2 x US Fashion Dolls

These 2 were the first dolls out of the "collection box" - both are American & appx. 10"/25cm tall.  They were just a little grubby with dresses a little squashed. They must have been stored for appx. 10 years now so were really nice to see again. Both of them were given a good makeover with all clothing washed & pressed. The hair of the one on the right only needed slight attention - however the other one had her hair washed & reset in keeping with the other one. I photographed them deliberately laying down - partially because I couldn't find the stands but more because I wanted to "wake them up after a good scrub"!! .... a link to the PAINTED DRAGON significance ! (To read in more detail, please click READ MORE)

"SUMMER GARDEN" - patchwork cover is sent on its way!

 

The patchwork bed cover (click & follow the link to read more about it) was posted to its new home - the above is a detail of one small section. Stitched on my latest acquisition Janome (which I am very pleased with), the single bed cover is entirely stitched together using the pre-programmed embroidery stitches. The wider than normal long arm is superb, as is use of finger (rather than foot) control .... the bobbin also doesn't keep dropping on the floor!!! In using it, I have thought of several other ideas for the machine embroidery patterns BUT more on that in future entries!!

" ADD ... END ... UM "

 … In re-reading this blog to date, I noticed that reference to the symbolism of why certain techniques or fabrics had been chosen for use, has been omitted so decided to add an addendum. I started & then reconsidered it ... BUT as a blog is read, clarification is needed on the entry day … not some weeks later … otherwise things can get more confusing … even more so to myself should I want to retrace my (thinking) footsteps !

And that’s what I’m now going to do … an ADDENDUM - what an appropriate title for today!!

… ADD some additional info to earlier blog entries … END any confusion in the detail of techniques etc … & UM … (internet definition: “rather, um is used to signal an upcoming pause—usually uh for a short pause and um for a longer pause. The pause may be needed in order to find the right word, remember something temporarily forgotten, or repair a mistake. Um holds the floor for us while we do our mental work. It buys some time for thinking) … because I just think that it’s now so appropriate!! This panel is planned to be entirely a textile one although intermittently in my mind’s eye (while re-reading the blog), I can also now visualise it as a ‘computerised image’ too.

Mental Archives !

This blog is now up-to-date with the panel (as it is so far) -  it's taken quite a while as some of the initial thought processes had to be retrieved from the ‘mental archive’ (in my head)!! Anyway it’s all now documented & quite detailed although the Bernina 1630 is not yet back ... so … another thinking session will likely refer back to that original tattoo image (above) & see where that may lead!

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

(above image an earlier mask sketch from several years ago but shows how I was feeling inside

- very cross!)

As the machine was left for repair & being unable to replicate the darning on the Janome, another process was initiated by stitching some automatic wording across the panel. The earlier tests some days ago, showed the lettering to be easily & perfectly stitched. Having no ‘panel test fabric’ to hand, the actual panel was used but after a few letters, found the automatic stitching wasn't responding well to the various thicknesses of fabric - especially across the thicker edging of the red silk & other layers. So … after unpicking these tiny stitches, a retry in another area had the same effect (& end result) so concluded this new machine, although stitching very nice lettering, did not respond very well to uneven layers of fabric especially with a slippery voile underneath - & thought this likely to be the main culprit! QUESTION .. where next?

As the 1630 wasn’t due to come back yet, the next best course of action was to stop stitching - a lesson learnt many years ago! … When sewing (or any other craft) gets “difficult” & continues to do this, it’s best to leave it for a while & come back later. Good advise so instead, the decision was made to update all events on this blog so far - especially as the panel was now beginning to “come alive & develop REAL PROBLEMS “!

Another Life Lesson !

Seeing the panel “coming to life” (above shows first signs of it just underneath the A where the fabric is crinkling up), increase in pressure on the foot pedal began in earnest as one of the things with any 'machine embroidery' is that once "you're into it", you just get lost as you become one with the machine as it stitches! Quite quickly (or so it seemed), all but the last two red panels were finished with thoughts of the next stages & what direction to next go. Jolting me out of thoughts, the machine thread had suddenly snapped (perhaps I should have stayed focussed on the job in hand?) & as I looked, yet again (the same as with the 1008), the thread had wrapped itself around the internal arm of the take-up lever with a short piece visible. MY COMMENT **** !

& QUESTION … WAS I CROSS? … EXCEEDINGLY

… but without further delay, off for repair it’s quickly gone!!! … & I’m just pleased it wasn’t the new machine but notice too that it doesn’t have the same hidden take-up lever linkage. Sewing since very young, I've never had this happen ever before .. so twice in a matter of weeks seemed very odd … QUESTION … is it just something with a Bernina machine? Asking in the shop about the repair, the answer was apparently some (?) Bernina machines have a tensioned spring within the take-up lever & if the thread snaps too quickly (before realising to stop sewing), it can result in exactly what happened. Likely then “it was because a very fine thread was being used while stitching was too fast” … & I can now only repeat one of my favourite sayings:

 “You’re never too old to learn”!

" SIGNS OF LIFE "

The red channels have been completed & although mentioning that there appeared to be ‘signs of life’ a few weeks ago (at the start of stitching the red channels), by the time all bandages had been inserted across the strips, it wasn't really visible again & continued with the stitching planned. BUT … QUESTION … what to do next especially feeling on the edge of another ‘mental block’? … Have a ‘play around’ with the new Janome machine seemed like a good idea so began this.

The new machine was easy to use - especially the push-button start that enabled no foot pedal control being necessary. It meant that this machine could be positioned further along the worktop without the need of a large kneehole - it could also be used on the central island unit if necessary. Placing it now alongside the 1630, various assorted stitching samples on both machines were carried out - on the Janome (above sample) pursuing some experiments with computerised lettering for a possible design direction.

As the calico & silk section was now pieced together, it was becoming apparent that the two opposing sets of words should also interweave or progress - just like the cycle of Anger. Looking at the words side by side (& in reality), those positive ones usually try to ’repair’ the negative ones with an attempt to ‘patch things up’ or ‘cover things over’ & within the confines of this panel, somehow ‘darning the (w)hole’ seemed to be a good solution! As I referenced each machine’s manual, ‘automatic darning’ on the 1630 stood out from other instructions & other questions were resolved!

Realising that the next steps would entail an automatic forwards & backwards movement of the fabric, I checked the panel’s reverse, to see the interfacing backing was beginning to crack & show signs of breaking up - likely because of overuse or age as the fabric was twisted & turned during stitching. The best solution would be for the entire panel to be reinforced & using a fine polyester net curtain offcut from another 'ragbag' (this word slang terminology for a specific type of person). This added layer was tacked in place & would now prevent any loose bits of interfacing dropping into the machine while stitching as well as holding all the panel layers together.

With the 1630, darning involves using the automatic buttonhole foot so got it out, attached it to the machine & with same multicolour thread used previously, began to darn across the calico & red silk panels. It wasn’t long before noticing, once again the panel was ‘having a life of its own’ & where several darning sections had been worked, the fabric was definitely ‘crinkling up’ around the bandage areas. On checking the back of the work, the fine curtain net was almost being “pulled” between darnings so decided to leave it & see what happened by the end of this stitching.