Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - Inside Toggles Part 1

Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - Inside Toggles Part 1

I am a bit behind with writing up my blogs over the Yuletide period. I did this section of crafting a while back and trying to remember what I did and in what order so please bear with me.

After I had finished sewing on the Toggles and Loops on the exterior I needed to sort out the interior. I can use the Loops already sewn on. Firstly I pinned the Bottom Rib together to make sure it didn’t move.

Inside Bottom Night Time Toggle Pinned

I needed to sew on new Toggles to hold up the weight of the Front Piece on the inside because otherwise it would drop below and hang down beneath the exterior wrap over.

Inside Bottom Night Time Toggle Sewn

I decided the best way would be to start from the bottom and work upwards. I therefore pinned a Toggle in place on the Night Time side then sewed into place.

Inside Bottom Daytime Toggle Pinned

Once I was satisfied with the Night Time side I pinned a Toggle opposite on the Daytime side.

Inside Bottom Daytime Toggle Sewn

I then sewed this Toggle in Place so there was a Toggle on both sides of the garment. This was a little more difficult because this time the Toggle was against a Green background. I had to be very careful that the thread did not come on to the other side

Inside Night Time Toggles Pinned

The next task was to pin and sew the rest of the Toggles in place. I continued pinning upwards on the Night Time Side then disaster struck. I realised that I only had enough Toggles to do one side and not even all the way up to the top.

I sewed on what Toggles I could and put a brooch pin through the top to hold it. It was only a stop gap measure but it did mean that I could wear it for a few moments outside on the Winter Solstice.

I ordered some more Toggles and they have arrived so hopefully I will be able to continue on with Part 2 very soon.

Yule Present 2017 Leads To New Skill

Yule Present 2017 Leads To New Skill

I mentioned a couple of blogs ago how Laura from Alyssa Rose Boutique (https://www.facebook.com/Alyssa.Rose.Boutique/) had given me a great deal of craft items. These included some tools I had never seen before.

Small Tool

  

Medium Tool

Since they had originally belonged to Laura’s Gran I thought I would ask my mum if she knew what they were. She had never come across them either so time for an Internet Search!

Large Tool 

I should mention at this point that the Large Tool I couldn’t really see because it was incorporated into a project started by Laura’s Gran. Therefore I knew that the tools were old, metal and used for some kind of sewing craft.

I used various descriptions to search through images. I finally found what I was looking for and I was lucky enough to find a website linked to the photograph.

http://www.knitting-and.com/embroidery/kays.html

I heartily recommend going to this site as it will explain far more than I can. A brief synopsis is that the tools are from the 1920’ – 1930’s and known as Kay’s Practical Embroider.

Kay’s Practical Embroider

This is the set after I had got them out of the material and cleaned up. What I learnt is that there are two sets. There are others that are just small leaves/petals and two small circles. I am not entirely sure whether this is a complete set or a mixture of both.

This craft work is known generally as Plush Work, Chenille Work or Amish Stump Work. As far as I can tell from my research that there are differences between the three and I think Plush Work is the best term.

The principle is like that of making a Pom-Pom. Wind yarn around the template and then cut along the middle and remove the template. I decided to try and finish the project Laura’s Gran had started.

Laura’s Yule Present 2017

I was very nervous doing this but I think the result is quite good. For those that are interested the Three Red flowers were done by Gran along with the leaf and stalk of the largest flower.

I did the infilling of the petals and the dark green part of the large flower. I also finished the pink flower and other stalks plus the embroidered leaf and the plush leaf.

I wasn’t quite sure what kind of yarn had been used before but I decided to use embroidery silks. This gave a lovely soft feel to the work.

So thanks very much Laura that is another string to my craft bow.

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 4

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 4

This blog continues with the repair of the Green Cape

Pocket Blemish

The first repair I did was the blemish on the pocket. I know the pocket looks awful being twisted and lopsided even without the blemish. However please remember that this was my first ever attempt at making a pocket.

Pocket Flower

I was limited to colours because of the dark background. Therefore I chose to use White and Green to make the flower. I then used the multi-toned colour for defining the petals

Pocket Side Blemish

 

This blemish is on the same side as the pocket but near the top.

Side Flower

Since it was on the same side I thought I would do the same sort of flower. I am not very good at distinguishing flowers but I think it looks a bit like a rose.

Sleeve Hole

This sleeve only appeared to have a minor hole and small blemish on it.

Sleeve Flower

I decided to put a leaf where the small hole was then embroider up and cover the blemish with a bloom. 

Sleeve Many Holes

The opposite sleeve seemed to be riddled with holes and blemishes.

Upper Sleeve Flower

The upper part was easily fixed with a small White and Purple flower.

Other Side Two Flowers

 I did two different kinds of flowers. The upper I think looks more like buds just beginning to open up – or alternatively some kind of cactus.

One thing I haven’t touched on is the sheer difficulty of trying to embroider in such a small space. The upper part near the shoulder is not too bad but the further down the sleeve you get towards the cuff it because a nightmare.

I sincerely hope that this is the last time I have to do any embroidery on it for a couple of years.

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 3

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 3

Happy New Year 2018

This is the 3rd blog in the series and ironically each one has been in a different year. The 1st was published in 2016. The 2nd was the final blog of 2017 and this blog is in the initial week of 2018. It also means that I have completed last year’s resolution of posting a blog every week for a whole year!

Hood Side Blemish

In this blog I am continuing with the mending of the Green Cape. There are several problems that need doing so in this part I am concentrating on the Hood. If you look towards the top of the above photograph you will see a small blemish on the Green part of the Hood.

Hood Several Blemishes

There are several other blemishes on the Hood that need fixing. I will divide them into sections for ease.

Hood Left Side

I originally only spotted one area that needed fixing - the bottom part of the Hood. I first covered up the area with a Brown flower then I added the stalk and a leaf. The idea was that if any of the surrounding area began to come loose I could connect them with more stalks.

The one at the top of the Hood was far more difficult. It was so close to the join I had to work it in a different way. Normally I do the centre part of the flower then add the petals. This time I had to do an outline of the top and left petal before I could tell where the centre needed to be. I then in-filled and added the other petals.

Hood Right Side

This side had blemishes and holes galore. It was going to take a bit of a think to sort it out. Since I had used Brown flowers on the other side I decided this time on Purple flowers with White centres complete with stamens.

I used the connecting stalks idea with smaller flowers and leaves at the bottom. As I got to the top I made the leaves slightly bigger and made the top flower into a large bloom as a focal point.

Hood Middle Section 

This Middle Section took the most work. Since the background was Brown I gave me an opportunity to use up some of the Green Bamboo Cotton I had.

I used a slightly different technique on this section. Since there was such a large area to cover rather than doing straight stalks I endeavoured to make them bend and twist.

I felt that this gave them a more naturalistic look and also meant that if any part came loose in the future it would be far easier to add a small stalk and leaf to cover it up.

Next time I will continue on other areas of the Cape.

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 2

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 2

If you are wondering if you have missed a blog you haven’t. The 1st Part was written in 2016. I have pasted the link at the end.* It might make more sense if you read that blog first.

With this the last blog of 2017 I thought it would be useful to touch on that sore subject – lack of money. Most people have spent a fortune over the Yuletide and will be cutting back in the New Year. Here is one way you can save money. Repair and modify old items.

Green Cape – Top Holes

 

The Green Cape I made has not been able to be worn of late as I noticed threads coming away in places. It needed mending – Again!

Green Cape - Middle Holes

Last time I simply did a quick darn with sewing in loose ends where I found them. This time I would have to find a better solution.

Green Cape – Top Centre Flower

In order to strength the whole area around where it is coming away or fraying I decided to do a spot of embroidery. Fortunately I had several balls of yarn of different colours left over from both the Green Cape project and others.

Green Cape – Top Right Flower

The small holes could be covered by small flowers. However some areas had several holes too close together to do small flowers singularly. Therefore I did a larger flower complete with leaves.

Green Cape – Lower Top Flowers 

The more flowers I embroidered the more holes I seemed to find. In order to spread out the colours I alternated between white, brown and purple flowers.

Green Cape – Middle Back Flowers

Some areas seemed to be fine until closer inspection. This is because the unravelling was showing on the underside rather than the right side.

Green Cape - Bottom Left Flower

This little hole nearly escaped my notice. It was the constant turning whilst embroidering the other flowers that loosened the threads enough to spot. I have more to repair on other parts of the Cape but until I have done that I will move on.

Other Money Saving Ideas

A kind friend - Laura of Alyssa Rose Boutique recently renovating her shop and saved lots of things for me that she thought I might like.(https://www.facebook.com/Alyssa.Rose.Boutique)

Old Chocolate Tin

Chocolate Tins and Tubs are in abundance around Yuletide. This particular one is very old and I had to look it up to find that it was made by Cadbury’s in the 1930’s.

Bead Tin

Inside the Tin was a collection of small bottles. Apparently Laura’s Grandmother used them to put beads in. So who am I to break with tradition?

More Beads 

I sorted all the loose beads I could find and put them into the bottles. I wish I had thought of this idea years ago as it not only gave me more room in my sewing box but I also found more that I had forgotten I had. It was certainly put to good use as I used some of the beads on the Flower Brooches from last week’s blog.

Another Needle Notion

Amongst the items given to me were knitting needles galore. It took me ages to sort them and when I did I found a few odd needles and a couple of broken ones. Rather than throwing them away I decided to use them as supports for my tomato seedlings.

I am still sorting through all the goodies so I may find other items that give me money saving ideas.

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http://lady-jane-quirky.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/autumn-cape-stitch-in-time-saves-9-but.html