Kelly Casanova Weaving Lessons

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Been painting

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I love painting silk. It’s fun, it’s relaxing and it can be as random or planned as you want.
This silk scarf is in my Etsy shop now.
I painted red and light black ripples then salted heavily with rock salt to get the patterns. A bit bolder than my usual colours – my husband liked this one.
SOLD – Thank you Mary Jo!

Silk ribbon flower tutorial

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These make a great embellishment and are so delicate and pretty.
I’ve used some 1 inch wide silk ribbon which I handpainted. It’s a good idea to have 1 metre though you shouldn’t need that much – it depends how many petals you want.
I’ve used white homespun. Silk ribbon looks extra wonderful on silk fabric.
You will need a large needle (mine is a chenille needle) with a large eye.
Draw an approximately one inch circle in either disappearing or water erasing pen.
Inside this circle, draw a much smaller circle.

Because the ribbon is 1 inch thickness you will need to make some holes in the fabric in order to pull it through. If you have an awl, use that – I’ve used a kitchen skewer which also works fine.
Make one hole on your inner circle and one on the outer as shown.

Pull the needle and ribbon through from the back.
Loop back to the inner circle hole and make another hole right next to the first one. Take the needle through this second hole to the back. 

Now bring the needle up through the outer circle hole you made before. Pull the ribbon through. Make another hole near your outer circle hole and take the needle down through it to the back.
If you’re having trouble understanding it may be helpful to google “lazy daisy stitch”.
This is your first petal!

Continue around the circle in this fashion, doing as many petals as will fit (generally 5).
Adjust your petals and “plump” them with your fingers as you go.

Sew a bead or button in the middle and voila!

My Creative Space

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I’m working on my first ever embroidery pattern for my Etsy shop. It’s a little bit cutesy, a little bit whimsical and slightly melancholy.
I’m trying to get my stitches as close to perfect as possible. That takes time!
Then there’s part 2 of my waldorf doll tutorial to complete, I really must get on to that.
Happy creating to you! If you need some inspiration today look no further than these other wonderful Creative Spaces.

Progress

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                                                                    Better?
Actually, I really enjoyed cleaning up my sewing space. I came across projects and ideas I had forgotten and feel I can now focus on what I need to do next.

I finished a wool felt horse that had been sitting for I don’t know how long. Usually if I start making something I’ve designed and it’s not going according to my “vision” it gets abandoned. Must get over that.
I have so many materials and ideas and now I feel inspired to get stuck into it. I went through my sketch books (how long is it since I indulged in the luxury of drawing?) and designs (hey brain, remember all those plans you had to release your embroidery designs – they’re all there, still waiting!)
Today I have some princesses requiring some new tops and shorts so that will be my starting point.
Happy sewing, crafting, doing!

My Creative Space

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Is a shambles! I’m here today to inspire you (really!) to not let your creative space get like this!!

Or this!!
So – my main “creative” aim for today is to try to achieve some semblance of order so that I can walk through this room without cringing and can look forward to sitting at this table again – even look forward to finding what I need when I need it!
For other much cleaner and prettier creative spaces take a peek here.

Rainbow mandala dress

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My latest offering for my Etsy shop – dresses! The beauty of a dress like this is the adjustable ties which makes it a multi fit garment. It fits a 3 year old up.

I dyed the pieces separately and did a mandala design for the main skirt. The girls were desperate to keep this one, but then again, they’re desperate to keep most of my creations and if I gave in the wardrobes would be overflowing even more than they do already!

If I haven’t been to your blog lately I do apologise, I just seem to have a lot on my plate at the moment. I’ll try to visit soon and I appreciate you reading.

We survived – we even thrived a little!

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The first day back homeschooling was the stuff of nightmares as I dealt with children who had forgotten how to be good students! Thankfully, it got progressively better as the week continued and now we’re well and truly back into a good routine.
I even got a little time to sew and dye.
Little Miss 3.5 has been asking for one of my twirly circle skirts for some time. I received the cotton lawn I’d been waiting on and once she saw the roll there were no more excuses!
In her favourite colours – purple and pink. I think she likes it!
This one is an elasticated A – line that I dyed in a spiral.
It’s destined for my Etsy shop.
I love the summery colours!
It’s so rewarding to be able to make clothes from scratch.

Waldorf softie doll tutorial – Part 1

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It’s high time for a tutorial here so I’ll teach you one of the things I know best – dolls! This tutorial is for the style of doll you see above in a small size (9 – 10 inches). You can scale things up for a larger doll or just make a little one. They are great as a first doll for a younger child because there are no small bits as choking hazards. Please use this tutorial and pattern for personal use only 🙂
Today we make the head. I have a lot of pictures for beginners who want to have a go.

Materials list for head –
Finger bandage (or other bandage you can sew to size) approx 4 inches long x 1 & 3/4 inch wide
Approx 8 x 8 inch piece of cotton tricot
Clean, carded wool
Strong tying thread
Basic sewing kit and machine.

Your piece of bandage should fit comfortably over your index finger (to give an idea of width). Run a gathering stitch around one end with needle and thread, gather up tightly and knot.

Turn right side out (RSO)

Stuff very firmly until the head measures about 4 inches from the top and tie into a knot to prevent the stuffing from slipping back down.

Now tie about 3/4 of the way down with some of your strong cotton or linen thread. I find it easiest to tie  doubly around to get it super tight. You may find it easier to get someone else to hold the knot initially.

Now with the same thread tie half way between the top of the head and the first tie.

Lay the head with knotted ties to the back on your piece of tricot doubled over. Trace a rough outline around the shape of the head, allowing a bit of extra room. Use a disappearing or water soluble pen for best results.

Place a couple of pins to hold the layers together. Don’t cut this out! With your sewing machine set to a small stitch, using matching thread and with a ballpoint needle (important!) sew on the line you have drawn. Don’t sew up the bottom as you’ll need to fit this over the inner head. Cut out close to the stitches and turn RSO.

Fit over the inner head like so. A little peak of tricot will stick up at the top, pin it back.
Using your strong thread as before tie tightly around the neck with the knot to the back.
Using a few pins, play around with the placement of the facial features. See how close set eyes differ to….
..widely set eyes. Your choice.
Using the pins as your guide, draw some small circles at the eyes and mouth. Use a disappearing or water soluble pen, it makes life much easier when mistakes can be removed!
 Using 2 strands of embroidery floss (knotted end) and entering from the back of the head come out at the top of one eye. Work sating stitch to fill in eye. Let the stitches float on the surface of the skin rather than pulling tight.
Here’s a tip for needlework facial features: Use a larger (doll) needle to take the thread through the head. Once through, switch to a normal embroidery needle with a smallish eye. This works in 2 ways – you don’t make too many larger holes in the skin so your stitches look neater and you never lose a needle inside the head!
For the mouth you really only need one straight stitch. Using matching thread, sew down that little peak at the top of the head I mentioned earlier, just some small, neat stitches to hold it down.
Well, there is your part 1, I really appreciate feedback for tutorials – even if it’s just pointing out mistakes! So, let me know what you think.
Part 2 is now available!