patchwork stitches

What comes in mind for sewing after a long break? It would be the small and tiny patchwork stitches. I can't think of a better way to get my hands back to the needles and threads.  My dear friend Carol has been sending me her scraps each time when she forwards the mail to me. It always is a treat and a surprise to find little scraps pieces that she tucked inside the envelope. I found myself so tickled by  these scraps. It feels so good to turn these scraps into something cute and sweet.

A few weeks back, in an early morning, I found out that the ceiling above the studio was leaking! and the water was overall the sewing table, cutting mats, and floor. It was something that I didn't see would be coming (screaming). ! I had to called the landlord to come fix and that went a bit drama for two weeks. Thank goodness, they finally decided to take down the partial of the ceiling and patch with a clean board. Before they arrived, I jumped right in the studio, move all fabrics, sewing supplies, books, handmade gifts and boxes out to the living room. I loss a floor lamp and a floor mat from the leaking issue and a design board that I had placed on the table.

While waiting for repair ( two weeks), we stayed in the living room and that felt quiet content for some reason, We joked that we would just need a studio for the future place, since everything fits, but it was cold to stay in the living room and the noise coming from near by highway was difficult at night time to fell asleep. Soon after the ceiling paint was dry and I cleaned every corner till dust free (yay). Then I take the time to move everything back in. I had refold all the fabrics ( got to love this job) and trying to fit them back to where they were before. I have realized that there are so many fabrics that I have forgot about.  It was a real good visit with fabrics! They tell me, come sew with us more! :)  and Yes, I was totally wiped out by the end of the day!

Has it been a long winter for you and me? I don't mind the winter, but it has been feeling a gray winter for this year. I've spend the night time knitting and finished one side of the leg warmer and still need to finish the other side, but I've ran out of the yarn! I am feeling stuck, what should I do? I though of going to the yarn store and match the yarn out or take the knitting stitches apart. I still can't make the call. Maybe I should wait till the spring arrives and hop on the bus to the yarn store.

While I am writing, the sunlight from the studio window is getting dimmer. I particularly love this time of the day where I can see the apartments near by me have lights turn on. People are home from their hard working day, I am sure they are making conversations and preparing their dinners. Just what I am going for next, preparing dinner and getting the apartment light up!

The daylight saving is coming this weekend! I'll miss that extra hour sleep, but for sure, I can't wait for more daylight during the day!

xxc

Forest Hill Embroidery pattern + knit bag making sewing Pattern

Welcome to Forest Hill Embrodiery Pattern and knit bag making Pattern Post! 

I am so excited to have my very first illustrated embroidery pattern launch today. It has been a great time working with illustrations and new freshly pattern ideas.  I love the different process of choosing colors, getting different tiny stitches in and make the line artworks come vivid and versatile, all together. 

Illustrating is part of my daily exercise in an informal everyday journal, getting ideas in planners, sending greeting cards, and putting kindly notes in the mail. It is something that I have been doing since in art school days and loving it so much! I have always desire to make illustrations and create/design embroidery patterns, in someway.   So here I am working on Forest Hill Embroidery Pattern as my very first try of getting the illustrations into fine line artwork and used with embroidery flosses.

Forest Hill Embroidery pattern is truly inspired from a trip to Bear Mountain, New York last Autumn. The illustrations are captured of the leaves that collected through the mountain walk. The late summer and early Autumn colors in the wood is such generous and versatile. 

Within the pattern also comes with a simple knit bag making pattern. As last year, I have made numbers of knit bags and have asked by many knitter friends how can they create something simple for their yarns, needles, and projects on the go. I though combining these two are a perfect way!

I love to share more of the the embroider pattern, I used loose count linen cloth for the embroidery. There are 7 different basic embrodiery stitches used in the embroidery pattern. The branch in the center, is created with Fishbone stitch and used three different shade of greens, finished up with stem stitch.

Both top left side two leaves used chain stitch to outline the shape then filled in with small chain stitches. Top with stem stitch for the stem and French knots.

The top coral leaf is outline with backstitch then filled in with satin stitch. Top with backstitch for the stem. 

I give the bottom green leaf two different greens to create a little fun look; used the backstitch on the outline of the leaf then used satin stitch to fill in. 

On page 5 of the PDF file pattern, you'll find a full page information on DMC embroidery color number suggestions, flosses number used, and stitch used on each line artwork. You can also create your own color scheme, to make one of your kind work!

For the knit bag making, it is a simple drawstring bag making. The bag is finished at 11.5"x11.5" that will allow to fit 3 skeins of yard, an unfinished project and few pairs of knitting needles. I was always surprised to see my knitter friends tuck their project in their purse or tote without a bag to held all the materials together . I always asked and worried if their yarn will get twist together or loose a stitch or two from the needles.

Forest Hill Embroidery Pattern + knit bag making sewing Pattern. 

-5 different tracing embroidery pattern methods within the pattern
-A full page of Instruction sheet of each artwork's DMS number, floss usage, stitch usage
-Full scale of Forest Hill Embroidery outline artwork and a reversed version.
- Illustrations of 7 different embroidery stitches
- Full colored photos of how to make a Knit bag

Supplies-
- The embroidery artwork fits in one 8" embroidery hoop
- 1/2 yard of loose linen or cotton fabric

- DMC embroidery flosses 
- Embroidery needles
- A small safty pin
- Water soluble pen
- Small scissors 

Now, you can find the pattern via my {Craftsy Pattern Store} and {Etsy shop}

Enjoy!

Thank you,

xxc