Flag Poi Sack

There had to be a special pocket made for the flags so they wouldn't get creased. Rectangle. The upper side "overlocked". From now on I'll fold the edges before serging at such light fabric. The rest sewn and cut. French seamed.

Then I folded it so that the buttonholes were on the doubled fabric. Then I put two cords inside - they were tied into two rings. When I pull two opposite "stitches" out, it closes and they form a loop for hanging. It's the most comfortable sort of fastening:-)

Flag Poi

Yesterday I saw something at a juggling festival. I had to try it:-) The flags might have been made of parachute fabric. I didn't find two nice colours in this light type of fabric so I just took a plain synthetic fabric.
I have a new iron:-) My first one. I cut these shapes out and ironed the black one so that the edges were folded about half a centimeter and ironed flat.

Then I swapped the two colours. I sewed them together, ironed the seams flat and cut the edges a few milimeters from the stitches. Then I used my favourite stitch that looks like an overlock. You can see how it shrinked. I hoped it would disappear after ironing..

Then I folded the other edges and processed them similarly. The seams were better after hand expansion and ironing. My first iron - my first hole. I used too high a temperature. Fortunately this is for me. If it was for someone other I would have to make a new one..

I put the colourful piece into the black one. As I had ironed the edges I didn't have to fear I would hit it only at the top. I also made small sacks that I put inside as a weight. At the top of the poi I inserted a small rectangle of a tent fabric. It helped to harden it under the metal buttonhole.

There are swivelling pieces between the loops and the poi. One didn't work well and the flag was winding, but a drop of oil repaired it.
They're just cool! :-D When spinning they flitter with a very nice sound and their move looks marvellous.

Happy happy:)

Sagums Concept

Wondering what I've been doing last days? No, I haven't been slacking:) I have to sew four new sagums. I don't like the word, I think it's not proper. The German word for Czech varkoč is Waffenrock, French one's said to be surcoat - this one might be English as well, but I'd appreciate something more exact as surcotte can be something else as well..

You can take a look at how I transfer the pattern to the fabric. I drew a symmetrical pattern with the axis line at the center. I laid the fabric so that the edge was straight and pinned the center line several times at the same distance from the edge. Then I pinned the edges of the pattern.
I don't draw like normal people. I take a chalk with its flat part and draw over the edge of the paper. This way the result doesn't depend on my dexterity very much - there is an almost photographic image of the pattern created. And what's more I sharpen my chalk:-D

Velvet's back. I have to clean my machine inside after every piece.. There could be an application of gryffin on the chest, but I have never done such a demanding task and dunno whether I'll be capable.-)

Beret Band

I have a task - to sew two historical head covers. I have started with the easiest and most grateful part. There will be a thin band around a beret I'll make. Again I used my favourite gold cord.
I had four pieces (two of them four times longer). At first I made one square knot. Then I made a loop like this on the right, on the left and so on.

They were five on each side, the first and the last the smallest, the third the biggest. Then I made a second square knot. They hold it all together and keep the distances, because the inner cords are straight all the time and the rest may slip.

I put a huge bead through the two inner cords and fastened with a square knot with the others. In spite of the cord being quite thick I wasn't in trouble threading the beads. The inner cords were actually one folded. I put a thin thread around it - this way it went swimmingly. I found out I could thread them all and just make knots between them.

Maybe completed:) Don't know the exact length..
I'd never think I'd do macramé before. I've only seen it at the cloths that look all the same and make for nothing:-)

Looking Better

So I had to rip the whole side out. Once I've seen directions on the Web about how to rip stitches easily. I didn't believe it would work well but now I decided to give it a try.
You cut every fourth or fifth stitch with the seam ripper on one side. On the other you can just pull the thread away. I was really surprised how easy it was. The stitches let go of the thread instantly.

That's for the ripping. The best to do then was to sew the pike in hand (which I had wanted to do as last). I folded it like a jeans pocket and attached with never disappoining invisible backstitch. This way I could be sure the gore wouldn't move anymore.

I started to sew exactly at the point I had finished at. Now it's a lot better:) However I wish I found a method of inserting a real triangle smoothly, but until then this does.

Now I have the petty almost finished, my friend just has to come and let the skirt shortened on herself. I'm quite happy that this dress doesn't require many trials except for this one. I like this work! :-)

Gore Failure

I got down to the unpopular front and back gores. I tried a new method. By the way I don't cut the gores as two triangles out of a rectangle. I begin the separating line a few centimeters from the corner so that I get a truncated triangle. It's better:-)

I put it a bit higer than the start of the cut in the skirt. I began to sew at the level of this cut. Then I wanted to attach the other side and to solve the pike afterwards.
You can take a look at how it ended up.

I didn't pin it or mark somehow and I managed to sew the other side higher than the first one. I still have a lot to learn:-D
I don't like this type of gores... grrr

First Gores

I'm fed up with backstitch. I wanted to try something else for the sleeves and I'm not sure whether I've chosen well. I attached the edges with small crosses. When sewing I helped myself like this (as freehand broidery's not my cup of tea:) ) - I have quite good estimation as far as very small distances. I've sewn so that there would be a margin of the size of one cross around each one. It worked well.
You know, the Middle Ages were all about Christianity, so there are never too many crosses:-P

I also inserted two side gores. It's quite easy as there are seams you can start from. However I'm still afraid about the front and back gore. Do you know and reasonable and nice way of inserting? I'm still searching for one. I have a few ideas but they seem poor shift to me.. No matter, I'll solve this somehow:-)

My friend's bigger than I am, it fits her much better than me:-)
Eventually she didn't want to tie her sleeves. Once I'll make my own tunic petticoat (hahaha) and I'm laying this feature aside for then.

More Mathematics

This is so called butt function.
It's my way to cope with Maths, when I embroider these little creatures. By the way on Monday I got F from a test. Funny, isn't it:)

Mathematics Progress

There are some new functions that met me lately. It's this likeable Sine Formula and Mr. Integral.

A Little Flared Sleeves

I finished the draft of the dress today.
I arranged the rectangle on myself so that the neckline was in the position I liked. Then I pinned one side. This way I found the center of the dress.

I found the center of one side of each sleeve and placed it to the center marks of the dress. I sewed them on (always the right side to the right side).

Here you can see the state the dress is in at the moment. The sleeves are a bit flared. They'll probably have a cord to tie them when it's cold.

Now I have to pay a visit to my victim to see if the thing suits and to mark the length of the sleeves and the place to insert the gores. The front and the back gore - I always have trouble with these. I know how to attach a gore to a seam, but at a blank piece of fabric I'm helpless all the time.. :-(
Maybe I should make one petty like this for poor me as well:-D