Thursday, February 27, 2014

Lil Blue Boo's Hungry Bunny Pouch Completed!


Oh, the misery when you don't follow directions!  I turned a rather simple project into a PROJECT.  First I only scanned the directions.  The part about cutting the pieces back-to-back being essential because the bunny is asymmetrical?  I missed that.  Hence there was a bit of extra cutting to get all the pieces to match up.

I did, however, zero in on the hand sewing of the lining in my quick scan of the directions.  I'll spend a hour machine sewing to get out of ten minutes of hand sewing so that had to change.  In a consultation with my sewing muse, Sandra, I was advised to sew the zipper pieces together as usual,  then just sandwich the rest and sew around the edges.  Being literal I sewed all the way around the edges. No, you gotta leave an opening for turning. Okay, ripped out a few stitches, turned it right-side out, and sewed up that opening. Done!

My  bunny was supposed to be two different fabrics in the front like some of Sandra's.  Somehow that did not happen.  Still, it's a cute little thing and the lining is lovely as you can see if you look inside there.  Check out this link  and this one for more examples of Sandra's awesome fabric choices.
The pattern (AND the directions) are at  Lil  Blue Boo.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Yes I Did Finish the Arrested Development Embroidery


Just a few minor changes from Janalyn's original pattern.  
Love it--both the show and the embroidery.  This has been hanging in my son's room for a couple of months now where I have periodically tried getting decent pics of it.  The valuable lesson learned was to take photos of things framed with reflective glass without the glass in place.  Then you can seal up the whole things with that perfectly cut paper backing.  You are gonna have to take my word for it that it looks great in a black frame with black matting.  This photo gives you an idea--just try to ignore the glare.

I got the design  from Janalyn's Etsy shop here for a mere $5.  I'm not a huge fan of most cross stitch,  but the lettering is quick and easy.

Monday, February 24, 2014

No I've Not Been On An Extended Vacation...

I've been away--from my blog.  Sometimes life gets busy with things that make boring blog posts.  However, I finally made it back into my sewing room yesterday.  My embroidery machine proved to be the clear winner in the productivity department. It managed to create these from some Huck towels I made last year.
The towel is crooked in that last one, not the design.  Designs are from the Embroidery Library (emblibrary.com)
In the same amount of time that my machine got all that finished, I got this far with the hungry bunny pouch I've been meaning to make.
Honestly, I had two towels finished before I was able to decide which fabrics to use for the damned bunny. No, I am not using the red polka dot zippers for it.  I just dumped all my zippers trying to choose a zipper. Another towel was nearing completion before I was able to decide on the zipper and interfacing.

Don't look for the finished bunny anytime soon.  This morning, as I tried to put the pieces on the zipper, I realized the bunny is not symmetrical.  I should have read the directions more carefully.  Okay, I should have READ the directions. It appears that I've not cut things right, and  I've used up all that polka dot lining fabric.  Good thing I have a few more towels ready to embroider while I try to decide on another fabric.