Category Archives: machine embroidery

Model Bedroom

Posted on October 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Home dec projects appeal to everyone.  Whether or not we have little ones to sew for, each of us has a bedroom where we seek a calm and quiet atmosphere, away from the demands of our busy days.

This model bedroom was done for the Springfield, MO,  Babylock dealer, BSewInn, by my friend Judy Day.  Her unfailing good taste, skillful color coordination and attention to detail make this model bedroom a soothing refuge.  It is both classic and contemporary.

There are several other items in this grouping, but they will be posted at a later date.  There is so much meat in the pieces shown that any more items would make for a very lengthy post. Continue reading →

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Posted in heirloom sewing, home dec, Judy Day's creations, machine embroidery

Lavished Linen Blouse

Posted on September 30, 2010 | 1 comment

 

This classic linen blouse is lavished with fil tire’, bullion roses, lazy daisies, web roses and point de Paris.  It looks like the product of an overworked, thimbled embroideress.  In fact, it was all done by machine.

Wing needle entredeux and shaped French laces add detail and delicacy to this versatile garment.  It is a project I designed and taught at the Babylock school at a Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion in Huntsville.

The machine embroidery is from Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Combinations  by Suzanne Sawko and me.  Suzanne digitized the designs and her fil tire’, in my unbiased opinion, is the best,  cleanest and most delicate machine embroidered fil tire’  there is.   Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, heirloom sewing, ladies, machine embroidery

Grid Quilt

Posted on September 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

Recently, there was a post entitled Flannel Board Quilting.  This quilt a variation of that technique which I so enjoy.

The technique of what I call flannel board quilting requires a solid fabric (a wholecloth quilt top) with a carefully measured grid for placement of raw edged pieces.  These are then stitched in place and the raw edges covered with decorative stitching.  It is a simple, almost primitive technique, though there is nothing primitive about this quilt.  Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, machine embroidery, quilts, techniques

Team Gear and More

Posted on September 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

dhild's Georgia Bulldog jumper

This Saturday is another day of college football.  In earlier posts I’ve shared my Gator projects, but there are other teams out there with equally enthusiastically sewing fans.

This little jumper made by Amy Spriggs really caught my eye.  In Florida, it is almost always too hot for polar fleece clothing, but in other areas of the country, this miracle fabric has a myriad of uses.  I just had never thought of polar fleece as a jumper fabric.  But isn’t this cute?  I can just see a little Bulldog fan with black leggings and a black long sleeved turtleneck shirt.

Amy has used her embroidery machine to clearly identify her team.  But even without an embriodery machine, it is clear which team the wearer of this garment supports. 

Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, machine embroidery, sporting gear

Madeira Applique’ Pillowcase Renovation

Posted on September 22, 2010 | 3 comments

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The Madeira hem is actually a taupe/tan color, not gold as it seems in this photo.

My daughter Rebecca has always loved fine linens. When she went to University of Florida, the non-standard size dormitory bunk beds could only be encased in tee-shirt knit or rough polyblend sheets. So I custom made pima cotton sheets for her. Otherwise, my sweet princess declared, she just didn’t know how she would sleep. I was tempted to put a pea under her mattress before she left home to prove without a doubt that she was royal. Maybe I didn’t really want the answer to that question.

When she and Harvey married, she was delighted but not surprised when he brought a set of glorious 1000 thread count cotton sheets to their marital linen closet. This luxurious bedding was just one more quirky affirmation of the newlyweds’ compatibility.

Purchased in 2004 and washed weekly since then, the linens are showing signs of wear, most notably the pillowcases. When Becca brought her pillow along on our trip to North Carolina, I saw just how shabby it had become. But even when offered my favorite pima cotton, she was unwilling to replace it, noting their unique dense but almost velvet texture. Continue reading →

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Posted in heirloom sewing, home dec, machine embroidery

Girlie Team Gear

Posted on September 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Another Saturday, another game day.  I do love college football.  Today, Clemson nearly toppled Auburn but lost in an overtime.  What a nail biter! 

But it brought to mind this little dress, which was probably worn yesterday by a sweet little Clemson fan.

It is another Amy Spriggs creation, made for the daughter of a Clemson Tiger friend. 

Her choice of fabrics in Clemson colors is tasteful and creative.  I love the way the white polka dots on orange create interest and suggest texture.  The addition of interesting details–ribbons, rick rack and machine embroidery–give this little popover a real designer look.  Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, machine embroidery, sporting gear, turn tube hem

Flannel Board Quilting

Posted on September 16, 2010 | 2 comments

24″ quilt for American Girls dolls

I’ve always wished I could come up with a catchier name for this technique, but Flannel Board Quilting is the best I can do.  Through the years in various classes taught and articles written, I have called it Grid Quilting or Faux Quilting, but none of those titles pleased me any more than Flannel Board, which has a meaningful basis.

 But enough about the name.  This is a very useful technique for quick and easy projects.  Let me  tell you about it.

The idea for this method originated from a request by sweet Debbieanne Prusserman, hostess of the New England Academy of NeedleArts  doll school held on Cape Cod some years ago.  Mildred  Turner and I were the teachers and had been charged with designing an American Girl’s wardrobe.  The school was fabulous and we had a grand time, staying in Debbieanne’s historic 1790 home and teaching in her studio with a group of wonderful ladies.  Continue reading →

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Posted in home dec, machine embroidery, quilts, techniques

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Ladybug Garment Bag

Posted on September 14, 2010 | 2 comments

Freckles wants Judy to stay home!

We arrived home last night about 10 p.m. after the 12 hour drive from the mountains.  I am still exhausted.  There is no joy greater than spending quality time with my three grandchildren, but there is no greater Nana energy drain than my three grandchildren.  So once again, I am relying on the beautiful projects of my dear friend, Judy, for a post.

 This is a really neat project, done with Judy’s universal good taste and excellent workmanship.

I love the way she took two totally unrelated items and brought them into the same family.  This surely looks like an expensive matched set to me.

I’ll let her tell you about it.

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Ladybug garment bag–I purchased a plain black garment bag to embroider to match my ladybug luggage.  I did the monogram in Masterworks II.  The ladybug on the leaf is a BabyLock design which  I sized it larger in Designer’s Gallery SizeWorks.

The design was stitched on my BabyLock BMP8 with adhesive stabilizer in the hoop.  The bag was  floated over the hoop and basted to the stabilizer instead of actually hooping the bag.

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Posted in bags, Judy Day's creations, machine embroidery, uncategorized

Game Day!

Posted on September 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

I’m still having a grand time here in the  mountains with the grandchildren and their mothers.  This blog is supposed to be about sewing so I’m focusing on game day projects.  The earlier post about football brought even more football fans out of the woodwork, so I hope those of you who are not big fans will indulge me as I pursue one of my favorite subjects.

Today was Game Day for the Gators and most other college football teams.  With a noon kickoff on the schedule, we donned our Gator gear, fed the children an early lunch, set out our snack food and hunkered down for the game.  Robert was clad in the new Gator shirt I embroidered for him, while Alastair wore one of Cousin Robert’s hand-me-down Florida warm up suits.

Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, girls, machine embroidery, sporting gear

KICKOFF!!!!

Posted on September 4, 2010 | 5 comments
baby Gator

baby Gator

 

At last, it’s time for football.  The first game of the year is awaited as eagerly as Christmas and the celebrations last far longer.  Few women outside the deep South understand the seasonal passion that pervades Southern  kitchens, calendars, wardrobes and sewing schedules.

 

1-kickoffAlback

 

 

But Millie, Judy, Amy, Suzanne and other readers know all about it and welcome this invasion into their every day lives.

 

my sweater for cool game days--why didn't I stitch Albert's sweater in blue?

my sweater for cool game days–why didn’t I stitch Albert’s sweater in blue?

 

For the enthusiastic and loyal fans among us, there are a multitude of sewing opportunities.  From team gear to tailgating accessories, my sewing machine has been humming for some time. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery, sporting gear

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