Posts Tagged ‘Sewing’
So I hurt my back 2 days ago. I woke up, got up and suddenly I had sever pain left side of my lower back. I think it’s called “gikkuri goshi” in Japanese, which has no real translation into English other than “strained back”. When I say “pain” I mean it’s not the kind you can really work through. Blegh. So I sat around leaning on lots of pillows with heat pack for 2 days. I think it might be getting better, but it’s hard to say. It really sucks for Todd (been working from the living room while trying to keep up with everything I usually do at the same time!) and probably for kids too. But I suppose it’s not the worst I’ve been through since as long as I don’t move, the pain isn’t so bad, and it’s not like I feel ill.
Anyhow, since I’m useless anyhow, I stitched up this yellow angry bird for the kids.
I saw an Angry Bird plush at a bookstore and thought that kids would totally love it…but it was really kind of expensive considering it’s generally poor quality [not to mention, most mass produced stuffed animals kinda make me grumpy since they make me imagine people who had sewn them together — lovelessly (completely understandable considering the probable circumstance in which they were created...) — and didn't get paid fair wage]. Besides, what’s the fun is having just ONE angry bird, I’m sure kids would want all of the set! …So I thought about stitching some up, and upon poking around internet, I found that some one else have figured out how to make it already and kindly shared it with the world! [Go HERE for her very helpful tutorial!]. I added a tail in the back, and hand-stitched the whole thing (since my machine sucks for this kind of sewing) but lookie, I made my first plush! I had everything I need to make it already (and many more!) so how wonderful is that?
Ashland loved this bird at first sight and has been taking very good care of it ever since it was finished. Immi wants a yellow bird, so I’ll get to work on that.
It’s been a bit quite here on this blog — for some reason a lot on my mind makes me out put fewer words in writing! Not for lack of crafting though. I have been enjoying sewing by hand lately. Using my sewing machine isn’t all that relaxing for me right now because when I do have the opportunity to use it, I feel rushed to finish up the project. In contrast, stitching by hand makes me relaxed and happy.
Here’s a little bag. One of my favorite thing about hand-sewn item is that stitches are basically invisible.
And here’s a wrist cuff. Entirely hand stitched and instead of making too many “invisible” stitches, I used some decorative stitches too. I was experimenting fusion-ing up steampunk/new-victorian look with vintage fabric from Thailand while incorporating colors that are more pop. …I dunno, I have nothing to wear with this cuff 
And here’s Immi’s princess room shoes. She kept trying to makes shoes out of all kinds of things (hand towel, paper napkin, t-shirt…) so I made her ones that will stay on her feet a little better. This pair is actually made from a pattern designed not by me — which is a first for me, making something from a pattern! These are hand stitched except for zigzag machine-stitching in the inside edges to prevent fraying. I would have just used sewing machine for this but I wanted to test durability of hand sewn items thought this is a great opportunity.
Monday is such a silly day for Halloween so we celebrated it on Saturday. Serendipitously, we were blessed with beautiful weather! We had no real plans for the day, but since we got up and about too late to go to the market, we headed out to Sauvie Island to seek out a pumpkin patch. There are many pumpkin patches here, we drove passed by two really big ones when we found this most beautiful one ever.
Immi loves pumpkins, I have no idea why, but she really does. I didn’t make her princess dress, but I did whip up her tiara to match the wand I made for Immi some time ago. I almost contemplated buying a mass produced made in china plastic and probably toxic crap of a toy tiara but made this instead. My goal (aside from refusing to pay for worthless item, keeping one more item out of landfill etc. etc.) was for durability and comfort. I doodled the design, glittered a fabric using non-toxic water resistant glue, stitched it onto wool felt, added elastic band and attached a salvaged heart-shaped red rhinestone.
I finished the wrist cuff.
I really enjoy making wrist cuffs, even thought they aren’t all that versatile as far as accessories go, being appropriate mostly just in autumn and spring (long sleeve get in the way, and it looks too hot in summer, though on second thought — it’s probably fine here in Pacific NW!). I practice various stitches on it, and learn a new trick or two (I leaned to install hooks properly though you don’t see it in the picture). I’d love to make an entire dress but I don’t have the time, space, supply, skill or patience for it at the moment, so I’m rather content making these instead.
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