to use.  Two seems most common, but lots of folks seem to favor three.  I bought a bunch of spools of Perle cotton, which seems to be on the thick side.  I don't mind that--the design shows up great.

If you are an embroiderer, what is your favorite stitch?  The patterns I have favor the Back Stitch, but my new friend Christi (who generously sent me an entire goodie bag of embroidery related items last week) said that in a class she recently took, the instructor recommended her students use the Stem Stitch, as it is more forgiving.   I'd love to hear from you experts out there what your preferences are!