silkworm.org.uk

Granny Greens big window exhibition

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:11:21 -0700

I'm part of a craft collective called "Granny Green's big night out". We're taking part in voluntary arts week by creating an exhibition of all the lovely things we've made in a shop in tollcross. Here are some pics of the the finished display.

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Manic Miner

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:15:00 -0700

In honour of the ZX Spectrum's 30th birthday, here's a link to a spectrum related cross-stitch by Mr X Stitch:

Thanks to the spectrum for teaching me to programme!

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City of Stone

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:44:00 -0700

I made a lino cut the other week. It's got some of Edinburgh's iconic buildings on it, see how many you can spot! It's also got some song lyrics in it, from a song called 'City of Stone' by my very talented friends, the Weatherfolk. I did a time lapse video of the making of the print, and I'm going to make some prints next week that you'll be able to buy!

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Indian block printing

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:55:00 -0700

I love this beautiful video showing Rajasthan block printers at work, and the intro reminds me of our visit to Jaipur too!

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Stars and stripes

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:36:23 -0800

Made this cushion for a friend. For anyone who's seen my sofa you'll know we have a very similar union jack.

Will need some more old denim before I can make any more. Anyone have any jeans they're throwing out?

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Pencil skirt #3

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:12:50 -0800

See the full gallery on Posterous

The skirt's looking quite finished now. I sewed the lining to the skirt and attached a waistband. The waistband is finished with some nice bias binding to make it look good. I've hemmed it too. I did that on the machine using the blind hem stitch because the wool is thick and patterned enough for the stitches to be invisible.

It won't get finished today because I tried to sew a buttonhole using the machine and it wouldn't work through the layers of fabric and interfacing. So I'm going to have to find some big hooks and eyes instead.

Just some hand finishing to do now.

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Pencil skirt #2

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:02:12 -0800

See the full gallery on Posterous

So yesterday I didn't do any actual sewing. I did make a pattern (it's the basic skirt block we made at college plus a box pleat, lapped zip and waistband.) and read up on how to do things.

Today I cut out the pieces and finally got the machine out.

As of now I have the outer layer complete. I still need to construct the lining and attach the waistband.

Here's some photos of the work in progress. There's photos of the zip being inserted and details of the box pleat from the front and back.

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Pencil skirt #1

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:52:21 -0800

Yesterday I went to one of Edinburgh's fabric shops and spent quite a while stroking and cooing over fabric. Eventually I picked out this tweed which feels appropriate now that I live in Scotland. I'm going to make a very straightforward pencil skirt and so I bought some lining, a zip, bias binding, and at the last minute was also reminded to buy some thread!

Progress photos coming up.

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Sketches

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:51:00 -0800

I like doing sketches, it's great to get your ideas out on paper. You can tell I'm rubbish at doing hands and feet - they just disappear into squiggles!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Sketch 1: An extremely basic shift dress.

Sketch 2: Casual shirt (I have no intention of trying to make the skinny jeans!)

Sketch 3: Wide legged wool trousers and a silk blouse.

Sketch 4: A blue silk top, obi belt and tweed pencil skirt.

My plan is to begin with the silk top, plan the design in detail, draw the pattern, experiment with some kind of detail for the top and I'll share the whole process with you.

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New Year Resolution

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:13:00 -0800

It's a few days into the brand new year and I'm just getting started on what I hope to do. For the last couple of years I've been learning dressmaking and pattern drafting. I've published a few of the things I've made on this site but this year I don't have the necessity to make things to be marked.

I decided that what I'd really like to do is to make some clothes that I would like to wear, and not just for special events, things that I could wear any time.

Luckily, I have a box of fabric. This is a box of decent lengths of fabric that I've bought at one time or another because I've really liked it, yet without a particular purpose for it. My plan is to use that fabric and supplement it with new purchases.

See the full gallery on Posterous

I've got a gorgeous blue silk that I bought in Jaipur last year. It drapes really well and is soft yet it's quite rich and heavy.

There's another silk, this time a blue, grey and orange liberty print. I got this at Liberty's shop in London when I went in 2010 and discovered their fabric collections.

Another Liberty fabric is a soft cotton lawn in pink with patterns of flowers, foliage and the odd bunny rabbit.

So here's my fabric, and in the next post will be some sketches of what I plan to do with it!

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Tart

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:58:47 -0800

Tonight's pudding ... Tart au citron from the great british bake off book.

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All set up!

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:45:04 -0800

See the full gallery on Posterous

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More prints

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:27:14 -0800

Some more prints for tomorrow!

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Christmas Fair

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:36:00 -0800

After a break of over a year, I'm having another go at doing a fair. I've been restocking my supplies and adding some special Christmas decorations and cards too.

I'll be at the Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road, Edinburgh between 2pm and 4:30pm tomorrow (Sat 26th Nov). It would be great to see you if you want to pop by.

More details on the fair here:

http://www.ericliddell.org/support-us-events.php

I promise some photos of my wares tomorrow!

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Lino printing

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:01:04 -0800

I'm taking part in a Christmas craft fair on Saturday. I've been making some Lino printed cards for my table. Here's a preview as they're all laid out to dry.

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Votives part II

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:48:45 -0800

Today I was filmed for a DVD that's going out to help Scottish Methodist churches ring in the new year. I was asked to do a craft item that I could demonstrate so people could make it.

I decorated some glass jars with pretty papers and ribbons, and every one has a secret snippet of bible inside reminding us that we are to be bearers of God's light into the world.

The video has to be cut and edited but you can have a sneak peek of the finished product here.

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Fabric flower wreath in progress

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:49:49 -0800

I've been making some fabric flowers, they're really easy to make, you tear the fabric into strips and just fold and wrap, putting in stitches as you go to hold it.

These ones I'm sewing onto a felt ring that I've made to make a Christmas wreath.

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Votives

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:23:00 -0800

I've been asked to make something for a new year service. I know it's only November but I'm going to be filmed making it next week so that it can be shown multiple places on New Year's day.

When planning what we're going to make, we (the planning group) had the idea that something involving candles would be good - because the service will be about bringing new light. We also thought of something you could keep by your door, so you see it every time you enter or leave the house.

So I've been looking for ideas for votives - little glass candle holders that you can pop a tealight inside.

I love these ones but I don't think they're right for this project - you spray paint the inside of your glass holder. That takes several coats and there's quite a long drying time. I would like to make them sometime though. I love that antique glass look. I think it would look great on 'ordinary' glass items like jam jars and milk bottles.

(Tutorial at design sponge)

I also love these votives made by dipping balloons into hot wax. That might not be the ideal project for a church service either; not everyone's comfortable dealing with molten wax!

(tutorial at CandleTech)

I think we'll have to go with a wrapping project like these ones:

(Instructions at fellow fellow)

(From DoodleBugs)

I'll post a picture of whatever I come up with ... now where to find a craft shop in Edinburgh!

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Fabric haul

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:37:15 -0800

I decided to go visit some of Edinburgh's fabric shops and came back with a few bits and pieces. I'm thinking of doing some dark and jewel toned Christmas decorations, and hopefully do a Christmas craft fair or two.

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Blueberry bakewell tart

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 07:49:28 -0700

I will get back to sewing eventually but in the meantime here's a bakewell tart I made to take to c3 today.

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