Using Ashland Bay carbon, grey and blue faced leicester with tussah silk in an ombre blend. I'm hoping to make another zipper fold over clutch with this fabric. I started on a piece of scrim I'd dyed using elephant grey, one of the few dye projects that came out fine. I've had much better luck dying linen and cotton than silk and wool.

My favorite part is laying out the fluffy bits, they are so lovely, dreamy and relaxing. (the bending over the floor part hurts though!)

Technorati Tags: dye, fabric, felt, felting, fiber, roving, wool

Well not such a good dye job yet again. It's all splotchy, too dark and too blueish purple not the neutral grey I was hoping for. I wonder if I should try a different order of dye events? I watched this you tube video on the subject and she just tossed in the fleece, sprinkled in dye, squirted in vinegar and she pushed and tossed and then added more dye and her roving didn't felt and come out all blotchy like mine. Dang! I'm going about this all wrong I guess. I also watched this video on dye solution recipes (1 tsp powder dye, 1tbl citric acid, 1 cup of water) think I'll give it try for next time. Also I think I need to let the dye simmer longer with the top on and then let it cool down naturally rather than dumping out the water and rinsing. Ok so new tips to try, experiment and experience will be my best method!

Technorati Tags: dye, fashion, felting, fiber, wool

I started at 68" by 34", ended at 54" by 27". I used a white scrim layer, then lightly laid down ecru blue faced leicester, then the same but mixed with 30% sea cell which is shiny and gorgeous when mixed with the pygora locks which I sprinkled on top. Next time I will add a light layer of leicester over the locks to help them felt down. Many of the pygora clusters have locks sticking out which is ok, but wasn't what I was going for. I'm still on the hunt for a good source for pretty pygora locks and more information about felting with locks. It isn't as easy to wet felt locks. I think most people needle felt with them. I was also using a really mild soap, olive oil, and wonder if I could use something a touch stronger to really get the fibers to open.

I love the result, so soft and pretty. More pillows to come I imagine. Though I think this fabric would make a nice detail or trim on a skirt, dress or bag.

Technorati Tags: felt, felting, fiber, pygora, roving, wool

I hand stitched a darling little pair of baby booties for a colleagues upcoming baby shower. It took almost as much time to figure out how to fold that origami crane! I found the bootie pattern on the purl bee. Next time I need to use a slightly thicker felt and be more careful about sewing in the elastic. I used a running stitch rather than the blanket/buttonhole.

I've been coveting a small nuno piece I made ages ago using a light weight open weave cotton gauze, merino roving and pygora goat locks. I wasn't sure what I would do with it, but it was so sweet and soft I kept petting it! Today I took the plunge made it into a little fourteen inch pillow with a linen backing. It's lovely and inspires me to make many more. I think some white on white embroidery would be lovely too.

fleece before felting

piece measured 11.5 inches after stitching, 12 inches including seam allowance.
piece measured 15 wide.

The 2x3 inch lining piece, folded in halt and stitched to outer zipper edge - that was step one.

It was critical to align the edges perfectly along the outer zipper edge and sew evenly. After turning you'll see this edge is the most visible, it needs to be practically perfect. Sew slowly!

inside seam view

lining side view

top stitched a quarter inch, I used the felt edge along side of the pressure foot. I had to pull the felt taught and I had ironed and pinned the lining to make sure it didn't bunch up.

It's also critical to align the zipper and side seams perfectly before sewing right sides together. Don't forget to open zipper and leave a 4" opening in the lining for turning right side out. I used a 5/8 seam allowance so I had fudge room when going over those bulky zipper parts. I broke a needle too, so again sew slowly and manually when going over zipper, backstitch too.

Trim all corners and remove bulk around zipper ends so it can be turned and lay as flat as possible.

.

Technorati Tags: felt, felting, San Francisco, sewing, wool

I sewed this reversible linen bag for Vivi during my first intermediate sewing class and finished it on my own a few days later. I added outside pockets. I found this tutorial very helpful, especially when I was trying to figure out the strap sewing.

Technorati Tags: sewing

Went on an amazing two day ski trip with daddio! A million thank yous for a fabulously relaxing and yet exhilarating trip. Loved it!

We had a lovely afternoon playing in the Presidio with Kian.

Late night we hooked up with the MacNiven brothers who were lighting lanterns in Dolores Park — it was a beautiful way to welcome the new year.

Papa tried to teach us all to witch for water. Max is the only one who has the talent! Papa has the skill in such a big way. When he holds the willow it pulls so severely he gets welts in his hands and struggles to hold on. What a trip!! I felt nothing, though I tried and wished my switch was unmoved.

A darling snap I took of Vivienne as we made our way through the rain to see the Nutcracker. She's my little sugar plum fairy!

We went to Rayko to have our portrait taken on a tintype. While we waited for the images to be developed we snapped a few pictures with our iphones in the fancy set up. Unfortunately Vivi wasn't her most cooperative self so we only got this one blurry image and that after pleading, bribing and wrangling. No mother daughter portrait, too bad, but the mother/father son ones make me super happy.

For Christmas I made a few felt icases for the men in my life. They were well received. I'll be making a few more for. . .you know who you are!

Technorati Tags: felt, felting, fiber

The Everything Tote from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.

Need 1 yard of each fabric. After cutting pattern pieces, 1 tote body, 1 tote lining, 1 or more pockets using body fabric ( I did two) , 2 bindings from outer and inner fabric, 2 handles from outer and inner fabric.

1. iron 3 sides of pocket with 1/4 inch seam, then fold down 1/2 seam for pocket's top edge and stitch across. Sew together with lining if desired.

2. place pocket 3 1/2 inches down, center pocket on lining fabric center. sew three sides and add any pocket dividing sections.

3. Fold the tote with right sides facing and sew side seams, 3/8 inch. repeat with lining fabric.

4. Create the boxed corners. 2 1/2 inches from corner. to not trim. repeat with tote lining.

5. Align the inner and outer tote with right sides out. align the side seam and pin.

6. baste stitch the arm area and pull thread to create gathers until the arm area measure 12 inches.

7. prepare binding and handles. sew longs sides with a 1/4 seam, leave short ends open. Turn rights side out and press. Then press again in half to aid in stitching next step. On long handles tuck in raw short edge 1/2 inch and press.

8. Pin binding and sew as close to binding edge as desired on the lining side to secure the binding. Then fold over in half and stitch down on the right side. Repeat other side. Trim excess so it will hide nicely in the handle.

9. Pin handles starting at side seam. sew from lining side to secure. Then fold over and sew right side down. Repeat for all 4 sides. Sew open edge at side seam closed by hand.

excellent notes on pattern corrections here.

Technorati Tags: sewing

Top: laying out roving
Center: wet felting
Bottom: finished felt

I had lots of fun felting this super thick piece. I used two layers of thin batting, two layers of corriedale and two layers of merino. Below are close ups. The grey is from my messed up dye experience. I'm happy to have used a bit of it.

Technorati Tags: felting, fiber, wool