Covid Lockdown = TIDY UP !!

Here I am at the start of 2020 getting slowly organised ... Cover lockdown has given me an excuse to do this!! Above image (from one end of the studio) doesn't look very roomy .. but once things are fully away in cupboards & on shelves, I hope it will be!! Some curtains are ready for stitching on the island unit - it's an excellent height for doing this & with its stainless steel top, means it will be perfect for any paints or similar.

However, I doubt if I will be using this as a main studio blog anymore ... unless I have something related to its use as a 'working studio' (i.e. for use & equipment only). The reason is I'm trying to co-ordinate things better so that certain blogs become "more specific & dedicated" ... so if you want to read more of what I'm actually doing, please click here so that you can "follow my journey".

Patchwork / Mesh sample with added lace ...

I'm trialling some MESH samples for use in my on-going projects (more samples are here: http://stitcherydoodaasamples.blogspot.co.uk).

Some small off-cuts from the earlier patchwork waistcoat have been cut into strips & 'woven' together to create a 'mesh' like fabric. Stitched using a variety of utility stitches & using several different colour threads, some short left-over lengths of old lace have also been included. When completed, a 'free machine embroidered' edge was stitched around the edges for later working.

woven strips of cotton fabric

section of 'mesh' being worked

final strips of lace with cream stitching

completed (so far) with outer free machine edge

Decorating = Finishing outstanding jobs !! ...

For the past week or so I've been involved preparing for the decorator (buying etc etc) which has led into finishing a few outstanding sewing jobs. They are all being updated on the Stitcherydoodaa Blog ... above shows a cuff-link style button made for the patchwork waistcoat.

As decorating is underway for several rooms, I'm now spending some time making a variety of window coverings & curtains - these will also be on view in a few weeks time when completed.

40s Humpty (Pouffe) : Renovation update 2 ...

Here's the outer 'bag' (left) now clean & with rings repaired - image left shows detail (if you want to read more about the making of this item, please click here @ Stitcherydoodaa.

40s Humpty (Pouffe) : Renovation update 1 ...

The inside 'seat' has been brushed, cleaned & "freshened" using Fabreze spray. The outer panels have all been washed & although they all shrank (I'm hoping won't make too much of a difference in its renewal as when originally made, shrinkage was allowed for).

By the way, the inner 'seat' (above) was made using an authentic 'Humpty' pattern & was filled with an extensive range of cut-up odd fabric scraps, tights, pop socks and anything else I came across to use. Cut into very small 'packing' pieces, the "innerds" resulted in a very heavy seating and perfect for its use - a highly recommended way of using old textiles & better than just throwing them away!

Here's the outer 'bag', washed & ready for repair of the brass rings (hopefully I'll be able to find the spares!)

(Pattern & instructions for making the original 'Humpty' are here: originals)

How I'm Restoring my '40s Pouffe ...

Today I've started to clean my '40s pouffe - it has to be unassembled first to get to the individual sections. I made this over 10 years ago & overall surprised generally how clean it has kept. I intend to restore it to its original condition - providing fffurther instructions here should you also like to make one of these 'seats'. (By the way, it is influenced by 1940's Make-Do-&-Mend' & so is its inside!)

The outer covering (below left) is laced by 4 central tucked bands (below right) which is held in place with a centrally tied 'rope'.

The cords were cut away/unlaced around the upper section & the underneath panel (below) then the outer 'corset' was removed.

The individual pieces can now be cleaned & repaired as the entire outer 'bag' (below) has a zip to insert the inner seat (as per Pouffe here). 

40s Pouffe repair ...

This is the 1940s-style pouffe made a few years ago & mentioned earlier in my blog. The outer 'skirt' is detachable both for cleaning (more pix if you click here) & this is what will be happening soon.

Back waistcoat stitching: close-ups ...

First 2 stages

Finished 4 stages

Front waistcoat stitching: close-ups ...

First 2 stages

Finished 4 stages

Waistcoat back ...

Close-up of the first stages of embroidery for the waistcoat back - simple pre-programmed stitches using my 1970s Elna (a brilliant machine & wish they were still made!). I'll be starting the fronts next - again using these set of 3 stitches. When the fronts are finished, I can then go to the next stage(s).

Waistcoat pinning & tacking close-ups ...

 A fabric patchwork mosaic in the process:

Back pieces pinned

Back pieces tacked

Front pieces tacked