To make this cute llama, I used the embroidery kit from kirikipress on Etsy. It came with preprinted fabric and the stuffing for the inside. The front fabric used embroidered embellishments, and the back is plain. I learned new 3D techniques on this project, like the turkey work for the llama’s hair. Turkey work is done by securing big loops to the fabric, and then you cut the loops to make it fluffy.
Project completed August 2, 2018.
I self-drafted this little zipper bag for a friend for her D&D dice 🙂 It’s a triangular prism, and fully lined. She’s super into space stuff so the outer fabric is suns and stars. Project completed July 4, 2018.
I made this tote bag for my cousin for Christmas – partially inspired by another tote bag she likes to use. I used the 4girlsdesigns shoulder bag pattern with a fun marbled outer fabric inspired by a paper marbling experiment we did together, and cute strawberries for the inner lining. Project completed November 18, 2018.
I self-drafted this little black and gold purse using some scrap fabric since I needed a purse that was in between casual and fancy. The top is closed with two buttons and fabric wrapped around little elastic strips. I made it the perfect size to keep all my things inside, and the only thing I’d do differently in the future is have a thicker strap. Project completed March 5, 2019.
I made this little Trapper Keeper / Portfolio for one of my friends for our Secret Santa exchange. I wanted something that could hold a notebook or tablet, pens, some papers, and business cards.
I based my design on Choly Knight’s free portfolio pattern, including using the hardcovers off an old textbook for the reinforced covers. And I used Choly Knight’s free journal pattern to do the pleats for the pens on the left panel, which was my first time doing pleats! I made the side panels separately, then sewed them to the inner fabric. Then I put the outer fabric and inner fabric together, right sides together, sewed around and flipped it right side out. All I had to do then was sew the opening together and it was done!
Project completed December 6, 2018.
I made this for a friend who loves this saying 🙂 There’s a trend of doing embroidery and cross stitch type crafts with pretty designs and swearing, so I absolutely jumped on the train. This is done on a canvas, which was a bit tricky because the canvas doesn’t seal up the hole made by the needle in the same way that fabric does. But I did fishbone leaves with some lazy daisy embellishments and wagon wheel flowers based off Namaste Embroidery’s “Woven Rose Border” pattern.
Project completed April 22, 2018.
This is from the wonderful Namaste Embroidery’s pattern “Flowers in Her Hair”. It’s mainly fishbone leaves and lots of wagon wheels! It was a joy to do for one of my friends from college, even all the single-strand satin stitch that was very difficult to get parallel. I loved choosing all the different green shades for the leaves, and I figured I’d offset it with some nice bright flower colors.
Project completed April 2, 2018.
Let’s start off with an old project – hand embroidery was what started my journey towards quilting, in a roundabout way. 🙂 This is a project I made for my mom for her office. I used Namaste Embroidery’s tutorial for double hoops to make the wreath shape. I had done some simple embroidery before, but this was my first project that I planned out by myself (with PowerPoint!). I wanted to use different kinds of stitches to make petals and create different shapes, and link them with little baby flowers and leaves.
I used stitches I had done before but in different ways – a lazy daisy stitch is usually used as a line or small petals with a common center (see off to the right, those light green petals and dark green stem are also lazy daisy stitch). I wanted to make bigger petals that were reminiscent of sunflowers, so I made the lazy daisy into more of a triangle shape. The wagon wheel is always a great flower center, and I stitched it by putting different colored strands together to make a new thread.
I really like the look of pistil stitch, and I varied the number of french knots on the end throughout the petals. French knots have great texture and I liked using them in two different ways on these flowers.
I like these flowers, but it was my first real usage of satin stitch. I think if I did it again, I’d use lazy daisy stitch or even backstitching with a larger thread size to fill in the space. It ended up being tedious, but it turned out nice.
Project completed March 2, 2018
Finch's Creative Endeavors 