Erica's Stitches

Here is what I made for the Stitchmap Sashiko Challenge.  I think the deadline was back sometime in February so I'm a little late. The challenge was to try Sashiko and make a needle case.  I already have more needle cases that I can use.  But, I have a new set of unchangeable circular knitting needles in an ugly plastic case.  So, I set out to replace it. I had some green fabric and vintage linen threads to use.  Traditionally it is done on a blue background, but I don't have a good blue fabric.  Besides, green is my favorite color and I've wanted to use it for a while. The linen thread was maybe a little to thick for the fabric.  However, it has a different texture from any other threads I've used and it was nice to try something different.  While I like the look of Sashiko, my eyes really didn't enjoy making it.  I found the diagonals especially difficult.  I kept getting to an intersection and being a hole or two ...

I just finished a Stitchmap challenge.  It was to finish a stitched item as a bag filled with accessories. Since my goal is to finish items I signed up.  I didn't plan on it but most of the fabric I used in the challenge came from cut up shirts.  The main bag used a blue-gray oxford shirt. Another oxford shirt and a flannel shirt provided lining fabric. And finally some paisley fabric.  Remember when that was in style?  I saved my favorite shirt from that era and every few years I use a piece of it. A few pieces of leftover ribbon and some buttons finished everything off.  It's fun making something out of scraps.

Connecting Threads is having a fabric design contest so I decided to try designing fabric. It's easy to come up with ideas but hard for me to get them into the computer. The first design I used PCStitch, cross-stitch design software to come up with the jpeg.  It has a tiled appearance because of that but it is an interesting effect.  I can easily imagine a whole line of fabrics with this look.  This design is on page one of the Geometric/Decorative category . For my next design I experimented with Photoshop.   It is on page 3 of the Flowers category . It's been fun dreaming about being a fabric designer but there were so many beautiful designs submitted and they are all getting more votes then mine. I have more ideas and wish I could submit again knowing more about what to expect and how to generate the designs.  So, go out there and vote for your favorites so they will run the competition again.

Last June I received this doll shape with a challenge to have it embellished and finished by September. The doll, now known as the Green-Eyed Monster, is made of a bright batik fabric and is about 4.5 inches tall. It was quite the challenge because it wasn't the shape or the fabric I would have picked.  I covered it with outlines and swirls of a simple running stitch in really bright colors.  It still needed something more so I added some shell beads. I love shell beads.  They vary from pink to white to grays and they catch the light at different angles.  All but the eye's are attached with petite seed beads and the eyes are attached with regular sized green seed beads (hence the name). The doll has a pin back so I can use it to dress up sweaters and my jeans jacket. I'm off to the meeting. I can't wait to see how others embellished their dolls.