Cesto da Roupa...

Olá! The first weeks of this year I'll be showing some more works from Portuguese embroiderers. I believe it is a great way of beginning the year... isn't it?

And let's begin with Isabel Jardim and her blog "cesto da roupa"... I would translate it as clothes basket... Because I believe she did not mean laundry basket... but maybe the real problem is with my English. :)

I got to know her work three years ago and I loved the originality and freshness of how she worked with fabrics... so different from what I usually see. But I only discovered embroidery on her work very recently...

Some years ago Isabel begun publishing beautiful painted  laundry bags and bed sheets but soon her charming bed covers became a success and I believe that was when she started showing her embroidery stitches... soon delicate stitches began embellishing many of Isabel's works. And she brought them from the bed to the table. Later, her doll lavender bags with cute embroidered faces were the confirmation that embroidery was there to stay. :)

Today I bring you some photos of more recent pieces of work with embroidered details that make them so special and unique... 

Photos from Cesto da Roupa

Photo from Cesto da Roupa

Isabel's bunting banners and this beautiful bag embroidered with little birds show her inspiration from vintage motifs...

Photos from Cesto da Roupa

 And this toilet bag surely shows Isabel's preference for floral patterns...

Photo from Cesto da Roupa

Lately, Isabel has been dedicating some of her stitches to our little friends... and she embroidered a beautiful collection of pillows for pets...

But I will leave the best for last... so don't forget to pass by next week. I'll show you my favorite works from "cesto da roupa" and you'll learn a little more about Isabel and her relation to embroidery.

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Today's tutorial features a darling embroidery pattern designed by Nicole over at Follow the White Bunny. I have loved this Apple Tree pattern for quite some time, and stitched it a while ago, but had yet to put it on anything. I decided on turning it into a small clutch that I can grab quickly when I just need to carry my keys, cell phone, and money or a small notebook. I really like the way this handy clutch turned out, and hope you will, too.

Supplies needed for this clutch purse:

- Two exterior pieces of fabric measuring 8.5 by 9-inches

- Two interior/lining pieces of fabric measuring 8.5 by 9-inches

- Two pieces of Interfacing or Batting measuring 8.5 by 9-inches

- A 7-inch zipper

- Embroidery supplies

- Sewing machine

- Scissors

- A jar lid or small plate

- Coordinating sewing thread

Step One: Embroider exterior piece of fabric and clip exterior, interior, and interfacing to 8.5 by 9-inches. Use a jar lid or small plate to create the curved bottom edges of each piece of fabric, interior/lining, and interfacing. I used a jar lid and placed it as close to the bottom and side edge as I could. I traced the bottom curve along the corner of fabric, then clipped the excess fabric off.

Step Two: Place the zipper face down over the exterior piece of fabric, with the furthest edge of the zipper tape along the top edge of the fabric. I have the interfacing underneath this exterior piece of fabric.

Place one interior or lining piece of fabric face down over that and pin in place. Using a zipper foot on a sewing machine, stitch along this top edge. 

When you flip these pieces over to expose the unsewn edge of the zipper, it should look like this.

Step Three: Repeat the instructions from Step Two by placing the zipper face down with the unsewn edge along the top of the exterior piece and the lining face down over that. Again, the interfacing is underneath the exterior piece. You'll have the right sides of the interior/lining facing each other, as shown in the photo below. Pin in place and sew. 

When you turn the fabric out, it should look something like this, with the right sides of the interior/lining and exterior facing out on either side.

Step Four: Top stitch along each side of the zipper, as shown in the photo above.

Step Five: Unzip the zipper about halfway. Take the two exterior pieces and bring them right sides together and pin in place. Pin the interior/lining pieces together as well, marking a 2-inch space to leave unsewn on the interior/lining piece. Sew around these pieces using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. 

Step Six: Clip the four curves of the exterior and interior/lining, perpendicular to the seam you just created. Clip as closely to the seam as possible, without cutting the thread. This will allow the curve to lay flat once the bag is turned.

Step Seven: Turn the bag through the unsewn space in the lining and then top stitch this space shut. 

Step Eight: Enjoy a fun clutch bag/purse!

Hope you enjoy and have a very happy Tuesday!

Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Hope you are all doing well! I know Spring is in full swing for some of us, bringing fresh blooms in the garden and thoughts of warmer temps that don't require a jacket. It seems that almost everyone I know has been headed to the beach for a bit of a Spring break and reprieve from chilly weather. I decided I would join in, but whenever I travel with a swimsuit, I always end up with a less-than-lovely plastic bag for my swimsuit. Which prompted today's tutorial: A swimsuit travel bag.

I purchased this pattern from The Story of Kat a while back, and had been looking for a place to add her vintage swimsuit. I thought this was a perfect place for it. 

If you would like to make your own swimsuit bag, you'll need the following supplies:

-fabric cut into two 10x11-inch pieces

-two pieces of clear vinyl in 10x11-inch pieces

-embroidery pattern of choice (I used this)

-embroidery hoop

-coordinating floss

-embroidery needles

-sewing machine with thread of choice

-scissors

-one safety pin

-a 40-inch piece of ribbon

-seam ripper

Note: If you have the clear vinyl bags from comforter or bed linen packaging, it works in place of the vinyl for this project. As well as oil cloth or coated cotton.

Step one: Transfer your embroidery pattern onto the fabric of choice and stitch. I used white cotton muslin for the front of my bag, with a gingham fabric for the back. Cut your pieces of fabric and vinyl into 10x11-inch pieces.

Step two: Using a 1/4-inch seam, sew around three edges of the vinyl. Turn it inside out and set aside.

Step three: Place the fabric pieces right sides together and stitch a 1/4-inch seam around three edges, leaving the top open.

Step four: In order to create the vinyl lining of this bag, place the fabric pieces you just sewed, inside of the vinyl piece. Make sure the wrong sides of the seems are facing one another. 

Fold the fabric over to create a 1-inch hem and pin in place. 

Step five: Set your sewing machine to the zigzag stitch, and stitch around the hem where the fabric edge meets the vinyl. I went over this stitch twice just to reinforce it. Trim away threads right at the edge of the stitch.

Step six: Flip the bag. You should have a pouch now. Take your seam ripper and open up the seam on the side of the bag, just above the zigzag stitch. You only need to open up the seem on the outside, not the inside top of this hem.

Step seven: Place the safety pin on one end of your ribbon piece, and begin to thread it through the hole you just opened the seam to. 

Use the safety pin as a guide to gather the fabric and push the ribbon through the top hem of the bag. 

Once you pull the ribbon through the opposite side, trim the ends of the ribbon and knot the end. 

Step eight: Add swimsuit and take off to the beach or pool!

This is a quick item to make. If you leave out the vinyl and use a fabric lining, it works as a travel bag for underthings, as well.

Hope you give this tutorial a try and have a very happy Tuesday!