fabric

After doing previous projects using the Suffolk puff (yo-yo's), and being pleased with the effect they give, I wanted to try something else. I liked a brooch I saw on The Eternal Magpie it was another twist on the Suffolk puff. This is my version of the flower.

I used a fine cotton lawn fabric, from this I cut out six circles for the petals and one in a contrasting colour for the centre.

My theme this week has been flowers made from fabric, I think I'm looking forward to spring, wishing away these cold winter days.

These flowers are so easy to make but I think look spectacular. I bought organza made from polyester, silk organza won't work, from the local market, only £2 a metre. I chose a few plain colours but also found a couple that were multi coloured, these are particularly good for depth and colour variation when constructing a flower.

For the pattern I cut out three concentric circles, I just drew round drinking glasses and a lid.

I bought some ribbon before Christmas, from the local market, wired edged ombre ribbon. Because the colours are graduated I thought they would make interesting flowers. I cut a length of ribbon 70cm long, removed the wire, by pulling it, from one edge, the base edge. At either end of the ribbon I folded over the ends, as shown in the photograph. With a needle and thread I sewed a running stitch along the length of the ribbon. I pulled the thread, to gather the ribbon, not too gathered or the flower would look like a rosette!

I made my two pieces of Redwork embroidery into a removable book cover. I realise a white cover isn't the most practical colour, but it is washable, and a few coffee stains might compliment the design!

Today I did a sketch of my kettle, turned it into a line drawing then embroidered it. Redwork is addictive, no household object is safe from the Redwork treatment, the more mundane the better! Find out more about Redwork, history and method here

Yesterday I drew an espresso coffeepot, today I have turned it into an embroidery. I wanted to try Redwork. You can find out more about Redwork, the history and method here I traced my line drawing, of the coffeepot, onto white cotton fabric, I don't have a light box so used my window to do this. I traced the image using a red propelling pencil, this gave ma a fine line, the same colour as my thread. The stitch I used was backstitch, couldn't be easier.

First make a pattern, to do this measure the height and around your book plus an amount for inside flaps. Add a seam allowance of 1cm (3/8th") all round plus an extra 0.5cm (3/16th") to the top and bottom of your pattern.

Cut out two pieces from the pattern.

Place the 2 pieces right sides together, and pin them.

Using a straight stitch, sew them together along the edges (seam allowance of 1cm (3/8th"). Leave a 5cm (2") gap, along one of the short edges, and use it to turn the cover right side out.

I've made a cover for a hot water bottle, a gift for a friend. The hot water bottle I chose was tiny so giving exact dimensions, for a pattern, is difficult. I hope this post gives a general idea of how to make a pattern, to fit any size hot water bottle. First I drew around the bottle, adding a flap at the top, this will fold over and be fastened with a button. I added an extra 2cm allowance all round. From this initial template I made three pattern pieces.

I was thinking about making a needle case when I came across this tutorial by Skebba. A little letter needle book, perfect! I adapted the pattern slightly. Then the thought came to me, my needle case could do with a companion, a pin cushion. Keeping to the postal theme I designed a parcel pin cushion, over stuffed and tied with string. I think this postal pair would make a perfect present. 

On Wednesday we were without home phone or computers, a branch from a neighbours tree fell on the telephone wire and severed it. This morning BT engineers came promptly at 8 am, we are back online! Good service BT, well done.

The photograph, above, I took in the garden, it's the seed pods of a very unassuming iris (its flowers are brown and purple), but its berries look like strings of shiny orange beads.