Seams Sew Sweet Designs, Quilts & Quilting

2012-01-30T11:50:00.001-06:00

TAST Stitch Week #4 from Pintangle

From Sharon's Blog

Once again I enjoyed seeing the samples created last week. This week the stitch for the Take a Stitch Tuesday challenge is Cretan stitch which can be worked in an open or closed manner. For centuries women on the island of Crete, have used this stitch to decorate clothing. Hence the name.

For those who are new to embroidery you will find aspects of the hand movement needed to make this stitch are similar to those learnt in feather stitch so indirectly this stitch is related to the buttonhole family. If you cant see what I mean, take a look first at the Open version of Cretan stitch in my stitch dictionary, then take a look at the closed version of Cretan stitch.

Once again the challenge is:

For new hands to learn the stitch

If you are an experienced stitcher take the stitch and push it a little further in a creative manner.

Rows of the stitch can be built up to create patterns.

Try working it different threads, or on different fabrics. Play with the spacing of the ‘arms’ working the parts closely together, or work them far apart, change the height of the arms.

You can overlap lines of the sttich to create other patterns.

You can add beads, or use it to couch down another thread or ribbon.

No matter what you do with it explore the stitch.

Homecoming 2012

2012-01-22T11:46:00.001-06:00

I don't normally add personal info to my blog but these pics are of my granddaughter's homecoming coronation this last week. She was the retiring queen and she & I collaborated on and made her dress. Just thought you all should know what had kept me preoccupied for the past week & a half... Hope you enjoy the pics! Formal dressmaking was my livelihood for over 20 years... I guess I haven't lost the skills completely! LOL!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150516853398897.382375.738663896&type=1

Take A Stitch Tuesday From Pintangle

2012-01-18T11:38:00.001-06:00

Take A Stitch Tuesday
I am having trouble getting the Pintangle "Take A Stitch Tuesday" links to work on the blog. Have been ill with a nasty flu virus, but am back trying to catch up with everything. New pics of CQ Pillow will post soon... Stay tuned...

Okay! Looks like I got it! Here's week number 2:

Pintangle Take a Stitch A Week #2

And this week, #3:

Pintangle Take A Stitch Tuesday Week 3

I have some major catching up to do! How are you all doing? Sharon is a super CQ instructor!!

Pics of The New CQ Pillow In Progress...

2011-11-30T22:49:00.001-06:00

Hi! Here are those pics that I promised of the Seams CQ Pillow Design in progress... Hope you like them! More to follow in the next few days, so check back. Thanks for the gracious comments! Maralie

Crazy Quilt Heart Pillow

2011-11-28T18:05:00.000-06:00

The class today was our last one on making the "Seams" Crazy Quilt Heart Pillow. We learned how to make a chain stitch using two colors of thread or perle cotton on one needle while making a chain of first one color, and then the other... Great fun!! And easy to learn... We went over the finishing technique for adding piping and a lace and fabric ruffle around the outer edge of the pillow. Will post pics tomorrow. I shared my "dressmaker" tip of using fishing line to quickly and accurately gather ruffles. Show n' tell of everyone's "heart" in "progress" was neat too! Every one is so different and all beautiful. We'll vote on the best one at the shop Christmas party and winner will receive a Moda Layer Cake! Will try to get pics of all the pillows, or hearts at the party. Gotta' run... I have 11 pincushions to make before the Christmas party and I haven't even decided on the design yet! So its back to work for me! Check back soon! Maralie

Another Year of Quilting Gone By!

2011-11-27T13:13:00.003-06:00

My apologies for not staying in touch with everyone... It's been a really busy time here with lots of life changes. Hopefully the new year will bring some order and a more organized way of getting things done. I know... Its what we all wish for, but maybe, just maybe, I can pull it off!
"Seams" is starting out the new year with a brand new quilt design, called "Oh,Sweet Carolina! A Quilt of Secession." This one is based on the Confederate States, and will include a block for each state of the Confederation, as well as applique blocks based on the symbols of the confederacy, cotton, tobacco, wheat, and rice. Classes for it will begin in January.
Also in January, we will be working along with Sharon B of Pintangle as part of her free embroidery program, Take A Stitch Tuesday. We'll be posting pics here of each new stitch sample that we complete. Check out Sharon's blog to join in on the fun.

Thats about all I can jam in here today but will post more in the next couple of days. Lots of new patterns to show n' tell! Lots of fun things to share including new crazy quilting designs. Happy Holidays to All! Maralie