Handmade by Ann-Marie

Friday, 25 May 2018

Bags 8 - Camper Bags

Tote bags made as previously described. Mostly overlocked and handles added.

These are one layer and deliberately fine to fold up into a handbag.

The lovely camper fabric was provided by Bunty. It’s fab, just like her.

They are really useful.

Cards Early 2018

IF I HAVE GIVEN YOU A CARD TO BE OPENED LATER, PLEASE DO NOT LOOK HERE.

This one has already been opened.

These are drawn using the ‘Zentangle’ technique. See previous post.

I added some embroidery to this one.

These are both just embroidery.

See more about embroidery later.

Grace and I went to the Craft Dabble at Lancashire W.I. HQ in Leyland. To be honest we had kind of forgotten what we signed up for, so it was a day of surprises. 16 ladies in 4 groups of 4 rotated around 4 tutor led tables.

Dorset Buttons

Were made in the Victorian era and earlier. Buttons were an expensive commodity and these could be made with animal bones and twine. The bone would be dried and then cut to make rings.

We were given curtain hoops which do the same job and wool to replace the twine.

You start by threading a needle and blanket stitching around the edge of the hoop to cover it.

Then you wrap a piece of wool across the hoop 4 times, which makes spokes in the middle of the circle.

Then you thread a needle and weave the needle between the spokes starting in the middle and working outwards.

Once the hoop is fully filled in, the wool is secured.

They are used now for decorations. Metalic threads make excellent Christmas decorations. People also used them as a decoration on a bag or as a false button.

Kusudama Paper Flowers

I have never been a big fan of paper flowers but I have to say these have changed my mind.

There are oodles of examples of how to make these on You Tube, which will explain better than I can.

The key to it, is the fact that you make 5 cone shapes and stick them together to make the flower head.

The folding makes the stamen-like centres and we used light card. An A4 sheet will make 2 cones, cutting the largest squares you can.

These are the two I made in the class.

When I got home I fished out all the old craft magazines I had which had pretty paper in them. This was perfect for the job. The centre decorations are cut out pieces of paper and any button or trinket you may have.

The stems are made from bamboo BBQ sticks and we coloured them with felt pens to take away the stark colour contrast of the bamboo.

They are certainly better viewed from above and I keep them on the hearth by the fire.

A few weeks later, we taught our Craft N Chat group how to make them, so the bunch is ‘growing’.

Fondant Animals

We did not get a choice of animals, but Monkeys, Tigers, Lions and Bears were made by other groups.

They look complicated but when broken down are balls, cones and sausages of fondant.

The lady recommended ALDI fondant, which is also used by professionals apparently.

Zebra Front

Zebra Back. The thin strips were very tricky.

Elephant Front

Elephant Back

We took our items to Craft n Chat the week after for a show and tell and they were snapped up for a child’s birthday cake, so not wasted.

Sashiko Japanese Embroidery Coaster

Sashiko is a type of Japanese folk embroidery.

We started with a square of fabric which had a disappearing (with heat) design on it.

We started in the middle and simply made a running stitch along the design. We used 3 strands of the embroidery thread.

Real Sashiko uses a white cotton thread and is normally stitched onto blue fabric.

We then placed two pieces of fabric and a layer of light wadding together and sewed around the edge. Once inverted the wadding is in the middle of the fabric layers.

We made a small tassel, by wrapping thread around 3 fingers and securing at the top, then snipping the bottom edge.

The coasters were edged on the sewing machine and the tassel secured.

Mick claimed mine for his beer glass and it is working well.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable day and met some lovely ladies from around Lancashire.

Aprons

I made this Apron for Pam’s 50th as she likes Hares, and I stumbled on this material.

It is quite thick cotton and sewed like a dream.

Spot the pocket. Some very careful pattern matching.

I took the pattern from my W.I. apron as I thought the W.I. will have had plenty of practice at getting a universal size.

I used tape for the neck and waist straps and sewed them into the edging.

Fortunately I had enough to make two, so Ruth got a nice surprise too.

Bears 16

The first picture features the bears I made on the boat last year. This piccie has slipped through the net. A couple of their peers were adopted during the summer, but there is an example of each type I made here.

Next are two child friendly bears made for Finlay and Keira. Keira’s has the rainbow ribbon and Finlay’s the gold. All safety eyes and joints.

Next are two short haired bears made with fabric from Clitheroe Market. A bear maker was selling her stash through the market for charity, so it was a win-win all round.

Finally a smaller version of the large ones above. All child friendly. He went to America, for a hug-over-the-seas from their loving family.

Thursday, 1 March 2018

Shirt 1

I really want to make a William Morris patterned shirt for myself, but the Liberty type fabric costs an arm and a leg so I thought I should practice first.

This material was quite expensive for me, £8 per metre from the Abakhan trip.

I used a McCalls Pattern M6436, B5 and I cut out a size 16.

I used the full seam allowances. With hindsight I would have used a bit less.

I started in Oct and then got diverted when I got to the collar, a hard bit.

After the waistcoat I was feeling more buoyant so continued.

Another week of panic and procrastination came before completing the button holes. Once again, deliberately cutting holes into the nice thing I had nearly finished and could ruin. Deep breath.

I made a test square using the same material, sandwiching the same interfacing. Then made 20 practice button holes of all shapes and sizes.

Time to bite the bullet. Starting at the bottom of the front so no one will notice. My machine makes button holes in 4 nerve shattering stages. Breathe.

Not too bad

Lovely contrasting buttons saved from an old shirt.

Cuff

Cuff showing pleats

Closed front

Closed collar

Open front

Back

Open neck front.

Slight problem, my winter podge means it looks great when I am stood up, but less so when sat down. No more pies for a while. Good incentive. Plus its a bit chilly for this at the moment.

Waistcoat 1

Mick joined Clitheroe Ukulele Orchestra last year and they play in waistcoats. His first was acquired in haste from a charity shop. It was time for an upgrade.

Carol had given me some grey flannel a few weeks previously and I had the blue from years ago.

The pattern was from the second Great British Sewing Bee book. You have to trace them. This was the largest size.

You use interfacing in the front panels. In the book they use tack in interfacing, but I used Iron-on.

You attach the fronts to the back at the shoulders, then seam around the whole thing except under the arms on both sides. Then you turn your brain inside out to figure out the bagging of the garment. It’s very clever, but you pretty much sew the lining and the outer together, but leave a space to turn the whole thing through.

You end up with holes at each side in the lining which I sewed up by hand.

The pattern says that you can make a faux piping by ironing the front very carefully to show the lining and by heck it worked a treat.

Then for the bound button holes, more internet knowledge required. The explanation in the book is quite good, but the videos really helped.

You lay a small piece of fabric where you want the button hole, on the outside, right face together.

Sew a narrow rectangle around the button hole, then slit the hole through all the layers….. of the lovely work you have been working on for days, very jangled.

Then push the external material through the hole and press it so that lips appear on the outside.