Sew Dance

Due to the holiday and the fact that I didn't have to go to class, I got a lot done. It probably also helps that the 2nd page has less stitching. I added the 'Seaglass' variegated and the orange kreinik. First sparkly item. Used almost an entire skein of white. I probably have less than 6 inches remaining. Thankfully nothing else is white. My mom decided I did too much fantasy and danced themed projects and bought me the thread for HEAD's Black Stallion (along with some other threads I was missing). So I shall start that next but due to the first row of pages being background, I probably will get bored and go back to my spreadsheet and random numbers.

While working on John Clayton's dancer series, I came across some interesting fractal stitches. If they can be called that. As shown on the instruction sheet, there are full cross-stitches that are only 1x2.  They can be vertical or horizontal. I find this to be an interesting way of adding extra dimension and smoother lines. It also allows for a smaller amount of colors. Unless you're converting a photograph using software, it's hard for a designer to create the shading required for a Golden Kite, for example, type of creation. The other way I've seen is to use 1 over one in certain areas. Of course, you cannot use a blend of colors when using this technique. An interesting note with the 1x2 stitches, sometimes it ends up that a full cross-stitch ends up being offset. This can be seen with the sideburns and jawline in the face below. It's an interesting way of adding details to a piece. With a slimmer chance of driving either the designer or the stitche...

I got more stitching done between the three day weekend and the lack of DWTS to keep me from it. I completed the 4th page and have started on the 5th. If you remember, I was making a leather catsuit for a showcase. I actually had the video last week but forgot to post it. Sorry it's a little dark, but the lights were down and we're both wearing black.

I'm giving up on insanity until I get a new piece of fabric. Luckily I found a piece of 18 ct large enough to fit it without having to splice two pieces. Since I have to get the fabric, I figured I'd look at the charts and kits on the site and I found this. It goes on my list of, I'm definitely buying this list along with the other there John Clayton dancer series I have yet to get. Cheaper to buy it directly from England myself. I'll probably buy these within the next month or so. Ordered the fabric today along with the following HEAD charts that were on clearance. This is the piece I'm working on now, 'Dew Drop Fairy'. It also fits with the blue theme. On the top is where I was when I picked it back up, bottom is where I am now. Mainly worked on the leaves above her head. I was going to work on TW's Romeo and Juliet, but the working copy of the page I was on was not with the rest of the kit. I have an inkling of where it is, but ...

An update on 'cats, cats, cats'. It's almost halfway completed. At least in terms of where on the chart I am. I believe the chart to be bottom heavy with the cross-stitches while the top has a bit more of just backstitching as indicated by the heart and randomly placed black squares. I did not get my dress back from my teacher so pictures are still not available. I'll have it Tuesday, I hope. I have to wear it Saturday and I still have a few things to do once he's finished stoning it. I did have it on last week and it moves really cool.

The larger stones I ordered came Monday so I spent most of the week adding them to my dress. Sparkly aren't they? 16mm square Swarovski crystals in crystal AB. I spent most of the week adding them to the dress. I have a solid row at the top and bottom of the dress and skipping every other one in the middle. I did this because I didn't know if I'd have enough to fill them in completely. Turns out I did but my teacher liked it that way. He currently has the dress and gauntlets to stone (hey, he offered) and I unfortunately didn't take a picture of the dress before I gave it to him. Well, better to surprise you when it's finished. Although he's gotten it in his head for me to make another dress, same design but different colors by mid-June. Right... First I'm doing the black velvet to go with that belt I have and I still have the sparkly blue/silver sequined dress to make. Just a little under two weeks until Tri-state. Eek! Because I finished stoning the d...

The cross-stitching on Frederick is finished! All that's left now is the backstitching. That shouldn't take me too long. As this project is nearing an end, any suggestions as to which WIP I should work on next? Also, when does a WIP become a UFO? I managed to get all four sides of the fringe sewn on my dress. Tomorrow will be spent hand stitching the strands that didn't secure themselves under the needle and the top of the sides to try and get them even. May need to add extra loose fringe on one side to get them to look the same. As the new season of Dancing with the Stars will start soon (cast announced Tuesday) I will be blogging my opinion on cast, dresses, dancing, and the drama that will most certainly prevail throughout the season. The performance shows should go up that night, but as I'm dancing myself Tuesday when the results show is on, I'll post that Wednesday when I manage to watch the show. HyperSmash.com

Frederick is stitched, even if the whole design has yet to be completed. Have to finish the books and bottom shelf. Then off to the back stitching. I've also included a picture of Onyx, my little black fuzzball who happened to be laying at my feet while working tonight. As for the dress, I've taken it off my dress form and have started to sew the cut ends. This is giving me trouble. First I've been evening out the fringe. Then I cut it, then I have to take those cut ends, held together buy just one flimsy strand of thread which will unravel if pulled, and arrange it under the already stitched down part. I've done the front and back, which were even on both ends. Now I'm working on the sides. One which is going short to long, and the other long to short. And somehow I have to get them to look even. *sigh* I did order the stones I need for it today. I probably should update you on my actual dancing. We have choreography for foxtrot and Vien...

I have attached the fringe. Didn't expect it to drape down the dress like that did you? Also, you can see the back of the dress isn't nearly as puckering around the zipper as it was in my previous photos. I probably should have fixed that before adding the fringe but alas. It worked out in the end. Below are the pictures of how I'm going to drape the fringe. I was playing around with it today and did remove some of the interstitial string that you see but overall I'm still playing around with it. Then there's Frederick. I have finished page 3/4 as seen below.

Upon starting page 3/4 of Frederick, I noticed something odd. Somehow my working scan overlapped two lines. You can see the original on the right and the scan on the right. So that was a bit of an oddity I spent most of the week finishing the top shelf, as it was straight lines across the entire width of the piece, it was kind of boring. But you can start to see another bird joining Frederick, the fish and the owl.

A lazy weekend for me means good stitching time if nothing else. I have managed to complete the left half of Frederick (minus the shelving at the top and bottom). I'll complete those once I have a good reference point on the top right. And joining Frederick and the fish is an owl. I didn't get much done on my dress, but i did cut out the skirt and pin it.

Yes, 1/4th done (rough estimate) As you can see, I've moved on the the lower left quadrant of Frederick and what was dominated by brown, red and gold, now has some blue and purple. I realize the picture's a little dark, I didn't have him illuminated by my stitching light when I took it.  As for the dress, the bodysuit now looks like a swimsuit. I just have to finish off the elastic on the upper edges and fit the bra to it and it'll be wearable. Then I stick the skirt on and I'm ready to add the fringe. Yippee! And yes, those are my fuzzy slippers to the right of the picture.

I have two things to update today. One, my latest progress on Frederick. you can actually see his face. Isn't he cute? Two, I have a picture of my dress' progress. I inserted the elastic on the legs. Despite not using a blind hem presser foot for my serger, I only cut the hem slightly once. Need to work on catching the fabric more but hopefully no one will have to see that portion of the dress. *whistles innocently* Now I just need to work on the top and insert the zipper. I have a feeling that once this portion is done, the rest will be much easier.

I decided to take a picture of my progress on 'Frederick'. I realize it's not much, but not bad either for a little over a week. This is essentially the outline of 1/4 of the piece and it's stitching up relatively quick (I have the fish done! ha). I usually stitch while watching tv and as most of my shows are starting to come back on, I'll be stitching more. Of course I still have that latin dress to work on... I may do a little something on it tomorrow.

I did manage to start cleaning up that closet of mine. The big pieces of paper have been folded and placed in a bag, which then joined the pile on the floor. Oops? Either way, I went through my cross-stitch to make a list of the pieces I had started it ends up looking like this: 1. GK's The Accolade ~25% completed 2. GK's The Arab Tent 4/5 pages of the pattern 3. GK's mountain landscape with a castle 15/20 rows of 50 stitches of first page out of 138 or something. (this is also known as my insanity piece) 4. TW's Millennium~2/3 completed of over 2 stitching. 5. TW's Peacock Tapestry, maybe about 2/3. Messed up on a blend and haven't worked on it since. 6. Dimension's Frederick 7. Dimension's Oriental Butterflies ~2/3 (travel project) 8. Dimension's jewels of the Orient ~3/4 9. Black Swan's Dewdrop Fairy ~1/6 10.A christmas stocking with 2 cat's. ~5/6. I believe the design is from vermillion stitchery. This is my first xs project, ...