What took so long

for me to realize that there was an easier way to sew a finish when using interfacing?  A few years ago I posted about the method a seamstress recommended, which was to cut the interfacing to fit inside the seam and then fuse.  I didn't do that for long. 

I went back to fusing first, then sewing the seam.  Why?  The last two projects had clean edges to follow so I just had the presser foot ride along the stitching before fusing.  A light bulb was shining above my frizzy head, then exploded when the flames from a hot flash shot out. 

(I went for a haircut today. Looks the same only shorter.)





So much easier to see the pulled linen thread, the Frixion pen line, any guides for a straight seam.  After sewn on the three sides, I fused the interfacing extending it past the sewing line.  So much easier!  Why didn't anyone tell me?  Better yet, why didn't I realize this before?  All that measuring and marking, unable to see the guide through the facing, was wasted time.  If there is no border, I will still have to run the Frixion or pull out a linen thread, but following it will be much easier, of course, SINCE I CAN SEE IT!  What a putz.

Covered the stitched seams and corners with the fusible after machine sewing.  With only three sides sewn, it is easy to square the piece before fusing.

 

 

Pressed open and clipped corners as usual.

 

 

Turned out and then pressed the bottom hem, ready for gluing with Tacky.

 

Ta-Da!  Stuffed, glued, done.  Much easier.  I have a few more recent pieces to sew and will follow the same method.
 

 All those times I was struggling to see the guide and it never dawned on me to apply the fusible after.  And I was close a few years ago!  Except for cutting it to fit inside and not including the seam allowance which appears to make a nice crisp edge.   Let it go crabass. 

 

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The 66 giveaway

Greetings stitchin' buds.  Giveaway time.  For my birthday.  I wish I would have used labels for my posts because it would be easier to determine how many giveaways I've had.  Just curious.  The pears alone were 9, plus stitched pieces that I still look for until I remember I gave them away.  And charts, santa cards, sampler boxes, linen, just about everything but chocolate.  Which by the way, my nephew bought and just dropped off, two pounds of melt-a-ways.  I have STILL not lost another pound and this will certainly do me in. 

 

You know the routine - leave your initials or name in a comment on this post only, or send an entry by email (click on the postcard top right), name to be drawn by Random on Saturday at 8pm.  US only please.

 

Backing is blue denim.

It's little, it's primitive, and it's free.

 

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Finished

The card that I fell in love with and wanted to replicate in stitches, but my piece is smaller than I had planned.  I just couldn't manage to work those six rows of solid red any further.

 

 

 Next step is finishing into an ornament or cupboard tuck.  I want to age the edges like the card in addition to other areas, probably with a soft brush and an ink pad rather than dye.  I tried 680 (dark gold) for the year, it looked good, and I was surprised at how it changed the feel of the piece.  Pick a color woman!  So I chose the lighter but you can do it in the blue, gold, beige, whatever would look best on your fabric (mine is Tin Roof that I dipped in brown dye).  I guess I should post the chart first .... tomorrow if anyone is interested.

 

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Minnesota Loon

Hello people.  Summer is finally here after several days of very warm temps.  I've been doing a little stitching outdoors on the swings, hard to believe it's the middle of June already since the furnace was still running two weeks ago.

 

During one of my parents' visits to relatives in MN, mom went to a market place where an older gentleman was selling his wood works.  She fell in love with this whirligig loon, and it stood proudly in their back yard for so many years. 

The wings are held several inches away from the body, all wood, and I've never found another like it.  We finally repainted it, made a replacement wing for the broken one, and are surprised at how well this has held up for over thirty years.  The body rotates with the wind so you never know which way it will be facing.  Prominent against the green background between the two black swings, welcome back loon!  I've missed you.

 

As for stitching, the chart I made up has been changed five times, I think it is ready now.  Of course the chart wasn't changed until after I stitched that area.  Looked good on paper and I wanted it wide and low but my mojo was pooping out and I kept downsizing. 

For some reason, the 822 has been shredding like crazy.  Even when removing only one stitch, it would shred when pulled out.  Tried another skein and it is doing the same thing.  I'm using one strand on 35 count.  Still not pleased with the 1776 numbers but close enough. 

I'm following my big house method of fill by doing the first half of the cross horizontal, and then completing the cross vertical.  Really nice fill that way without seeing "rows" and the back is very neat and stable on a stretchy linen.  Turning the project upside down for every other row in order to use the sewing method in the right direction is a lot of flipping.  Hope to finish this soon, and it may be even smaller by then.

 

Hope your weekend is going well!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Jeanne B

Sorry, you are no-reply.  But I can tell you that the crow stand is available here

http://shop.pallensmith.com/garden/folk-art-crow-bird-feeder/.  I received a discount but can't remember why.   I think Pine Cone Gift Shop (Ohio) on Facebook also carries them.  I messaged them twice last fall for information on items and never received a reply, but give it a try.  I'm sure there are other shops that carry them also, maybe a garden center.

 

P Allen also has a pair of cast iron crows which I'm considering.  Left outside they would rust nicely or the black would be nice too.  Price is $38 for the pair, 10" x 6" each.  ???  Didn't I just declutter the deck area?

 

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

 

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WAIT!!

Edit - just saw the Country Sampler Girl's Club Nash release.  OMG.  But I don't do clubs because I prefer to choose my linens and colors and most are not samplers.  But isn't this wonderful?  I may have to join for the very first time in my close to 66 year life.

A little more info

Several emails regarding what I posted yesterday so I will offer more information on this situation.  TRE stands for The Retail Equation.  Many large retailers, home stores, electronics, use their service and it is a tiny % of people that are affected.  The main reason is because of return fraud which is costing them exorbitant amounts of money.  Understood.  But if I was given the opportunity to defend my actions, they would clearly see that none of my returns were without receipt, done within weeks of purchase, and many times there were ten items included in a purchase and only one item returned.  Purchases are not included in their activity lists.  JCP probably has a policy that you are only allowed so many returns within .... seven years?   Whenever my aunt requested new pants, and I knew she wore a 16 short but she insisted on 14 petite, I brought home several of each size in various brands.  I always told the clerks the situation and that there would be returns and they never warned of the possibility of this situation, mainly because no one has heard of it.  TRE tracks everyone's returns for participating merchants, and only affects about 1% of shoppers, but if you are in my position of years of buying for so many family members, it could happen to you.  The reason I am ticked, is how it is enforced.  Yes, I can dispute which will take a while and I will do so just for the sake of record.  I don't want there to be any doubt concerning fraud.  You don't need to be concerned about this happening to you unless, your returns add up to their limits.  Someone suggested to use check or cash, but when making a return with either of those choices, your driver license must be scanned.  TRE has your identity and those returns are also tracked, so that scan will show your status.  No getting around it.  I will give my nephew's son the pairs of shoes and have him exchange them for his size using HIS driver license. The specialty shoes ordered online aren't available in store but at least the others will be used. .

 

I've calmed down, make out a check to pay off my JCP card, and will close my account simply because I cannot take the chance in the future of this happening again.  I need to order clothes in tall, only online, and that's a crap shoot with today's sizing and quality that it won't need to be returned. 

 

My sister's epidural was extremely painful which her excellent doctor said was normal during the procedure.  Sciatica pain was excruciating while the medication was put in place and lasted about five minutes.  That was Monday.  Today is Thursday.  She is worse than before the epi and in tears.  We are hoping it will take effect soon and give her relief.

 

When I am upset, I declutter.  Seems to make things calmer with less distractions.  So I removed the wheelbarrow, several pots of flowers, birdhouses, dookies, and the clutter in this spot outside the kitchen window.  I like the simplicity of it now, and there is more impact with the focus on one large plant.

 

Hope you all have a terrific day.

 

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