Tea For Two And Me

I'm so glad you stopped by to share a cup of tea with me and and see what I stitched up!

Madame Samm, ever the lady of style and grace, just seems to know how to create blog hops

that get us excited to learn something new or at the very least get our creative minds working.

I'm forever grateful to Madame Samm for all I've learned from these blog hops!

Mary from Needled Mom is cheering us on and keeping us on track...thanks, Mary!

And, of course, there was Cori from Creativity Among Chaos and her amazing patterns!

When I was given a zippered bag at the last retreat I attended, I fell in love with using it
for my in-progress projects. I can see what's inside and it looks nice when I take it with me.
I took those gorgeous legs and added them to my own zippered bag using a combo of applique
and embroidery. A couple teacup pockets and a ruffle finished it off just perfectly for me!
It's a really nice size for those projects...17" x 19".

I love it with my scalloped zipper and see-through pouch!

Sometimes Creepy Bunny stops by and begs to have a cup of tea with me.
He likes my purple polka dot cup the best!

Check out the others who are sharing their Tea For Two.
I've been loving everything these talented ladies have made with Cori's pattern!

 April 7th

Jenny of Elefantz

Sunshine's Blog

I Piece 2 Mary

Just Let Me Quilt

Sew We Stitch

By-the-way...it's my anniversary today.
Lucky me to have been married for 43 years to this guy!
We honeymooned in Disneyland...that's the Matterhorn behinds us.

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

I'm A Little Ruffled Today

I LOVE RUFFLES!

Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt was in a ruffly kind of mood and got a lot of us thinking about what we could make with ruffles. She brought on Amy from Sew Incredibly Crazy to cheer us on and keep us all in line. Thanks to both of them this is another amazing hop just full of ruffles, ruffles, ruffles!

While thinking and looking for ruffle ideas, I saw this adorable embroidery pattern over at the Nana Company called Sleepy Time Animal Pals and just loved it...had to have it, of course. With a little pink and beige fabric strips I made it into a quilt-as-you go baby quilt with brown and beige polka dots for the binding. 

A Little Ruffled Sleep

Last year I bought a book by Helen Scott called the Bonnet Girls and it had been sitting there just waiting for me to make something out of it. This seemed like as good a time as ever, so with fabric by Red Rooster, ruffles, rhinestones, and a 22.5" x 28" frame...tada! She looks great hanging in my sewing room!

Blowing In The Wind

Look who's hopping with me today:

March 7^th

Ridge Top Quilts

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Just Let Me Quilt

MooseStashQuilting

Childlike Fascination

It Seams To Be Sew

Meadowbrook

I'm so glad you stopped by to visit!

By Jove, I Think I've Got It!

Well...I've almost GOT IT...but, I'm really, really close to having it stick in my head...the stem stitch, that is. I'm on a roll outlining something using the hand embroidery stem stitches for the Hugs and Kisses blog hop and so far so good, not perfect, but good. You guys were awesome with all your hints and encouraging words!

The hints I've used the most today (and are working so far) at my attempt to do hand embroidering were:

• Hold the thread up and let it hang down to untwist.
• Keep the thread length short.
• Back the fabric with white flannel so the threads don't show.
• Use a good thread, size 12 (I used Prescencia Finca.)
• Use good needles.
• Check out videos/tutorials online. I found this one on YouTube to be helpful, too: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8wNJ-vypRg)

When I think I've really got this hand embroidery stuff down, I'll start working on a few cute embroidery projects I have sitting around just waiting for me to start adding thread to them.

PLUS, 

I found this really cool piece yesterday at The Clover Patch Quilt Store in Santa Clara, Utah. It was all alone (and old) and was just waiting for me to buy it. It's a Singer treadle machine design and since a Singer was the first sewing machine I ever had, this piece was definitely calling my name. It looks like it is actually meant to be machine stitched/embroidered, but I can only tackle one new process at a time and right now that is hand embroidering.

The little plastic bag it was in said:

LuRae's Creative Stitchery, "The Treadle Machine"

by Charlene Miller

I'm thinking positive and happy thoughts that I'll remember how to do the stem stitch (again) when I stop writing this post. Senior moments happen around my place all the time, so I never know what I'll remember (or forget.)

Such A Pitiful Attempt At Embroidery

THANK YOU

for all the sweet answers to my embroidery/applique

questions. You guys are amazing!

It looks pretty pitiful and a 5-year old could have done better,

 but I gave it a go using some of the little hints you all shared with me.

It was just a straight stitch for lettering, nothing fancy,

but it makes me cringe just to look at it.

I'll be ripping it all out and going for smaller stitches,

per some really good advice I got. Or, I'll rip it out

and do some machine embroidery...or, whatever.

Anyway...here are some of the hints about embroidery

and applique that were so appreciated and really helped

(though it would have helped more just to have one

of you do the stitching for me):

Amy said: For embroidery, I was always taught to use three strands. I just use the standard DMC floss. As for appliqué, I have heated the appliqué back up and sometimes it comes off with ease and other times no so much.

Carrie said: If you go to the store/Joanns you will be able to find needles that say embroidery on the package. I use DMC mostly, cut a length about 15-18" long and then pull one thread out at a time. Then I put 2 strands back together to do my embroidery. I might use more depending on what I working on. If your thread starts to tangle up while embroidering hold up your piece in one hand and while the needle is threaded let it hang freely and it will untwist. Just make sure you have your hand under the needle so you don't lose it if it should come off the thread. I don't use the wax when embroidering. If you go to Joanns/craft store where they keep the floss you will find ways to store the thread. I wrap mine around little card board pieces made for storing thread. You could make your own. Just don't forget to write the number on the cardboard that is on the floss. Here is a great blog for embroidery. At the top of her blog you will see a tab for tutorials and tips. It is the best. http://www.needlenthread.com

Diane said: I used to use DMC floss (single strand) for embroidery until a pattern I had suggested 12 weight thread. I tried it and was sold. It is so much easier to work with. No problem with twisting. And I love many of the variegated colors. Easier to store spools than floss too. Only downside is initial cost but if you are planning on doing more embroidery it is well worth the investment. I have mostly Sulky but Aurifil also has 12 wt. My local quilt shops carry some of both. I have also ordered from http://www.uncommonthread.com. If you have a smart phone or an iPad there is a handy app on embroidery stitches. And it's free! I use it to remember stitches I don't use very often. Look for Judith Baker Montano's Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Guide. (I looked it up...it is a great app!)

Lesley said: (she answered each question...sweet!): How do you prevent or minimize frayed edges (especially on little pieces) on fabric when you applique? I use a small blanket stitch to machine appliqué, but a friend of mine always uses the blind hem stitch.What machine stitch is the best for keeping those applique pieces on a quilt that will be washed frequently? Mmm, most of my projects end up on a wall and aren’t washed...it might help to use shorter stitches? Are wider/narrower stitches better than smaller/larger ones? I prefer shorter, more compact stitches. Do you use embroidery thread in your machine when you go around the edges of applique? I’ve never used embroidery thread in my sewing machine. When stitching around the edges, is there a clear-colored thread that is strong enough to last on a quilt? There is such a good variety of threads on the market...I used Coats and Clarke for years from Walmart, but now I use Aurifil, Wonderfil, and quilt shop quality thread. I usually prefer cotton but there are blends available. My quilt friend/expert, says to always match the thread colour to the piece that you are appliquéing to your background. When you embroidery, what size/type needle works best for you? I have bought every type and size out there...I always seem to have a hard time threading the needle. I use a lot of perle cotton # 8, # 12, and use floss that doesn’t have to be separated, like Aurifil and Presencia (Finca). Presently I have Richard Hemming and Son Large Eye Needles, Size 4, Fons and Porter Wool Applique Size 2, .John James Embroidery size3 , and DMC Embroidery needles # 5 . I just pick and choose what seems to work for the project I am doing. Someone also suggested Clover Sashico needles. What embroidery thread do you find tangles the least amount?(Mine gets tangled/knotted sometimes...okay, A LOT!) Mine always gets tangled too , but usually when the thread is too long...I have such a hard time threading the needles that I try to use long, long thread. Embroidery thread comes in so many strands...what's the easiest or best amount to use when doing simple embroidery stitches like words or outlines? I would probably use two strands, but most of what I use doesn’t have to be separated. Is it good to use a waxy substance to make the thread slide through the fabric easier? I use this when quilting...haven’t thought to use it with embroidery. Is there an easy way to store all those threads without ending up with a tangled mess? I usually use the balls so you can twist it around no problem. For either applique or embroidery, do you have a favorite website with tutorials? I adore Clover and Violet...they have embroidery tutorials that will show you everything, and they’ve had a few stitchalongs where you make a quilt with an embroidered centre.

Fawn said:  Don't use wax when embroidering. I prefer to use a size 24 or a size 26 when embroidering or cross-stitching (use size 26 on linen type fabrics). As far as the number of strands to use...it honestly depends. If the design is pretty basic, then you can probably go with a higher number of strands. It's pretty standard to do around 3 strands (out of the 6) for MOST projects. As far as organizing those remaining strands, you can get project cards, which have lines (for writing down embroidery thread colors/numbers/symbols) and hole punches which you can thread those strands through! I use them for every counted cross-stitch project I ever do. In order to minimize tangles...keep your thread lengths shorter (like carrie p. said 15-18 inches in length) and frequently let your needle and thread hang down to unwind/detangle before knots form. Should they form, don't pull them through, just take your time with the knot and use that embroidery needle; totally helps!

Daryl said: For hand embroidery stitches going around a fused applique motif, I use 2 strands of the 6 strand embroidery floss. Cut about an 18" piece and let it dangle as you separate the strands. You can also purchase size 12 perle cotton which is the same thickness as 2 strands of floss, but it doesn't need to be separated. Use an embroidery needle and I use a blanket (also called a buttonhole) stitch. You never use wax on embroidery thread. For machine embroidery around an applique motif that is fused, use a rayon or polyester thread made for machine embroidery and a machine embroidery needle too. I prefer the blanket stitch or a zigzag stitch for my machine work. Always test on a scrap first and test different widths an lengths to see which you like best. I have never had a problem laundering an applique piece that has been stitched by hand or machine. Of course this is just for fusible applique I am referring to. There are several methods of applique which include needle turn, using a fusible interfacing and sewing around your motif and then slitting the interfacing and turning it right side out and pressing in place, reversible applique, raw edge applique that you sew with invisible thread using a straight stitch sewing very close to the raw edge or you can also sew straight using a black thread, you can use glue to glue your raw edges under first and then sew them down, etc. I think you should practice a variety of applique styles both by hand and machine to see which you like best. It's good to practice with something that has both a concave and convex curve as well as a point. So try to applique around a heart and a crescent shape for practice. Hope this and your other answers help you. Practice is the key to get good and to find the applique method you prefer doing too.

Shirley said: This time I used the quilting basting spray to adhere my letters to my pillow, that way you can move it if it looks like crap. (I like using basting spray, so I love her comment.)

Madame Samm said: I only use presencia, it never tangles, and you don't have to separate the threads . I cut 18 approx..I never knot...finca perle 12 is the best for embroidery...Jane carries it.. I only use a size 9 needle for embroidery. I like to back my kona cottons with flannel..it hides the stitches and puffs your completed project.  Appliqué I only use wonder under, trace , iron, score and iron...on finished background. (I used flannel on the back of some machine applique that was on white fabric--it made a huge difference by not showing all those little threads.)

Tammy said: Aneela Hoey's book Little Stitches is great for beginners and has heaps of iron on transfers or you can choose to trace the pictures. She selects strands according to what she wants to emphasize so you might use just one strand for an outline but 6 if she is filling in. And the other thing is that she always has a 2nd hoop to practice a few stitches on and get a rhythm going alongside the main project. (I love this 2nd hoop idea to use for practice!)

Applique, Embroidery, Etc. Questions

I'm new to this applique and embroidery thing, so....

How do you prevent or minimize frayed edges 

(especially on little pieces) on fabric when you applique?

What machine stitch is the best for keeping those applique 

pieces on a quilt that will be washed frequently?

Are wider/narrower stitches better than smaller/larger ones?

Do you use embroidery thread in your machine when you

go around the edges of applique?

What's the best way to remove the ironed-on adhesive paper

without totally destroying the piece?

When stitching around the edges, is there a clear-colored

thread that is strong enough to last on a quilt?

When you embroidery, what size/type needle works best for you?

What embroidery thread do you find tangles the least amount?

(Mine gets tangled/knotted sometimes...okay, A LOT!)

Embroidery thread comes in so many strands...what's

the easiest or best amount to use when doing 

simple embroidery stitches like words or outlines?

Is it good to use a waxy substance to make the

thread slide through the fabric easier?

Is there an easy way to store all those threads without

ending up with a tangled mess?

For either applique or embroidery, do

you have a favorite website with tutorials?

Am I the only one who doesn't know 

the answers to the above? 

(Do my questions even make sense?)

Update: I'll post the answers I've received 
with the questions in the next day or two.

P.S. Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you.

Google+ and Open ID don't allow me to see your

email address. If you don't hear from me, it's because

you don't have a way to get a response from me.