Some more squares...

I am currently at a half-way point in two squares for my large embroidered cushion for school textiles.

I struck difficulty with the rosella one, I need to find some kind of eye-looking button or something to sew on for an eye, and I'm having a bit of a block about the blue thread which does not really show up, at all. I'm considering going over it in white thread?

I moved on to the bottle-brush in the meantime, and I quite like the overall effect. This is a terrible photo though, I hope the leaves don't look that bad in real life... Dang it, I knew I should have made them equal!!

I realised with horror today that my mum will be away during the time leading up to my handing in of this task, so I'm either going to prove my genius by whipping up some original construction stuff about making it actually into a pillow, or else I'm going to suffer with this assignment.

On the note of failing in textiles, we have an assessment next week on the properties of fibres and fabrics. I am SO dead. I very rarely come up to an assessment feeling completely and utterly unprepared. In fact, I don't think I've ever felt that before...

So I'm either going to have some brainwave about it in the next week, or I'm doomed for that too!

Leaf Stitching

That's right! Two posts in two days!! So today I started and completed a second square, or rather rectangle, and decided to share it with you.

So this one is my subtle 'square,' so I used muted tones. This picture doesn't pick up the colouring as well as it does in real life... sadface.


Since I do textiles now, and I learn awesome technical stuff, I can say that the yellow/green thread appears brighter than the others, as it is made out of nylon, with has shiny properties, as apposed to rayon thread. Or maybe it was the other way around... o_o

CLOSE UPS!

I must admit that I really don't like this square. I was so excited about doing this, especially with the freehand machine stitching....... but I rushed it so much, cause I was feeling frustrated as the backing fabric that I was using kept doing weird stuff... ah well, perseverence!!

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.

Howl Cosplay

So the other day I attended Supanova for the first time ever! It was amazing! Supanova is a festival of nerds like me who like to dress up as characters from Pop Culture. I think that's what the criteria is anyway...

So I decided I would go as Howl from Howl's Moving Castle, if my friend would go as Sophie! I picked up this white jacket as my base for my costume:

From there I spent many MANY hours ripping, sewing, and painting!!





These are some other photos from the day: Me and Iris being Howl and Sophie
And look! I found a Link from the Zelda series!!!!! It was a weird moment when I asked for a photo, and I realised that we were both girls dressed as male anime characters... What a strange world it is.

Skirt :D

Guess who made a skirt?!


Took me so long... my Textiles teacher says she had a quick glance over it before she marked it, and said, "Your hem is done to perfection!" which from her is pretty high praise. That was before I realised that she only noted the hem...

So happy I have made something so sophisticated on a sewing machine all by myself :D Has a hook and eye and a zipper (the button is pointless other than aesthetic appeal)

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.

Drawing and Cinderella

A few days ago, my Textiles class got a special visit from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, who spent a whole day working with us on improving our drawing skills in fashion.

This was my best drawing from the day, still not brilliant, but pretty good I think :) It was based on a photograph:

Anyway, on another note, yesterday I went to a Disney Party :D

I went as Cinderella. My costume was sourced from various opp shops, and my mum sewed the apron for me :)