Buttons are not just for ' stashing ' .....

I'm trying to get to grips with free motion quilting. You know, feed dogs down, attach the darning foot etc etc and off you jolly well go.... meandering, drawing, painting with thread across fabric. No particular rules - just freedom! Yay!

Don't believe them! it's not that easy, you have to practice, or in my case practice, practice and then practice some more. It's trying to get nice even stitching whilst manoevering your fabric... and remembering to meander, that's the challenge. My poor little brain hurts.

My real difficulty was remembering to breathe. That sounds silly doesn't it but I tensed my muscles up so much that every now and then I'd suddenly get a desperate urge to just BREATHE, which of course interrupted the flow of fabric, thread and machine (Sigh!). That's my problem of course, I need to relax a little. After three practice pieces my poor muscles felt as if I'd been to the gym!

Relax that's the key. I'm fresh out of lavender scented candles but that probably wouldn't have worked anyway because you have to breathe to inhale the soothing aroma...... Music then. so a few precious sewing minutes later I had music to provide a calming, soothing, backdrop to my intensive, physically grueling, learning journey. So, to the sound of Crowded House I tried a few more pieces with a double needle just for a bit of added spice and tried some more.

...must.....breathe....

Free-motion stitching with a double needle creates a kind of ribbon effect, very pretty in skilled hands. The wadding sort of 'puffs' up in between giving a subtle impression of cording. I used a green thread in one side of the needle and a variegated quilting thread in the other.

Anyway, with the two 'best' pieces I created this pouch or make-up bag. It's got a curved zipped top. I've been seeing quite a lot of pouches with nicely rounded tops lately. They're quite sweet and feminine looking aren't they? It's probably a bit bigger than most, at 22cm (9 inches) across the top and stands 15 cm (6 inches) tall. It's about 5 cm deep (2 inches). A nice useful size.

Then I sewed on a few buttons, 'cos buttons are for using aren't they? They're not just for squirrelling away in your secret button stash. Alright, I used quite a lof of buttons - I got a bit carried away.

Which side do you prefer?

I 'buttoned' both sides and because the fabric wasn't worked as one piece the sewing is slightly different between them so I used buttons of differing sizes, styles and colour just to add to the really 'handcrafted' look. (Obviously, this was all completely intentional. No, really!) I like the overall effect though. Quite light hearted and fun!

Are you trying to learn something new? and what do you use your buttons for?

I'm off to buy more buttons and then I need to get some more relaxed (deep breath), practicing done, with a single needle this time. Oh! and did I mention that I need to buy more buttons..... it's not an obsession or anything ...... not really......

Comments

[Hen]

The bag is lovely and you can never have too many buttons! I need to find a good button outlet though as I am bored with the ones in my local shop. I also love to find vintage ones but sometimes they can be pricey.

Hen x

[Andrea]

OOOOOh I do like the way you used the buttons here. I love buttons can I am gradually converting my students too. I love random quilting too. I am going to have a look around your blog now.

[Kim]

I just stash buttons I'm afraid! Love the pouch it is so pretty. I know exactly what you mean about the breathing thing!
Kimx

[Lace hearts]

I love that - it works so well! Definitely a good use for buttons. I also stop breathing when I'm really concentrating on something, and have to remind myself. Funny, isn't it.
Thanks for leaving me a comment. I can see I'm going to be spending a while checking out your lovely website.

[maria]

I do the same with the breathing or should I say not breathing. The bag is very sweet.
I have trouble with free motion quilting as the speed is very difficult to control on my janome when doing free motion. It goes so fast. I'm coveting a benina at the moment but I need lots of pennies for that!