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!

27 comments:

  1. 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. 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. Perhaps you should redecorate to match your cushion :-)

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  4. 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. Very impressive and I really love the cushion.

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  6. 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. Lovely bright cushion. Love the buttons.

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

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

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  14. 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. what a gorgeous cushion - love it!

    x

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

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  18. 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. I love what you make...
    Such detail.

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  20. What a great challenge for your students

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

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  22. 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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  23. 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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  24. love the cushion wish you could teach in Norfolk

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

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

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