Machine Embroidery

After reading Martha's blog this morning, I was inspired to share the embroidered kitchen towels that I did for Christmas presents. The relatives who received these as gifts seemed pleased, and were especially happy with the "Pampered Chef" gift card that was included!

Although I have a new machine that embroideries, I do very little. I like having the option, but I will always be a "handwork girl." For me the secret to successful machine embroidery is having an adult daughter who lives less that an hour away and has the exact same machine. She either comes over and helps me with it, or walks me through the steps over the phone! While I struggle from lack of practise, she does quite a bit and is finding new designs and gift ideas all of the time.

I'm looking forward to this summer, when we will have more time to sew together. Maybe, I will get more comfortable with the machine embroidery!

Michie'

A Burst of Color

I REALLY do like to see how your sewing projects are turning out!

Lynette Marxuach, from Puerto Rico, emailed pictures of two lovely bishop dresses that she has completed. Both dresses were made using pattern #135.

This bishop, is made from a beautiful blue print. Lynette, smocked the dress using one of the free smocking designs on the blog. I love her choice of floss colors!

Also, made from a blue print fabric, Lynette, smocked this bishop with a different smocking design from the blog. Her choice of colors picks up the green as well as the blue in the print, and she added a few more rows of smocking for more coverage. Great job Lynette!

* Family update: No, I have not got to hug his neck yet! My husband is going early tomorrow to Camp Shelby to pick him up. It is 10 hours round trip, and will involve loading all of his stuff in the car and visiting a gun shop, so I decided to let this be a "guy" trip. :) I have also learned from experience, that is best to let them get their stories (good and bad) out of the way without having to censor them for mom!

Michie'

#107 Pattern of the Week

The pattern of the week is #104! This little boy's bubble pattern includes sizes 3 - 24 months. A one piece bubble with a two piece look, the bubble can be made with a square collar, pointed collar, or a simple neckband. This bubble, was featured in Sew Beautiful Magazine issue #104, and was made from a pale turquoise Imperial Broadcloth.

Embellished with Bullion stitched bumble bees down the center front of the shirt, this bubble appeared in Sew Beautiful Magazine issue #94.

Kathy Barnard, editor of Sew Beautiful Magazine, made this elegant version for her son Aiden. Featured in issue #106, Kathy added her original embroidery design to the front of the shirt.

This white linen version, was made by Carol Harris for Creative Needle Magazine 2001. Carol stitched original Bullion sea horses down the front of the shirt.

Made from blue and white pima cotton, I made this bubble from scraps left over from other projects. The square collar is perfect for Shadow Embroidery, and mock suspenders give the bubble a very boyish look.

The simple sailboat embroidery design is included in the pattern.

Back in the USA!

This blog is to thank everyone for the prayers and kind words, while our son has been in Iraq. I had walked out to the mail box and almost missed his call! I grabbed the phone as he said, "Hey mom, I'm at Camp Shelby." We have been through it before, but that message is still a thrill! We will now be waiting to hear when to pick him up next week.


Are you curious about the picture? Our kids, (this one in particular) discovered "Wallace and Gromit" while in high school, and we all enjoyed the movies. He found the poster online about 15 years ago, and it hung at the foot of our basement stairs. When we downsized last year, and I ruthlessly got rid of half our stuff, this was one of the few things that I couldn't part with. It just reminds me of how much fun we had watching those movies with the kids. A few years ago, I tried to give it to him for his apartment, but he said it says, "home" to him. The poster now has a place of honor in our guestroom. The kids forget it is there and I always wait to hear them burst out laughing when they walk in!

I hope everyone can enjoy, and laugh with your family this weekend!
Michie'

Crochet Edging for Blankets

After receiving several e-mails and comments about the crocheted blanket blog, I decided to take it a step farther, and show the steps that I like to use to prepare a blanket edge.

But, first we will start with a story......the picture above proves that 25 years ago, I was a skilled crocheter! With that in mind, about two years ago, I took my newly married daughter, Anna, and we went to a local guild meeting where Cindy, would teach us to crochet in entredeux. I of course, knew how to crochet, but enjoy the meetings, and was looking forward to spending an evening with my daughter, where she could learn a new skill. Cindy, handed out our packet of supplies, I quickly tied my thread to the entredeux, made sure that Anna had hers' right, and prepared to start. Then, as Cindy began the basic instructions, she said, "And, remember, you crochet from right to left." My brain froze! I could not remember how to crochet. I had never thought about which direction we crochet in and I couldn't get started! I sat there a minute, then looked over at Anna, who was crocheting away, and whispered, "I can't get started, and where did you learn to crochet?" After she got me started, I then had to take it all out because I was doing the wrong stitch. Cindy, noticed me pulling mine out and commented that some of us who already knew how to crochet, may want to pull it out and try a new pattern....... little did she know. Fortunately after about 30 minutes, my long lost skill had come back and I remembered the stitches. Anna laughed and consoled me on the way back to her apartment, when I remembered that the last time I had crocheted, I was pregnant with her!!!

Now, to the blanket. I used a large "wing needle", and the stitch and adjustments, pictured above. If your machine does not have the stitch, experiment with similar ones, or try a zigzag stitch. The "wing needle" is important, because it makes holes in the fabric large enough to insert a small crochet hook through it.

I cut out a square of fabric, 36"x 36", rounded off the corners (I used a plate to trace around), and turned under and pressed a scant 1/4" to the wrong side. I played with stitching from the wrong side of the fabric, to see if I got the desired look, and discovered that either would work fine.

I used a contrasting thread, so that it would show in the photos. I would normally use a white thread to match the blanket. For the blanket, I am working on, I am using a #7 crochet hook, and #8 DMC Pearl Cotton thread. If you need a crochet refresher course, there are several helpful websites.

* Update: He is now in Kuwait, waiting for his flight out. He said, that he had forgot how good Kuwait looks, when you are on your way home! :)

Michie'

Did They Read My Mind?

As we finished loading up all of my stuff at the Stitchin' Post, they handed me a gift. Of course, I opened it right away! How did they know?

Out of all the beautiful things in the store, the two items that I kept looking at, and had not purchased, were the hemstitched blankets and kimonos. Also, included in my gift bag, was the pearl cotton thread that I would need for the project!

I could hardly wait to get home, and find my crochet hook. Fortunately for me, this is crochet and not a knitting project!

First, I carefully trimmed the excess fabric away, close to the hemstitching. I then, started a simple crochet pattern, working my stitches into the hemstitched holes. The pattern I am using is 2 single stitches, then 1 single stitch, chain 4, single stitch in the same hole, and continue. You can't get much easier than that!

This is a sample of #122, with entredeux and crocheted edging. The top and bloomers are both made from white linen, with hand embroidery in soft vintage colors. The bloomers are the panties, from pattern #123, which were lengthened 1 1/2", when I cut them out.

I have used the same basic crochet pattern, and crocheted into each entredeux hole.

For those who are wondering......no word from Iraq. From past experience, that probably means that he did leave yesterday and is on his way back to the states. IF this happened, our next phone call should be in about 48 hours, from Biloxi, MS. He can then let us know what day to go to Camp Shelby to pick him up!

Michie'

Need More Time to Shop!

We arrived at the Stitchin' Post in plenty of time for me to go in and introduce myself, find our hotel, rest, have an anniversary dinner, and be back in time for my evening class. As I got out of the car, I heard someone squeal and say, "Look at the window display! It looks like Spring!" I looked around to see who was so excited over pretty clothes and the promise of Spring. It was me!

I stepped into the shop and to my right, were displays of fabric and my Trunk Show garments.

To my left, was a beautiful display case full of baskets of laces and trims.

I could have spent an hour just sitting on the floor looking through a case of some of the prettiest heirloom garments I have ever seen.

I hardly need to mention the amount of fabric, ribbon, and buttons that I needed to look at. Each morning, as I left the hotel to go and teach my class for the day, I said, "Don't forget, I need time to shop!"

For those of you, who need me to post a blog everyday, (You know who you are) this one was for you! And, for those of you who care, IF the weather holds, and IF the Air Force is on schedule, he will leave Iraq TODAY!

Michie'