Christmas Sewing (Pillowcases)- Part 2

When sewing seams...

...the fabric is usually oriented with its 'right sides' together.

                                                With French seams, however...

                              ...they are first sewn with the 'wrong sides' together...

                                             ...and the seam is then trimmed...

                                        ...leaving a very small seam allowance...

                                         ...before the project is turned inside-out.

                                            The same seams are then re-sewn...

                                             ...with the raw edges tucked inside!

                                The resulting seams are quite neat and 'fray-proof'! 

                                           Next time: the finished pillowcases...

                                                     ...all fifteen of them!! :)

Christmas Sewing (Pillowcases)- Part 1

Using an internet pillowcase tutorial...

...like this one...

                                            ...for the 'burrito' sewing method...

                                         ...I pin three fabric pieces together...

               ...(a top section, narrow decorative piece and main body portion)...

                                               ...and roll up the largest piece...

                                    ...pinning it within the folded-over top section...

                                              ...to form a festive cotton burrito! :)

                                             The layers are stitched together...

                                       ...and the core is pulled out and unfurled...

                     ...resulting in an assemblage that requires only two more seams...

                                           ...to turn it into a finished pillowcase! :)

                                     Next time: I sew French seams. Oooh la la! ;)

'White Christmas'(!) Scarf and Custom Shoelaces

Pinning my knitted scarf to an interlocking foam floor mat...

                                                      ...and stitching the ends together...

                                                           ...to form an infinity scarf!

                                                             My beautiful friend, Susan...

                                        ...modeling the two ways to wear her Christmas scarf! :)

                                           I knitted a long rectangle from synthetic boucle yarn...

                                             ...then stitched it together to form an infinity scarf.

                                 (Although it looks white, it's actually a very pale lavender in color!)

                                         
                                          ************************************************************

                                               Folding one-and-a-half-inch bias tape in half...

                                                            ...and sewing it together...

                                                     ...to produce custom shoelaces! :)

                                        Following this wonderful video tutorial...

                                     ...I fashioned lengths of continuous bias tape (for a sewing project)...

                                       ...then used the leftover tape to craft custom shoelaces!

                                       Next time: I'll show you the sewing project that started it all. :)

                                 

                                           

'Mr. Green' Scarf (Scarf Blocking)

Using interlocking foam floor mats...

                                                   ...and short straight pins with large heads...

                                                   ...I laid out my dampened, knitted scarf...

                                                        ...and began pinning it into place.

 
                                I used two pieces of easily removable, 'painter's tape' as an edge guide...

                                                  ...to keep the long sides straight and even.

                                                                 The finished scarf...

                                       ...made with self-striping Mushishi wool-and-silk blend yarn.

                                                             My neighbor, Mr. Green...

                                                 ...happily modeling his new Christmas scarf!

                                                   Next time: another knitted Christmas scarf!

'Felt United' Seaweed Tote- Part 1 of 3

Placing free-form knitted pieces onto the resist...

 

...and pinning them into place...

 

...in an 'open-weave' fashion...

 

...using the surface of an interlocking foam floor mat as an anchor.



Covering side one with wool roving...

 

...then wetting and turning the piece to side two...

...and pinning on additional knitted bits.

 

Adding wool roving...

...and wetting out side two...

 

...then folding in both top edges.

 

I'm taking a break from my 'Peculiar Projects' series...

...in order to celebrate Felt United with all of you!

Water is this year's theme...

...and I decided to take it in a direction that I have before...

...deep under the sea. :)

***********************************************************************************
One boring Saturday afternoon recently...

...I taught myself to knit by watching several Youtube videos(!)

Because my knitted pieces are to be used as embellishment for felted items...

...I felt no pressure to 'get it exactly right'...

...and it was (and continues to be) surprisingly enjoyable!!

Go ahead and say "you told me so" you knitters!

(You know who you are!!)  :)

Next time: I fashion an interior flap for security.