Bumble bee

I can' t make baby goods without including bumble bees, I could not resist to buy this japanese fabric with bumble bees and tiny flowers patterns. Another pair of baby shoes were hand sewn straight away, and a bib to go with.

I like to design the shoes while I am starting to sew, and this bumble bee embroidery came in my head. I have a little bit of the creamy lace left just enough to stitch on the shoes straps, velcro was used on the strap.

It was quite hard to embroider 3 bumble bees to look the same, I drew the bees with washable pen for fabric but I managed just about to look same!!!

I love to hand stitch the fabric.

and last, the bumble bee bib, they are one of the kind and very special for me.

Bibs and a small bear

I decided sewing 2 bibs and a plush with the Fresh cotton fabric from Moda and the red sashiko thread.
This pattern came from my Japanese craft book but I altered the way I sewn the white and fresh cotton together.
The white fabric is Winceyette 100% cotton which is used widely for baby goods, it is so soft and machine washable so it is good for this project.. I really like the sashiko tread, it is not shiny and does not split and is so soft. I bought this Japanese lace from the shop called 6008 rena from Ebay, I really like the products from this seller and the services are excellent, last time I was given the extra lace from her.

My bear plush is so easy, I cut 3 pieces of fabric for each side and sewn them together, embroidered his face with sashiko thread, he is a palm size.

Sashiko threads, needles

I finished my tote bag and the postman delivered a package, I was so happy to see the items inside.

I bought these items : sashiko threads, sashiko needles,  cotton fabric from www.cottonpatch.co.uk.
These threads are 100% cotton Olympus made in Japan and 40 m long, I have got 2 needles size 5.5, 6 cm quite long. The fabric is absolutely lovely and soft.

I will use this fabric to make baby goods, a set of bib and plush toy, I organize the thread, it is so soft and does not split like ordinary embroidery threads. I feel so happy when I handle them.

Tote bag

 It is  time I have my new tote bag for work, I like to put my handbag, lunch box, keys, cellphone, bills, ID, medicines in a bag. I have been using an Eco bag for a long long time and I need to be more organize. I sewn 3 pockets inside the lining fabric. I used heavy weight cotton mixed linen for outer bag and Cath Kidston's for inside. I use leather straps for handle but I think they are too small for this bag. I decided not using interlining of battling which I should have used them.

The size is 15 x 13 inches

I made a flower brooch and pinned with the bag, in the middle of the flower, I stitched with running stitches using DMC 25 embroidery thread before I made this bubble.

Hand sewn wool baby girl shoes

I love sewing baby shoes, the image always comes in my head just before I am going to sleep. When I make the shoes I don't want it to end, I have to add a bit of this and a bit of that so it takes me longer times than I need.
These pair of shoes, I used wool knitwear and cotton, the wool fabric is beige/cream so in the end I had to add the purple stitched to brighten it up.

The motif instruction is easy, cut a piece of wool fabric size 2 cm x 6.5 cm,  use DMC embroidery thread  running stitches on the outside edge, for the inside edge  stitch running stitches with the sewing thread and pulled thread until it forms flower. I will add the image next time, I forgot this step!!

cut the fabric to cover the button in circle and use running stitches stitch around the edge and pull the thread till it  forms like a ball, I put a plastic button inside the middle, then pull the thread tight and stitch to close it up.

I can not finish it without a gift bag, it is a little tote bag with lining, I used calico (cotton fabric) for outer and inner bag. On the outside I sewn the blue gingham in the middle of cotton fabric, I used organza ribbon to make the handle, size of this bag is 6 inches x 6 inches.

Gigi's dotty cat/ tissue pouch

I had a cold for a week so I have not posted my blog. An email from my dearest friend, Gigi who lives thousands miles away cheers me up. Gigi is a talented, smart and genuine down to earth - super woman who loves and lives for her and somebody else cats. Whenever I miss Gigi, I hand sew cats, and with the cold and runny nose I managed to sew a tissue pouch cat.

I used the dotty linen fabric and lined with calico (cotton), I did a bit of appliqué, embroidered and stitched.

Athi said he loves it but mummy should have made a Nintendo DS case, my husband said why tissue pouch and I should have made an Ipod case, I have never won!!!!

I hope you like it Gigi and I miss you so much. xxx

How I transfer embroidery pattern to the fabric /Wedding gift

My friend at work was married  2 weeks ago  and I wanted to make a gift for her. I bought a japanese embroidery book and there is one pattern I really like. I  normally draw simple patterns directly with a washable pen but this pattern has too much details so I used the Iron on transfer pen Clover  in blue.

the instruction : I put the transfer paper on top of the pattern from the book using ordinary pencil to trace the picture on to the transfer paper.

turn the transfer paper over and trace the pattern  on the transfer paper using the iron on transfer pen, the reason is when you iron  the transfer paper on the fabric, you get the reverse pattern. 

( the bride will be on the left).the image is a mirror copy as it will reverse when transferred.

To iron on the fabric, put the transfer paper (the side you trace the pattern with iron on transfer pen) on the right side of  the fabric where you want the pattern to be, iron on the transfer paper for 10-20 seconds, try not to slide the iron ,once the pattern is transfered to the fabric, it is permanent!!! I tried to wash it off but no luck so you have to be sure where exactly you want your pattern to be.

I hand sewn  the heart and inserted the ribbon, at the back I embroidered her wedding date on.

I was so pleased with it and hope my friend will like it.

You can get this iron on transfer pencil Clover in blue and red, they are not visible on dark fabric. I bought mine and paid about £3 (including postage), I found the website in USA selling the transdoodle which I have not seen anywhere in UK (if anyone knows where can I get it, please leave me the note, thanks xx)