Boning a bodice ...

A boned bodice is being made for the wedding dress - if you want to find out how it was done, please click boning a bodice. If you'd like to see more about the making of the actual dress that the bodice was made for, then click how the Halloween dress was made

The stitched cell is prepared for mounting ...

The cell textile has now reached the next stage of its work – being encased in a circular form. This has been chosen (as with all other techniques & fabrics) symbolically & will be representative of what I shall ultimately be depicting.

As I need the finished piece to be transparent & hold its shape perfectly, the circle chosen needs to be relatively strong as the textile piece will need to be stretched for further working. With this in mind too,  a black discarded bike wheel (from a cycle shop & almost new) was found - minus its spokes. The holes in the rim are perfect for attaching the textile to & being a little larger than the fabric, will be ideal to use with cords &/or shaped textile pieces.

Note: Prior to using, the wheel rim has been cleaned. Overlaying it on the cell-textile, the fabric was marked (with pins) at each of the 32 hole positions on the rim.

I started life as a cell ! ....

I've just named my latest piece of textile work as "I started life as a cell" - click if you want to read more about it.

Diary Date: Hobbycraft ...

I'll be here in Bristol at Cribbs Causeway) between 11am & 1pm - Friday 4 July.

This time I'm having an "Advice-cum-Open Surgery" session so if you want to bring along any stitchery problems that need help or guidance, I'll be pleased to help - if you can, bring the stitching with you too!

Alternatively, I'll be able to just provide some in-store advice or answer a textile related query you may have.

See you there!

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