celebrate CREATIVITY in all its forms

Hats Off To The (little) Chef

I may have mentioned before that I'm not a fantastic cook.  My husband and kids would likely second that, but at least I'm earnest. 

While I'm still learning and practicing my cooking skills, I've also been trying to get my kids more involved in preparing meals and experimenting in the kitchen along with me.

With that in mind, it occurred to me that attire could possibly inspire.

 

In an effort to encourage Cameron's burgeoning interest in cooking and baking, I made her this cute chef's hat.  I've almost finished one for Jordy too.

I thought looking the part would give the kids a pinch and a dash more inspiration when they're having fun in the kitchen.

A chef's hat is a super simple project and while there are any number of ways to make one, I'll walk you through my easy technique.

You'll need @3/4-yard of fabric, velcro and optional fusible interfacing.  First step is to make the following fabric cuts;  a 20 inch X 7 inch rectangle for the hat band and a 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch strip for facing. 

Also cut a fabric circle with a 22-inch diameter. 

Mark a 5-inch line from the edge of the fabric circle.  Cut the line as shown in the photo below.

Please pardon the uncustomary wordiness in some of these instructions.  I departed from my usual brevity to make sure I cover every step as clearly as possible.

 

Grab the 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch fabric strip which will serve as a mini binding to be placed around the slit that was just cut in the fabric circle.  Turn the strip by 1/4-inch and iron. 

Note: Some of the colors look a shade different from photo to photo due to inconsistent lighting conditions in-house.  All pieces shown are cut from the same fabric selection.

 

Pin the 9 inch X 1-1/2 inch facing strip along the entire slit, pin in place and then stitch using a 1/2 seam allowance. 

After attaching the facing strip to the slit, turn the finished edge toward unfinished side, iron and then top stitch to secure.

 

To make the hat band, first adhere fusible interfacing (or baste stitch another cut of matching 20 inch X 7 inch fabric) to the wrong side of this band. 

Heavier canvas-like fabric may not need interfacing but if you're using a lightweight fabric the extra stiffness gives the band a bit more support.

After applying the interfacing, turn one long edge over about 1/4-inch and iron.  Top-stitch the edge. 

The gathering process is one of my least favorite aspects of any project because all too often my threads break and I have to start over. 

Because of the large distance of required gathering on this project, be extra careful pulling your gathered threads. 

You may also want to consider stitching a series of gathered sets around the fabric circle to minimize the possibility of thread breaks. 

After gathering, pin the hat band (right sides together) to the hat.  Line up the each end with @1/2 clearance on each end.  Slide the gathers and ease to fit, pinning as you go.

You can adjust the size of the hat by simply changing the length of the band.

Stitch the band to the hat.  Fold the band in half toward the outside (rights sides together) and stitch each end from top to bottom using 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Then turn the band inside-out and fold in half toward the inside (wrong sides together) of the hat and iron.

Remember that slit I cut earlier?  Here's a closeup look at the finished slit as it relates to the hat band. 

I think this technique makes a nice and clean finished edge that not only makes the hat more adjustable, but also gives it a more professional appearance.

Finally, add some velcro to each end of the hat band.  Some velcro brands have adhesive on the back but I think it's better to actually stitch the velcro to the hat for a more secure hold. 

Learn from my mistake tip:  Do not stitch through velcro with adhesive-backing.  The adhesive will immediately gum up any needle and if you're using a sewing machine, the needle could carry adhesive down into the machine's internal parts which could cause serious damage to your machine.  If you're going to stitch the velcro on, use a brand without an adhesive-backing.

When you stitch the velcro, do not stitch through the entire band. Stitch the velcro to the inside of the band before securing the open edge of the band to the inside.  That way, the velcro stitching is not visible from the outside of the hat.  Once the velcro is attached, slipstitch the inside edge of the band to the hat to secure.

Meanwhile, no chef's hat would be complete without an apron.  A nice coordinated-looking ensemble is created by using some of the same hat fabric for the apron ties and waistband.

I used fabric designer Amy Butler's Domestic Goddess pattern for this apron which is as easy to make as it is beautiful. 

 

I always think it's nice to personalize homemade projects when possible.  A little embroidery on the bodice goes a long way to make this garment that much more special for Cameron. 

This Amy Butler apron is definitely one of my favorite designs and I've used it several times to create a nice collection. 

Even though the same pattern was used multiple times, I think each apron still has its own personality thanks to the varied fabrics.

This Domestic Goddess pattern has simple, easy-to-understand instructions and the result is quick, elegant and oh-so feminine. 

Trust me, you won't be able to resist creating your own assortment.

Getting back to Cameron's ensemble, I think her hat and apron set looks just as adorable from the back as it does the front.  I love this linen-lookalike fabric which is so crisp when ironed.

Since this particular fabric is more on the lightweight side, I used some heavy-duty starch on the chef hat to give it more poof.

I must admit that after I finished this ensemble, I initially thought it was almost too pretty for Cameron to actually use in the kitchen.  

I thought it might be a bit painful to see food ingredients and fingerprints all over the front. 

However, since I did make this apron/hat set for Cameron to wear as she practices her culinary skills my reluctance was fleeting.  I think it will be fine.  Besides, everything here is completely washable and easy enough to duplicate if necessary. 

Still, I may try to steer her away from recipes that contain grape juice or tomato sauce.

Want to guarantee a smile on a loved ones face?  Try making a chef's hat and matching apron as a gift and you won't have any problem getting a smile as big as the great outdoors.

I think you can see Cameron is quite ready to whip up something in the kitchen right now.   

      

I look forward to the day when this budding young chef will be able to teach me a few things in the kitchen. 

Until then, hat's off to the (little) chef.

   

Butterflies Are Free

I think butterflies in the air are such a beautiful summer sight. I love to see these winged creatures floating effortlessly with the help of a warm breeze.

I also love to create my own butterflies-out of embroidery.

There are so many designs available that lend themselves to this fun and elegant applique technique.

Throughout this post, I'll share a range of applique projects as well as some examples of how these pretty appliques can be used.

       

First, let's start with the how-to. You'll need a sheer fabric like an organza, tulle or another light netting. This kind of fabric comes in lots of beautiful colors and you can pick it up at most fabric stores.

You will also need some water-soluble stabilizer. Stabilizer holds fabric in place in an embroidery hoop while the design is stitching out. It can be completely washed out. Stabilizer can be found at most sewing shoppes and it typically comes in a roll like in the photo below.

Make sure you always store your water-soluble stabilizer in air-tight plastic so it won't be affected by moisture in the air over time.

Of course you'll need a great thread color. You can always mix up your thread shades for a more colorful look on your project. Since I used a pale pink tulle for this illustration, I just kept it simple with a matching pink blush embroidery thread.

When setting up your embroidery hoop for the project, sandwich your netting fabric between two equal sizes of water soluble stabilizer. Place all three layers into your embroidery hoop.

Remember, netting in the center and stabilizer on top and bottom.

      

You must select an embroidery design that has a continuous stitch like the butterfly pattern above or the flower and leaf pattern in the photo below.

The flower/leaf design is completely stitched-out here and you'll notice that no part of the design is separate from any other part of the design. That's a critical factor in creating a successful embroidered applique.

The no stitch-separation rule is important because once the design is stitched out, all the embroidery stitches must connect at some point in order to stay in tact.

If even a small stitch element is not connected to the overall design, you will lose that element after rinsing the stabilizer out because it will not be attached to the rest of the embroidered design.

The stabilizer completely dissolves in water. After rinsing all the stabilizer out of the project, you're left with a beautiful design stitched onto netting.

You can see the design stays attached to the netting because all the stitches connect in some way.

Press the damp appliques flat with a paper towel and set aside to dry completely. Later, just trim the excess netting from the design for a perfect embroidered applique.

  

The butterfly design at the top of this post and the flower and leaf design are both from an embroidery collection by Jenny Haskins called Victorian Lace.

You may remember I used some of Jennie Haskins' fabulous rose designs for the messenger bag project I posted not long ago.

Jenny has a corresponding book called Victorian Spendor, which is filled with tons of beautiful examples of beautiful projects and suggestions on how these embroidery designs can be used.

     

While on the subject of this book, allow me to digress a bit. This book originally came with a very tight binding which made it difficult to keep the pages open while I was studying certain projects and designs.

I took the book to a local office supply store and had the hard binding replaced with a spiral one. Books like this are so much easier to use when you can leave the pages flat and open.

I'll bet you can think of a lot of crafts books in your personal library which could use a spiral binding.

I also had a few clear pocket-folders inserted into the spiral and placed in the back of the book. This is a great way to store accompanying patterns, templates and various work notes.

This spiral binding is inexpensive, does not affect the integrity of the written material and it really does make for a much more user-friendly reference book.

Meanwhile, getting back to embroidery, here's a look at another flower arrangement that I appliqued. This design was purchased through an on-line embroidery company called Zundt Designs which offers fantastic downloadable designs at reasonable prices.

I attached this yellow floral applique to a cute little green-white polka dot child's purse that I made. The purse along with the adorable tulip-border jumper in the photo below was featured in one of my posts last year called Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

You may also recognize the little girl in this photo from a more recent post. She was the cover girl for a scrapbook layout that I created for Memory Makers magazine a few months ago.

     

Here are some little heart-shaped flowers that were also very quick and easy to stitch out. When you have a small design like this you can place multiple designs on one hoop and stitch out several appliques during the same hooping session.

These heart designs are from a collection that is part of an embroidery quilt project called the Bernina Latte Quilt.

You can see how I used these heart-shaped appliques in the photo below. This is one of the many quilt blocks from my Bernina Latte Quilt project.

I've been working on the various blocks for this Bernina quilt, off-and-on for what seems like forever.

I'll share the entire quilt here when I finish it, but I would like to give you a closer look at this particular quilt block. It has a wonderful series of pearl buttons arranged on a center grid. The lines were created using a technique called cording pintucking.

Cording pintucking requires a special pintuck presser foot which attaches to your sewing machine. You can call your sewing machine manufacturer or check with your local sewing shoppe to find a pintuck foot to fit your machine.

I'll walk you through a pintucking project in a future post but you can see a quick on-line video demonstration of the technique now, if you click here.

    

OK, I diverted a bit. Getting back to appliques, here's another example. These triangular scroll appliques were small enough to stitch them all out in one hooping. That's such a time-saver.

The photo below shows how these appliques work as a bathroom towel embellishment. These towels were featured in my post last year entitled, "throw in the towel".

The towel set was a gift to my mom. If you'd like to see the entire "throw in the towel" post, just click here.

  

Want more butterflies.   How about some butterflies in flight?  I can think of lots of great places where these little butterflies could be used.

Small appliques like this are perfect for scrapbooking and cardmaking projects. There's no rule that says embroidered appliques must be attached to apparel. Appliques can go wherever you want them to.

A small staple along the body of these butterflies works fine for the attachment to the scrapbook page. I think the little pink and yellow butterflies add a perfectly sweet and whimsical touch to the layout

Wouldn't a series of these larger embroidered butterfly appliques look nice on a lightweight pale-colored evening shawl?  I would probably leave the antennae unattached and loose on the shawl for a bit of free-floating whimsy.

Finally, here's how I ultimately used the flower and leaf designs that were shown in the original applique tutorial.

It's easy to dress up a pretty-but-plain pink linen shell with the addition of embroidered applique. I love this soft, delicate look for summer, don't you?

If this tank looks familiar, that's because I featured it in a previous tutorial on making fabric covered coat hangers.

Another benefit of embroidered applique is that you can place the design perfectly (and perhaps precariously) onto apparel.  Notice in the photo below that the tips of the embroidery extend slightly beyond the neckline.

I could not have achieved the same "beyond-the-neckline" design placement by embroidering directly onto this blouse, so applique was a perfect way to successfully put the embroidery exactly where I wanted it.

It's a good idea to use "invisible" thread in your sewing machine when stitching soft-colored applique like this onto apparel.  Invisible thread resembles thin clear twine, and spools are available at most sewing shoppes.

You can still use a neutral-colored regular thread in the bobbin, but as the name suggests, invisible thread will make your applique front attachment totally naked to the eye.

I think you can see the beauty and wonderful versatility of embroidered appliques. The possibilities are truly endless and the results can be so elegant.

I covered quite a bit in this butterflies are free post and I hope there's a little something for everyone.

I think I'll end this post here-and go in search of real butterflies.

Blogaversary Giveaway Results (with a twist)

First let me say how humbled I am by all your kind words and participation in my first blogaversary.  It's been so wonderful to have my creative efforts so well received. 

I'm happy to pass along these machine embroidered pillowcases in appreciation of your support throughout my first year of blogging.  

Keep reading for the names of the winners and the twist.

A total of 142 visitors entered my little giveaway.  Your kind comments were so encouraging and my mom really enjoyed reading them too.  I really appreciate each and every one.

After printing out a copy of all the comments, I cut them up into strips and folded them over before placing them all into a large container.  You may recognize this fabric-covered bucket from an earlier post.

My two favorite helpers were eager to pitch-in, and happy to each get a chance to draw the names of the winners.

I think now would be a good time for that drumroll please. 

Congrats to winner #1-Adla.  

Can we go with an imaginary trumpet instead of a drumroll here?  Another congrats to winner #2-SmilynStef.

Now for the twist.  I sure wish I could send every one of you a pillowcase set, in appreciation for all your support throughout my first year.  Of course I can't.  However, I can add one more set to the winners circle.

In an effort to increase everyone's chances just a wee bit more, I embroidered a third set to add to the blogaversary giveaway.  Yellow is one of my favorite colors and I love how nice and summer-like this set looks.

The winner of this third pillowcase set is Sandy.

Adla, SmilynStef and Sandy, please e-mail me with your mailing instructions and then stalk your postman because I'll drop everything in the mail right away. 

Congrats to all three of you and thanks for participating in my first blogaversary givaway.

Once again, I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every one of you who has popped in for a visit.  I think you can tell that creativity is good for my spirit and my soul.

Judging by the reception, I suspect it's good for yours too and I'm thrilled to be in such great company.

Looking forward to year number two. 

Blogaversary Giveaway

Time flies when you're blogging.  This month marks the one year anniversary for what I like to call "my little blogging experiment".

In honor of this first year, I'm hosting my first-ever giveaway x 2.

I'll be giving away two sets of these pillowcases which I machine embroidered.  I thought these would be a perfect gift to say thank you for your support and encouragement over the last year.

Many of you may remember similar embroidered pillowcases that I featured earlier this year in a project post entitled Pillow Talk.   

This is a really fun project and if you have an embroidery machine, I hope you check out the "how-to" post if you care to duplicate them.  Just click the "pillow talk" link above for instructions.

This is my first giveaway, but I suspect many of you are already familiar with how a giveaway works. 

Just leave a comment at the end of this post between now and Monday-June 30, 2008 at 6pm CST and you'll be entered into the random drawing.  I'll close this post to additional comments right after the deadline.

I'll have my two favorite pint-size helpers (my kids) draw two names at random and the winners will receive one of the pillowcase sets pictured here and I'll post the names of the winners here. 

Are you true blue?  Then perhaps that is the color for you.  If you're more into red, imagine that set on your bed.

Once again, I want to thank everyone for stopping by over this last year.  It's been great to connect with so many crafters and creative spirits from all over the world.  I'm humbled by your visits and kind words and I look forward to another year of sharing fun and doable projects. 

Don't forget Monday June 30, 2008 at 6pm CST is the deadline to get your name into the drawing. 

Please remember to leave contact information like a blog link or e-mail addy so that I can reach you if your name is picked.

A hearty thanks to all of you for popping by and thanks so much for participating in my first blogaversary giveaway.

The Messenger Bag

Lately, I've been drawn into tackling handbags.  It's funny because I'm not much of a handbag carrier.  I just enjoy trying my hand at making them.  I've discovered so many wonderful patterns recently, that it's tough to keep up with all the ones that I feel I just "have" to make.

My latest project is a Messenger bag.  I love this bag because I was able to personalize it a bit by incorporating a few of my own ideas into what I think is a really beautiful bag. I hope you'll agree.   

I think the most striking thing about this project is the wonderful embroidery on the flap.  Hmm, and that's precisely why a certain little girl in my house claimed this bag for herself as soon as it was finished.  Now I have to figure out how to get it back.

While I work on that plan, allow me to walk you through the easy steps to create this great bag.

First of all, I found a great fabric called polysuede.  It actually looks like suede but as the name suggests, it's a polyester blend but it still has that suede look.  It's a bit softer and a much lighter fabric to work with than 100% suede. 

For the lining, I used a wonderful cotton with a paisley pattern that also contained the same taupe coloring as the main fabric.  I found both of these fabrics at Hobby Lobby craft store.  I love how these two textures look together.

If you add any embroidery to this project you'll have to apply that first before any actual construction on the bag begins.

If you're going to add embroidery to your flap, I suggest you cut the fabric about 1/4-inch larger than the pattern all the way around.  This will accomodate any shrinkage that will likely occur during the embroidery process.  You can always trim the flap down to size once the embroidery is completed.

In the photo below, you can see the slight puckering around the rose design.  That's the slight shrinkage I was talking about and it's often created when stitching out very large designs.  When using really large embroidery the fabric tends draws inward a bit as the embroidery is stitched out. 

The additional 1/4-inch of fabric all the way around, should be just enough to make up for this shrinkage.

The rose embroidery designs I used for this project are from an embroidery collection called Roses for Mary by Jenny Haskins .  Haskins is well known in embroidery circles for her complex and elegant designs and projects.  Her website also has quite a few beautiful free embroidery designs for downloading too. 

If you have an opportunity to pick up her corresponding Roses for Mary quilt book, you'll be amazed at how she weaves these beautiful embroidered roses and buds from her collection into a spectacular quilt.  It's total eye candy.

The lucious picture on the cover prompted me to buy this book along with the embroidery disk at first sight.  I have yet to tackle this incredible quilt project but perhaps one day I'll get around to it.

If you're interested in seeing more of Jenny Haskins' fabulous designs, she publishes a fabulous quarterly Austrailian magazine called Creative Expressions and it's available at numerous locations including Barnes and Noble book stores and Joann's Fabrics to name a few. 

The cover photo below is from the latest issue.  Isn't that heart pillow just beautiful?  It's so delicate.  Trust me, there are loads of delicious projects in this issue.  I generally buy the magazine just to drool over the extraordinary and intricate embroidery.

Getting back to the messenger bag project, each embroidery pattern has a matching vellum template which depicts the design and can be easily printed out.  This template will help you place the design exactly where you want it on the fabric. 

It's actually fun to plan out a big project like this with multiple embroidery designs.  Just play around with the vellum sheets turning them sideways and upside down to see what overall design best suits your eye.

If you are using multiple designs, you definitely need to plan out how all the designs will be arranged on your fabric.  For example, in some cases you may want a particular design to overlap another.  If that's the case, it makes a big difference in which pattern you stitch out first. 

Advance planning will help ensure a more satisfactory arrangement of the ultimate design.

Because of the various overlaps in design in this project, I had to jump around to various areas of the fabric to stitch out each design.  As long as you clearly mark your fabric, it's pretty easy to keep track of all the different design assignments.

The benefit of using polysuede is that it's wonderfully washable.  Just remember to always use a water soluable marker when marking your fabric.

Here's a look at the unsewn flap with the finished embroidery.  I ended up arranging six different rose designs to complete this final large rose pattern. 

If you look closely you'll see that I did end up with a few gaps in the branches.  That's the kind of detail I hope to perfect the more I practice my design placements and positioning.  Despite this flaw in my stitched-out design layout, I'm still pleased with this first-time effort.

Gently wash the markings from the fabric and let hang dry completely.  Be careful not to over-wring the fabric to prevent damaging the embroidery.  After fabric is dry, iron flat and resume construction of the bag.

There are a number of messenger bag patterns on the market these days.  I selected this super easy $4-dollar pattern from See and Sew,  which also includes a cute little backpack project.  I'll try that second bag another time and share that later in an upcoming post.

Hands down this was one of the easiest bags ever to construct.  It's just a breeze to put together.  After sewing just three main pieces together the project looks box-like and you're almost done already.

You can't see them in this photo, but the straps for this bag are already sewn into the sides of the bag.  Remember to add strength and reinforcement to the straps by stitching their seam multiple times.

Most of the pieces require fusible interfacing to add stiffness and that's the white material you see on the outside of the project in the photo below.

The original pattern instructions called for two small pockets to be sewn onto the lining.  I decided to modify that.  I cut two pieces of lining fabric measuring about 7-inches X 10-inches. 

With right sides together stitch all the way around leaving a small opening in the seam to turn inside out.

After turning, press the resulting rectangle with a good steam iron.  Then stitch across the top edge about 1/8-inch.  Fold this stitched top down about 1/2-inch.  Stitch again across the top of this folded down piece about 1/8-inch. 

This creates a nice finished edge and mini flap for the top of your multi-pocket.

Determine the pocket placement on the right side of the lining.  Stitch the rectangular pocket to the lining down both sides and across the bottom, leaving the entire top edge of the rectangle open. 

Once this rectangle is secure, double stitch down the center of the rectangle to create individual pockets.  I did this to two separate areas of the rectangle to form three pockets.

The orginal pattern did not call for it, but I also decided to include a stiffer base for the bag using some mesh canvas. 

You can find this mesh canvas at most sewing stores.  It's pretty easy to work with and comes in various sheet sizes.

I created a small pocket on the bottom of the lining by stitching a matching fabric strip directly onto the wrong side of the seams already in the bottom of the lining.

After cutting mesh canvas down to the desired size, simply slip it into the pocket.  This will be completely concealed once the bag is turned inside out because the mesh will be sandwiched between the wrong side of the lining and the wrong side of the bag.

It really does give the bottom of the bag some much-needed extra support.

The large front flap of the bag is already basted across the back of one right side of the bag at this point.  The lining uses the same pattern pieces as the bag itself so it's basically a duplicate of the bag.  After adding the mesh base, simply pin the lining to the bag portion with right sides together. 

Stitch all the way around to attach lining.  Remember to leave an opening large enough to turn inside out.

Gently turn the bag inside out bringing all the pieces to the bag through the opening in the lining attachment.  With only a few pattern pieces to deal with, this Messenger bag takes shape very quickly.

Press the top edge where the bag and lining meet with a good steam iron and then topstitch all the way around about 1/8-inch.  This not only closes up the last opening, it also gives the edge a nice finishing touch.

Here's a look at the inside multi-pockets in the photo below.  I like the idea of having lots of little compartments for various storage and you can see this was a very simple effect to create.

I loved working on this project because I was able to incorporate quite a few personal additional touches that were not part of the original pattern.  It's given me lots of ideas about how to create my own unique bag pattern.   

While I added machine embroidery to the flap, you could also apply hand embroidery for an equally stunning look.  I think just about any embellishment would be a nice touch.  Imagine how much fun applique would look on this too.  There are loads of possibilities.

So that's my first messenger bag, but I assure you it's certainly not my last.  I'm already working on several others for gifts and I'll share those later in an upcoming post.

Pillow Talk

Did everyone remember to spring forward for daylight savings?  Yes, it's that time of year again when most of us lose a precious hour of sleep that we really can't afford to give up.

It's with much-needed sleep in mind, that I present my pillowcase project.  Perhaps these will bring sweet dreams.

It was really a lot of fun to watch this project take shape.  I still get a thrill out of seeing embroidery designs reveal themselves as they stitch out on a piece of fabric.

I started out with two sets of standard size, plain white pillowcases.  These were inexpensive to begin with, but I got an extra bonus because I also caught them on sale.  Now, you can't beat that.

This particular embroidery design stitches out two scallops at a time.  I just have to measure and mark the pillowcase after every scallop-duo stitches out, in order to create the continuous border.

The process is made easier because after each double scallop is stitched out, this border program will actually mark the next starting point with a thread-arrow.  That arrow allows me to see exactly where to set the fabric in the embroidery hoop for the next set of scallops.

In the photo below, you can see my positioning markings still in the fabric.  Remember to always use a water soluble marker so these reference points will wash out easily and completely.

Even with the markings visible, you can still see how beautifully this design stitches out.  When the scallops line up perfectly like this, you get a great seamless border.

I've often talked about how embroidery projects can transform an ordinary item into an extraordinary one.  I think the addition of embroidery not only elevates the value of the project but also makes the project that much more special if it's a gift. 

Who wouldn't enjoy these pillowcases with this pretty design?  I really love the intricate detail in this pattern.

There are so many wonderful border designs available for whatever embroidery machine you're working with.  Here's a look at another border with a rose design.   I think these designs are so delicate and feminine.

 

Because this pink floral pattern stitched out much smaller on the pillowcase than the blue design, I decided to add some extra detail to help fill in the overall look on the pillowcase.

I positioned this second border just above the main design using a "wing" needle.

A wing needle is a single sewing machine needle that has a flange.  It actually resembles a tiny spear.  I always use the Schmetz brand of wing needles which can be found where machine needles are sold.  You can also purchase these needles on-line.

The wing needle pierces the fabric creating small holes as the needle moves in and out of the material.  By selecting a box-stitch on my sewing machine, the holes are simultaneously wrapped with thread giving this second border a slight heirloom look.

This is another really versatile technique that can add a wonderful finishing touch to any project.  The photo below is a sneak peak of a placemat project that I've been working on, in which I combined embroidery with the same wing needle technique.

I'll share this placemat project in greater detail later in an upcoming post.

Getting back to the pillowcases at hand, I think you can see the fabulous possibilities when you apply embroidered borders to a project like this.   Of course you don't have to stop with just pillowcases.

Consider how great hand towels, napkins, a tablecloth or even an apron would look with this kind of embroidered border treatment.  I'll keep those ideas in mind too and I'll be sure to share any additional border projects I come up with.

   

Meanwhile, as for the items in this project, they're all tied in a pretty bow and ready for gift giving. 

Just think, when the recipient engages in pillow talk-they may actually be talking about the pillowcases. 

Isn't That Just Grand?

When it comes to embroidered napkins, the possibilities are endless.  You can go casual, like I did with my lemon napkins (remember those?) or you can choose a more elegant look, like the ones in this project. 

I love this design.  This beautiful pattern is from an embroidery collection called Grand Treasures.  I think as you scroll through the pictures you'll agree that the name is not only a perfect fit, but a perfect stitch as well.

This design can be stitched out in as many colors as you select. Sometimes, it's just fun to stitch out the same pattern multiple times in different colors, to get a sense of what threads will look the best with a particular fabric.  I settled on four threads including light taupe, medium copper, gold and a medium olive color. 

It's always fun to watch the embroidery process in progress.  What starts out as just a few stitches on a plain piece of fabric is eventually transformed into a beautiful and elegant design.

See what I mean about the "grand" in Grand Treasures.  I think the detail is so intricate with such a delicate and pretty presentation.  This could also be stitched out all in one color for a completely different look that would be just as beautiful.  Imagine how lovely this would look with ivory thread on an ivory-colored pillowcase.

You probably notice the shiny material underneath the embroidery.  This thick clear material may look a little like plastic, but it's actually water soluble stabilizer.  This is placed on top of the napkin before any stitching begins.  The stabilizer helps hold the fabric firm and in place while the embroidery needle is moving up and down. 

Your design will generally look much better if a surface stabilizer is also used because it prevents the embroidery from shifting.  Even a slight shift due to the repeated motion of the needle can cause a design to stitch out slightly distorted. 

Once the project is finished, just run the napkin under warm water and the stabilizer washes out completely, leaving only the beautiful embroidery visible.

Whenever you are doing machine embroidery, it's a good idea to stay within close range of the hoop in operation. When you walk away from a project in progress you can end up with disastrous results.

Because the embroidery attachment is constantly moving, sometimes the loose end of a project can slip under the hoop and get sewn into the project. 

The photo below is a classic example of what an embroidery machine disaster looks like.

I just shudder when I look at this photo above.  I'll admit I was working on something else and not paying close enough attention to the project as it was being stitched out.  One end of the napkin worked it's way under the project and got caught up under the embroidery needle.  I had to literally cut the end of the napkin off, in order to get the project off the embroidery hoop.  Of course, that ruined this napkin. 

This is also why it's always a good idea to buy at least one extra napkin for any gift set you're making. 

The photo below shows take two and what the back of the project should look like before it's removed from the embroidery hoop.

The white paper you see surrounding the embroidery threads is actually a sticky-surfaced paper that is placed inside the embroidery hoop and holds the napkin in place from underneath.  Once the project is finished stitching out, the paper easily peels away from the back of the embroidery project as in the photo below. 

Perhaps you've even seen tiny pieces of this material before, on the back of embroidery items you may have purchased.

It may seem like a lot of extra "paperwork" to deal with between sticky paper and stabilizers, but all these materials help ensure your project turns out exactly the way it's supposed to.  It's worth it because once all papers and stabilizers are removed, you're left with a beautiful end result.

For this project, I used a Pfaff embroidery design, collection which includes several other really elaborate patterns.  As I mentioned, this collection is called Grand Treasures and you can see some of the other fancy designs that come with this embroidery disc in the scan below. 

The patterns come on a multi-formatted disc and all the standard embroidery formats are included. I use my computer to transfer the desired pattern onto a floppy disc which can then be inserted directly into my embroidery machine to be read.  Embroidery machines really are computers that sew.

My Brother ULTD embroidery machine is about 7-years old and it's quite user friendly.  I remember when I first bought it, I was almost too intimidated to use it because I thought it was too complex.  I think that's how a lot of people first perceive embroidery machines.  However, once you dive right in, the features will quickly become second nature.

You can see some of this project as it was being stitched out in the photo below.  The screen on the right hand side of the machine displays the thread change prompts as well as lots of other useful information about the design at hand.

While this machine has a built-in floppy drive to load the designs, the newer embroidery machine models all have disc slots.  I'd love to upgrade one day.  If you decide to invest in an embroidery machine, do shop around.  There are so many wonderful machines now on the market and they include even more advanced features that are not only innovative but time-saving additions as well. 

Getting back to this project, there's another good reason this collection is called Grand Treasures.  All of the designs on this disc are pretty grand in size.  This design is approximately 9-1/2 inch width X 8-inch height. 

That's too large to stitch out all at once even on my largest embroidery hoop.  So this pattern is actually divided into two reverse-image sections that have to be stitched out separately.   

This can get kind of tricky because the design must be marked precisely on the fabric in order to line up the second half with the first half of the design, for a seamless embroidered result.

Each design also comes with a corresponding vellum template so that you can determine exactly where you want the pattern to be placed on your fabric.  The template is very important because it allows you to line up these two design halves.  This way the reverse-embroidered images will connect perfectly when stitched out. 

Note: When marking your fabric, do not use a permanent marker.  Make sure you use a water soluble marker, so the markings can be washed out after the design is completely stitched out.  Also, I've found that water soluble markers don't always retain their effectiveness over a long period of time. If you're starting a new project with an old marker, you may just want to buy a brand new marker to be on the safe side.

Sometimes it's hard to visualize how embroidery patterns can ultimately be used and this is one embroidery collection that I probably would not have purchased without some visual prompting.   

I first spotted this design in the September 2007 issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine, and fell in love with the it right away.

The picture below is from the magazine and totally sold me on the Grand Treasures embroidery collection.  I decided not to include the decorative border around my napkins, but I do think that detail adds alot to the finished project.   I may try that on my next napkin set.

Notice how different the napkins in the photo look, with the use of two thread colors instead of four?  (You can click any photo for a larger view)

By the way, this Martha Stewart Living issue is loaded with her usual great photos, but I especially loved the picture of her new craft room in Bedford.   I think the craft space photo featured in this issue is beautiful and a great use of attic space.

I love gleaning ideas from all the wonderful magazines that are available.  It's so much fun to try new projects and add my own personal twist, flavor and flair to a new endeavor.

As I mentioned earlier, embroidered napkins are among my all time favorite projects.  They're so simple to make because the embroidery machine does so much of the work for you. 

Embroidered or personalized napkins are always a great gift and they work for just about any occasion.  You just can't go wrong with a project like this. 

Now, isn't that just grand?

From the Heart

As I post this entry, Christmas is less than two months away.  Translation?  We should all get going on those handmade holiday items. While I admit I'm way behind in my efforts to meet the approaching deadline, I can say I've at least begun putting a dent in my long to-do list.

I've decided to try to keep things really simple this year and my little scented hearts in the photo below are a great start.

Of course the first thing you need is fabric. I love the look of linen for this particular project, because it's easy to work with and the embroidery looks nice against the linen texture. After you decide on your embroidery design, you'll need to cut two equal size fabric pieces for each pillow. 

If you take a look at the pictures below you can see the how the design looks as it's stitched out by my embroidery machine. I started with this open-centered floral heart pattern and then added a monogram.  People love monogrammed gifts and I think it makes the offering much more personal when you add this special detail.

By the way, if you're thinking about talking to Santa about upgrading your sewing machine this holiday season, might I suggest you consider an embroidery machine which will give you the best of both worlds. You can sew when you feel like it and when you're ready to do some embroidery, just attach the embroidery arm which comes with the machine. There are loads of models on the market to fit every need and budget.

The embroidery machine screen in the photo above, shows you all the information you need to help guide you through the embroidery process. Inside the grid you can see what your finished design will look like. The smaller box to the right shows you what stitch your machine is currently working on in the overall design.  At a glance you can see the dimensions of your stitched pattern, how many minutes the project will take to stitch out and how many thread color changes are suggested.

The pretty little finished design in the photo below is a simple example of how embroidery can turn ordinary items into extraordinary ones. 

Don't get me wrong, you can always complete this project with hand embroidery and get a finished product that is just as beautiful.  I just like to point out the advantages of an embroidery machine because my machine has been so instrumental in my crafting efforts and has really helped me enhance my gift giving.  Not to mention, I'm not very good at embroidering by hand anyway.

 

OK, getting back to this heart pillow project, once you have stitched out all your squares give it a good hit with the steam iron just to make sure everything is free of wrinkles before moving on to the next step. Adding just a spritz of spray starch at this point will also help give the fabric some extra crispness.

Trace a heart shape onto a piece of paper to make a template. Make sure the template you create is large enough to accomodate your embroidered design and fabric size. Before cutting out your heart shape, also make sure the embroidery pattern is positioned in the center of your heart template. 

Positioning is key here because you want the embroidery pattern to end up in the dead center of your finished pillow. Take your time and double check your heart shape placement before you actually put scissors to fabric.  Don't forget to slide your second plain linen square behind the embroidered square so you can cut out two identical hearts at the same time.

The picture above shows you what the heart shapes look like once you've finished cutting. Notice the embroidery is distributed evenly throughout the entire heart shape. This is why that initial template positioning is so critical before you cut the fabric.

Place the plain linen cut-out heart on top of the embroidered heart (right sides together) and pin all the way around.  At the center point of the heart, fold your ribbon in half and insert it between the two pieces of fabric with the two raw ends of the ribbon pointing upward and beyond the seam. The picture above shows the correct ribbon placement before sewing. 

Stitch 1/4-inch seam all the way around the heart, leaving a 1/2-inch opening for stuffing. At this point you can add a handful of lavendar or favorite pouporri to your stuffing to give the project a nice scent. Then close the opening with a slipstitch. 

Adding a matching bow helps finish off the heart pillow nicely.

 

I think these dainty little hearts can easily work with any decor. They can be beautifully displayed just about anywhere you like, including on the end of a drapery tie-back, a dresser drawer knob or simply hung from a door handle. These would also look adorable in a nursery-boy or girl.

Each pillow took me less than an hour to complete and that includes machine embroidery time. I think if you're looking for a super simple and elegant handmade item for loved ones this holiday season this project is picture perfect. 

Also, when you say this gift comes from the heart, you'll definitely mean it-in more ways than one.

Laurel Burch

Is there anyone who hasn't seen and enjoyed the whimsical characters of Laurel Burch?  Her vibrant and colorful creations have that unique look that is so easily recognizable. Even if you have never heard of the name Laurel Burch, I suspect you can recognize her signature style of art. 

Laurel's mythical felines and fellow cast of bold, artistic characters seem to jump right out at you, from greeting cards, quilt books, paintings, scarves, tote bags, enamel jewelry and fabric as well as her widely popular ceramics and mugs. Laurel's patterns are also available on several embroidery discs. I added a few of her embroidery designs to this plain pink shirt for my daughter, with delightful results.

I own a couple of Laurel Burch's embroidery collections and I often use them for various embroidered gifts.  These are the kind of designs that never go out of style, and they can be used over and over again on just about everything. I love how a little embroidery can spruce up any item, as you can see in the adorable cat face design in the photo above as well as the cat and butterfly pictures below. The designs worked perfectly to jazz up the shirt.

The two embroidery patterns I used for this project are from a Laurel Burch collection called Fantastic Felines. If you take a look at the scan below you can see some of the other whimsical designs that are available on the same disc. The two designs I used are side-by-side in the second row.

It's always fun to watch the embroidery process reveal the ultimate pattern.  The beautiful feline face I used on the front of the shirt took a few hours to stitch out because of all the different thread color changes, 17-in all for this design.

While Laurel's embroidery designs tend to have lots of color changes, generally speaking most other embroidery patterns I use don't have quite as many. Despite the extra effort it takes to change all those thread colors, I feel it's always worth it after I see the wonderful finished pattern stitched out.

I also replaced the original tiny white buttons on the pink shirt, with these Laurel Burch buttons I picked up at a local sewing shoppe a few years ago. When I first bought the buttons I had no particular project in mind, I just loved them and snapped them up. I'm glad I found a great use for them after all these years. I think the buttons work nicely with this project and give the shirt a cute finishing touch, wouldn't you say?

Laurel's patterns are always so fun to look at and her quilt fabrics are just as delightful and whimsical.  One of my favorite quilt books is called Kindred Creatures by Laurel Burch. It features lots of beautiful projects for applique and embellishment. The book is filled with gorgeous photographs of the completed projects. There's so much talent and creativity throughout the pages, it's just a fun book to browse through whether you plan on sewing something or not.

Sadly, Laurel Burch passed away a few weeks ago after a long battle with illness. In her wonderful quilt book, Kindred Creatures she wrote, "share the world from the heart of your heart". I've always liked that sentiment. I think it speaks volumes, in a voice that crafters truly hear.

I think so many crafters are finding ways to "share the world from the heart of your heart", with help from their personal blogs. I know I do. I started this blog several months ago as a way to share my interest in all things regarding arts and crafts. At the time, I never imagined how many wonderfully talented people I'd come in contact with who love the same hobbies I do. This blog has allowed me to share my crafting, in ways I never would have been able to before. Equally satisfying has been all the work that is, in turn, shared with me.

There is such a wonderful community of talented crafters out there and blogging is a great way to connect with that never-ending pool of talent. It's a way to be inspired, learn and expand your creative talent beyond any boundaries you may have set for yourself. (It's also a great way to pick up even more hobbies-much to the chagrin of my husband, Boris).

Simply put, crafts and creative expression are good for the soul... and that's at the heart of why I celebrate CREATIVITY in all its forms!

Throw in the towel

Just don't grab these particular towels when you do. These aren't for drying off after a dip in the pool. I like to think these decorated towels are more for fashion, rather than function. These monogrammed towels which include a beautiful scrolled applique were made using my Brother ULTD embroidery machine. If you already have an embroidery machine, this is a really simple project to tackle. Now is a good time to start thinking about holiday gifts. If you're still on the fence about owning an embroidery machine, maybe this project will tip the scales for you. The towels below were a gift to Mom, and I think they're a great example of how machine embroidery can be used to turn ordinary items... into extraordinary ones.

I settled on a scroll embroidery pattern from an embroidery disk that came with a fantastic book called Latte Quilt by Kerrie Hay. The disk contains dozens of elegant embroidery patterns that are designed for an elaborate embroidered quilt. However, the individual patterns can also be used on a variety of other projects like this towel set gift. I've also started making the actual Latte Quilt from the book, but I'll share that later in a different post. Today I'd like to focus on this one beautiful scroll design and how it can be used to give these plain yellow towels a more elegant look.

To create an applique you first select a pattern that has a continuous thread design. You will also need to create a three layered sandwich of materials for your embroidery hoop. The first layer is made up of a small square of water soluble stabilizer. The second middle layer is made up of the same size of any ultra sheer fabric. In this case I used sheer, thin netting. If you click the picture above you'll get a larger version of the photo and you can actually see the netting between the decorative stitching. The third layer in this sandwich is made up of another piece of water soluble stabilizer, cut to size. All three layers are fitted into your hoop and your machine needle will stitch through all layers. Once the pattern is finished stitching out, remove the project from the hoop and run under warm water until the stabilizer dissolves. This will give you your appliques. Set aside to dry. Remember, when you select your pattern, choose a design that has every thread connected in some way so there are no threads that are disconnected from the whole.  If there are any gaps in the thread as it stitches out, the applique will ultimately fall apart, once the water soluble stabilizer is rinsed out.  By the way, stabilizers can be easily found at most fabric stores.

After embroidering the letter "T" (for Tutman) onto a piece of yellow silk, I arranged four of the scrolled appliques around the "T" and hand sewed everything onto the towel.  Be sure to use clear threading for invisible attachment.

Since the towel already had some decorative ribbing, I just hand sewed additional appliques along the white ribbing on either side of the center arrangement. I think you can see how adding a simple applique to an ordinary towel increases the elegance-factor in a big way. I'll share some more embroidery projects, as well as some step-by-step pictures of the process later in a different post.

By the way, my mother loves the towels and she assures me they are not being used after any dip in any pool. Thanks Mom!