Curlicious...

Here's something really simple, with all sorts of applications
I cut two squares (these are about 4 inches, but it's not crucial)

Fold one on the diagonal, and attach to the other around the sides (you could just pin if you wanted to sew to another piece)

The bias edge is flexible - roll it back

Here I have sewn it down with a small zigzag - this also looks nice if hand-sewn

Sew two on top of a third, roll back, instant leaf! Note that I have tacked the top layers in a little from the edges before rolling...
These are sewn through all the layers, but if you just sew the fold to the top layer, you get nice pockets

Now, take two bias strips (2-1/2 inches here) and press in half, right-sides-out
(A digression -  many fabrics are really much more interesting on the back, don't you think? )

Attach at the edges as before, this time all around

Here I have sewn across with my machine, but you could tack these in the centre at intervals by hand

Loose, pressed, sewn with zigzag, sewn with straight stitch...
Apologies for the bad pressing...

More tomorrow

It Never Rains...

...but it pours
Dress crisis (my daughter is to be married in a few days time)
Funeral (I am only going to make friends with young healthy people, I think)
And a student graciously gave me a cold, so I'm coughing and wheezing like a particluarly cross grampus

On the whole, it may be time for bed, but here's the latest

I thought it might be nice to do some handwork

Mark a grid (1 inch intervals here)
With a doubled thread, pickup a square of points, with the needle facing inwards at each corner

Draw the thread up and fasten off with an over-stitch

Keep on keeping on, picking up each set of four in fairly systematic fashion.. Let the thread sit untightened between the groups. This is the Top Side, and could be tidier

And here the Underneath.. I prefer this, so might try it again with the connecting threads run on the other side


This time, I drew circles in slightly random fashion

Hand-stitch around, but don't draw them up till you have done all of them

Pull.. Start in the middle?

You know that one about reducing the stash? The fabric gets Real Small, Real Fast
Top side

Underneath..

Hoping I feel better tomorrow.. Sleep well!

Three-dee-dee-details

Tired tonight.. Been a very long day, I have a broken foot, and I've been running an International Quilt Day, which was fun-but-hard
Soooo, I've done a very simple thing that has endless possibilities

Scrap of batting/wadding

Lay the Face of your intended shape Face Up

Draw the intended shape on the Back of the Back, and lay it Back Up (see what I did there? That's what we Englishpersons call a Play on Words...)
In the middle of the shape, cut a wee slit..

Apologies for the odd light on some of these..  My old Bernina, while resolutely treadled, has an electrical light, with LED bulb - it took me a couple of attempts at this and the colour is decidedly peculiar.. However
Sew all around, small stitches, start and finish Not on a corner, overlap the ends and ignore the thready things

Turn over, trim wadding/batting real close to the stitches

Trim the fabrics to 1/4 inch or so

Snippety-snip.. Snip all the curves, paying particular attention to the inward corners..

Turn out through the slit (remember the slit?) and press....

Here's a bonus - Neat Start Couching
I started with a doubled embroidery thread, rather long

Sew two or three small zigzag stitches over the threads

Pull the back end round to the front

Twist together and continue to oversew with the small ZZ stitches

Finish with some leaf-veins in ordinary stitch.  No end to darn in or force through the fabric..

Group?

Other shapes work - here's a basket of unfinished cats

Finished fishes and felines... Button eyes...

Silk fishy

Brocade cat..

Bigger and better - Merman and Mermaid in muslin/calico

Small boy comes into the shop and gazes raptly
"That lady's Rude!"
Me "Why is that?"
SB "She hasn't got her vest on!"
Time for fire, chocolate, and cat-on-lap...

Holey, moley, more holes..

Now, if you want multiple holes, they each need their own little facing piece

Sew, trim, turn, press, you know the drill

Nice.. Squares make house-windows, circles like little moons.

Now, the padded version.. Layer batting/wadding, then RS up, then RS down, draw, sew...

Trim out the batting/wadding as close to the stitching as possible

Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch and snippety-snip

Turn through...

Press

and quilt...

More 3D shapes tomorrow...

Holey, holey, holey

And now for something completely different... Think of this as manipulating No Fabric at all...

Making Holes



Take two pieces of nice Oakshott fabric, and place them face to face (yes, I know, woven, no Right Side.. Use Imagination...) Draw a harmonious shape with a pencil

(A digression - I use pencils a lot - they have a nice old-fashioned feel to them, mark most substances in a fairly non-permanent manner, and Never leak in your pockets..)

Anyway, make haste to your machine, and sew all around on your line, overlapping the start and finish. Use a small stitch and don't bother to do anything with the thread ends.. Have I told you that I'm both Lazy and Fussy? It's a good pair of characteristics in my view - I like to do it the Easy Way, but I also like to Get It Right.. I hate tieing off ends...

(Blogger is making fussing noises again.. I'm going to sulk if this doesn't work again..)

Oh good! the threat worked!
Trim out the centre of your shape, leaving about 1/4 inch seam allowance

Snippety-snip all around, being careful not to cut the stitches please. Contrasty thread, as it's a sample, match yours, please

Turn through the centre, press firmly.. Yippee! You've made a Whole Hole!
Topstitch if desired

And, by gum, this makes for Easy Applique Circles...

Other shapes are good -

Here I have made a selection - note that if your shape has straight sides you only need to snip into the corners.. Shapes with intrusions (think stars) are possible, but may need stitching down, or use a crisp fabric?
More tomorrow