It's packed full of information for the beginner who wants to stretch and expand their skills and there are loads of hints and tips and clear visual instructions.
Having played and practiced I felt confident enough to try a small project, the instructions for which I downloaded from Angie Hughes' site. There are downloadable instructions for quite a few projets available and I think Angie still runs these workshops but if you're confident enough or just too far away you can dive straight in and have a go. Personally I found the instructions pretty easy to follow but you should have some basic machine stitching experience. I have really enjoyed doing this and although it's nowhere near perfect it's given me a chance to try some really interesting processes.
For example, cable stitch, which involves hand winding your bobbin with a thicker thread (eg embroidery floss) and stitching with your right side facing down - ie you can't see it (!)
and I ended up with this - see the raised gold thread that looks as though it's been couched?
The actual bag was pretty much an A4 pattern template worked on black velvet and after adding foils, applying small squares of silk with Bondaweb, a layer of organza and practicing my free machine embroidery skills including vermicelli stitch, whip stitch and couching, I ended up with this...
It was then finally cut out machine stitched into shape (can you imagine how fiddly those bottom triangles were?), a lining added, some eyelets and a tassle and hey presto!!!
32 comments:
Wow Carol, this is fabulous, lovely stitching and great use of colour. Pretty fantastic for your first bag. Will have to hunt that book out if you get results like this.
Sam xxx
Oooooohhhhh that is BEAUTIFUL! Well done you!
Love this, Carol and your choice of colours is brilliant - lovely work and useful too x
Oh so beautiful! I loved hearing about your process and all of the great photos. And wa-la a bag was formed! Yay! Love it :)
Gorgeous bag!!!!! Awww, I wish I could do that....
Absolutely fabulous, lovely rich tones. Great stitching, I wish I could...... Tracy x
Oh wow Carol! How beautiful is THAT and how CLEVER! If that is a 'small project' I look forward to seeing what you come up with next!
Hope you are well. Jan x
Your bag is gorgeous Carol - I can't imagine why you still consider yourself a beginner at machine embroidery. Well done - that's a brilliant first piece.
I've been doing it for years but am still not at ease with the stitches that need you to alter the tension, and never quite feel that I am in charge! You're a natural!
Oh wow Carol its brilliant, totally love it, x
Wowser Carol this is fantastic work, beautiful in fact,stunning colours and your machine stitching is gorgeous xx
This is gorgeous, my sewing machine is gathering dust, but this is really inspiring. I love the colour combination.
Gorgeous colors, textures and design! Lovely!
I love this Carol, the colours and the stitching are fabulous.
xxx Hazel.
Absolutely gorgeous!!! The colours are my favourites and the stitching is fantastic!
This is absolutely totally awesome!!! LOVE IT!!!!
Carol, that's absolutely gorgeous, your stitching is so neat and confident....a great achievement!
Wow Carol that is fabulous, you clever thing
All this and a week away with friends who are promising to turn me into a stitcher is making me want to get home and buy a new sewing machine. I only have my mum's old one and it must be 50 years old by now (but still robust and going).
Carol, this is amazing! I love it, I want one. You are so clever. I am truly amazed at what you are making these days.
You could sell these for a fortune.
Thanks so much for sharing - Hugs, Neet xx
It's beautiful Carol. I love the colours you've chosen and all of the stitching too. It's fascinating to see how you put this together. You must be thrilled with the end results.
Carol - its amazing, I would be afraid to attempt half of what you have done here - its just fabulous
Carol that bag is gorgeous!
Wow, gorgeous bag. I'm happy to stamp some of the portobello road images if you let me know which you would like. Xxx
Ooo it looks wonderful! Love your stitching. Kim
this is great!! and food on Gina for getting a DVD out there!!
Wow that's gorgeous
Great work with the bobbin work and the baq is just beautiful. Thanks for dropping by my blog.
Great work with the bobbin work and the baq is just beautiful. Thanks for dropping by my blog.
Looks wonderful. Way out of my league though... You obviously know how to handle your sewing machine. The result is marvellous... Well done!
OMG! Carol, this bag is gogeous! I love the colours, stitches and whole design! Beautiful!!!
oo, oo, oo this is so gorgeous! Love the patterns, and the colours...so yummy :)
Absolutely love your machine embroidery, I bought a foot for my machine, one of those ...had to have...and its still in packet of course.....you have inspired me to play with it.I am new to blogging...feel it could become my new addiction.....
OMG Carol - that's fabulous.
Burnice x
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