Sunday, March 25, 2018

Resurgence of Machine Embroidery (long post with lots of pictures)


In the '90's and early 2000's, embroidered garments, t-shirts and everything in between was very popular. I purchased my first sewing/embroidery machine in the 90's from a wonderful fabric and sewing machine shop in Winter Haven, Florida.  It was a Janome 8000.  Other sewing machine brands had introduced their versions also.  At the time Janome 8000 had some limitations, like not being able to reverse the design on the machine.  You had to have software to make that kind of edit; since then Janome has come a long way with their sewing/embroidery as well stand alone embroidery machines.  

I later purchased a Viking Designer 1 and then a Viking SE which I still have today.  Both were/area a combination sewing and embroidery machine(s).  I then purchased a Brother PE Embroidery machine and then sold that and bought a Janome 300E embroidery machine.  This one has some limitations compared to their newest models which I cannot afford.  I am currently selling my Janome 300E on Ebay as I decided to purchase a Singer EM200 that has some extras that I did not have with 300E and very affordable.  That was my Christmas present to myself.

I have embroidered some kitchen towels for some friends for gifts for their birthdays.  I have tested some embroidery designs I want to try on some jeans.  Not much going on in the sewing room at this time with upcoming move.

In the past several months on Instagram and on several blogs, there has been a resurgence of embroidering garments, gift items and baby's clothes and blankets.  I am glad to see the interest in this again.

Sulky used to have embroidery challenges every year and for three years I participated in the Amateur Category.  In going through clothes to downsize my wardrobe, I came across the three garments I entered into the contest.  The intent was mostly to design wearable art pieces.

As many of you know Sandra Betzina has been a sewing icon for many, many years.  For some of the younger sewist you may not have known that she created some embroidery designs for Amazing Designs company as did Nancy Zieman and a few others as well.

Below was the jacket I created using a pattern from an independent pattern designer from the 90's whose name escapes me as I write this post. The fabrics used were cotton and silk noil. I used Sandra Betzina's Hat and Shoe Fetish,design, plus an applique of shoes that I satin stitched around as well as stamping of designs and a few designs that I created myself.

I called this piece Purple Sole



Sandra Betzina's Designs


Right sleeve designs



Left sleeve designs



Pocket fringe and designs

Right shoulder designs

Back shoulder designs

Back view

This was my second contest I participated in.  My first I got an honorable mention and the last one was 2001 and I did not make the cut.  I was starting to have less interest in embroidering and was more focused on sewing clothes for work, particularly lined jackets which are very time consuming.

I won second place in the Amateur category and honorable mention for the overall contest for this jacket.




I have been enjoying seeing embroidered garments on Pattern Review and other blog posts.  It has given me some inspiration and hopefully with more time for creativity after our move, I hope to revive my interest in embroidering some garments.

As they say if you wait long enough, styles recycle.  I guess we can say that about embroidered garments also.








Friday, March 16, 2018

I gave up!

As I mentioned in my last post, I had a difficult time with the McCall 7100 bomber jacket previously and dang if I just cannot get a break with this pattern now.  I am exasperated with myself over the issues I have with this pattern as I have been sewing for many, many, many years and feel like this should not be such an issue.

I ripped another hole in the fabric and I just don't need to waste more time on this.  So it is a wadder laying in my trash can. One less piece of fabric to pack and move with me.  It is not a fabric that makes me cringe because I am not going to finish this project; the quality is not the best that I have purchased before.

I have another raglan sleeve bomber jacket to try, actually I now have two I can try.  I just have not been in a sewing mode with upcoming move.  Yesterday I had cataract surgery on my right eye.  Wow, what a difference that has made.  I am glad I had it done and impressed with how well this surgery went.  I had a follow up appointment with the doctor today and I am able to read the smallest print they had on the screen; that has not been possible in a long time.  Still some healing to take place, but doing well.

Not sure what I may work on next, if anything until after the move. I will write a post on embroidering soon as I am seeing such an interest in this more and more on other blogs.


Monday, March 12, 2018

Glutton for punishment!

Several months ago or way back in 2017 I attempted to sew McCall's 7100. I along with several other sewists/bloggers had some issues with this pattern as instructions were written incorrectly in some areas.  I was able to catch some and others I didn't.  My other challenge with this pattern was not having the right fabric for the collar, cuffs and waistband.  So I bid that wadder "bye-bye".

Meanwhile McCall's made corrections and created a sew along that helped in the sewing of this bomber jacket.  Since I purchased a boat load of rib knit fabric from Fabric Mart last year, I really need to use what I spent my money for.  Sooooooo-I decided lets try this jacket again.

I think this pattern and I are not intended to get along.  I had real issues with attaching the pockets and ended up with a hole in the fabric seam allowance from taking the pattern apart and resewing and doing it again.  I don't sew a lot of pockets and this should not be a difficult task but I think that the instructions and the illustrations are not matching up.

I was thankful that the hole in the fabric is in the seam allowance and not visible to the public eye.  But I know it is there and will drive me bonkers for a little bit.  I think I have it figured out now and should be able to complete the other front/side front without issue.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

I plan to go to the McCall's website and see if sew along info is still there.  I heard this was most helpful to many and that the sew along helped with the original errors with instructions.  We shall see.

I posted a picture of the fabric I am using in an earlier post.

I was hoping to get this made soon as I am starting the packing of items to give to Goodwill, ASG or other sewists that are sewing related.    I have a Janome 300E stand alone embroidery machine with giga hoop and embroidery cards for sale.  Leave a message if you are interested.


Back to the sewing room.  More later!

Thursday, March 08, 2018

A Better View

DH tooks some shots of me wearing the Halifax Hoodie that I made in January.  I still have some tweaks to make with this pattern from Hey June.  I like the vest type look that I created unknowingly by using different fabrics.

The sleeves and cowl neckline is from leftover LaFinch Fabrics.  Mustard color solid is from Girl Charlee and cuffs and waistbands are from Fabric Mart.





Monday, March 05, 2018

OMG!

I can't believe it has been since Feb. 17 since I last blogged.  I completed the Butterick dress and have cut out another McCall's raglan sleeve bomber jacket using red scuba knit fabric from my stash purchased from Fabric Mart in 2014.

When I washed it there was a lot of red dye that came off on one of the dye catcher papers that you throw in with clothes or fabrics.  This was my second wash for this fabric.  Hopefully it will not rub off any more.

The cuffs, collar and waistband is a black rib knit that I also purchased from Fabric Mart in 2017.

I have been busy getting rid of "stuff" but I think it keeps multiplying.  I've read a couple of books on decluttering but it feels overwhelming at times.  We have traveled to NC to look at some homes in a coastal area and have settled on two of them.  And so the process begins on finalizing our move and when.  All of this is taking me away from sewing and I do try to sneak in some sewing time.

I am downsizing my pattern stash and fabric stash.  I have posted for sale a Janome 300E stand alone embroidery machine for sale on Pattern Review.  If interested leave me a comment or go to PR and look at classifieds for machine sales.

I will try to post more later.  I have been retired a month now and do find myself pretty busy.  I do miss my staff and coworkers, the stress not at all.


August Sewing Simplicity 7295

 I am not doing well as a blogger. I have been working on this project since July 30. Today, I finally finished it. It has been a stop-and-g...