Thursday, October 18, 2007

Design by Me


patchwork
Originally uploaded by nicoleballet
This is one of the first sewing projects that was one of my own patchwork designs. I was inspired by Amy Butler's sequin scarf from her book In Stitches. But I had a pile of really fun fat quarters in tones of blue. So I thought it would be fun to make a diagonal patchwork belt/scarf. I also went a bit thinner than Amy's. Mine's about 2 and a half inches wide. I have the same fabrics back to back on either side. I like that touch, makes me feel like there's some kind of harmony about it.

I must confess, I did a sloppy sloppy job. It's a first draft! While I was making this thing I told myself I would never make another one, but I like it so much now even with all its flaws, I may make another attempt. The next time around I'll be using a different method entirely. I'd tell you how I tried this one but it is so sad and so wrong I think I'll spare you the frustration. I imagine an experienced sewer watching me while thumping her hands on a desk, "IDIOT! Nooo!! You just do it this way. NO! NOT THAT WAY!!"
Scarf-a-licious

I am notorious for going about things the hard way. Honestly, in any Math/Engineering class I took when we got the tests back and we would go through the answers the professor would say, "There's an easy way to do this and the hard way." Guaranteed, every single stinking time I took the harder way. I did get it right though, ::pats self on back::. Aaaah the simple times.

I've been having a frustrating time at work. After being back on my old college campus (or rather newly-refurbished?!) last weekend, I have a hankering for the times where a 70% meant C, 80% a B and 90% an A. Things have seemed more blurred lately. If only things in the corporate world worked on such a black and white scale. Not so much. So crafting is nice turn from that where I can look at a crochet pattern and know that when I chain 28, I'm going to get 28. And when I do a sloppy job of pinning, I'm going to get a sloppy patchwork. Nobody to blame but myself.

Enough of that! Oh woe is me bullshiat is not what this is for. I leave you with:
Kitty in 5 yards of Joel Dewberry!

Yes, FIVE YARDS. I bit the bullet. Now, to finish enough of my presents for the holidays that I feel I can devote time to redoing my duvet cover with my new ripples of fabric.

2 comments:

futuregirl said...

That scarf is AMAZING! I love the way it looks as both a belt and scarf. I love the colors, too. I think it looks very hip and feminine, but also like grandpa's old tie at the same time ... in the BEST possible way.

futuregirl said...

To answer you crochet question, I hand sew my linings into my handbags. I can't even imagine the nightmare that would be running crochet and fabric through the machine. It makes my heart stop just thinking about it (crochet chewed up by the feed dogs, crochet stretching and running out of lining because of it, big lumps of thread from the bobbin blobbing up everywhere).

The thin, little coasters are probably no problem, especially since you can put the fabric side on the feed dogs and they are flat.

I plan on having a tutorial up this month on how I hand sew in my linings ... I'm running down the clock, as usual. :)