Mrs. Cone Santa is now complete. I had hopes to make a fun topper, a granny hat but the cone was too long so the hat had to be huge and it overwhelmed Mrs. Claus into looking like she had a big red mushroom on her head. Visions and best laid plans don’t always work out. In the meantime she stands perfectly lovely on her own. They make a handsome pair!
Last night was an evening of finishing the Ornamental Santa pieces I'd hook several moons ago. I had a light-bulb moment and figured out a way to make sewing them easier. They say, “Give a job to a lazy person and they’ll figure out how to do it faster”. Well, I’m not lazy but I do like simplicity and any time I can minimize using a needle and thread I’m all in.
You’ll need a bottle of fabric glue, fast acting and clearing drying. Cut a piece of material for the backing slightly larger than the hooked item, about 1/8”bigger all around. Add glue to the back of the hooked piece all along the edge and a bit in the center. Position and place the backing, hand press it down.
Even while the glue is wet, stitch around the entire piece. Put your needle through the center of every second loop all along the edge, enough to catch it solidly without tearing and then through the fabric and pull together closing the gap between the backing piece and the hooking. This will hide all of the linen or burlap along the edge. Gluing the backing on holds it in place and makes the job go quickly as you sew around the outside. I was impressed with myself big time! Before it would take about a half hour to complete one project, all the while pricking my fingers and almost bleeding to death. Now, from cutting out the backing fabric, sewing on the hanger and the edge was less than 10 minutes and because I wasn’t fussing to hold the wool and hooked piece together there wasn’t any fumbling, bleeding or swearing.
Now I would happily hook more as the finishing left the bad taste in my mouth. It almost took longer to sew them than to do the actual hooking!
Today I sewed together Mrs. Cone Santa. I first cut around the finished rug about an inch and a quarter out. Then I folded over the edge to the back of the rug and steam pressed it flat so it stays in place. (This illuminates the need to hand stitch it to the back, saving time). Then I hand stitched along the bottom fold to hold it in place as tha can be seen when looking at the inside of the cone. Then I brought the two right sides together and caught the loops in the middle with the needle and thread and pulled them together. When sewing the white bottom and top I changed the red thread to white so it wouldn't show. It's as simple as that!
Last night was an evening of finishing the Ornamental Santa pieces I'd hook several moons ago. I had a light-bulb moment and figured out a way to make sewing them easier. They say, “Give a job to a lazy person and they’ll figure out how to do it faster”. Well, I’m not lazy but I do like simplicity and any time I can minimize using a needle and thread I’m all in.
You’ll need a bottle of fabric glue, fast acting and clearing drying. Cut a piece of material for the backing slightly larger than the hooked item, about 1/8”bigger all around. Add glue to the back of the hooked piece all along the edge and a bit in the center. Position and place the backing, hand press it down.
Even while the glue is wet, stitch around the entire piece. Put your needle through the center of every second loop all along the edge, enough to catch it solidly without tearing and then through the fabric and pull together closing the gap between the backing piece and the hooking. This will hide all of the linen or burlap along the edge. Gluing the backing on holds it in place and makes the job go quickly as you sew around the outside. I was impressed with myself big time! Before it would take about a half hour to complete one project, all the while pricking my fingers and almost bleeding to death. Now, from cutting out the backing fabric, sewing on the hanger and the edge was less than 10 minutes and because I wasn’t fussing to hold the wool and hooked piece together there wasn’t any fumbling, bleeding or swearing.
Now I would happily hook more as the finishing left the bad taste in my mouth. It almost took longer to sew them than to do the actual hooking!
Today I sewed together Mrs. Cone Santa. I first cut around the finished rug about an inch and a quarter out. Then I folded over the edge to the back of the rug and steam pressed it flat so it stays in place. (This illuminates the need to hand stitch it to the back, saving time). Then I hand stitched along the bottom fold to hold it in place as tha can be seen when looking at the inside of the cone. Then I brought the two right sides together and caught the loops in the middle with the needle and thread and pulled them together. When sewing the white bottom and top I changed the red thread to white so it wouldn't show. It's as simple as that!
A small shop tree filled with Ornamental Santas & Snowmen. Sweet!
Ornamental Santa & Snowmen kits.
Perfect for hanging on a tree, door knob, on a bottle of wine as a gift. Kits are $39.95 ea.
http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/kits.html#
Perfect for hanging on a tree, door knob, on a bottle of wine as a gift. Kits are $39.95 ea.
http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/kits.html#
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