Embroidery ideas - - - cupcake cozy

I've had this idea kicking around in my head for a while. Cupcake wrappers & cozies are all over the internet but most of them are single use.

I love the idea that these are able to be used time & time again.

What to do...
-Trace around the template using your wash out or fade out marker.
-Draw your design onto the fabric. I just scribbled the "yum" & then went over it a few times to fatten it up. I used plastic backed curtain lining which worked well but you could always use regular cotton or linen & then vliesofix a couple of layers together before you do your blanket stitching.
- Stitch your design.
- Cut around the template shape.
- Blanket stitch around the edge.
-You just need to stitch a little hook & eye onto either side of the join once you're done with the stitching.

You can collect the pdf template & a nice cupcake recipe too - - - right here.

Vintage Embroidery

I was lucky enough to chance upon some BEAUTIFUL table centres at an antique shop last week & thought all of you would appreciate this piece in particular.

Isn't it stunning? A bit unexpected? Beautifully executed?

Embroidery Project - - - faux hand bound notebook cover

This project is based on a simple Japanese bookbinding techinique which I learnt from Gemma Jones.



I embroidered this vintage design some time ago & bound it using the Japanese binding method. I did feel a bit sorry that it's life span was going to be so short.

I've come up with a Japanese style embroidered cover which will have a much longer life expectancy & I thought that you clever stitchers might like to use the technique too. I think they make a fabulous gift idea.

How to make a faux hand bound notebook cover

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Once you've completed the embroidery you'll need to assemble the cover. I put together a very simple fabric notebook cover tutorial last year which you might like to follow.

I look forward to seeing your covers popping up in the flickr group.

Fill Stitches

Just an amazing Frenched Bear by Bustle & Sew.

I love a coloured piece.

I've made a little gallery of lovely filled stitcheries recently added to the flickr group & I thought you might enjoy it.

My fillers of choice are chain stitch & french knots. I'm terrible at satin stitch & not much better at long & short. I think it's got something to do with my persistent refusal to use a hoop.

What's your filler of choice?

Embroidery Supplies - - - aquasol or water soluable plastic

My stitching life just wouldn't be the same without it. It's a "must have" for the stitching kit.

I always buy my "magic disolving stuff" from Bustle & Bows in Melbourne. They know what I mean when I ask for that but you might want to call it Aquasol or water soluble plastic if you're asking for it in store.

Do you use this product or maybe you have some other favourite for embroidery on dark fabric? Do share.

This is not only useful for embroidery but I imagine many other crafty pursuits. I saw a similar product used to create a super fluffy critter on a blanket recently.

How To - Embroidery On Dark Fabric

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Embroidery Project - - - sausage dog cd envelope

Just a bit of fun really. This little sausage dog wraps himself all the way around the CD.


You can pick up the template ready to trace & stitch yourself right here.

OR there's a cheater paper version if you'd like that.

How To Make A Sausage Dog Cd Cover

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Embroidery Ideas

I guess it's kind of reverse collage isn't it?







I've made a copy of the page I wanted to use, traced the original dress, stitched it up & then cut away the dress from the magazine page to "frame" the embroidered piece.

I think that this idea would look wonderful if you used pattern envelopes or pages from vintage picture books.

Edit: Of course there are no new ideas. It seems that Doe C Doe has done it all before & really beautifully too. Just take a look here.

The Quilt Project

I've spent this week pulling apart the quilt & posting the blocks back to the creators or onto swap partners.

The Quilt Project was something pretty special. Blocks were worked in red & posted to Melbourne where they were assembled into a temporary quilt & displayed for one night. The Quilt has also travelled to Sydney for display & has now been scattered around Australia (& the globe).

While not all the squares are embroidered, a good many are & I thought that you might enjoy spending some time with The Quilt.

My favourite embroidery book...

Ike Rosen has influenced me hugely.

"Modern Embroidery" is one of my all time favourite embroidery books. It was published in English in 1972 & is worth buying for the fabulous styling alone! Apart from that I love the use of chain stitch as a "fill" stitch. It's now my filler of choice.



I really truly think that anybody who has a keen interest in stitchery should own a copy.



There are quite a few super cute easter projects too.

If you can track one down on ebay it's a great one to have in the library.

Edit: You guys are keen...excellent.

Here are the particulars for anybody now on the hunt

Modern Embroidery
by Ike Rosen
First published in English 1972
B.T Batsford Ltd
London
ISBN 0 7134 2655 1

Embroidery Project - - - roll up carry alls

This is one from the archives but I thought you might enjoy.

Embroidered carry alls & then a very basic construction.

Knock yourselves out with the...

PDFs ready to trace & stitch.
Blogroll
Chicko Roll
Rock n Roll
Stitch n Roll

How To Make An Embroidered Carry All

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Embroidery Project - - - soap saver shower mitt

I guess by now you've done your embroidery & made your twisted cord?

Hooray...you're ready to whip out the machine then.

How To Make a Soap Saver Shower Mitt

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If you do make a "scrubber" maybe you could add it to the flickr pool? I'd love to see your take on the shower mitt. To make sure I don't miss it maybe you could add the tag scrubber.

Embroidery Project - - - Shower Mitt Template

Did you all make your twisted cord? It's going to be the cord to loop your shower mitt over the taps...see?

It's OK if you didn't, it only takes a couple of minutes.

I've got another homework assignment for this week.

These soap saver shower mittens are utterly fabulous. I made one a couple of weeks ago from an embroidery sampler and one from some vintage linen tablemats too. They don't take too long to stitch or make up so that puts them fairly & squarely on the gift list.



Personally I love the cheeky "scrubber" but you might like to use your own design, something vintage or maybe a Sublime Stitching pattern.

I've included the Scrubber template & a blank one too.


NOTE: These are the "fronts" for right handed mitts. If you're a leftie & you especially want your embroidery to be on the front of the mitt then you should trace the mitten part with the thumb on the other side.


All you need to do is download & print the "original" of the template of your choosing & then trace it onto some linen, calico or thrifted sheeting with a wash out marker. Trace the mitten shape as well as the text (or just the mitten & fill it with your own design). Please be aware that this traced shape will form our "pattern" for next week & we'll be stitching ON this line, so don't stitch your design too close to it.

Original Scrubber here.
Original Blank here.

During the week you can stitch your design & I'll show you how to assemble the whole thing next week...sound good?

How to turn a photo into an embroidery design...

First of all I want to say a big HELLO & thanks for having me at Feeling Stitchy. I've got to say a great big thank you to Jeana Marie for giving me the kick I needed to share with you all here.

I was hoping to have a new project ready for today but I'm in the process of moving out of & renovating a house for sale so I just haven't got there...it's a promise for next week OK?

As my Plan B I thought I'd share how I created the design for my very favourite embroidery project (featured this morning in Floresita's introduction).

How to turn a photograph into an embroidery design
(for non-drawer types)

Step 1:
Take a photo of what it is you want to embroider.



Step 2:
Use either photoshop or picnik to turn your image into a pencil sketch. You could stop here if you want your embroidery project to be "photographic".
If you don't have access to either of these applications you could just photocopy or turn your image black & white.



Step 3:
Print your pencil sketch image.
Muck around with your coloured pencils to work out which elements you want coloured.



Step 4:
Using a light box or window trace your design with a fine liner.



Step 5:
Scan & size your image according to your project requirements.



Step 6:
Then trace onto your fabric using a water soluable marker.



Begin stitching.

Monday: Introducing Kirsty

Stitched by Kirsty

I'd like to introduce our newest blogger on Feeling Stitchy - Kirsty, of kootoyoo. She'll be blogging embroidery projects and tutorials. Her blog and Flickr stream are full of wonderfully inspiring tutorials, stitching, and creative projects. She's an amazingly talented stitcher, and it's a treat to have her with us!

Here's a mini-interview with Kirsty - stay tuned for her posts!

Your favorite DMC floss color?
Always 321
But currently appreciating 905

Your favorite embroidery project?


Your inspirations?
The run. I really have all my best ideas while I’m running.
My family.
My everyday life.

Your blog url?
http://www.kootoyoo.com

Are you involved in any swaps or projects?
http://thequiltproject.blogspot.com

One word answer:
Freehand or pattern?
Freehand

Messy or neat?
Neat

Cute or edgy?
Edgy

Welcome, Kirsty!