The Buttonhole Stitch
Embroidery Tutorial ~ Buttonhole Stitch
Reply
Embroidery Tutorial ~ Preparation for Applique
Design and Layout
I recommend doing some sketches of your design before progressing. This will aid you greatly by helping you know what your applique shapes need to be and where they go. Once you iron your applique pieces down, you can only rarely remove them without damaging them and the ground fabric. The design doesn’t have to be complete or exact. I like to leave lots of room for fun. You can also use colored pencils for your designs although I do not. I like the colors to guide me as a I work.
(this sketch is not the same used for the actual embroidery, sorry)
Pouch Tutorial
Click images for larger images…
Materials
Collect all the materials you will need to complete your bag. Shown here is the pouch fabric, drawstring cord, embroidery threads, beads for the drawstring tassels (separate tutorial, coming soon), applique pieces. Not shown here is the lining and additional applique pieces.
Autumn’s Full Moon
Tonight the moon is full and the coven meets. The plums are ripe, the squash are doing what they do, filling bushel baskets. And the last two mornings the marine layer is back. Even though I think of August and sometimes the first half of September as the hottest weeks of the year, I always know that it has turned to fall this early because suddenly the evenings are cooler and we have morning marine layer. It cools things down so that one can sleep and makes those very hot days bearable knowing there is relief in only a few hours. I live for that feeling when everything shifts the first week of August to the time of year I love…
I’m stringing rowan berries on red thread to bless at tonight’s ritual so there are plenty of charms to protect house and home of all coven members. Surrounded by bounty and harvest colors I’m looking forward to autumn. With the possibility of new work I feel kind of like I did back when school was coming and my favorite thing was new pencils and paper and lunchboxes. Magic is afoot.
Sparks
The Date
Just no sparks. I had a good time on the date, we went and saw Angels and Demons. The movie was good if it did glorify the Catholic Church and make them all good guys. We agreed that we had a good time, that we would do it again but neither of us has called the other. Perhaps he’s waiting. I know I am. Tis cool. I’ve got plenty going on in my not much going on life.
Jobs
Sparks. Had a great interview this morning. The job would be a piece of cake, I’ve done this work before for another grad program. The people are nice, she loves my resume (completely nails this job), and we have a lot of folks in common who can give me good references. So I wait for a second interview, which I’m certain I’ll get. Next week? Nothing is moving quickly but it is moving.
Crafts
Sparks. Working on the pouch, the embroidery is complete. Will work on the pouch construction in the next couple days as it’s cooling down here in the Pacific Northwest thank goodness. The embroidery is gorgeous if I do say so myself. I took photos of the stitches and the process. Now, photos of the construction process.
General Stuff
Sparks but sparks I could have gone without. Amazon lost my 13 page book wishlist which really pisses me off. OMG. That was a huge bummer. Accidentally lost my gmail address book too so having to rebuild both when I’m in the mood.
Sparks. Spending my time between home and my previous residence taking care of Miss Sophie the cool kitteh. Every other day I’m at the other one. It’s nice because the bed is a queen instead of the twin I’m on and it’s a Tempurpedic so it’s sheer heaven. Hi speed wireless, huge flat screen tv, top of the line bathroom, it’s pretty luxurious. So tired of carpets, its nice to be on wood floors again too.
Sparks. Working on a 4 piece element painting group. 4 5×5 panels, one for each element. Each one will have a word as well as colors and motifs from my book of correspondences (You make your own lists of correspondences don’t you? You should) Inspire Passion Feel Content Air Fire Water Earth
Sparks. Working on the design for my next wood burned box. I’m going to transfer it to the wood tonight.
Summer time and the living is easy…
Stitch Witch Cottage 