Crafty Club was full house yesterday, not enough room around the tables to fit me in. All squashed up together, and very noisy. I might miss next week. I didn't manage to sell much wool, possibly they have enough, or it wasn't the right type, colour, etc, for the projects they want to do. I think the people up the road will have to try and sell it elsewhere. They did mention car boot sales, so maybe they will give that a go when the season starts.
Yesterday afternoon was fun, teaching my friend some simple embroidery stitches to get her going. This is my demonstration sampler, small pieces of scrap felt to show the basics.
We decided it would be a good idea for her to make a sampler book, so she could add pages to it as she learnt more stitches, and to practice on. I suggested using felt because it is easy to work with as a beginner. Start off doing big stitches, then eventually she can go on to using other fabrics for more delicate work.
We did running stitch, back stitch, blanket stitch, and chain stitch. There is such a lot you can do with these four basic stitches. I have told her to keep practicing these as homework, and we will move on to other stitches, and look at ways these can be used to make small items in felt.
As a complete beginner she picked it up very well. One to one works well for her at the moment. Eventually she may feel confident enough to try the Crafty Club. Now I'm going to get on with my own sewing. Toodle pip. ilona
A needle case made out of felt, looking like a book is a good starting place and use once finished.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, thank you.
Deletegosh you've triggered a 50year old memory! I remember my mum had a sample and a needle 'book', made of cut-up squares of felt. I inherited her old sewing box, full of old metal bobbins, wooden cotton reels and some old pinking shears. she had an old handwheel singer sewing mch.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see some of these old sewing boxes come back into fashion. They are like a treasure chest from the past.
DeleteIt's nice when you can make something to use, she might like to make a matching scissor case good idea to keep sewing scissor separate from others, nice to pass on your hints and tips
ReplyDeleteScissor case, another good idea.
DeleteCan't stand being crowded
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this is so helpful to those of us who have never done any kind of stitch work or embroidery! I would much appreciate it if you could keep teaching us as you teach your friend the basics! You have made me want to go find some felt and make my own little book as I learn stitches. So grateful for your posts!
ReplyDeleteI am not planning any tutorials on how to do embroidery, there are loads out there on yooootooob. I found this one for you, easy to follow and close up so you can see each movement.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/go89e8xpVYs
Thank you so much, I appreciate you passing along the YouTube link. :-)
DeleteCan you please explain exactly how to make a sampler book? I would like to do that as well, and I am a true beginner!
ReplyDeleteA sampler book can be used to learn new stitches and practice them until more proficient. All you need is a piece of felt, any colour, any size, fold it in half like a page in a book. Then you build on that, adding more pages until you have a book, then sew them together along the spine. That makes a record for future reference of everything you have learnt.
DeleteWhat a great start, your friend might like to get some basic embroidery books from the library to show how many beautiful stitches can be made with just the simple stitches you have begun with.
ReplyDeleteCharity shops are a good place to find threads and stitch books to get started on supplies for a beginner .
Thank you for your suggestions. She has recently moved here from the USA, and has brought lots of sewing supplies with her. She has tons of fabric and threads. I am feeding her with yoootooob videos.
DeleteWell done to your friend for learning something new and to you for helping her. I still have my needle book from school days sewing classes.
ReplyDeleteShe is enjoying it. She has a sewing machine, and wants to learn all aspects of sewing, hand and machine.
DeleteI hope your friend finds embroidery therapeutic, I love it as you know.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
I think she will. She is new to the area so I have taken her under my wing while her husband does his sporty hobbies.
DeleteI still have a bib that I made at school in the early 1940s.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you Ilona or anyone else in (in the Uk) you like some embroidery threads I have lots need a new home.
Hazel c uk
Very kind of you to offer, Hazel. I have got plenty, and I know my Crafty Club ladies have lots as well. Have you got any sewing clubs near you? Charity shops would love them, or maybe someone on here would like them, UK only.
DeleteHello Hazel,it is really kind of you to offer your threads and I could make great use of them.It is one thing I never seem to find in the charity shops where I live.I live in Leicester though,but I would love to be considered if you still have them.Thanks.xx
DeleteThis is just a test to see if my comments are coming through because I have a new lap top and cant seem to send comments through on it.Debi,xx
ReplyDeleteComing through loud and clear.
DeleteThanks Ilona,xx
DeletePincushions are fun to make too
ReplyDeleteI had a sampler piece..infact Im sure Ive still got it somewhere...I did it at school when I was about 9.I used to love learning the different stitches,like blanket stitch,chain stitch,arrow stitch.I
ReplyDeletemust have drove my Mam mad cause every week I would bring a new binker mat home for my Mam to proudly display,lol.We also used to do a spiders web thing,where we stitched a star shape with 8 legs...are you keeping up,lol...and then went under and over the legs with the cottons!.I used to really enjoy it!It looks like more people are taking an interest in sewing if the Crafty Club is so busy,although I do know what you mean if it gets too crowded!...Well.I have just got back from doing my first big shop of this year.Ive only topped up on cat food and bought meat for hubby since before Christmas.We have been living from the freezer,so I am well pleased with my frugal start to this year..I also found a pound in the street on one of our walks,so that put a smile on my face,lol.That is so nice of you to make friends with someone who is new to the area.I bet she will learn lots of ideas from you.xx