Thursday, March 18, 2010

I will not be defeated!


Houston we have liftoff! I was not going to let that machine get the best of me. I still have a long way to go, but at least I have something to show for my efforts.

And to answer a few commenter's question, I have an older model Babylock Esante embroidery machine in addition to my Bernina 1130. This machine came to live with me out of the generosity of a friend who wasn't using it.

The center burpcloth you saw in this post. The border fabrics were all from my stash. On the center cloth I used a cotton gingham and trimmmed it with a grosgrain ribbon.


I used a soft waffle pique for the band on this cloth and trimmed it with a wide satin ribbon. Babies love satin bindings. This one is a wealth of textures, the texture of the diaper with the embroidery, the pique and the satin.


I was also determined to achieve an applique. Now I have done machine applique for years, shoot, I must have sold 500 garden flags in the day. I can satin stitch on my 1130 in my sleep. The steps involved in the embroidery machine applique were another skill to learn. Check! I used a sweet elephant. This baby's namesake collected elephants so it is only fittin'. A floral cotton was used for this band, again trimmed with a satin ribbon.

I had to stop myself from getting out the Swiss eyelet to trim one of them with. There is a limit to everything and $12 a yard Swiss edging is a little over the top for a burpcloth!


To top it off, a simple monogram on a diaper cover finished off the day. Another skill, how to get that diaper cover on/in the hoop without taking it apart. Check!

All of these are simple designs, pretty simple techniques and I have a lot more to learn, but it is a start. Have you learned something new today?

13 comments:

  1. So beautiful! I learned something new this week. My serger 'broke'(turned out to be a bent needle). So I learned how to make french seams! Easy peasy, clean looking but a little bulky. But at least I could sew! I feel your pain girl! Good work taking an obstacle and turning it into an opportunity.

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  2. Look at you go!
    I learned a lot this week, but nothing that really pertained to sewing. Thank goodness there are a few days left in the week for that!

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  3. I learn new stuff every day, but I don't always really learn it, if you know what I mean. Sometimes I just have to learn from trial and error. Your burp cloths are adorable and so is that diaper cover. I've got to get one made as soon as I get off the computer today.

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  4. Woman, you are on a roll!!! :)

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  5. oh gosh...you don't even want to know what all I learned teaching my boys this week! LOL
    I learned my friend Martha is a wonderfully strong woman who stitches by hand and machine beautifully......oh wait, I already knew that! I hope to learn how to do shell stitch by hand before the week is out!

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  6. You're doing a great job! They look precious! I was intimidated by my machine - so many fabrics, threads, programs, and which stabilizer to use! Just keep trying new things and have fun!

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  7. LOVE your burp cloths and a mom can't ever have enough of them handy! As soon as we know if it's PINK or BLUE that's due in October, then I will be making a stack of them too! I love the diaper cover too!

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  8. I don't know how long you have been embroidering, but the outcome looks great. I do have a tip for you. If you aren't using polyester embroidery thread for baby items, you should. Over time, the rayon thread will fade & definitely, if bleach is used. Sulky makes a great poly thread, but not as easily found as Rayon.
    There are many great suppliers online that offer poly as well as rayon. I recommend...no connection:
    http://www.longcreekmills.com/index.html

    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

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  9. Gorgeous work. I don't think I've learned anything today. Too busy doing repeat work for some reports that have to be done regularly.

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  10. great burpies!!! I made lots of those for my grands too!! glad you have mastered that embroidery machine. You will lots of fun doing appliques for outfits too!!

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  11. These are darling and will be so well used! I envy you the ME machine! Someday... We call those byedies in this house. V-Rose named them when she was 12 months old! I made her very fancy ones with ribbons and eyelets and laces. Oh, my! In my defence, I waited 20 years for her! She slept with one for YEARS! Thank you for the sweet memories.

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  12. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my goodness Martha!!! Fabulous job. Just love your gingham elephant, you inspired me. But Please oh PLEASE share where you purchased the gorgeous outline of the baby buggy (prambell). I must have it!!!!! for new great niece/nephew arriving in Nov. E-mail me at sewnangel@gmail.com. You are soooooooooooo talented!! Keep it up! :-)

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  13. You have inspired me to do my first burpcloth for my grandma's hope chest. Do you do the embroidery and then add the ruffle and ribbon or do you add a backing to the reverse side of the burpcloth? Also, I love the pram embroidery. Where did you purchase it?

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Welcome, I am so glad you chose to leave a comment. I love getting comments, questions and even just a friendly hello. I may not respond to every comment, but rest assured I read them all. Sometimes the comments and questions fuel new posts. So comment away!

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