by Jennifer Gilmour Stitch Me Lane
The world of fabric is full of vibrant cloth, made of everything from cotton to plastic and countless blends in between. Britain is booming with the latest fashions from the fabric industry, and sewing courses are popping up across the country to teach you how to use them.
As a lover and seller of fabric (and an avid sewer), I know how important it is to choose the right type of fabric for your project. In this blog post, I will be looking at quilting or craft weight fabric and some of the products on the market – such as liners, stabilizers and waddings – that can add body and stability to your fabric. These can add a professional finish to what you are making or selling.

All About Lamps

I'd like to share some lovely pictures of the lamp shades made by Cherryblampshades and by Tessa Shearer....

The first one is made with Riley Blake Navy Chevron by Cherryblampshades.  It looks lovely.  Thank you for sharing it....

You can find this and many other handmade shades in  her etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/listing/114407597/30cm-handmade-navy-and-white-chevron

The next one was made by Tessa Shearer from one of the Blue themed scrap bags.  This one is for her little boy. Very cute!

 

Thank you for sending them in!

Easy Peasy Halloween Decorations

Halloween is just around the corner so we've busting out some easy Halloween decorations.  These projects are simple and can be done with children.

This one is my favorite.  It is bat garland (not quite finished).  The bats have been stitched together with needle and thread with a black button added for decoration.  The eyes have been made with embroidery floss/thread but you could easily use beads, buttons or anything else you fancy.  All you need is a bat template and black plether (fake leather).  I googled "bat template" and was spoilt for choice.  I found that felt was too floppy on it's own. 

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These pumpkins are made out of construction paper.  The 3-D pumpkin is made with 8 one inch strips of paper, two orange circles, a green strip of paper and a hand drawn leaf.  To make it, glue the 8 strips to one circle like a bicycle spoke.  Bring the strips upwards and glue them to the other circle and decorate with the green strip and leave.

 

The flat one, which I plan to add some leaves to, is made of one inch strips as well.  The centre one is 6 inches long, then two 7 inch strips, two 8 inch strips and then two 9 inch strips on the outside.  Just line them up and staple. 

 

 



 

Tessa, owner of House of Wonderland, sent me this lovely picture of some customer phone covers with one of my fabrics.  Its the one on the left, Timeless Treasures Compter Key Board fabric.  It looks lovely.  Be sure to visit her website. She has lots of yummy hand made items. http://www.house-of-wonderland.com/#!home/mainPage

Riley Blake Advent Calendar

The fabric elves at Stitch Me Lane have been working behind the scenes to get ready for the "big event" heading our way in December.  We've been stocking up on Christmas prints including this lovely advent calendar panel from Riley Blake.  Here is a picture of it all made up. 

Glampervan

I came across this adorable pattern on the Riley Blake Blog. It's a fantastic Camper Van Pincushion.  If you'd like to make one here is a link to the instructions http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Crimea_river

I've got loads of posts to catch up on.  It's been a busy summer, with several community projects coming to an end, a trip home to see the family and new fabrics regularly arriving.  I've not had a chance to do much blogging. 

Tonight's is a little photo show from the library knitting project at Hulme Library, Manchester.  It was part of a larger project to set up knitting groups in several of the Manchester Libraries with each one culminating with a yarn bombing project.  I worked with just the Hulme group and we decided on a creepy crawl/flower themed project.  We (me and Caroline who ran the day time group) were amazed by the amount of work that was turned in.  Most the participants were total beginners.  WELL DONE! 

It was part of the "Hume is Where the Art Is" Festival.  There were loads of performers, food and craft stalls. 

There was a little surprise... I found baggies of drugs under one of the trees. It was very exciting. I had to find the po po and turn it in. Back to the knitting......

This crochet was done by a total beginner.  I'm so impressed.

And some more......

Amazing bird house.......

Sweet little butterflies......

There was a story teller amoungst us.... and you can see our knitting gazebo in the background.

All in all, it was fantastic project and I feel sad it has ended.  Thank you to everyone who took part.



Thank you Zoe and Sally for sharing your sewing projects.  They are both wonderful and sew well made. 

This gadget case is made by Zoe from Buttoned up and Pinned down.  She makes sweet gadget cases, bunting, and all sorts of loveliness.You can find her on Folksy http://folksy.com/items/3220042-Gadget-case- and follow all her makes http://buttoneduppinneddown.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/giveaway-by-stitch-me-lane-fabrics-and.html

The next picture sent in this week is made by Little Sally Waters.  She makes vintage fabric cushions.  Check out the one with the cowboys!  I have a weekend weekness for all things cowboy.  She had a request for a cushion with camera's on it and this is what she made....... nice!  This fabric is one of my newest and is selling like hot cakes. 

You can see more of her work at http://folksy.com/shops/littleSallyWaters

Amazing Knits

Just wanted to share some pictures from the various knitting drop-ins. 

Lecien Giveaway

Very Berry Handmade and I are teaming up this week for an exciting giveaway.  The winner will receive a fat quarter bundle by Lecien Japan and 2 metres of red spotty print bias binding.  These beautiful prints are from the Old and New 1930's collection and are 100% cotton.  I've received a new shipment so please visit http://stitchmelane.com/fabric-by-maker/lecien-fabrics to see the full range.

To enter, visit Very Berry Handmade's website and leave a comment about this giveaway.  If you're not already familiar with her wonderful blog it is definately one to follow.  It is packed full of wonderful crochet patterns (my latest love), sewing tips, shopping guides, yummy recipes and much more!   The site was set up by Ali Burdon and Sandy.  Ali has recently started selling Liberty prints, so be sure to check them out.

For another chance to win visit Very Berry's Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/Veryberryhandmade?ref=ts, follow her on twitter and retweet for an extra chance to win as well.

Crochet update

I recently learned to crochet and am in love.  Oh, no. A new hobby!  I'm currently co-teaching some knitting and crochet classes at Hulme Library.  It will culminate in an outdoor display during the Hulme festival.  The theme is flowers and creepy crawlies.  We've been making bugs, flowers and allsorts.  I thought it would also be nice to have some bunting hanging from tree to tree.  I saw this pattern on line http://lilley.typepad.com/lilley/2010/07/crochet-granny-bunting-a-pattern.html and decided to have a go.  It is essentially a granny square with three corners instead of four.  I've made a few to see how they are looking.  Here are the results:

While I was looking for a bunting pattern, I came across these fantastic day of the dead designs and free pattern.  I can't wait to have a go..... http://www.sharalambethdesigns.com/2011/08/skull-crochet-pattern.html

I love seeing what people make!  When I parcel up fabric to send to someone I always wonder what it will be used for.  That's why I'm always delighted to see picture of what you've made with the fabrics you've bought from my shop.  I've had three send recently and here they are..... I'm so impressed!

First up is the talented Clare Dutton owner and maker of DollyCool http://dollycool.co.uk  She's been making some real lovelies.  This is a pencil skirt out of Alexander Henry Folklorico Fabric.

And this is her uber cool Russian Doll Dress.  It has a true retro vibe.  Check out her website for amazing jewellery and accessories.

Next up are these adorable dungarees from Little Glad Rags.  Gemma makes amazing children's clothes.  They are beautifully made and different from what you find in the high street shops.  You can see loads more of her beautiful clothes on her facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/littlegladrags

 

Experiments with Embroidery.  

I've always wanted to have a go at embroidery, especially with all the lovely new books out. (well, some have been out for several  years now)  I decided to start with a sampler from J. Hart's book.  It's the one that says "stitches I know".  It was good fun.

My  next go (which is still a work in progress) is the craft octopus.  There will be a different craft implement on each tentacle.

The pillowcase are a gift for my friend Claire.  She's a rockabilly gal who loves cherries.  Check out her shop at  www.dollycool.co.uk  I bought some white pillowcase and added some cherries.  The cherries don't quite match.  Woops.  Didn't realized it until the finally knots had been trimmed.  I'll make her another set when I get the hang of it.

 I've ordered some new fabrics which will be arriving in about 6 weeks. That's the only sad part of ordering fabric is waiting for it to get here. You'll be seeing some fun Timeless Treasures, Clothworks and Leicen in stock. Here's a peek at some of the Timeless Treasures fabrics

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Website Launch

It's official! The website is up and working. Whooooo Hooo. It's been a long process and I'm very pleased with the results. A big "Thank you" to Craig for his web design skills and DollycoolClare for her wonderful banner design.

Here's... what's on offer: 10 percent off any and all purchases until the end of the month. Just type in the coupon code grand01.

First Giveaway: Two fat quarters of Michael Millers Geo Spa and a metre of white one inch grosgrain ric rac. All you need to do to enter is pop over to the website and let me know what you think. Winner will be announced on Friday. (randomly generated number) There were will be more give aways to come. Here's a picture of this week's free loot.

New Classes in Bolton

My blog has been much neglected lately.  I've been working on a website which will be launching soon and teaching and planning for new classes.  Here's what we have scheduled so far...

Make New and Mend at the UCAN centre in Breightmet

We will be meeting every Wed. from 1:30-3:30 doing alternate craft and knitting classes.  Next Wed. will be an introduction to Jewellery Making.  We will be making earrings and bracelets.  If you'd like more info, just get in touch.

Leverhulme Children's Centre

Learn to knit 1-3pm.  Come and join us even if you can already knit for a relaxing afternoon and to meet new people.

Back in Action

I'm home from a long visit in Tennessee with the family and friends.  I'm ready to get cracking and get some things made.  My resolution for 2012 is to finish some of the things I started in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.  Yikes.  No doubt I'll be squeezing in some new projects in between. 

One will be making something for Chris Webb's 52 week charity craft along.  You can read all about it on his blog  www.lazycrafternoons.blogspot.com

I also want to double my stock and start selling renaisance ribbon. Whippey!

Vintage Santa and Sleigh

I got this cutie last year but it didn't arrive until after christmas. i love him.  i remember my grandmommy having one that she would put chocolates in his santa sack.  he'll need some TLC soon as the base got a bit damaged while it was being stored......

Christmas Decorations

I've truly been looking forward to decorating for Christmas this year. We were away for x-mas last year to spend the holidays with my family in Tennessee.  We didn't really bother with the tree and all the trimmings.  I opened each box with delight today remembering some some of the things I made year before last.  One of my favorites is this recycled Christmas card wreath......

It's very easy to make, if you would like to have a go.  I always save my cards and had quite a pile.  I bought a styrofoam (might undo all the good of re-using the cards but ha-ho) and traced a holy shape onto each one.

After cutting out enough to give me a hand cramp.... I hot glued each one to a cocktail (toothpick) stick and stuck it into the styrofoam.  bingo bango, your done.  Here's a picture from the side angle to show you how I've stuck them in.