Union Jack Sweatshirt Refashion, #91

I think this sweatshirt I found was a mens. It was a size small and it was still pretty big on me. I always need warm clothes. I also wanted to give this sweatshirt a little bit of a personality. I have seen a bunch of union jack items and thought, oooh! I could add that!

First, time to just take in. I hemmed with my twin needle- OMG LOVE!!! I also took off the bands from the bottom of the shirt and sleeves.

Next, I had this holey sweatshirt that I really can only use for scraps.

I have used it previously to refashion another sweatshirt but I made a heart. Click here for the post!

I first printed out the flag so I would be accurate. I also printed out the size I wanted to achieve for the sweatshirt. Then I traced what I would need for the red part on one sheet of paper and then the same for the white. Cut out. I used scrap white fabric that was like t-shirt material. I lined it up as center I could. Then I cut out the red.

 

I sat down and watched a movie and grabbed some embroidery floss. In red and white. I then hand stitched it to my shirt. Which this is the first hand stitching I have done since my injury. I can do it but MAN! Sometimes I get nerve flares. Eek! Here is me almost done. I just had to add the small stripes. 

And here it is done! In LOVE!!!! BTW I would like to draw some attention to my legs.I started aerial yoga and I saw this picture and noticed that it has begun to get my legs in nice shape! Yay!

Up close

Yeah for new sweatshirt! A much better improvement! Here is the recap!

8 more to go !!!!

Cheers,
Lauren

Too cute! My cloud being modeled

I'm sure everyone remembers my Cloud bib I embroidered and gave away. I would like to interrupt everyone's day with a moment of cuteness....

Thank you to Lovely Light and the adorable model! It is so cute to actually see it on!

Cheers,
Lauren

How to embroider the baseball bib

Previously I posted my baseball bib I embroidered myself

I thought I would do another post here that would break down the sewing and a little tutorial. :)

So I started with one end, knot the string at the end, start just away from the edge. You do not want to start right AT the edge-you run the risk of the stitch is coming out.

Then bring the needle down at the edge

Now to start the "baseball stitch" I am going to show you 2 versions. They all start the same...

Anchor with the needle coming down right at the Y

Done with our first baseball stitch!

Ok on to the next stitch. Try to make the straight stitch-about the same length of the previous one. Start away from the group and go to your previous stitches

Repeat the 1-2-3

Anchor

Keep going. Now to keep them even. I try to keep the inner stitch the same length. For the outer stitches, you want to keep a V sort of appearance. You want to keep the curve going too. You want to try and keep the distance similar.

Now all what I have done so far has a bit of a flower stem appearance. Which is fine but there is a way to alter this to get rid of the "stem" appearance. 

Here is the next version you can sort of see the difference.

So it has a different appearance. Just a bit less stitches. 

Here is what the back on my bib looks like. 

Keep going to the end! Knot and secure the thread.

Time for other side. I started at the opposite end so the stitches will go the opposite way. Which will help you with not having to match the stitches. Which would drive you (me) nuts. Repeat just like you did on the other end. 

It is not hard. The first stitches are hard but once you get your flow it will fly by! :)

Of course here is the finished product

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial! :)

Cheers,
Lauren

Iron Craft '13 #11: Rain Cloud Bib + Giveaway!!!

Yes a giveaway!! This Iron Craft Challenge is Rain. It can be something with rain or something associated with rain like a cloud. I felt like doing some hand embroidery this week and I didn't have many idea except a baby bib. And yes what I have created-I am giving it away. Read below on how you can enter and the win this bib!!! First let's explain what I did!

I still have a few of these left from when I did the baseball bib. I wanted to try something else so I thought it was a great opportunity for me. I am really trying hard to finish the projects I start I just need less mess!!!

Basically all what this is this loosely woven heavy cotton fabric. It came in the stash from the lady I purchased things from. It may be like a duck cloth sort of deal but makes for great hand embroidery. I ironed fusible fleece to the back of it to give some stability for sewing also. Now to pick my threads....

Also I needed to pick my cloud. I litterally went into Powerpoint and found a cloud clip art and printed it out. It was the perfect size.

Cut out. Trace onto the bib with a pencil.

I know I wanted a cloud with a smiley face and rain with hearts at the ends. It just seemed happy. Off I went embroidering. Nothing fancy just a simple back stitch.

Here is the cloud done

Now to add to the rain. The hearts were outlined in the floss first and then filled with a satin stitch. Pretty easy.

Now I need to finish the bib- give it a back and add some Veclro.

Pretty easy considering I finished a bunch of bibs for charity (post to come!). I just love this bib!!!! Hopefully you do too!

Now for the good part... the giveaway part!
This giveaway is open to US residents only, sorry to any one outside of the US!
Please make sure I have a way to get a hold of you, like an email.

Here is how to enter:
1. Be a follower on my blog... please comment below and say you follow me
2. Tweet, post on Facebook, and/or on your blog this giveaway. Please comment below with the link for each of the above (so you can do this potentially 3 times!)
3. Post it on Pinterest. Again comment and leave a link to the pin below!

So 5 ways to enter. The contest ends Midnight June 10th EST. I will randomly pick a comment and award the bib to some lucky person. Good Luck!

xoxox,
Lauren