Serial cross-stitcher | Soluble versus Waste canvas {Embroidery}

It took me a while to start cross-stitching outside the comfort zone of the ready-made canvases - but once I started there was no stopping me! I have now cross-stitched felt (you can see how with my boxy pouch tutorial here); a baby vest; and a new top! And I am already thinking of the next project - probably some Christmas cross-stitching on random pieces of fabric or felt I reckon. 

I may be a serial cross-stitcher but you can be too - thanks to the wonders of soluble canvas or waste canvas. I used both (soluble canvas for the felt pouch and waste canvas for the tops) and both techniques work. 

I like the soluble canvas method a lot - it is really easy to cross-stitch, it is really easy to get rid of (as in put it into water and leave it to be). However it is quite expensive - for the square you get (you should have seen my face when I opened the packaging) - and it comes only in the one size (from what I could find), so not big project allowed. 

The waste canvas method is a bit more cumbersome (I bought mine here). First of all you have to work out why the hell there are so many holes in the canvas.

You are supposed to cross-stitch through the little holes. It was easier with my top because I did it over 2 squares, it does not look as consistent on the baby vest top though. 

Then, there is the issue of getting rid of the canvas - it takes a bit of time (no leaving it in the water and wait for it to do its thing!).

Yes, people you have to take each strand off, one by one - hours of fun, right-there (ok it is actually not that long, but still a bit tedious). You are supposed to do it with tweezers, and yes it is easier to do it with tweezers. You have to be careful not to pull too much, otherwise the cross-stitching may move. Arggh!

However it is cheaper and you can buy the waste canvas by the metre, and it does do the job perfectly well. For the baby vest top, there are a couple of more steps to take, you have to add muslin fabric behind so that the jersey does not get distorted - I followed this tutorial.  

So what will you cross-stitch next? 

Embroidered Boxy Pouch | Le Challenge

*For your last chance to win one yard of organic cotton fabric dyed naturally

please make sure you enter the giveaway here*

When I showed my finished le challenge project this month, Mr MiH said, oh look you made another boxy pouch. Yes, I did dear, but this one is special. I added the embroidery, it is felt, can't you see? 

So yes, this is my third boxy pouch - following the steps (but not measurements) of the Kelbysews tutorial - adapted to felt. And it is my le Challenge entry (the theme is era - and the interlining fabric is one that I got from Mary's vintage sheet swap). 

To make your own embroidered boxy pouch, you will need:

- 2 pieces of embroidered felt (tutorial just below) 

       I bought this one measuring 30 cm by 45cm

- 2 pieces of medium-weight interfacing of the same dimensions (30cm by 45 cm)

- 2 pieces of coordinated fabric of the same dimensions (30cm by 45 cm)

- 2 pieces of felt measuring 1.5' x 5' for the side tabs

- a zip which fits with the longest side of the the felt pieces - mine is 14'

- matching thread 

 

To add the embroidery on felt (or any other fabric), I used some DMC soluble canvas (which is actually quite expensive for what you get, so I am now trying to use waste canvas - I will let you know how I get on). 

To make this embroidery (but you can make whatever pattern you fancy of course) - I marked the middle of the felt pieces.  

Baste the soluble canvas cut to size (making that little square you get last!) in place. It is great way to keep it place, it is a bit annoying to unpick after the cross-stitching is done, so may be better to go for longer stitches. 

Do it on both sides. 

And let the cross-stitching begin. You use the soluble canvas as a normal canvas. I used three threads of DMC thread, I chose (following an IG debate) to go for matching the thread to the vintage interlining fabric. 

Follow the instructions to dissolve the soluble canvas - it works! Et voila! You are ready to make your pouch! You  may find the felt has shrunk a bit, so look check out the pieces again to make sure they have the same size throughout the project. 

The main difference between my pouch and the Kelbysews one is that with felt you don't need to worry about the fabric edges and you leave them showing. It is supposed t make it easier to match the embroidery - but that did not work out as well for me (maybe next time). 

So you place the raw edge of the felt fabric interfaced next to the zip opening, and the interlining as you would normally on a boxy pouch. 

I like to baste everything before sewing with a zip - but this is a personal choice. 

Time to sew the zip into place (easier to open the zip to make neater ends). 

Press and you should end up with something like this (this is the inside)

Sew the two pieces together (the bottom of your pouch) - as you can see I had to make a neater edge. 

You then carry on with the pouch like recommended on the Kelbysews tutorial. 

Finally you have a brand new fancy boxy pouch! 

I love my boxy pouches, but this one is much boxier - because of the sturdiness of the felt I suppose and probably looks like what I had in mind when I started making boxy pouches. I suppose you could adapt the interfacing according to what you need/want. 

For all the other Era entries, go to Le Challenge - the link up party is now open!

Allo! Allo! {Le Challenge}

                    A Heroes Iphone cross stitched case

Hello everyone, long time no see! Yes it is that time of the month again, le challenge is back - and here is my interpretation of Heroes... 

Even though I set le Challenge themes, I never have an actual project in mind. To be honest I thought I was going to end up with a super hero make - so it is surprising me now that I ended up with a cross stitched Iphone case with an army theme. But when I saw the tutorial on Miniature Rhino I knew I had to make one (even though I don't own an Iphone), I was even more determined when Mr MiH said it looked cool!!  

Here is what I used:

• Pattern: free with Miniature Rhino's tutorial (my case is smaller than hers so I had to adjust the pattern slightly but no major changes)
• Beadle Point Stitchable Phone Case - found here
• DMC embroidery thread (535 grey, 347 red, 3051 green) - I cross-stitched with with 3 strands

What I learnt from making the Iphone case:

• It takes much longer than a normal cross-stitch project because of it is on a plastic case that does not bend easily, and there are awkward spaces to stitch (just in case you make one as a present)
• It also means that the thread does wear off quite quickly so you need shorter lengths
• I am so happy I did not actually cross-stitch but used the tent stitch (as suggested by the pattern) - I don't think I would have had the patience. 
• How clever to be able to customise your phone case! I have a blackberry and you cannot do it, it is a real shame!  

Guess who is now desperate to have an Iphone (I am using Mr MiH's here)! I have plenty of ideas for Christmas covers or more summery ones, so expect a lot of pinning. 

Find the other Le Challenge interpretations of the theme here!

Printing on Fabric {Tutorial}

This is so much easier than what I had in mind. I am not sure why I thought it would be really time consuming as I have never really researched how to do it. Until my latest collaborative project - it will involve printing on fabric - and I am SO happy I bothered looking into it. It is easy, and fun - and you get to totally customise your work!

This is a quick tutorial - the pictures tell it all really. What you need is:

• A Bubble Jet Set 2000 solution (I bought mine in the UK at Rainbow Silks)
• Some freezer paper (bought also at Rainbow Silks)
• A printer
• And some fabric (I used some Kona Bone and Flame)

Leave the fabric in the Bubble Jet Set 2000 solution for 5 minutes

Let it dry

Iron it on some freezer paper (on the shiny side)

Feed into your printer (hoping yours is less dusty than mine)

Here we are

Have to take into consideration to carefully remove the paper

Playing around with my new printed fabric

Easy right! Now the options are endless, expect a lot of printing my own fabric from now on!