We are on the edge of the storm moving out now. We got what was predicted - 9" plus with winds and then turning to sleet/ice. Schools were closed yesterday and opening late today.
Since I am snowed in, I'm using the time to work my OMG project. Lots of sashing and then two borders. AND when I laid this all out, one block short! How? I usually make more than needed just to be sure or to swap out to get a good mix. I have all my white cut and left over long gone - Kona Snow which is no longer on the shelf. So I'm hoping there is enough left over to squeeze one more block. OR one block can be a creative label to fill the space.
Stay warm and safe,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
I spent most of the day making this one block. Luna for the Harry Potter QAL was a real stickler and there were errors, ribbiting, and some colorful lanquage. I had to look this character up as I am not very familiar with all of the HP stories; I wanted to be sure I had colors correct.
I have been playing in so many scraps that I decided to treat myself to something brand new. This is 'Arcadian Dusk' from Connecting Threads and ain't she pretty? This is for Barbara Brackman's Queen Victoria's Children QAL. There are six blocks already released. but there is plenty of time to catch up, especially with expecting to be snowed in all week.
Stay safe and warm folks,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
Working a few more string blocks while digging thru that Yellow Monster. Seems even my gifted scraps are lacking some bright and happy yellows, but I found enough to complete the few blocks I need for the String Hop project.
There wasn't a lot of backstitch to do on this little piece, but this one is now ready to be fabric framed into a little Valentines. It has felt good to get back to my cross stitch. A small project each month is very doable as well as satisfying.
I am going into 'quilt mode' for the next few days. With a week predicted of back-to-back snow storms, hunkering down with finishing up some long waiting 'to be quilted' projects will pass the time.
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
I had several requests to make a tutorial for the 3-D string block which is a little bit of a change to a shadow block.
There are a lot of tutorials on-line for making strings free-hand, using muslin foundation, or using paper. I like to use the very thin paper from the area phone book, but I will use regular printing paper for demo use.
This block can be any size you like - I used a 4.5" x 6.5" rectangle for mine simply because it would work well with the materials I had.
You can line up corner to corner to begin, but I wanted a little bit different slant to my strings. I marked 1/4" down from the top left corner and a 1/4" up from the bottom right corner.
I lined up my middle string using those marks as indicated. You can use pins to hold in place or a glue stick lightly to hold in place.
Because of the size paper foundation, I used strings 1.5", 1 1/4", and 1" wide. Lay the second string right sides facing on top of your center strip, adjust your stitch length to a much smaller stitch. You might have to play with this on a sample - it helps to remove the paper and not stress your stitches. Simply stitch your 1/4" seam - work either side; I just start on the right as I am right handed.
Press your string open. I chose to finger press, but a light iron setting works. Remember, paper is a fiber and will shrink if your iron is too hot - do not use steam.
Stitch your next strip to the other side of the center string, this will help to hold your block square as you work. Now fill in with remainder strings, either working from side to side or one corner and then the other.
Don't make your corners so the strip is really small as it will get lost in the joining block seams and create a lot of bulk.
Now flip your block over and trim the extra fabrics. I use my ruler for a true measurement as the paper can shrink with stitches and iron. Remove paper if you have used for foundation.
To create the 3-D look you need a dark background and a light for the corners. Width of strip should be only a 1/4 or 1/3 of your block width. I made mine 1.5" wide - for the right side cut length of block (mine were 6.5") and bottom is cut the width + finished size of side strip ( mine was 4.5" + 1" - 5.5" strip). You will need two squares size of width of your strip. Mine were 1.5" sq. Draw a line corner to corner on each.
The side strip square needs to be stitched so the corner flips out and the bottom square needs to be stitched so the corner flips down. Sew on side strip and press out. Attach bottom strip and press out.
The results are a raised brick look. You could use brights, tonals, solids, or even cut a panel for an interesting affect. The new script fabrics or even comic prints would give a graffiti look - how fun!
Thank you for visiting and I hope you find the tutorial helpful.
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
