Wednesday 11 February 2015

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #297

Another week has flown by and my workspace, this afternoon, is the ironing board.

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I’m cutting interfacing for my skirt. Rather than using the pattern pieces I’m just going to cut roughly around the fabric facings. When I used iron on interfacing, for the waistband of the Lonsdale dress, it seemed to shrink it a bit. Is that a thing that happens? I’m also trying a different type of interfacing this time. I wasn’t keen on the cardboardy feel that I ended up with, when I made a bunch of zipper pouches. This seems much floppier and has a bit of stretch crosswise.

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No class this week and really I should be planning for the next one and not sewing at all. Here’s one of the offerings from the last session. The Dictionary stamp is so useful for making your own text paper, in whatever colour you fancy. Polaroid frames have been around for a while now and I know that you can get a special die to cut them, but I thought, how hard can it be? I cut a rectangle, with my trimmer and cut a square out using a framelit die. Not hard at all, as it turns out. I think they’d make good embellishments for a scrapbook page or to use in a Project Life pocket page. The bonus being, you can adjust your measurements to suit your project.

That’s it from me. I want to get that waist facing together, before the children get home from school. I’ll be linking up with Julia and all the other deskers first though.

PS If you’re a fan of sewing, you might be interested in the free pdf pattern downloads that Love Sewing magazine are giving away each week, during the run of the Great British Sewing Bee. This week it’s the Lottie blouse. Be quick, as it’s only available until tomorrow (Thursday 12th) when the next one will be announced.

18 comments:

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Fiona, love how you did the Polaroid frame. Its so easy to get caught up in the 'must buy a die' mindset, when it's easy to DIY, I agree. The new Ranger pad doesn't smell as strong as the Staz-on, which always makes me think of almond marzipan, but it definitely smells different to normal dye inkpads.Have a great week, hugs, Shaz #13 xx

glitterandglue said...

Lovely card, Fiona - well done. It's really effective with the frame you made.
Glad you are still enjoying the sewing.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #6

My not so simple life said...

Beautiful card, love the vibrant pink

scrappyjacky said...

The frame looks great on that card.

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Sometimes it's the simplest solutions that work the best, eh? Love how you did that Polaroid frame and you didn't need anything special to do it!! The whole card is fab actually, really love it...
Who do you think are the stars of the Sewing Bee then? I think the army bloke and the air hostess are certs for the final stages!
HUgs, LLJ 23 xxxx

alexa said...

I never knew there was a dictionary stamp! You have used it and your own frame to great effect ... And thank-you for the link. I'll keep an eye on it; are you enjoying the latest Great British Sewing Bee? Any guesses as to who will win?

KraftyKaren said...

Good luck with getting the facing done. The frame is lovely, I did that using my magnetic plates, a rectangle and a square die last year for some cards that I made for the 52 card challenge - not done it since so thanks for the reminder. Ooooo that background stamp is lovely, another to add to the want list LOL!!

Helen said...

We all too easily buy something that could be as easily made - you've proved that, the frame looks fabulous, what a great idea (I'd not seen the die) and the resulting card is fabulous - love a dictionary background, whether a real one or from a stamp. Have a great week. Helen #1

Annie said...

Thanks for calling by to visit me this week and for your lovely comments.
Maybe your iron on interfacing was a little too heavy? I use medium weight for collars but have a light weight one for facings.....hope that helps.
Hugs,
Annie x #16

Linda said...

Lovely card! I love the dictionary stamp and the homemade polaroid frame. I'm loving sewing bee! Good luck with your skirt.

Sian said...

I'm cheering on your skirt progress as well as admiring your card today.

Sarah said...

Gorgeous card .... what a fab idea to make your own frame like that!!

Jo said...

I love the card and the fabric x

Irene Rafael said...

I like the stamped card and the creative frame. I agree, why buy something new when often its so easy and fun to make!
Irene 76

Sandra said...

Great to see you sewing, and I so love your card

fairy thoughts said...

Hi fiona are you ennoying the sewing beee..... its seems like a male take over..... great viewing.
some vylenes can be aa bit carboardy .... try thf ultra soft type..... they are .... well softer really lol
im glad you voted even if it wasnt cor emma they need support.. i bet you voted for the houses that was my next choice..my fabric arrived from them thf other day ... i was a bit disappointedwith the colours but i sent a photo rather than one designed on the computer..... hey ho....we'll see how it turns oht made up..
hope you finish your skirt
janet

Lizzie said...

Hi Fiona! Looks like you're making something pretty - I like that floral fabric. Some of the interfacings do feel a bit "crunchy", yes... and the glue on some iron-on interfacings doesn't stand up well to washing. I prefer to use the sew-in type really - there are some lovely soft ones, which are still firm enough in texture for collars etc.

The card is really nice. I have a text stamp - though it's smaller than that one. I've used it a lot for backgrounds, it's really handy. I remember Shimelle had one and she used it so often that the rubber wore down until it was no use any more!
The DIY frame is lovely - as you said, why buy a special die, if you can use what you already have available?
X Lizzie

Debbie in LA said...

Iron-on interfacing does shrink. If you hold your iron about an inch above the interfacing and use steam, you can shrink it before you apply it to your material.