Hello! It’s been a while since I wrote to you. If you follow me along on insta you might already know that I have been embroidering, sewing and also been learning bead weaving.
I will share what I have made, but first something else I am excited to share. I was doing some research and came across a few wonderful Internet Archive Books on embroidery patterns.
Embroidery Design Collection
by Eliza Read
Read and download from here: https://archive.org/details/MAB.31962000792030Images_201305/page/n35/mode/2up
Stitch Pattern and Design for Embroidery
by Anne Brandon-Jones
Read and download from here: https://archive.org/details/stitchpatterns00bran/page/n1/mode/2up
An Embroidery Pattern Book
by Mary E Waring
Read and download from here: https://archive.org/details/embroiderypatter00wari/mode/2up
How wonderful are these books! Internet Archive is a great place to find some gems.
There a unrelated gem I found today on gutenberg.org. It’s called Cupid’s Almanac.
Embroidery Projects
Three out of four of these shirts are thrifted. It’s great and a lot of fun to up-cycle old clothes. They get to have a new life and new meaning to them.
No.1
I began with chain stitch as it was most exciting to me, and I think it’s my favourite. My first embroidered top was a mix of chain stitch, Kantha stitch and one french knot (french knots are difficult!)
No.2
Rust Red Dress • I am yet to complete work on it. I used a mix of hand painting, as well as hand embroidery for this one. I also tried sewing some beads into some of the flowers :)
No.3
Vines over Violet Top • I couldn’t resist mixing fabric paints with hand embroidery again. Because I am not very skilled with embroidery, I couldn’t help fill in some of the details with paint which I am comfortable with.
Sewing Projects
I have been dreaming of making my own outfits for years. And been looking for someone to teach me basic sewing. I took the plunge and got myself a sewing machine finally!
I started tinkering around on the machine to learn how to sew. I read the manual, looked up a tutorial online. This one in particular helped:
I learnt
• how to wind and insert the bobbin,
• how to thread and raise the bobbin,
• and then came checking the thread tension.
I found some tutorials on Youtube on sewing. I had some old fabric lying around from 5 years ago which I have been using for all my practice pieces.
First thing I made was a reversible tote bag:
Then I sewed a Hanbok Vest, pattern courtesy Sewing Therapy. You can get the pattern and instructions here: https://twooninefabric.ca/collections/free-patterns/products/free-pdf-hanbok-vest-baeja-sewing-therapy
This vest is also reversible. I have used a pink lining inside ~
I really struggled with maintaining a seam allowance and attaching bias tape. It takes practice. Sewing takes practice, so does any craft.
I also made a dress, a kurta (unfinished) and a yellow top. Pictures are on my Instagram, if you are inclined.
Bead Weaving
I was commissioning my friend Bhavana for a pair of earrings. She makes wonderful beaded jewellery, check it out on her page: https://www.instagram.com/boonaie_/
While I was waiting for her to get back to me, I picked up my leftover beads from the embroidery project and started learning bead weaving from seeing YouTube tutorials.
I have made these so far ~
Exclusive News!
I am planning to bring some lapel pins in my shop in limited quantities! I will not reveal the designs until I have samples ready. Keep a look out for them super soon in my next shop update.
•
Next shop update will also have preorders for cotton fabric I am launching.
Soooo excited for this. I have been planning to create my own fabric prints since close to two years now.
Until next time!
This is amazing! Been wanting to do all these things. Saving this post for when I do :)