Wednesday, July 29, 2009

You'd think lime green was going out of style...

...although as this image shows, this is clearly not the case!

I've been looking in vain for some lime green tracksuit fabric for my overlocking day with Hoppo Bumpo. I'm planning to make a lime green tracksuit for the Bug. Yes!

Before the Bug was born, I looked in the op shops for clothes in navy blue and yellow, thinking, naively, that I could choose 'his colours'. When he was born I was surprised to discover that his colours are actually lime green and royal blue. It must be his golden-brown skintone- his great grandmother was a gypsy, you know....

Sunday, July 26, 2009

I went to the quilt fair and all I got was...

...this lovely overlocker!

Thank you Mr Bell, Mum and Gran for my Christmas and birthday presents for the next year :)

Thank you for your tips, everyone- I pick it up this week, then I'm heading out to Hoppo Bumpo's place to learn about seams.

Fweeeeeee!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Take me to your overlocker

I'm thinking I may Need an overlocker, but I'm not sure what to look for.

If you too have experienced and acted upon this Need, any recommendations for brands and features?

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Saturday, July 18, 2009

You know your craft project is taking too long when... #2

You know your sewing is taking too long when...your cut-out pattern pieces have become a child's toy monkey's security blanket.

Thanks for posting your own confessions, everyone, I got some great laughs from this lot (see readers' comments)! Do keep them coming, either in the comments below or by posting your own version of "You know your craft project is taking too long when...".

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Tutorial: three-colour freezer paper stencil

I made this penguin stencil t-shirt for the Bug to wear to a birthday at the Melbourne Aquarium. I used the freezer paper stencil technique. Click on the images to get a closer look. This is my first three-colour print, and here’s how it’s done:


1. Doodle your design.








2. Make three copies on freezer paper, shiny side down. You will use one stencil per colour, so use a craft knife to cut out the area of the design for each separate colour.








3. Iron some freezer paper to the underside of your fabric, shiny side up, so that the paint doesn’t seep through.
4. Iron your first stencil to your fabric. It doesn’t really matter which stencil you use first.
5. Using a stencil brush and fabric paint, paint the first colour. I used white, and also added a touch of yellow at the top. Remove the stencil and allow paint to dry.





6. When the paint is completely dry, you are ready to iron on the next stencil and paint the next section. Repeat steps 4 & 5, then repeat again for the third colour.









7. When the final coat is dry, add small details with a fine brush. I added eyes to my penguins.
8. Set the fabric paint according to manufacturer’s instructions.
9. Put on your shirt and party with the penguins! For a two-colour stencil tutorial see here.