STITCHERY JOURNEY, PART 3

Sometimes, the artistic side of me is so slow.  Seems I just think about it so much more that I do it--
But the thinking part is the part that makes me put myself into a project I guess.  I come from a long line of seamstresses/quilters.  I know it's a God given talent.  It's a yearning to make my life and my family's life something special.  It's more than decorative, more than cute, more than pretty, more than useful.  It's making something that no one else would make exactly the same way.

When I left you, I was doing the decorative work on the front of my Needle Book.  All stitching that needed to be done before the back was added so that back stitches could be hidden from view safely between the front and the back. 

 My next step was to add the back or inside background fabric---my canvas for useful additions and beauty to look upon as I (or someone else) stitch.  I decided that sense the back could not be quilted together with the front that I would attach it with Steam-a-Seam Lite.  It's the same sticky backed fusible web that I have showed you before.  You cut out your shape, It sticks to your fabric.  You peel off the backing paper leaving the fusible web.  Then you press it to whatever you wish.  It's lite so it leaves everything as would be without it.  No thickness and is still bendable and flexible.

Because the top had been quilted there was a small difference in the size.  I simply trimmed away the excess fabric of the back, then-------

 come the pocket ends.  The ones you were not to trim.  Remember those? 2 1/2 inch pieces of fabric folded in half.  As you can see, I chose an antique lace and stitched it along the folded edge.   Here they are still untrimmed.

  I laid them in place and pinned them to both ends.

 The binding will be the next step.  It will be attached sewing through several layers.  I decided that to keep all layers snugly together that I would stitch the corners just outside the stitching line so I could relax as I stitch the binding on. 

Guess What???  Now you can trim!  Above picture shows that we are ready for the binding! 
Cut 2 1/2 inch lengths of your choice of binding fabric.  Enough to go all the way around plus extra.   How much extra?  Hummmmm.   Honestly I just know that I cut at least an extra length.  The way I put my binding together uses up extra fabric, but makes it look so much nicer!

 This is the way you sew the pieces together.  Enlarge the pic so that you can see where to start sewing and where to finish.  It's the tiny V that forms from offsetting the fabrics as you lay them together.  You can draw a line or simply keep your eye on your destination.  I have learned that through the years.  It just works.  Keep your eye on where you are sewing to and you will sew straight there every time.  Go ahead--draw the line--I know you want to.  -smile-

Here you can see that I am sewing straight toward the V offset point.  My snips are pointing it out for you.

 If all is done as I instructed you when you straighten out your sewn pieces they ill be straight with a diagonal seam.  This distributes the bulk and your stitched on binding will be beautiful. 

 If all looks good, trim the seam to 1/4 inch. 

 Fold your long strip of binding in half and press it.  You can use some spray starch if you want to make it nice and crisp so it will hold it's shape.

 Here is what your diagonal seams should look like inside your pressed binding strips.

 It's time to stitch your binding on. Your can stitch it on the top or back.  I stitched to the back so my hand stitching would be on the front.  If your hand stitching is not so good you might want to machine stitch to the front. Stitch slowly and keep your seam at 1/4 inch. 

 I am now finished stitching the binding on, I have pressed it to the front and I will begin hand stitching the binding down on top.  I use a slip stitch.  Hiding your thread is the name of the game.
Go here if you need instruction.

Your first sneak peek of the finished product.  Next time we will be adding all the goodies to the inside.  I promise it won't be long as I am almost done.  I love the way the binding fabric frames the sunflower fabric.  It's a day in the country!!  If you haven't been sewing along with me and want to start now---do it--choose those fabrics that are "YOU".  Maybe you can catch up before the finale!  Your gonna love the ending.  It's the part that always gets me.  See ya soon, sweethearts!

Would love a comment or question!!!

Molly 

Still Stitching!

Maybe I've found an app that will work for blogging from my IPhone.  We will see---here goes!  It's called Easy Blog.  If your reading this post you'll know I'm happy with it--  UPDATE--No way to post pics.  But at least I can work on the post and then add the pics later when I can get to my computer.   

Texas weather in August can usually be described one way---HOT!  But this August has been extremely more enjoyable with cooler temperatures and small and large showers every few days.  Today  it's 96 and surely hot but at least it's not 100.  Love the grandsons getting out and playing baseball in the backyard in the rain. Laughing and giggling!  I sit and stitch and listen and watch--♥️

Here's my stitching basket that I keep by my chair.  It's filled with all my supplies--a small pillow that my mother made I use in my lap to lay my work on.  Also embroidery books for inspiration, patterns and stitch diagrams.  Then the best part---- the thread! 







I use DMC, Cosmos, Finca, and wool thread by Aurifil. I also have some hand dyed that are slightly varigated.   I have enjoyed trial and error stitching with different combinations of number of threads with different stitches.  Blog hopping gives me ideas of how others have been successful with their embroidery.  Jenny at Elefantz uses a stablizer on the back of her design projects to stiffen the fabric and make it easier to get a finished project with no puckering.  This is because she does not use a hoop.  I ordered some from Amazon and love it.  I used it for this project---my latest finished project, a needle  book and pin keeper made from a vintage doily.  This is based on a pattern from Elefantz.  Go Here to find it.





In case you've forgotten what it looks like

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Here's my second Stitchery book.  I have a little book called Bare Roots.  The author used a thin batting on the back of her work saying it gives a puffed or quilted look to it.  So I am trying this method to see how I like it.  It looks like this when laid out flat.  I have not pressed it at all.  I lack a few French Knots but I do have to admit that I love the look they give.  I used 3 strands of floss on this piece for most of the work except for the smallest motifs and then I used 2.  Seems like the batting backing warrented it.

                                                                         

How I do love to see the beauty of a piece emerges as you make each stitch.  Then  you begin to think
you are about finished and the fun begins when you search for and add the final vintage add-ons--tatting, rick-rack, lace, pearl buttons  This is my favorite part!!
So I am auditioning a denim colored button.  In the center of the heart? or at the top?  what do you think?  Ill be back with the finished project.---

 I've organized all my vintage laces and doilies.  I'll be back in a day or five and show you what I have.  Please vote for button placement in the comments below.  May God Bless and Keep you as close as needle is to thread.  He loves you, you know!  And so do I--Until next time--

MOLLY 

Sew Enjoyed the Trip!!

Just like a good book that turns out to be one that you can't put it down--so it was with the latest project--  You never know at the beginning--but this one just kept getting better.  Ideas kept popping into my head and it kept evolving into so much more than I had first envisioned.  I introduced you guys to Jenny at Elefantz.  There is a button on the top right side of my blog. I joined her Stitchery Club and received some awesome designs but the project that has given me such pleasure is FREE!  Go to her tutorial and look for a needle book made from a vintage doily.

My doily was too large or at least larger than the one she used, but now that it is finished, I love the size.  I think the most fun I had during this whole project was looking and choosing vintage lace, buttons and trims and also the finding of ways to add my essentials and making each page a surprising adventure.

I chose a proverb that I learned in elementary school for a meaningful slogan as I open my Stitchery
Every morning we would say the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag and each child would have to say some Proverb as we showed that our hands were clean to start the day.  I am sure I learned more from this than I will ever realize.  Others I remember were--A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, Two wrongs don't make a right, The squeaky wheel gets the grease---Waste not, want not, and oh so many more.  I put a pleat in a rectangle of fabric and gathered the top edge for a pocket to hold my thimble.  The red leather pouch holds a tiny scissor.  It is held in place with a ribbon.  these particular scissors I LOVE as that are so tiny, yet the fingers holes are not.  They are sharp and short and perfect for clipping thread ends and tails.

The next "page" is the place for all things sharp and sticky (needles and pins) and threads that will be used for whatever projects you are currently working on.

Each page presents a joyful place for the eye to rest.  The little lady bug button makes me smile.
I chose for the back a signature and the year that the Stitchery Keep was made.  I keep thinking that someday maybe a grandchild or great-grandchild-- (or possibly even more generations will look at this hand made piece and wonder what I was like.  I hope it gives them a clue.

At least it will show them how I signed my name.  Who knows what the future brings but I wonder from time to time what my great great grandparents were like.   Don't you?

Well, my next one is already in my head and heart.  My favorite flower is Sunflower so I have already stitched one of Jenny's designs and picked out some perfect fabrics for it.  What do you think?

My plan is to post all through the project so that you kinda get the feel for the process.  Papa has to get his cancer antibody treatment tomorrow and see his surgeon so I won't get much done.  Have patience!  See ya soon!