Using Ashland Bay carbon, grey and blue faced leicester with tussah silk in an ombre blend. I'm hoping to make another zipper fold over clutch with this fabric. I started on a piece of scrim I'd dyed using elephant grey, one of the few dye projects that came out fine. I've had much better luck dying linen and cotton than silk and wool.

My favorite part is laying out the fluffy bits, they are so lovely, dreamy and relaxing. (the bending over the floor part hurts though!)

Technorati Tags: dye, fabric, felt, felting, fiber, roving, wool

Posted by big bunny at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It felt like a dye day. I've got 4 ounces of silk, I used 24 cups of water, plus extra when dissolving the 1 teaspoon of twilight grey which I added first and then the three heaping tablespoons of salt. I'm following the silk dyeing directions from here. I'm also totally insane and am adding in some left over roving, likely about 3 ounces. I figure what the hell the dye is cooking so go for it. Cooking for 10 min up to 200 degrees, adding 1 tbl citric acid cooking for 10 more.

Well not such a good dye job yet again. It's all splotchy, too dark and too blueish purple not the neutral grey I was hoping for. I wonder if I should try a different order of dye events? I watched this you tube video on the subject and she just tossed in the fleece, sprinkled in dye, squirted in vinegar and she pushed and tossed and then added more dye and her roving didn't felt and come out all blotchy like mine. Dang! I'm going about this all wrong I guess. I also watched this video on dye solution recipes (1 tsp powder dye, 1tbl citric acid, 1 cup of water) think I'll give it try for next time. Also I think I need to let the dye simmer longer with the top on and then let it cool down naturally rather than dumping out the water and rinsing. Ok so new tips to try, experiment and experience will be my best method!

Technorati Tags: dye, fashion, felting, fiber, wool

Posted by big bunny at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I started at 68" by 34", ended at 54" by 27". I used a white scrim layer, then lightly laid down ecru blue faced leicester, then the same but mixed with 30% sea cell which is shiny and gorgeous when mixed with the pygora locks which I sprinkled on top. Next time I will add a light layer of leicester over the locks to help them felt down. Many of the pygora clusters have locks sticking out which is ok, but wasn't what I was going for. I'm still on the hunt for a good source for pretty pygora locks and more information about felting with locks. It isn't as easy to wet felt locks. I think most people needle felt with them. I was also using a really mild soap, olive oil, and wonder if I could use something a touch stronger to really get the fibers to open.

I love the result, so soft and pretty. More pillows to come I imagine. Though I think this fabric would make a nice detail or trim on a skirt, dress or bag.

Technorati Tags: felt, felting, fiber, pygora, roving, wool

Posted by big bunny at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I hand stitched a darling little pair of baby booties for a colleagues upcoming baby shower. It took almost as much time to figure out how to fold that origami crane! I found the bootie pattern on the purl bee. Next time I need to use a slightly thicker felt and be more careful about sewing in the elastic. I used a running stitch rather than the blanket/buttonhole.

I've been coveting a small nuno piece I made ages ago using a light weight open weave cotton gauze, merino roving and pygora goat locks. I wasn't sure what I would do with it, but it was so sweet and soft I kept petting it! Today I took the plunge made it into a little fourteen inch pillow with a linen backing. It's lovely and inspires me to make many more. I think some white on white embroidery would be lovely too.

Posted by big bunny at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I found a nice chunky 14" zipper with a cool pull at my discount fabric store and decided to attempt making a lined zipper pouch. I'd made one before but I had used an invisible zipper and it didn't turn out that well due to the zipper diving in the side seam plus I didn't top stitch the felt down on the zipper —lesson learned! This time I wanted to add an end stopper and top detail to the zipper so it would sit nicely on the top seam, I am much happier with the turnout on this one. I'm taking a sewing class at Harvey Milk Center and my teacher Leah has been really helpful guiding me in the right direction. She suggested I fold a 2x3" piece of the light weight denim lining and stitch it to the edge ends of the zippers. She was also helpful showing me how to sew both the outer and inner fabric to the edge of the zipper at the same time which eliminates an extra step. I used a 1/2 in allowance with zipper foot. Then top stitched 1/4 from the felt edge. My sewing teacher recommended that I felt a lighter weight piece of felt next time and add a fusible medium weight interfacing to help ease the bulk that happens in the corners. I'll give that a try next time. I think using a nuno felted piece of fabric would also work well, will give it a try.

fleece before felting

piece measured 11.5 inches after stitching, 12 inches including seam allowance.
piece measured 15 wide.

The 2x3 inch lining piece, folded in halt and stitched to outer zipper edge - that was step one.

It was critical to align the edges perfectly along the outer zipper edge and sew evenly. After turning you'll see this edge is the most visible, it needs to be practically perfect. Sew slowly!

inside seam view

lining side view

top stitched a quarter inch, I used the felt edge along side of the pressure foot. I had to pull the felt taught and I had ironed and pinned the lining to make sure it didn't bunch up.

It's also critical to align the zipper and side seams perfectly before sewing right sides together. Don't forget to open zipper and leave a 4" opening in the lining for turning right side out. I used a 5/8 seam allowance so I had fudge room when going over those bulky zipper parts. I broke a needle too, so again sew slowly and manually when going over zipper, backstitch too.

Trim all corners and remove bulk around zipper ends so it can be turned and lay as flat as possible.

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Technorati Tags: felt, felting, San Francisco, sewing, wool

Posted by big bunny at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I sewed this reversible linen bag for Vivi during my first intermediate sewing class and finished it on my own a few days later. I added outside pockets. I found this tutorial very helpful, especially when I was trying to figure out the strap sewing.

Technorati Tags: sewing

Posted by big bunny at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Went on an amazing two day ski trip with daddio! A million thank yous for a fabulously relaxing and yet exhilarating trip. Loved it!

Posted by big bunny at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)