April 3, 2013
Sashiko is a Japanese stitch that comes in designs with repetitive trends and geometric patterns. Surprising how stitches are common across boundaries. In India, the same stitch is called ‘kantha’, a basic running stitch which is usually meant for floral motifs. Its predominant in Eastern India and one can find stoles, tunics and sarees beautifully embroidered with this stitch.
Here is my humble attempt at getting the line straight…which comes only with practice…
Linking it to WIP Wednesday:
March 12, 2013
As my househelp asked for a cloth for dusting, I quickly conjured up a dusting cloth by hand stitching bright hexies into a fat quarter and side stitching the fabric 
Love the brightness and contrast of colours.
Next, I tried out a back pattern at it turned out just perfect with some machine embroidery in the handles.!
Its my sewing machine in the background…
And then, a quilted laptop sleeve from a christmas-y fabric that my friend Shahnaz gifted me
Quite a productive week I must say !
Tagging to WIP Wednesday !
February 27, 2013
Its almost the end of the month and my Plus quilt is _finally_ showing some traction. The first row of Plus’ are pieced but then I realized that I hadn’t cut enough of the white fabric yet to take the quilt ahead, so back to the cutting board to cut some more charm squares in shades of blue and pure white. Think the quilt will turn out to be gorgeous.
Linking it to WIP wednesday
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February 19, 2013
I have been completely bitten by the crochet bug. After having started the fusion crochet blanket and successfully completed 5 blocks in 5 days, I embarked upon the journey of making a crochet trim for a dupatta.
A dupatta is a long stole worn with the Indian traditional outfit, the Salwar Kameez.
On being suggested by a friend to try adding a trim to a dupatta, I found the perfect specimen required for this experiment at the back of my cupboard, a rather dull black plain cotton dupatta without a border. It looked like it could do with some makeover.In the absence of any real crochet thread at home, I just used some black wool AND was I surprised at the outcome or what !
For seasoned crochet enthusiasts this might look like a humble trim befitting a novice, but for me this turned out to be a real Anthropologie trim…am impressed by my humble attempt and the output.
Linking to:
February 14, 2013
I like the way the crochet mug rug turned out so its time to start a fusion crochet blanket. I give myself a pat on my back for taking up new projects while I am still knee deep in my WIPs. What worth is a girl if new projects aren’t getting added to her WIP. What will happen to all the inspiration!!
The play of fabric and crochet seems to really draw my attention so I took some coordinating fabric
* cut them into 5″charm packs
* stitched sides with 1/4″ seem
* left a small space for turned
* turned and ironed
* top stitched the sides
* a line of wide buttonhole in coordinating thread
and then the crochet !
The crochet border is yet to begin…
Linking this to :
October 31, 2012
The modern quilt with triangles is complete and ready to be gifted to a friend’s new born. Hope she likes it…I meant my friend, her baby is too young to opine on quilts
Linking it to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.
October 24, 2012
Its Dusshera today and we decided on a potluck party with friends… actually neighbours, but they are also our closest friends in town. we usually hang out with them.We were supposed to make only rice and mutton curry by lunch time. And I was the sous chef for the day at home. So after waking up kid and doing the housework and breakfast and all (the other regular routine stuff that had to be done by me as house help was on her day off), I settled down for the lunch preparation…thankfully it turned out well.
Lunch got slightly late as we weren’t ready by 1pm but it turned out to be a lovely small party at our neighbour’s place with a relaxed lunch followed by a looongish chat and tea and then driving down to South Mumbai to have ice cream at Naturals…then staying back at NCPA for some ‘time by the sea’ and snaps. We were just testing the new camera and the snaps turned out.
Finally we called it a day and settled down to a movie at home. Dead tired but a day well spent…felt like HOLIDAY !!
This is truly a WIP…a pinwheel hot pad in pink and blue which was to be completed by lunch as I intended to gift it to my neighbour as we were going to her place for lunch. But I don’t know bias binding…hence its yet unfinished. First thing tomorrow morning, learn to make bias binding…
Linking it to WIP Wednesday !
October 11, 2012
A cartwheel quilt. Enough said !
Actually not, wanted to tell you how much I love the hot pink and the black in white paisleys.They are so contrasting in their character that they make a good pair. I just started off on a whim and am soooooo happy that it turned out well.
My little one gets to show off all the quilts. Each of the cartwheel blocks are 16inches square…three of them on each side makes a 48 inch square quilt. Quite a large quilt for a new born, so maybe a good one for a four year old
Haven’t thought about the end use yet.
Also, the learning from the quilt is that stiff fabric make better edges…since both the fabric used here are soft, getting the pieces to match was slightly difficult.
The other learning for me was that quilt tops take no time to fall in place like magic. So to complete the quilt I must have the batting and the rear fabric ready at home.
Now that the quilt top is ready, I ma waiting of the rear fabric to arrive.
Raring to go !
September 19, 2012
I woke up early, determined to start my running schedule…more like walking schedule, but was met with overcast sky and pouring rain. These are the last showers of the season and each bout continues for a couple of hours. So I decided waiting would be of no consequence. I’d rather cut up some fabric
I settled down to cut into the fabric bought last weekend and put together a simple baby quilt. I havent thought who it will be for.
The first idea of putting together the catwheels looked like this !
and then this …
The first one focusses on the paisley print and the second on the solid one. Think the latter looks better. Adding some colour to teh blocks…
This is truly a WIP project…only 3 blocks out of the 9 are arranged. I havent even cut up the fabric for the rest. Just wanted to put together a few blocks to be sure the black and white paisleys looked good with the hot pink.
Linking it to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced !
September 13, 2012
Love the simple design and the quick output. Ideal for a quick gift…
I have used a black and beige handloom fabric from Orissa(state in eastern India) with an ash grey thin cotton for the back of the jewellery pouch. Will be writing a tutorial soon on this…
Linking it to WIP Wednesday!
