GOLD!

Here's my thought process for this month's theme:

Gold --- Gold Medal --- Sports

So I used marathon race bibs to make a pouch.

 

You know, those rectangular pieces with numbers 

that runners pin on their t-shirts.

These bibs are from a colleague who runs full and half marathons,

some times competitively, other times for fun.

I made the pouch the usual way.
Sewing seams with right sides together then turning them out.

Well, this plastic-whatever race bib material creased terribly

and the colour flaked off in places when I turned them right side out.

 

Both sides of race bib pouch.

In desperation, I ironed it on a low temperature setting with a press cloth.

 

That flattened the creases, but they are still there and

I fear they are permanent.

But my colleague liked this “distressed” look.

Phew!!!

 

 

See the pic above? Notice the two new bibs from my colleague.

She wants another pouch!

~Ema N~

Linking up with

See what others created for Le Challenge's "Gold" theme!

 

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SCRAPPY POUCH FOR HARD DISK DRIVE

 

Someone needed a pouch to hold a hard disk drive.

 

I was happy to oblige.

 

Gathered together medium-weight cotton scraps then
spent several hours playing with them.
 

There was no plan, no pattern.

Just sew-ed together pieces in a way described in
Crazy Mom Quilt's scrap vortex post.

When it became one big rectangle,
I folded it into half and seamed both sides.

Added a bead zipper pull and a cute label.

 

Lining is a striped scrap left from making pyjama pants.

Blue zipper from stash and in just the right length (7 inches)!

  

The pouch is larger than the hard disk drive
as paper and pen are sometimes tucked in too.

This was fun!

And it feels good to know something I made
is being used and appreciated each day :-)
 

~Ema N~
 

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts' Finish It Up Friday. 

 

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Please do not use without permission.

 

 

EPP ~ STARRY NIGHT NECKLACE

The theme for Le Challenge this month is “direction”.
 

I recently read Dava Sobel's “Longitude”,

a book about astronomy, navigation and horology.

It's my inspiration for this month because

long before maps or GPS, people relied on stars for direction.

 

So I English Paper Pieced these stars to make a necklace.

 

They are 4cm across from point to point,
with fusible woven interfacing on the back.

 Faceted blue beads represent the sky.

 

It's whimsical.

It's patchwork I can wear.

I like it!

:-)

~Ema N~

***
What I made for recent Le Challenges
love token earrings: "Single"
 flower brooch : "Wood"

***

 

Linking up with

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POUCH ~ FOUND AND FINISHED

 

Found an unfinished pouch in the scrap box...

 

How did it get there?

 

It's almost done, just needed to hem the edge.

 

This is probably going to be a gift bag.

 

Are there more unfinished pouches waiting to be found in the other scrap boxes?

 

~Ema N~

 

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HALF-CIRCLE SKIRT & MORE

Sewing time in the past two weeks was devoted to skirts.

Not mine, but a close friend's.

First, a half-circle wrap skirt.

Pattern was traced off an existing one she bought years ago.

It was my first encounter with this type of skirt.

So I would like to remember these in case I ever need to make another:

 

^align the straight edges of skirt with fabric selvedge.

This saves heming!

^stitch along the hem allowance to prevent stretching of the fabric.

^use a lighter weight cloth.

This cotton batik-print fabric is a tad heavy, may strain the waistband.

Use interfacing to support the waistband.

 

*****

 

The next three skirts were the result of alternations.

Truth is, I don't like doing alternations.

I'd much rather sew up something new.

 

But my friend's absolute delight

in having "new" skirts from clothes
she almost threw away
made it all worthwhile.

 

 

This skirt originally had a yoke.

 

It became too tight at the waist. 

 Fortunately, the circumference of the skirt below the yoke was just right.

 

So unpicked the lining, unpicked the yoke, unpicked the zipper,
unpicked the side seam of outer fabric and lining to reposition zipper.
 

Re-inserted zipper etc

And finally, added bias binding waistband.

 

 Now, what do I do with these?

Do they go into the rubbish bin or the scrap fabric bin?

Oh, I confess to being a hoarder.

So into the scrap bin they go!

:-)
 

~Ema N~.

 

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ENGLISH PAPER PIECED TORTOISE

 

Please meet Ms Pearl, my new animal friend.

 

Can you see what she is reading?

 

It's the dictionary entry for "Slow".

 

Yes, she's my visual reminder to.....

 

.....slow down

 

.....breathe

 

.....smile.

 

 

I just had to add two felt flowers as her accessories.

 

So Frida Kahlo-esque.

 

The flowers are from the needle holder in my sewing box.

 

You might have noticed them in the first slow sewing post here.

 

Ms Pearl's shell is made by English Paper Piecing (EPP) scraps together.

 

Limbs, head and tail were machine-sewn, stuffed with polyfil.

 

Shell and base were hand-stitched together, body stuffed with scraps.

 

The pattern came from Cath Kidston's "Sewing Book".

 

Ms Pearl won't be a pincushion, though.

 

I cannot bear to stick pins into her :-)

 

She will be on my bedside table, where I have a spot for favourite things,

stuff that makes me happy when I see them in the morning and before I go to bed.

 

I leave you with another look at this stylish lady.

 

Linking up with Scraptastic Tuesday.


 

~Ema N~

 

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FABRIC SHOPPING

 

Oh, it's the sale season and I cannot resist.....

 

These fabric came home with me because

 I like the colour, the feel of the fabric, the loveliness of it all.

 

These are good enough reasons, right?

 

Plus, they were on sale.

 

No concrete plans to use any of these yet.

The pattern of the first piece reminds me of
the La Passacaglia quilt by Willyne Hammerstein.
 

The flowery fabric above is a Japanese cotton, soft and silky smooth.

This paisley one is 30% cotton/70% polyester.

I cannot say "no" to paisley.



This next one looks boring compared to the rest.

 

But it'll work as something for the office.

It's the first piece of organic fabric I've ever bought.





Now for a cup of tea...
 

I'll be admiring these lovely fabric
as I sip the earl grey and nibble on a cookie.

 

~Ema N~

 

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BIRD

This little hand-stitched bird is made using fabric scraps and
stuffed with scraps cut up into little pieces.

It's not bad for a first attempt.

I'd like to try again if I find the right kind of wire to make legs.

Inspiration and pattern for the bird came from "Making" magazine, July 2014.

Their styling is great!
 

"Making" Magazine
July 2014

~Ema N~

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