Little Stitches

Happy new week, everyone! I'm still under an embroidery spell so we'll have a few more sewing features if that's alright with you.

We'll base our designs on this darling book, perfect for the embroidery novice.

It's written by the talented Aneela Hoey whose writing voice is of a friendly teacher guiding the reader on essentials like putting together an embroidery tool kit, transferring patterns to cloth, and how to do basic stitches.

There are helpful photos and guides to complete a project.

Enclosed in the book are free patterns printed on transfer paper that can be used multiple times. The drawings have an innocence and familiarity about them. 

Just like last Friday, I'm using jewelry pouches. The contents are on regular rotation and sit on this dish on my dresser. Time to turn these bags from blah to TADA!

Because the fabric is sheer, it's easy to trace the design straight from the book.

Here's what my basket of cherries looks like all embroidered.

For the bigger pouch, I'll use the cherry tree.

With a combination of a chain stitch, running stitch and knots, I've added color to my pouch.

And for the final pouch, a pair of cherries.

Quite easy, really, but being aware to make the back neat and the knots hidden.

Cheery, cherry-themed pouches I can reuse to wrap small presents. TADA!

Thread + Type

Hey, hey, happy Friday! Now that we've got the basic materials for embroidery all set up, it's time to sew! 

I'm turning these fabric pouches from blah to TADA! They served as packaging for some jewelry I received. Similar ones can be sourced on-line or if you're sewing savvy, they're pretty simple to make.

I'm using these iron-on pattern transfers I got at a craft fair.

I'm digging the old school office supplies and cat eye glasses.

I cut around the pattern and figured where best to put it on the pouch.

Then I ironed the pouch to smooth out any wrinkles and to heat up the fabric. The iron-on transfer adheres better when the fabric is warm.

I positioned the design on the fabric ink side facing down. 

With the iron on cotton/wool setting {no steam}, I passed the iron over the pattern to heat it up {I held the iron over it for about 2 minutes} , making sure that it didn't move {if necessary, anchor it with pin}. 

I gently lifted up an edge of the pattern to check the intensity of the transfer {if it's too light, continue ironing until the desired darkness is achieved}.

Once the pattern cooled, I kept it with the other patterns in an envelope -- these can be used over and over again.

I sandwiched the fabric in an embroidery loop and chose black floss {two strands} to sew my typewriter. 

I used a split stitch for the straight lines {I'm pleased that it resembles a drawing}.

For the circles in the design {ex. keys}, I used a French knot {sounds fancy but very easy to do}.

And here is my tiny typewriter...TADA! 

Perhaps I can give it away as a token to a fellow writer, filled with index cards with writing prompts. What do you think?

Have a sweet weekend!

Sew Organized

One of the essential items for embroidery is floss:

But once these are removed from the package, 

does this happen to you?

 A tangle of thread!

To turn this situation from blah to TADA!, here's my solution:

 I cut small squares out of cardboard.

 Trim them a little bit more so they look like spools.

Then punch a hole on top.

 Mark each cardboard spool with the color code of 

the thread {printed on the slip-on label}.

 Neatly wind the embroidery floss on the corresponding board,

tucking in the ends.

 Finally, insert the spools on a binder ring.

A manageable way to keep thread in their place. 
TADA!

Embroidery Essentials

If you're a crafter, you can focus on a single craft or try out different ones. I love how the world of crafting can be so diverse, the options are limitless! Lately, I've been enamored with embroidery. 

But before embarking on my first project, I've assembled a few key items or "embroidery essentials". Maybe this will be useful if you're considering embroidery, too.

 Embroidery floss in different colors

 Embroidery hoops - I have a small one {four inches} and a larger one {six inches}

 A sharp pair of scissors to trim thread and a seam ripper to undo stitches.

Embroidery needles {these have bigger holes/longer eyes compared to regular needles to fit multiple strands of thread} and pins {to secure patterns to fabric}.

 A pin cushion {I'm using this tiny stuffed toy as my sewing mascot}

Different kinds of fabric {cotton in plain shades are ideal but I'll be experimenting with printed ones and fabric scraps...an easy way to turn blah to TADA!}.

In the coming days, I'll show you a few of the things I'm working on. See you tomorrow!

More Embroidered Book Covers

Yesterday, I had mentioned Penguin Threads where the books we've grown up with were infused with whimsy and youthfulness through their embroidered covers.

Here's another set, this time illustrated {first by drawing, then followed with hand stitching} by Rachell Sumpter.

via designworklife

via designworklife

via designworklife

Just look at all that detail, the use of color and the clues to what the book is about!  From concept to execution... a TADA! in my eyes.

Judge a Book by its Cover

Hello and Happy Monday! This week, let's venture into the land of embroidery. Maybe some of you have tried it? I learned it in school and that was the last time I remember completing a needlepoint project. Until this came along...

via Jillian Tamaki

I kept seeing these at the bookstore. They're the well-loved Penguin classics but their covers went from blah to TADA! They're a special edition called Penguin Threads launched in 2011. 

It's the brainchild of Penguin art director Paul Buckley where he commissioned artist Jillian Tamaki to design the cover. Miss Tamaki sketched out her vision and then embroidered it! By hand! With needle and thread! How awesome is that? Okay, so not every single book is embroidered, but the finish is "sculpt embossed" giving it a two-dimensional feel.

Miss Tamaki made these three covers for both the hardbound and paperback versions:

via Jillian Tamaki

via Jillian Tamaki

via Jillian Tamaki

via Jillian Tamaki

via Jillian Tamaki

via Jillian Tamaki

And look at the inside cover:

via Jillian Tamaki

It captures what you would see when you flip an embroidered fabric {stitches, knots and all}. The illustrator signed her work, too. In needle and thread, no less.

Found Advice

I read this piece when I was a teenager. I remember finding it to be incredibly powerful. I totally forgot about it until it found me again at a delightful cafe.

While I don't have a craft for you today, I hope this will make your outlook on life less blah and more TADA! Have a great weekend, everyone!