 Image Source: http://sublimestitching.com/collections/woven-labels/products/woven-labels-this-took-forever BEST labels ever for your handmade gifts.  Image Source: http://www.violetcraft.com/blog/233vp75d9fiw2kkkcj1qyjmcly2f9i  Can you stand the cuteness of these embroidery designs from Kiriki Press? Also available as complete kits. The hedgehog is on my must-make list. Have a lovely weekend!
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  The Lil' Rhody bag is here! This is a project that has been in the works for a few months, and I'm happy to show you the final product. A hand embroidered bag, made with all natural materials (cotton lining, linen exterior, cotton thread), with the shape outline we Rhode Islanders love so much. This makes a fantastic memento if you've spent time in Rhode Island vacationing, visiting friends and family, and especially if you've been stationed here in Newport.  Block Island is even included in the outline!  You can find them at RaNEW Salon and Spa in Newport, as well in my Etsy shop. Mother's Day is just around the corner... There is also a Maryland version available in my shop, that I will show you in a future post. Which state would you most like to see embroidered on a bag next??   Like many mothers of active children, I spend a fair amount of time shuttling people to activities and then waiting. Reading at these activities doesn't work right now because I miss out on watching all the fun. Hand sewing is the perfect way to keep my hands busy, stay out of trouble, not stare at a screen, and still be able to watch the latest flying front kick or back stroke. Until recently, I've brought my sewing to events in a drawstring project bag, which works quite well. The biggest pet peeve of mine has been thread snips. What to do with them? They either end up all over my lap or tangled at the bottom of the bag. An exterior pocket was in order. While I was at it, I prefer zip top bags, and I had been saving some selvedges that had especially interesting graphics, or meant something to me like the sheep and crabs. The portable sewing kit was the end result.  The thread snip pocket. No more lap full of threads making me look like the crazy sewing lady! I still look crazy embroidering everywhere I go around Aquidneck Island, but the people who know me understand it's for fun and work. Those who don't? If they ask I'll gladly tell them. If they don't, well then have fun with your Candy Crush.    Some of my favorite selvedges. It's such a shame that people usually just throw these away!  Inside pockets to corral various thread skeins, marking pens, scissors, lip balm, and even my phone and keys if I'm keeping things simple.  You can see by the current contents that it holds quite a lot. This is intentional, as I am usually either stitching multiples of something and like to churn through as many as I can in one waiting period, or I have a few different projects so I don't get bored.  Portable sewing means more than just sewing while my children are doing their thing. I can take the kit almost anywhere including outside in beautiful weather, a friend's house, to the park, on vacation...you name it. TSA may not like all the sharp pointy things, so I haven't tried flying with it yet, but it goes most everywhere with me lately. How else am I going to make sure everyone has the chance to buy their own Lil Rhody bag?? See the crab mug above? I'm working on a Maryland version of the bag too!  How do you sew, knit, crochet, etc. on the go??  http://blog.mccall.com/2015/04/17/were-awesome-because-we-sew-plus-more-things-to-know/  Source: unknown original source, Pinterest link here--https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AUVhSs-TzZL_mKiPPAmNTgi7K0scMp0kLsYQTNwwfSW9JuosbMA9SkQ/  Image Source: http://ithappensinablink.com/yarn-ball-pendant-necklace/#_a5y_p=5013389 Happy weekending!  Honestly, I'm not sewing all that much this week. I've been in planning mode most of the week, having a "show hangover" for most of Monday after a terrific Yarn Crawl event. Ask other artisans--"show hangover" is a thing. I lost track of how much coffee I've consumed the past few days. What have I been working on? Some side projects, plus a lot of sewing in the planning stages. Here's a peek. The photo above is a close-up of the embroidery for my new Lil Rhody bags. I would show you a finished bag, but they are all sold out at the moment! I plan to spend part of break next week sewing more, not to worry.  Samples for a Seaside Sewing Summer Camp at the Newport Library. I'm really looking forward to teaching this camp with my pal Emma the first week in August.  Fabric shopping for Selfish Sewing happened this week. I'm planning a whole blog post about Lorraine Fabrics in Pawtucket--it's a local gem not to be missed. Lotta Jansdotter fabric for $2.99/yard? Yes please! The fabric above will become an Esme top from her book Everyday Style.  More Selfish Sewing fabric for another Washi Dress. See my last post about how terrific sewing with this pattern is.  A gift for a certain Maryland family member. I haven't completely decided what the final product will be yet, but I'm thoroughly pleased with the embroidery kit from I Heart Stitch Art.  Pillowcase kits. These are for a big donation the Sew Easy to Care Youth sewing group will make in a few weeks. All hands on deck to bust out as many finished pillowcases as possible, so I took a few home to sew up. It's hard not to smile while sewing for a charity.  Navy blue linen blend, my last piece of fabric from this week's Selfish Sewing shopping trip. These will become Owyn pants, also a pattern from the Everyday Style book. The patterns are so easy to follow, and so far the two garments I've made are quite flattering. I'm looking forward to making lightweight cropped pants for summer. We had snow last week, but I *know* summer will be here soon. Right??  This fabric is destined for a set of reusable book bags for my son's classroom. I'm very excited about this project, and will be sure to share more as I get to work.
What are you sewing and planning to sew these days?  The infamous Washi Dress. What is it? Rae Hoekstra, of Made by Rae designed a fantastic sewing pattern that has taken the sewing world by storm. If you read any sewing blogs at all, everyone seems to be making this dress! It's a digital download that you can get here. It's so popular, in fact, that she sells a separate expansion pack. Why did I choose to sew it? Three reasons: 1) I wanted to see why it is so popular (relatively easy to sew, it flatters many different figures.) 2) To practice shirring, and to work with cotton voile. 3) I wanted a new Easter dress.  You can see the way the dress is blowing in the breeze on the mannequin that the drape of cotton voile is lovely. It's a thin, but gorgeous fabric to work with.  Cap sleeves that are quite flattering.  A new-to-me seam finishing technique: bias tape that only encases the bottom edge of the armhole. It was confusing until I sewed it, and then it's brilliance was quickly made clear. Very very clever finishing technique.  Subtle front pleats to camouflage the "mom bits."  Elastic shirring in the back to define the shape, but also provide easy on/off without any closures like a zipper or button placket. I wasn't sure how flattering this would be when all was said and done, but I love the way it fits!  I'm a fan! Will you do me a favor? Send me a picture if you sew one yourself!
 Image Source: http://purple-rose-emporium.tumblr.com/post/124755959798/stringofpurls-knicromaniac-hahah  Image Source: http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/talya-tomer-schlesinger-embroidered-bench  Image Source: http://www.aufeminin.com/people/george-clooney/album652119/george-clooney-l-album-du-fan-club-0.html |
Karen KatinAs co-owner of Stitchery in Portsmouth, RI, I teach sewing classes to children and adults. Welcome to my blog Dancing Threads RI.  Archives
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