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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 1, 2015 12:22:39 GMT
Is it really June? Here in Chicago it is currently 43 degree F and cloudy. Seems ridiculous, doesn’t it? In spite of the bad weather we’ve been having, we are moving forward and hoping for better weather.
Lately I have been spending more time with cloth than felt, but they are fibers. Yes. I have been giving away clothing to the charities, and on the same hand trying to repurpose any natural fabric clothing that doesn’t fit by updating, adding appliqué, patching. It’s not that I am running out of cash--it’s just that I am getting tired of our throw-away fashions. I am also trying to work with the cloth that I have--quite a large stash of lovely 100% quilting cotton--from which I am making simple tops for summer.
But beginning tomorrow, I will be back to felting big-time as I begin a two-week artist residency in Colorado.
What have you been doing with your fiber?
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Post by Teri Berry on Jun 1, 2015 12:29:17 GMT
Hi Cathy. I have been using my sewing machine a lot over the past 2 weeks thanks to tatiana shervada's dressmaking workshop I attended at the end of April. I am still using felt yardage though. Will post some pictures as soon as I can clear enough space (we are doing some building work and hubby always seems to find something better to do after he starts doing some DIY!).
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 1, 2015 12:41:05 GMT
Teri, would love to hear more about your dressmaking workshop with Tatiana--she has a great reputation! Can’t wait to see what you made!
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 1, 2015 14:27:22 GMT
We've been in Florida with our grandsons. Yesterday before I left my five year old grandson and I made a felt snake. He really got a big kick out of it.
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Post by jwugg on Jun 1, 2015 16:36:09 GMT
Cathy, I'd love to hear more about your artist's residency I'm trying to teach myself free-motion machine embroidery. Now don't laugh but.... the foot I bought doesn't fit, it's too low, & my machine doesn't let me lower the feed dogs but has a silly piece of plastic cover, which doesn't fit well, so now has additional tape stuck around. Apart from that I don't really know what I'm doing, but thanks to the wonder that is Youtube I'm having a go. Today I did some simple stitching to a new wet felt picture called 'Time & Tide' : www.flickr.com/photos/62077747@N05/18163198370Detail: www.flickr.com/photos/62077747@N05/18352431331
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Post by elizabeth on Jun 1, 2015 17:00:36 GMT
Jill, that's lovely! How are you working with a machine that won't lower the feed dogs?? Mine won't either so I thought I was out of luck
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Post by jwugg on Jun 1, 2015 17:18:58 GMT
Elizabeth, I found a blog today that said just cut a piece of cardboard to cover the feed dogs, make a small hole for the thread to come up (quite useful that!) & tape the card to the machine - getting the hole in the right place is I think the hardest part. Set your stitch length to zero, loosen top tension. Put your foot down, quite fast, or you'll get huge loops on the back (well, I do anyway) & remember to put the foot lowering lever down, even if you've taken the foot off.
That's the sum of my knowledge to date.
Then practice. (I have lots more of this to do)
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 1, 2015 18:39:07 GMT
Jill - it sounds like your tension might be off with huge loops on the back of the fabric. Free motion just takes practice. I do have to say that it is much easier when you can lower the feed dogs.
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Post by elizabeth on Jun 1, 2015 19:32:25 GMT
Thanks for the info, Jill. I'd like to give the FM stitching a try, but I don't want to invest in a new machine in case I don't really like doing it.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 1, 2015 20:44:07 GMT
Jill, I tried free-motion stitching on the machine a couple of years ago and found it fairly nerve-wracking. It was kind of like being in one of those bumper cars at the amusement park. Practice does improve your efforts, as Ruth says. But after that experience I switched to hand-embroidery, which I just love! No, not as fast, but that’s okay.
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 1, 2015 21:05:49 GMT
I love doing free motion on felt. It is lots of fun - everyone has a different perspective. Elizabeth, I would recommend trying on a friend's machine or maybe at a quilt store. They usually let you try a machine out. You can get some really inexpensive Brother machines that the feed dogs can be lowered.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 1, 2015 22:16:56 GMT
Your stitching looks good Jill! I've only done the free motion stitching on felt twice. It does take practice. My problem is it takes me so long to install my special foot by the time I get it right I'm frustrated. Then I don't want to take it off for regular sewing.
I will continue to practice though. I like the look of stitching on felt. Have fun! I hope you figure out the machine. Strange that the feed dogs won't go down.
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Post by Frances on Jun 2, 2015 1:43:43 GMT
I have been sick the past couple of weeks and have not felt like doing much - Black satin bubble top and ecru crape pants dressed up with three pieces I made recently to wear to a function this weekend. (Instruction for the 3 pieces are on my Wordpress blog)
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 2, 2015 2:17:20 GMT
Very fancy repurposing of garments, Frances. Very elegant as well. Hope you feel better soon!
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 2, 2015 2:27:45 GMT
Very nice Frances! I hope you're feeling better now.
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