Tag Archive | crochet

Slow Stitchin’ on Sunday Mornings and National Button Week, Day 7!!!

Mar19

In these posts I want to share some of my favorite pieces, which will include wall hangings, small works, pillows, purses, and just because pieces. This month they are going to be from my new book, Creative Embroidery, Mixing the Old with the New, by C&T Publishing. This is the last day of National Button week March 13-19, 2023, here are few of my favorite buttons, and buttons, and lots and lots of buttons.

Bees Buzz on a Saturday Afternoon

I created this four block wall hanging, combining a grouping of solid and printed fabrics with vintage printed panels, using a different piecing technique for each block. The blocks are layered with a variety of both new and old ribbons and trims which include vintage rickrack trims and a jacquard ribbon; grosgrain, satin, and picot edge satin ribbons; burlap ribbon and burlap loop trim. Once the base was stitched, I hand-quilted it with perle cotton #12.

I incorporated an assortment of buttons, charms, and other ephemera to tell the story. I found loads of buttons in all sizes and materials including vintage celluloid, plastics, ceramic, and wood. I also used a collection of bird and bee charms, and Scottie dog scatter pins.

Block 1: This block started with the 9-patch square that I made with left-over pieces from another project. I added in strips of solid and printed cotton fabrics. I used grosgrain ribbon and burlap trim, along with vintage rickrack trim in several sizes for the seam treatments. I ironed a vintage cotton tape measure to muslin backed with HeatnBond, to use for the birds nest boxes. The wooden garden fence was purchased at JoAnne Fabrics. Notice Buzz is spelled with one Z and a bee button, because in Scrabble there is only one Z.

Block 2: This block started with the floral screen print, which I purchased from Woof and Warp Fabrics (my first job), back in the late 1970’s. I strip- and patch-pieced the sections around the block. I used the cinnamon colored jacquard ribbon and woven ribbons to hide the raw edges while piecing the block. I also used grosgrain, and burlap ribbons along with vintage rickrack trim for the seam treatments. Other embellishments include vintage fly buttons in the center panel, and Scottie dog “scatter pins” along the bottom edge. The little cutie next to my signature “C” was made for me by my cousin Richard, when he was in high school in the 1960’s.

Block 3: In the center of this block I used a printed fabric advertising “Flower Baskets” and “Bee Keeping Supplies” that I found at a rummage sale back in the 1980’s. I patch-pieced the center panel with strips of fabric, and used the ribbons and trims as seam treatments. To balance with Block 2, I repeated the grouping of large crochet flowers and rosettes made from grosgrain ribbon. I placed the flowers on stems of looped trim, with leaves made from ultra suede.

    Block 4: This block is strip-pieced, with a few of the strips pieced to create a larger strip, using up the remaining bits and pieces of fabric that I had. The blue strip on the bottom became a fence for the three “Cat Amigos” to sit on, to ponder those Bees Buzzing on a Saturday Afternoon.

    Embroidery Stitches Used Throughout the Blocks

    • Blanket Stitch Up and Down
    • Couched Stitch
    • Straight Stitch
    • Lazy Daisy Stitch
    • Fly Stitch
    • Cross Stitch
    • Bell Flower Stitch
    • Spiderweb Corner Stitch
    • Button Spider

    Little Stitched Extras

    • Rosette
    • Loop Leaf
    • Birds Nest

    Happy Stitching to you all! ~Christen

    Day 26 of FLOWERS GALORE!

    May26

    Day 26 of FLOWERS GALORE!

    Pretty In Pink

    Pretty in Pink

    This is an ensemble that I made using a vintage tatted reticule and crochet collar. I used silk ribbon for the flowers and leaves, and added in acrylic flowers and leaves with beaded stitches. This can be found in the gallery section of my book Ribbonwork Flowers by C&T Publishing.

    Happy Stitching, enjoy~ Christen!

    Day 8 of FLOWERS GALORE!

    May8

    Day 8 of FLOWERS GALORE!

    Chantilly Lady’s Lace Cuff

    This is one of the bracelets that I designed for my class Chantilly Lady’s Lace Cuff.  The lace, ribbons, and threads are dyed with ColorHue dyes. The techniques included are ribbonwork, tatting, crochet, and embroidery. This piece can be found in the gallery section of my book Ribbonwork Flowers by C&T Publishing.

    Happy Stitching, enjoy~ Christen!

    Country Cottage Tussy Mussy: class/tutorial

    Dec6

    Country Cottage Tussy Mussy: 2 lessons/$27.00

    tussy mussyCreate a charming vintage, feminine or holiday decoration that will fit right in with any decor. Start with a cardboard cone that is covered with decorative papers, greeting cards, and other paper ephemera. This is further embellished with buttons, charms, and cords; ribbon and crochet flowers and more. The vessel will then be filled with fabric, ribbon, lace and felt flowers and leaves.

    Skill Level Beginning: some hand sewing and embroidery skills needed

    Lesson 1: In this lesson I will discuss themes, gathering, storing and choosing your components. Then the fun begins with paper collage including cutting and ripping techniques. The collaged vessel can be embellished with pens, stamps, trims, ribbons, lace, buttons and more!

    Lesson 2: In this lesson you will learn how to make the flowers and leaves, then assembling them in the cone. The flowers include the shabby rose, five-petal flower, spiked sunflower, stuffed posy, ricrac daisy, crochet mum and lace leaves.

    Class Information

    These classes can be purchased at any time, there is no set schedule.The class can be ordered by contacting Christen: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com. She will send you an invoice through PayPal.

    Once the class is paid for, the supply list will be sent out. The lessons will begin one week after the purchase of the class, unless otherwise stated. You will receive an email with the lesson attached. The following lesson/s will arrive one week after the previous lesson.

    A high speed internet connection is recommended, and you must have basic computer and internet skills. You will need to be able know how to download and save a document to your computer’s hard drive, open it and print out a copy.

    You can contact Christen with any questions pertaining to the class/class information throughout the length of the class.

    Class fees will not be refunded.

    Happy Stitching,

    ~Christen

    Chantilly Lady’s Lace Cuff: class/tutorial

    Dec5

    Chantilly Lady’s Lace Cuff: 4 lessons/$42.00

    chantilly1This lovely lace cuff is reminiscent of tranquil days lounging on an overstuffed satin pouf, or demurely sashaying along a tree-lined avenue, parasol in hand. Two separate processes, one with Texture Magic, and the other with Solvy make the base of the cuff and the lace frill; pre-made lace will also be used. There are two styles to choose from that will be embellished with needle-tatted and crochet components, ribbonwork flowers, a few silk ribbon embroidery stitches, beads and buttons. The base can be left in the natural colors of the lace, or you can dye the components with the self-setting Colorhue dyes (no other dye will be covered). Please also note that basic crochet knowledge will be very helpful.

    Skill Level Advanced: sewing machine, embroidery, ribbonwork and crochet knowledge needed

    Lesson 1: In this lesson you will explore working with Texture Magic, making the base of the bracelet with bits of lace enmeshed on the top. The next step is to take the Solvy and small amounts of lace turning them into a lacey trim for the cuff.

    Lesson 2. In this lesson you will dye the base, lace frill, any extra lace trims and appliqués along with the perle cotton and ribbons.

    Lesson 3: In this lesson you will be making the floral components. Directions for beginning needle tatting with four basic stitches; two basic crochet flowers will be included, it is recommended that you have crochet experience. Directions for four ribbonwork flowers round out the floral components.

    Lesson 4. In this lesson the floral components and appliqués will be assembled onto the base, adding in a few silk ribbon embroidery stitches. Embellishments will also include a few beads and buttons. Directions will be provided for assembling the base cuff and lace frills.

    Class Information

    These classes can be purchased at any time, there is no set schedule.The class can be ordered by contacting Christen: thestoreonthecorner@gmail.com. She will send you an invoice through PayPal.

    Once the class is paid for, the supply list will be sent out. The lessons will begin one week after the purchase of the class, unless otherwise stated. You will receive an email with the lesson attached. The following lesson/s will arrive one week after the previous lesson.

    A high speed internet connection is recommended, and you must have basic computer and internet skills. You will need to be able know how to download and save a document to your computer’s hard drive, open it and print out a copy.

    You can contact Christen with any questions pertaining to the class/class information throughout the length of the class.

    Class fees will not be refunded.

    Happy Stitching!

    ~Christen

     

    Creations in Crochet

    Aug6

    My friend Gail made me this lovely scarf and I wanted to share it with you. She is an avid crocheter, and this is just a sampling of the flowers, leaves and floral extras that she creates.

     

    She has taught me a few flowers, and these are examples of what I have made with here ideas.

    My flower is much simpler than hers are, but I love the color of the novelty yarn and the fact that I had a vintage button to use as the center that matched!

    This is a neck-piece that I made after experimenting with the techniques that she taught me. I used Pearl cotton #5 and #8.

    This is the matching bracelet, with the flowers stitched down on a vintage Jacquard ribbon. Both the neck-piece and the bracelet have a vintage glass button for the closure.

    Enjoy~ Christen

    Friday’s Favorites: Pansies

    Jul17

    Bunch of Pansies!

    Bunch of Pansies!

    I have always loved flowers, real life ones, painted images and fabricated ones! Pansies though are amongst my favorites. I remember a faded picture that my grandmother had of a a group of pansies, it was so pretty and reminiscent of the Victorian Era.

    Pansy Hankies

    Pansy Hankies

    This a group of hankies decorated with pansies. The top left has lavender colored organza pansies with hand embroidered details. The blue pansy, with four petals (oops) is a sheer metallic fabric with hand embroidered details. The bottom one is of course my current favorite with a myriad of crochet pansies, WOW!

    There is a crochet doily at the top right of the large picture, which is made from a heavier weight cotton, with purple and white pansies.

    The purse is a wool reticule, and is actually embroidered with thistles, but it was so pretty that I included it in the photograph.

    millinery pansies

    millinery pansies

    These millinery pansies are made from a velvet material with painted details and fabric stamens. The yellow pansies are vintage, while the purple and yellow garlands are new.

    The purple piece of fabric (shown in the large picture) covered in pansies is so pretty, I can’t cut it! So I just move it from project to project, and love it the way it is.

    I have also included in the large photograph pansies that I have made from French wire ribbon and a vintage grosgrain ribbon (these all have button centers). The larger flowers are corsages while the smaller ones will find there way onto a neck-piece that I am making.

    The two sweet little pins were given to me by a dear friend who new that I loved these flowers! I also have pansy stickers, pansy note cards, and a few other pansies that didn’t make it into the picture. I think that they were shy!

    Enjoy, tell me about your favorite flowers! Christen

    Andalusian Flower Fields- Crochet Jewelry Ensemble

    Jun10

    Andalusian Flower Fields- crochet neckpiece

    Andalusian Flower Fields- crochet neckpiece

    Well if you thought that I had fun making this ensemble you were right!

    Crochet is not my first needle technique of choice, not even my second, third… you get the picture. I learned the theory in high school, but never could read a pattern, so my elegant chains never really were of any use.

    A few years ago I took a class, I got a book, took a refresher class from a friend, and just started to play. I guess it is just like anything new, you have to work at it. So I did. The flowers and leaves are all made from patterns that I developed, because I still can’t read anybody else’s pattern, but I can read my own!

    The neckpiece is assembled by stitching each flower to the other, the leaves are attached to the flowers. I used a vintage glass button for the closure, and I stitched a crochet flower for the loop. The bracelet base is a vintage jacquard ribbon with the flowers sewn down on the ribbon. I had a second glass flower button that I used for the closure of the bracelet, and stitched a buttonhole loop.

    Andalusian Flower Fields- crochet bracelet

    Andalusian Flower Fields- crochet bracelet

    The ensemble was made to be worn with a vintage blue shawl the same color as the light blue of the flowers. It is from China and is embroidered with the medium pinks, yellow and peach colors that I used in the flowers and the darker green color that I used for the leaves.

    I found a vintage embroidered purse that was made in Mexico to match the shawl. It is embroidered on black velvet with flowers in the dark blue, pink and deep peach colors with the lighter green color of the leaves.

    Happy stitching, creating, and searching for those great vintage finds! Christen

    Strawberry Fields- crochet purse

    May30

    Strawberry Fields- crochet purse

    Strawberry Fields- crochet purse

    This crochet purse was so much fun to make. It is stitched in rows of double crochet using bits of this color and that, added in when one color ran out. I stitched a row of treble crochet close to the top for the cord to run through, and ruffled the top edge.

    I am a fairly neat person but when it comes to skeins of pearl cotton, I tell myself I must wrap it in to a ball before I start stitching, but I rarely do. So the odd bits and messy balls end up in an old glass candy jar, at least they look pretty while stuffed in there.

    So this was a project meant to untangle my bird’s nest full of pearl cotton #5 skeins. They were hopelessly tangled and mangled and seemingly knotted beyond recognition.

    I spent a few nights in front of the TV, and a few long car trips (I was a passenger, not the pilot) and untangled and sorted the mess that I had created. I think that the untangling process took longer than the crochet stitches.

    Hope that you too can create something from your tangles and mangles! Happy Stitching, enjoy- Christen