Rhonda Bracey: At Random

This month’s challenge tutorial was from Paula Reid. Like Don Linn’s piece earlier in the year, this one used a design that we had to mark on to the fabric. Paula suggested several options for transferring the design and I ended up using a sample piece of Transdoodle from MistyFuse (received in my pack of MistyFuse several months ago).

I was pretty impressed with Transdoodle — you just lay it between the pattern and the fabric, chalky side down, then using a ball point pen or similar and a hard surface to write on, you go over the pattern and the chalk transfers to the fabric nice and neatly. There’s a bit of chalky residue transferred from where you press down with your hand etc. too, but it brushes off very easily. You can use the sheet over and over again.

Here’s my design transferred onto the fabric, ready for stitching –I didn’t transfer all the lines for the feathers, thinking I could do them without the marks.

Here’s the first lot of stitching — I used a white thread so that it would stand out against the deep red/maroon of the fabric. I was wrong about not marking the centre feathers. I could do the outside ones easily enough (though I’m much happier making commas a la Diane Gaudynski’s method), but I got a bit caught up on the inner feathers. I may have better off just doing them without the markings. I added some tiny pebbles in the centre and at the edges (the whole design fits an 8″ block).

Here’s the back:

I thought it needed a lift, so I added some variegated green ‘veins’ to the feathers and the teardrop motifs. Then went around the outer bumps and edges in the same green, about 1/8″ from the original stitching.

I’m glad I tried this technique, and especially glad I tried the Transdoodle paper as I think it has a lot of potential for anyone marking quilt designs.

However, having now done a couple of marked designs, I realise that they are not for me — I much prefer to create my own designs and patterns freehand on the machine. That said, I’m glad I’ve tried various marking methods as I’m sure I’ll use some marked designs at some point. So thanks Paula for stretching my bounds.

Threads used:

• White: Madeira Rayon, 40 wt, Colour 1001
• Green: Superior King Tut Egyptian cotton, 40 wt, Colour 988 (Oasis)
• Bobbin (navy): Wonderfil Invisifil, 80 wt, Colour IF 608

This little gem has been making the rounds of the internet for a while — it was forwarded to me by my friend Bobbie. Supposedly it’s from a Singer sewing machine manual, dated 1949. I’ve transcribed the words below the image as the image and its font isn’t particularly clear.

Transcription:

Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you’re going to do… Never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates.

Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing.

When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on. If you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home, and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing.

My comments:

A clean dress? I haven’t owned let alone worn a dress in YEARS. French chalk? Well, when I was a teacher, chalk was an absolute nuisance on your fingers — it transferred to your clothes, made your fingers really dry out and your skin flake. And French chalk? How is that different to any other chalk?

Hair in order? Oh, they mean brush/comb it in the morning after your shower and that’s it, right? Powder? I think I last wore powder when I was 14! Lipstick for sewing? Now really… Visitors dropping in unannounced? Not likely in this age of communication devices where you know in advance if someone is stopping by. Husband coming home? Well, mine’s always at home as he’s retired, but even when he was working, what does him coming home have to do with me sewing? And I can enjoy sewing just fine without being ‘neatly put together’. In fact, I sew much better when I’m relaxed — and that means loose, comfy clothes suitable for the activity and the weather… and no makeup.

Dirty dishes aren’t a problem for me — my husband does them 😉 and we don’t ‘make’ beds in these days of fitted sheets and doonas.

Sometimes “the good ol’ days” weren’t that good 😉