Archive for February, 2016

Dyeing Test

February 27th, 2016

Been reading about eco dyeing and using found materials and thought I’d give it a go. Years ago I did a lot of natural dyeing of fleece for hand spinning but not on fabric and not just for the wonder of the results. I did a little bit about a year ago in a workshop by Elizabeth (Beth) McTear of Honest Alchemy but it was a large group and Beth had set up the dye pots etc for us.
Two—maybe three weeks ago I put strong tea, rusty nails and a scrap of cloth I found inside an old pot holder I was throwing out, in a glass jar and set it aside. Today I took it out.


Dyeing test.

Above is the result—and I love it. Haven’t been so excited about a bit of old cloth in a while. Gonna’ do more!

It’s Back!

February 4th, 2016

Picked up my machine today. All looks fine! Bob will fix a crack in the cover which he planned to do. This machine is so heavy, just carrying it—putting it away—is a trick and over the years the case has cracked. I love its being so heavy duty. I was able to sew the leather vest Bob is/was wearing many moons ago. The lining is long gone but the leather is like new.


Things from the sixties were made to last!

In my quest to buy the best leather I got REALLY heavy leather. This vest can stand up by it’s self! Sit on a hard bench and you can damage your arm pits as the leather stays straight! But sewing it was like sewing butter, well not really but you get the idea. So now it’s on to loops and circles and who knows what!

Sketching with Stitches

February 3rd, 2016

More pages from Dionne Swift’s sketchbook workshop. I’ve never used a sewing machine for drawing, especially on paper, but I hauled mine out and gave it a try. Sooooo much fun.


Sketchbook stitches.

My grandmother gave me this machine when I was first married and it’s been put to very good use. But this was it’s first adventure on paper. I spun the paper round and round making loops and circles. However I haven’t treated it as well as it has treated me and it needed a good overhaul. So, it is now at sewing machine heaven for the full spa treatment. Even if I were to get a new machine I would keep this. It is made of heavy metal and while not a professional machine it can sew through anything, from fine lace to heavy leather…and now paper. Can’t wait to get it back.