I started by trying some thread sketching and was really happy with my first attempt. I think this was due to the amazing tips and techniques so well described by Gina.
If you haven't yet discovered Clutterpunk, pop on over and say hello. Gina is gorgeous and lovely and clever and she'll make you want to do stuff (good stuff!!).Then I got started on my Op Shop top....
... and this is when the frustration set in. I wanted to create the same style of the felted woollen vest I refashioned earlier this year but this fabric was not as easy to work. The changes look quite simple but it seemed to take forever to get to this point and... I don't love it.
The square neckline seems to have worked OK but I just can't get it to fit well and it just seems... well.... boring. Maybe it will come together in the end but I'm not even sure I want to finish it. Hmmmmmm.
Head over to Kirsty's place who, although may be hiding under a pile of squares, will still be able to point you in the direction of lots of creative people to visit.
And if you want a quick laugh, have a look at what my Mum has done over here. This is the sort of stuff she did for my sisters and I when we were little. She is awesome.
32 comments:
Stick with it. At the very least it will be a good learning experience won't it. Good luck.
HANG ON A TICK! It was YOUR Mum's yummy rice pudding recipe I baked for the Mr!! Your family is brimming with the talent stuff.
As for that Gina lady, she was patently invented to inspire for all things good and not evil - and I bet she's blushing to the very roots after your excellent post.
PS. I reckon that top is a winner. Maybe those simple sort of lines are exactly what you need to work with your thread sketchery?
Your thread sketching looks fabulous & as for the top...it's looking pretty good to me.
I know nothing about sewing it always seems so hard to me...so to me it looks fancy as it is =D
Dare I say... thread sketching + op shop top = fabulous! Maybe just a tweak here and there to make it fit and it'll be lovely.
Oh the frustration of creation! (Not sure that is grammatically correct but it sounded good). It's annoying when things don't work out but sometimes you just have to right it off. Could you add some colour/stiching/something to the top to jazz it up a little? Or put it away for another day, maybe insiration will strike, take care xo
Well done with the thread sketching, it looks good. As for the top, I think it's coming along, I often find simple ends up the most elegant.
Love your free-wheeling thread drawing - just wonderful. That Gina is an inspiring fabulous gal. I actually like your refashioned top but I know what you mean about the doesn't sit right thing - I have that all the time and no amount of nipping and tucking can make a difference sometimes. One thing I've done before in this situation was to cut it off at empire line and add a skirt in a different fabric and make an easy to wear summer frock out of it. Good luck :) K
Woo hoo!!! Love the thread sketching. Bless Gina for inspirational tutorial... and good on you for trying it already. I'm keen - but a little freaked out by it too. I think when I do give it a go I'll going for an abstract interpretation of... something?!?!
As for the top - I like it - but I'm partial to plain & simple colour and lines. (Don't forget you can always jazz-up with brooches, necklesses, scarves ... )
Oh it all looks fabulous to me! I love the top but then I love grey. Maybe you could thread sketch something around the bottom??
M*
I was initially too embarassed to leave a comment, you don't need to be quite so effusive you know! Hving said that I'm so delighted that you're giving the thread sketching a try, and I LOVE the tree design (I was thinking along similar lines so next week I'll probably have a 'hey look I ripped this off from Nikki' post!!!)
I really think the top looks simple and sweet and you should just go ahead and sketch (off to one side I think?). But if it's the fit/drape that is the issue, I GOT NOTHIN'!
thread sketch is so cool...mom started your creative way I see :)
I think the top is looking great, the neckline is lovely.
What about a bit of thread sketching in the bottom corner of the top ifyou feel it needs something? Maybe one of Gina's cute birds...
I think your tree looks great. And neutral colours are a great backdrop for a brightly coloured cotton if you are that way inclined. I love a square neck. Definately keep at it. I am keen to try some of this Clutterpunk tips in the future too.
Top looks fantastic! Can't wait to see the finished product and maybe even some yummy warm weather to go with it!
Nah keep going it's looking like a winner to me! And the kind of top that is the only thing you wanna wear on those stinking hot days you know? Love the neck line and love the colour!
love the tree, love your top, love your mum. good luck with the creating, you are doing pretty darn well
I really like the square neckline. I think all it needs is a little embellishing to fancy it up a tad. You're on track. Maybe revisit later, with a fresh burst of enthusiasm? ;)
I love your thread sketching, and I agree with Kirst, your top looks great to me!
Why don't you do some thread stitching on the top. The bird that gina did would look fantastic running across the front. Don't go throwing it away just yet....the answer will come to you! x
I like the way it looks on the hanger, but if you want to give it some personality, I'm thinking some kind of embellishment in black.
You could do a solid appliqué down the bottom, or some yo-yos. If there is a way that the embellishment can hide the way it sits, that is also an option. A row of back lacy crochet added to the bottom or around the neckline, or both.
(Is it just me, or are the word verifications getting bigger and more complicated - xarfurab)
Still thinking here... buttons, some kind of frog detail on the bust?
Oh, and I forgot to say that the tree. I might go check out Gina's blog...
Your tree is fabulous! And I like the top - maybe theadsketching on it somewhere might give it that extra special something?
Your thread sketching looks fab - nice work. I've been meaning to try this for ages - it's on the list! Your top also looks good - the neck is superb. If you feel it looks too plain, maybe add some trim - a couple of lines of black around the bottom would work? Good luck!
I think the top looks great - but then, I love simple. You could embelish with thread sketching, or even a red obrooch would look great. You know, you may not be that happy with it all, but you have been really productive!
I think the top is lovely - the square neckline is amazing. The fantastic thing about a plain top is that you can glitz it up with heaps of lovely handmade accessories!
Nikki, I think all the refashions you touch turn to gold, so it will turn out beautifully. (Maybe some experimental shirring would change the fit?) I do love the beautiful lines of the tree. Cant wait to see the finished top!!
Wow! your mum is so clever! Now I see where you get it from...and I thought it was you!
You'll toss it about your head a while longer and then in a flash of creative beauty something lovely will come and we will all be inspired and somewhat envious of your many talents... Peta
I bet it will turn out great if you struggle along. But I can imagine it can be very frustrating when it just doesn't seem to work exactly the way you wanted it too. Goodluck and I look forward to see what you'll finally make of it!
Seing the end product it was a great idea to keep going Nikki!
Love clutterpunk. Love threadsketching. Love what you did with it! Great site.
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