Back at the Spinning Wheel

Last week I found a new hashtag on IG...#spunday hosted by @threadybear. I haven't spun since Tour de Fleece last summer and even then it was only a bobbin or two. I've been itching to get my wheel out, but I was worried that Ruby would want to play with it too much. Once I saw the #spunday hashtag I knew that it was time to start spinning again.

So I spun...



And spun...





And spun!





And Ruby did great! Her favorite thing is either sitting and watching the wheel turn or standing between my legs to watch me draft the fiber.

In shop news I still have some handspun yarn listed and I just added stitch markers as well. They snag-free markers made with gorgeous book charms & accent beads and fit needles up to US10.5 (6.5mm). And there are lots of "books" to choose from! :-)

Thanks for visiting!
~Sharon~

posted from Bloggeroid

Ruby's Spring Catnap Dress

A few weeks ago I discovered that my favorite fabric designer, Lizzy House, was hosting a dress making contest in her newest line, Catnap. I had just done a fabric swap with Maggie (@legs_benedict) and had a 1/2 yd of butterflies & fat quarter of playing cats that needed the perfect project.

It started with a simple sketch (well, more of a doodle really). I decided that I wanted to do as much handstitching as possible so I pulled out my copy of "Handsewn" by Margaret Rowan to get tips on smocking and buttonholes.

I did serge the edges and machine stitch the hems to give the dress a clean look. Then I went searching online for a tutorial for hand pleating. I found Marie Grace Designs, which was really lucky because now the website seems to be down. :-(

I used the American Honeycomb stitch for the smocking, in two colors. I chose to put the buttons on the front since the skirt (cat) fabric had to be seamed and it drove me crazy to think of that seam being in the front. I think it added a fun little touch to the dress.

I made it big for her to grow into this summer, but unfortunately I made it too big and it won't fit her for another year or so. But at least it is too big and not too small!

It was really fun to design & make this dress and in just a couple weeks too. Thanks Lizzy for the fun challenge! :-)

And thank you for taking a look!

*Sharon*

posted from Bloggeroid