Weekend projects
23 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in needle felting, pattern drafting
This past weekend I started two projects. Emphasis on “started.” 
Friday afternoon I drafted a skirt pattern, which is always fun though this time was extra fun when I realized my waist and hips were both a couple inches smaller than the last time I drafted a skirt pattern. Yay! 
Anyhow, I started by drafting a four gored skirt and then altered it to (hopefully) resemble the girls’ long skirt #25 from Ottobre 3/2004. I had originally planned to grade up the Ottobre pattern. . .until I realized I needed to add 5″ to the waist and 10″ to the hips plus the extra length and, well, suddenly starting from scratch sounded simpler. 
I cut out the fabric Saturday afternoon, minus the waistband which I still need to draft.
This is intended to replace my well-worn denim skirt, and I’ll start sewing as soon as I can decide what color to use for topstitching. The medium blue on the far left is the regular sewing machine thread; it matches better in real life than in this picture. The topstitch threads are navy blue, red, and light denim. I already eliminated white and dark gold. . .I am leaning towards red at the moment, with the light denim being my second choice. Or perhaps denim topstitching with red bartacks. . . For the pocket lining and inner waistband I’m using a cotton print, strawberries on small blue checks.
I spent Saturday morning at a 4-H fiber workshop with Twirly Girl. They used needle felting to decorate notebook covers; some of the moms bought supplies to make their own, but I ended up working on my knitting while I watched. I think she was the only kid (of half a dozen or so) who had felted before, but she still learned a couple new tricks. She had a good time and we both bought some more supplies while we were there. . .she is looking forward to next month when they will felt 3-D objects. 
After we got home (and while I was cutting out my skirt) I contemplated a new felting project for myself, and Sunday afternoon I started on it.
I’ve been wanting to make some sort of wreath or banner for our front door, and decided to make this house. The background felt is gray, or perhaps bluish gray. . .at first I thought it was light blue, but once I added the bright blue door I realized it was gray. Ah well! I plan to put a bright red heart where an attic window might go, and the middle will have window/s with flower boxes. I haven’t decided yet what kind of greenery to put on either side of the door. . .bushes? potted flowers? ivy? I’m pretty sure I’ll be designing this one as I go along.
