Owl and the Cat - Sewing Projects

(Note: This is the newest of four posts today which cover the Christmas season of craft)
For my baby nephew for Christmas I sewed this owl toy inspired by the design in the book 'Simple Softies', however I made changes such as the use of cotton fabrics instead of felt (except the wings remained felt for functional purposes)

Also from the same book, I redesigned these simple cat toys which I modified to become Christmas decorations. I made a black one for my sister who has a black cat Satie, and a more colourful one which is closer to the design in the book. I never follow the instructions in the design books for some reason, but rather create something based on the pictures with little reference to certain steps of the instructions.
The faces are hand-embroidered and the bodies sewn together on my sewing machine. I also slip-stitched the ribbons and stuff to the pink cat. I disemboweled an unused cushion to use for stuffing.

-AlbusOwner

Cambodian Artwork

So on Monday my sewing project was due in at school, and today me and my friend who also does this subject presented our garments in Assembly!!

My design is inspired by the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia during the 1970's, and their slow progress and regrowth since then.

Now these are a few shots from my friends' garment!

And here's a few shots of my project when worn!

I have included my design development drawings because I spent a long time on them and feel they need some recognition too! The drawings aren't totally honest, but they show a fair depiction of the general progression of ideas leading up to my final design.

Guerilla Knitting x2

 Yesterday my friend and I hit the local streets to administer a little urban art.

After a few weeks of knitting with nice thick wool and large needles, we finally had our beautifying artworks to sew up along the street. Armed with a large needle, knitting yarn and scissors, we spent some time sewing up our creations whilst avoiding eye contact with awkward neighbours.

 

 

 My friend used black, grey and red wool with an assortment of ribbons tied neatly around the edge, and some fancy metal buttons for extra charm.

 Mine was in my old spot from two years ago. Sadly, the council finally got round to getting rid of my old one, although that's probably a good thing seeing as it was looking pretty manky and falling apart! My new knitting is a combination of wool and synthetic fluffy yarn. I have added some funky buttons of different sizes and colours on each end for extra spunk.

It's great to feel you're making your local area more pretty and interesting!

Sewing Fun

Some sewing fun I have been creating lately:

Flower

Silk Painting

This is by far the most sophisticated bit of sewing I have ever done. It looks hideous, because I did it badly! But through that mess of stitching, I have actually created my own fabric to the left of the shiny fabric by using solvy and free-motion machine embroidery!

 

 

 

 The last picture is what I created today, and I am quite proud of it. This term we have no theory at all (!!), every lesson is practical where we are being bombarded with fairly sophisticated techniques. This one is meant to be a petal (but I used a leaf pattern and didn't realise that petals don't have centre veins....) and it has fishing wire around the edges to keep shape, and wire down the centre to bend it into cool shapes!

My plan is to create more petals and then somehow join them to create a full flower! Exciting!!

New Sewing Machine!

So I totally got a new sewing machine! I forgot to take a photo, and so couldn't be bothered getting one now for this blog, cause I'm THAT LAZY.

Anywho, it's a massive upgrade from our old dinosaur one. I have now learned to do freehand embroidery, which is what I've always wanted to learn! Here's a sample of what it can do (although it wasnt me who made this particular sample - although I'm the one who vainly tried to write 'hello'!)

So I'm currently working on a new textiles majorwork, and I'm working on different squares for an embroidered cushion inspired by the scenery of the blue mountains. Here's my first square that I've completed, which hopefully resembles wattle!



And a close up of the detail:

I've also been learning how to applique, which is how the stem of the plant was made. Applique is the technique of gluing fabrics on top of each other.

My next square is an experiement with freehand stitching on a pattern of leaves! I'm very excited to get started.

Totoro Cross Stitch and Zippers

That's right, I made a Totoro cross-stitch!!!!

I've been working on this one for 4 months. Doesn't sound like a very long time... but in this month alone I would have spent at least 15 hours on this stupid bit of stitching. Why do cross stitches take so long? Why?

And that line half way through his belly is REALLY frustrating... I ran out of that coloured thread ;( I'm too lazy to re-do the whole thing however. I shall never be able to look at it without cringing. Good thing I'm giving it to my dad!

Meanwhile, in my textiles class, I sewed a zipper!!!!! I'm feeling very pro.

Textiles

So I've just started the HSC Textiles course, and am finding it very challenging. My teacher has very high expectations, and I find myself turning up 10 minutes early to every class just to avoid the chance of being late and getting a demerit! I feel like such a nerd.

Anyway, we've started work on seams. We've been doing some sample work, and I thought I'd put some pictures up.

Pardon the terrible quality photos, but I couldn't find my camera and had to resort to my computer webcam.


These are my bound seams - very tricky. I was the first person in the class (but certainly not the last) to get a cotton lock over doing this fiddly work. That means that the fabric gets stuck in the bobbin thing and you pretty much have to take apart the whole machine and rip out your fabric. Thanks for using me as a demonstraction, that really made my day (not). At least I learned to be more careful!


These were my first attempts at using an overlocker - what a marvellous invention!! A few seconds of loud noises, and the machine creates a complex stitch and cuts the fabric for you, and it always looks professional.


On this page I sewed some very simple hems, and the bottom three were hand-stitched. Oh yes, I am amazing at handstitching after those hundreds of hours I've spent on cross-stitches!!! It was supposed to take the whole lesson, and I finished in the first 20 minutes :D Browny points for me.


As a reward for fininishing the handstitching so quickly, my teacher showed me this very unusual seam. Hand-stitched again, but I'm not sure if I did it quite right... I think this is called scalloped or something? It's supposed to be a decorative hem for sleeves or something.

So yeah, Textiles is turning out as more challenging than I thought, but lots of fun! Haven't had to do any figure drawings yet though ;)

Sewing Bag

As I put my sewing stuff away from my angel cross stitch (see previous post), I was complaining how annoying my organisation of all my stuff was. So then I thought - I should make something large which can hold all the stuff which is in small containers everywhere!

So I pulled out my Jane Austen sewing book, took a glance at some 'huswife' (weird bag things) images, and then drew up a design and made this:

(It's not that wonky looking in real life!)

I must say that I surprised even myself with how smoothly everything worked out! I pretty much designed the whole thing myself, and I definately hand-sewed the entire thing by myself. There is a layer of lining which cannot be seen, to pad it out a bit, and a different colour on the outside - so in the bits with the pockets, there's four layers of fabric going.



This is it all folded up :D



I must admit I stole the scissors tie thing off the Jane Austen sewing book. That wasn't my idea. But I didnt follow the instructions at all - only the picture! I hate following instructions. And it's so much more satisfying knowing you designed it yourself - that's why I hand-sew everything, far more satisfaction!

Knitting

Well, I'm not a state winner for the Novella Competition, but I still stand a chance of being a shortlisted or "highly recommended" participant. Doesn't it defeat the purpose if they choose who was shortlisted AFTER choosing the state winners though? Strange...

Anyway, today I took a walk with a had and dark sunglasses and stood next to a particular pole, and waiting around suspiciously for everyone in sight to disappear. Who would guess that a Sunday morning would have so many people taking a walk?? After about five minutes waiting, I gave up and took out my 2m long piece of knitting and started sewing it up with trembling hands. After a few stitches however, I started to quite enjoy myself. I loved it every time someone walked past, probably giving me shifty looks and wondering what on earth I was doing, but were too scared to ask. I just kept sewing away, ignoring everyone. One nice man asked me what I was doing, but before I could actually work out what I really was doing (i still have no idea) he suggested it was art, and I agreed. He told me all about his wife and how she likes quilting and thought my little piece was quite nice and bright, and then he went on. As he walked away, I thought about how I would never EVER have such a nice conversation like that with a stranger, and decided I want to try and do more of this geurilla knitting in the future as I enjoyed the whole thing so much.

Doesn't look 2 metres, does it?? Well, I think it was a bit short of it because I was beginning to worry how long I would have to stand there sewing it up... I think in the end it took nearly half an hour, but I loved every minute of it.

I was very impressed with how this bit turned out. "Llama was here" I did that whole little bit in just over half an hour. I drew out the words lightly with pencil, then stitched over them, and then folded back the edges and sewed it onto the knitting. Now everyone can know that Llama who made the first piece made the second one too :)