Snowy Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 There are all sorts of classes Egluntyne! One thing I have noticed is that the video is a bit poor - it could focus in on the detail of what she is doing a bit more (maybe it does when you get on to the stitchery bit - I am still on sorting out materials!) Love the fabric Plum, although I don't do pale colours myself! I note on the comments box she has asked people to post pics of their choice of fabric and has given good feedback on their choices. Not had feedback on mine yet though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I've been inspired by this thread to arrange a day's lessons for myself with a lady in Douglas. She has a room of Janome machines so hopefully I'll be getting more value out of my machine - and I might even learn how to sew properly rather than by trial and error! Love your fabric Snowy, I'm always a bit safe (boring) in my choices. However I've bought some lovely fabric from my local shop and hope to get started on my quilt fairly soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 It's fun doing day classes, you pick up so much inspiration. Is it a class how to use your machine or are you making a project? Must show us what you do. I had a look at a crochet workshop on Craftsy but it seemed to be doing the basics. Are you tempted by anything Egluntyne? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 I've started my stitch bible! Using interfacing and minimal tension on the top needle has really worked. Great seeing all the stitches in all their variations, and having confidence (eventually) that my machine would handle the stitches and not foul things up! I found I needed to have mine on about tension 2 (some stitches needed 3). I now know which stitches can be altered and which can't as well! Very productive afternoon's work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 It's fun doing day classes, you pick up so much inspiration. Is it a class how to use your machine or are you making a project? A bit of both I have nearly finished making my first ever strip quilt, it's this kit, I'm about to do the binding. I've enjoyed doing it but have realised I really need a walking foot. I have another similar kit in animal prints to make up for YS and have chosen several fabrics to make into a simple quilt for ES from this book, it's a simple one called Avalon, just large squares with sashing between and around. I'm tempted to try and play with the sizes a bit, will talk to the sewing lady when I see her on Friday. Snowy, it sounds as though you're really getting to grips with your machine Can't wait to see what you make Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 My fancy stitches are gettting a lot better using a12/80 embroidery needle and the same colour thread up and down with dropping tension occasionally, no bunching and the broken thread lights stopped coming on every 2 ins. May redo some pages eventually but they are now looking so much better. How's yours going Snowy Get playing Goosey Lucy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I'm seeing my lady on Friday and will also be collecting my walking foot. A friend has leant me a Cath Kidston book as it has a lovely chicken stencil which I plan to use as an applique motif on some napkins, all I need now is some pretty material and the right colour for the satin stitch outline, comb and wattles. So where are the pictures of your stitching, Plum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 My machine coped well, although I took delivery of some Topstitch machine needles today, a box each of 12s and 14s. Carol Ann seems to swear by them, so will give them a go! Have run out of interfacing though, so have to wait for another delivery before I can get going again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I haven't got hold of the topstitch needles yet and I've run out of interfacing and bondaweb Here you are Goosey, you asked front before Back before fronts after spot the difference Could do with a week off work to get on with it. Let's see your stitches Snowy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Wow Plum, that's a huge difference! You must feel so chuffed! I am very impressed that you've numbered them so you know what they turn out like Well done you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 Goosey, the course we are doing syas to number them and make a note of the settings for width and length as well. It's a very sound idea! Mine is just an odd length of cream fabric, not a nice neat page like yours Plum! But my backs were not as bad as that! See what you mean about a forest of loops I'm only about a third of the way through my stitch library yet. But your machine looks to have loads more than mine Plum, some of those are lovely! Also, I skipped the 'utility' stitches, but then she said to use them. So I may need to start again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 It looks to me as though I may also benefit from the course...could it be the next 'Omlet must-have'? Seriously though, you must both feel very pleased that you are getting to know your machines better. I still don't know if I'd remember to label each of the stitches, I'd get carried away! But it seems such a good idea, I may have a play with my machine when I get back from seeing Angela the sewing lady tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 It's an online course Lucy, i paid for it before Christmas. Beauty of it is you can watch the videas whenever you want, and repeat them whenever you want. Plus there is on line support - the course tutor is very good at responding to queries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 What did she say about your fabric. Your stitches are lovely, but you've cheated what happened to stitches 48-59 Enrol Goosey its only about £20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 She loved the fabric - thought it would work really well 49 - 58 were some of those boring utility stitches that I didn't bother doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Hope your machine is back to normal Snowy. I finished my stitches so have started making the back cover but doing it following the course this time. I've got as far as couching various threads on a piece of batik. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 I haven't had chance to try it yet Plum (the Longhouse is still under construction!) But I now have my batik and have cut it into 4 FQs and applied the interfacing. It's looking beautiful - I can't wait to start work on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 Just looked at your sytitched again Plum - they look so crisp and well defined! Mine look very crowded and poorly defined What kind of machine do you have again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I've got a pfaff but it's probably the lighting, camera or colour/weight of thread. Yours look good to me. I like your no 64 I've got the same but it bunched. Your 48 would look good with beads sewn in the gaps in the stitch. I went to a couple of embroidery shops today and have some lovely threads for hand stitching and assortment of fibres for couching. It was like going in a sweet shop There's a show at NEC in march I'll try to get to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 Oooh the NEC sounds very tempting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Started the back cover of my stitch bible and have couched some bits on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 Oooh looks lovely! Think I may do a small one first, just to test things out before I wreck my 4 big panels! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 On a roll now, ready to handstitch but realise I put the couching lines too close. Good thing I'm just doing a small piece first before tackling a fat quarter, you were right Snowy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Is the longhouse finished yet I've been cracking on with mine. Can't wait to start on a proper wall art. I've not done this sort of embroidery before, bit of cross stitch and tapestry but nothing free. The variagated threads are fun, I bought the wrong thickness so have a few I haven't been able to use but can learn to make tassels or something to use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Longhouse is finished Wow thats looking great Plum! I did the couching and stitching on my practice piece - very pleased with it, my couching was too far apart though! Did take some pics but son snaffled the camera for college so can't upload them yet My machine is definitely fussy with threads, some worked better than others. I found the cause of my dodgy stitching - there is a little dial underneath to adjust pattern length, quick twiddle of that and it is perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
