Thursday 3 March 2011

Crazy Colours

Many of the ladies who come to the class I teach on Tuesdays have been doing machine embroidery for quite some time. But this term I have taken them all right back to basics to get to grips with their machines and their stitching. They have to be the ones in control... perfect stitching everytime! Using appliqued silks, they have practiced their free running stitch with wavy lines and vermicelli...

granite stitch (for the critics among you I'd like to point out this is greatly magnified!) and pebble stitch...

Then some fiddling with the tensions to get lines of whip stitch...

Chunky cable stitch...

and circles and curves of feather stitch.

there were even some whip stitch vermicelli buttons (okay I'm showing off now!)

I even went so far as some piping.

And the result is this crazy cushion which doesn't fit into any colour scheme in my house but it will be a useful teaching aid if nothing else.

The class are now well underway with their own projects ranging from cushions and scarves to bags and boxes, using appliqued silks and super stitching! Photos to follow at the end of term!
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27 comments:

  1. Thimbleanna3 March 2011 at 16:56

    Oooh, that looks so fun Gina! I love the bright happy colors, but I feel your house color pain. The colors I like to sew with don't go with my house -- at. all!

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  2. Carol Q3 March 2011 at 16:59

    ooh what a fabulous sampler Gina. lol - yeah I can imagine it wouldn't fit in with normal home decor.

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  3. dottycookie3 March 2011 at 17:05

    Perhaps you should redecorate to match your cushion :-)

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  4. Celia Hart3 March 2011 at 17:19

    Wow! I don't think either of my sewing machines are up for that!

    Brilliant sampler cushion of what can be done.

    Celia
    x

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  5. Stephanie Pettengell3 March 2011 at 18:09

    Very impressive and I really love the cushion.

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  6. Julie3 March 2011 at 18:15

    I want one!! :-) It's a gorgeous cushion and it would certainly brighten you up on a dull day. A great teaching aid!

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  7. DIAN3 March 2011 at 18:16

    Lovely bright cushion. Love the buttons.

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  8. vintagerockchick3 March 2011 at 18:59

    Wow - that's loud even by my standards - I love it! And SUCH neat stitching - I really need to work on perfecting my stitching techniques.

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  9. greenrabbitdesigns3 March 2011 at 18:59

    The cushion is beautiful and I'm really impressed by what can be achieved with a machine!
    I can do straight lines with mine!!!
    Vivienne x

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  10. ginny farquhar3 March 2011 at 19:19

    wonderful colours & stitches. looks fun in your class. wish i was one of your students :0)

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  11. Heather3 March 2011 at 19:26

    Looking forward to seeing those photos Gina. Your cushion is a sampler of beautifully controlled machine embroidery. I always have a nervous twitch when working vermicelli, just as it's going well and I end up with a spiky bits in the middle of lovely curves.

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  12. Su3 March 2011 at 20:06

    That's fantastic - I want I have to get to know my sewing machine better now! I probably need a book too to help me learn how to do all those stitches.

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  13. Iz3 March 2011 at 20:09

    Show off! (Just jealous really...:)

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  14. Diana Studer3 March 2011 at 21:47

    Sure she's showing off. But she's entitled!! Is that 'granite' stitch also done with the machine? Can one do that? Not me for sure.

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  15. wonderwoman3 March 2011 at 22:29

    what a gorgeous cushion - love it!

    x

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  16. menopausalmusing3 March 2011 at 22:37

    Zing!

    Wonderful, love it. I see you can "do" ripple effect crochet too..... I have struggled with that. (Not the fact that you can do it, rather the fact that I CANT...... yet......)

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  17. Miriam Weaver3 March 2011 at 22:40

    I'm with Dottiecookie, you need to redecorate! Imagine the whole house in those colours, migraine heaven!

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  18. Frances4 March 2011 at 01:11

    Hello Gina, that cushion is so vibrant...much more than a teaching exercise!

    Your students are so lucky to get your expert teaching. If I were in the neighborhood, I'd be sure to sign up, even if my old sewing machine can still barely zig and zag.

    xo

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  19. susan4 March 2011 at 04:21

    I love what you make...
    Such detail.

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  20. Lesley Turner4 March 2011 at 06:30

    What a great challenge for your students

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  21. pam4 March 2011 at 08:53

    Oh that cushion is fantastic - and the buttons and piping - you have the right to show off!!!!

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  22. Patchwork Linda4 March 2011 at 09:22

    Really love it!

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  23. Angela4 March 2011 at 10:02

    I love that cushion and so does Steph.I wondered why you showed us how to do the piping and now I know .

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  24. Greedy Nan4 March 2011 at 16:04

    Im a machine embroiderer but don't think my machine could do this - or could it ... is it just a basic model that drops its feed dogs?
    I have a home for the cushion if you don't ....

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  25. Alison5 March 2011 at 10:11

    love the cushion wish you could teach in Norfolk

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  26. Things Hand Made6 March 2011 at 10:55

    wow, just love that.. can we have it as a project or a stich along... its fab

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  27. Parisbreakfasts8 March 2011 at 18:56

    These are extraordinary!
    I'm blown away!!
    I found you at France's..
    merci
    Carolg

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