CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO: sewing summit

May 13, 2014

A Room of My Own

This weekend turned out to be a rather memorable Mother's Day celebration: we got sufficiently along with our house renovations to move things into the sewing room. To think that this used to be a superfluous corner of our bedroom... look at it now, a light filled space to create in:

A new studio, Bernina Extravaganza!

The L shaped desk is a bit of a BERNINA extravaganza, as I am finally able to unpack the new machine on loan, the B780 !!!

I had the opportunity to sew on this machine during Sewing Summit and again at the Ambassador Reunion in Aurora. It is simply amazing in its technological advancements. I am definitely in learning mode right now, trying to form the right kind of habits and setting everything up properly. I am sticking with "regular sewing" as well until my next appointment with the dealer, where we will tackle embroidery a bit further. I am glad that I staggered the meetings because I already have a few technical settings questions after a few hours sewing a doll dress. Anyway, getting too much information at once doesn't work well for me...

When unpacking I noticed already a few cool things that sets the 700 series apart from the 500. For example BERNINA went back to the hard accessory case, as it was with the Aurora (see one in profile above). I never "bounded" with the accessory pouch of the B580. A personal preference I suppose. Another neat trick is the magnetic holder for the stylus on the right of the machine. I also imagine that the laminated cheat sheet will be brilliant in the beginning.

A new studio, Bernina Extravaganza!

The machine ships with an additional strait stitch plate,this will be invaluable while sewing quilt pieces or tiny doll clothes which need a great deal of support underneath. I already installed it today to try it out on a tiny dress for Serafinn, more of a prototype really (!). I did let the machine know I was changing the plate, this way there is no chance of mistakes and broken needles, which has happened before unfortunately...

A new studio, Bernina Extravaganza!

So much to learn, so much to share! I admit to being a bit overwhelmed but soon to be in control no doubt! Tomorrow I am trying out a few quilt blocks, red houses or New York Beauties?

A new studio, Bernina Extravaganza!

Posted at 07:45 AM in Bernina 780, Current Affairs, SEWING, sewing summit, We All Sew | Permalink | Comments (4)

October 03, 2013

{ fleece socks, maybe? }

felt beads garland and a skirt

It's cold suddenly, with temperatures low enough for a fire at night but not quite low enough to wear tights and boots with the skirt above created during Sew Caroline's class at Sewing Summit. As long as the tomatoes are still ripening it's not winter wardrobe time yet... My feet couldn't disagree more however. I think I mentioned before that I suffer from pernio or chilblains, a disorder that afflicts people with poor blood flow in their extremity. My feet will turn bright red, swell and even itch sometimes! It's not something you talk about in polite conversation but it led me to contemplate the possibility of making fleece socks (the horror!) after finding that a few cuts of the bulky fabric are clogging up valuable stash space. A brief web search confirms that they will keep my toes in comfort and that I should use this pattern. It is apparently the "go to" for people with a love of fast socks, great self-esteem or simply bright red achy toes!

Funny enough I can't wait to try on a pair, it's a step in the Uggs direction I swore I would never take but that looks more and more inevitable. Maybe I can make them pretty? Fleece embroiders extremely well...

felt beads garland

a felt garland I made today from these beads,

the frame got its mirror back tonight.

Posted at 11:13 PM in CRAFTING, SEWING, sewing summit | Permalink | Comments (2)

September 30, 2013

Mon Petit Navire- rope basket

mon petit navire

Ever since Sewing Summit I have been riding a creative high. I hoped to get back into sewing half and hour a day. It's happening in all sorts of ways, sewing more leggings (Bernina 580 is performing admirably but I have a few fit issues to fix before I can report on the results), planning a feather quilt and of course making more of my favorites: coiled baskets.

The new basket is destined to be a gift tonight at a baby's First Birthday bash with a nautical theme. His bedroom being also nautical I think it will fit right in to keep little chew toys in one place. I added the handles and the double tassels for the first time as a tactile detail for him to explore.

mon petit navire

Olivia Omega a brand consultant, extremely well liked by bloggers and a friend of the Bernina Staff strongly encourages everyone with an online journal/instagram/facebook etc to post pictures of ourselves, to humanise our writing I suppose. It is true that I enjoy seeing what my favorite writers look like tremendously, and not just the like about/bio pick. Melissa in her photography class also told us to be silly and have fun, as most of us don't much like to face the other side of the lens. So here you go, Vogue 1940' s improbable hat shoot!

mon petit navire

You can find a beginner tutorial I wrote on how to make your own basket at We All Sew ⚓

Posted at 04:43 PM in SEWING, sewing summit | Permalink | Comments (2)

September 24, 2013

Grey Leggings

While attending Sewing Summit, I had the opportunity to attend a class by Miranda Anderson of the One Little Minute blog who taught us how to draft our own leggings. I learned enormously about knits about during these two hours but first and foremost I learned that drafting results in a great fit. I have made so many garment that looked good but fit horribly that I had all but given up on the idea. That will change I think, as I would like to draft a T-shirt next and some more flattering pajama pants. What is certain is that many more pairs of leggings will come out of this drafted pattern but I will never ever subject my legs and bum to such close photographic scrutiny, absolutely horrible! still here they are as they appear un-retouched ( mostly because I don't have the skills!):

During the Summit Weekend I set camp at the back of the Bernina 700 series class room (in part to help attendants exchange presser feet) and familiarized myself with the top of the line Bernina 780. It was a revelation. The machine is so advanced you could call it a sewing computer but really what did it for me is the dual feed. When using foot 4D a little "finger" pulls the top fabric for you as the feed dog pulls/advances it from bellow. A lot like a walking foot but much more streamlined.

Grey knit leggings

After selecting the light knit fabric from the menu and setting stretch stitch #3 (Miranda also recommends #10, which is very durable), I sewed directly on the edge, without a seam allowance. I was blown away by the quality of the stitch, the dual feed eliminated the lettuce edge that often occurs when sewing knits on a sewing machine. The seam is flat and regular, completely clean.

At the crotch and waistband I used stitch #10, which is similar to a serger overlock stitch for more strength, and a simple zigzag at the bottom to hem the legs turned under 1/2" once as per Miranda's instructions. She also made sure that we didn't stretch the leg around the arm but rather sewed it from the inside as it came (slowly). This also eliminate the potential for a lettuce edge.

Grey knit leggings

Miranda gave us the option to skip the elastic in favor of a yoga fold top. Because I have large scars on my abdomen I went for it and think I might retrofit quite a few wool tights with that non binding option. It is really comfortable and easier than the elastic to sew on surprisingly!

Now it's time to try reproducing these results with the Bernina 580, I wonder if using a walking foot would be a practical option with knit?

Posted at 03:18 PM in Bernina 780, Fashion, sewing summit, We All Sew | Permalink | Comments (3)

September 23, 2013

Carving Stamps with Dollar Store Erasers

Sewing Summit was a fantastic experience that left me infused with so much renewed enthusiasm for the craft but also completely zombified! Most of us stayed up until 2 in the morning on Friday night and myself at least past 12 am on Saturday. It made me so happy to sit at the sewing machine that I took the resolution while attending to try and sew 30 minutes a day no matter the state of everything else, time will tell! It's like an exercise habit, once formed you just keep on going (I hope).

brown mercy above

Even though I completed three sewing projects during the summit, I am still too red eyed to set up a shoot for those items at the moment. It's funny how much harder photographing quilts and garments can be compared to small hard goods. Today's entry is touches on the Handprinting On Fabric class I took from Miriam Pride instead. She taught with glowing enthusiasm and is just generally very approachable and easy to understand. In short, she knows her stuff and I wouldn't surprised if she is invited to teach again next year.

I was not very happy with my stamps (above, bag was a gift we received during the class) at the end of the class and decided to put the project aside and move on to better things but today the bug bit again and off Finn and I went to the dollar store to buy erasers. Minutes into today's project one thing is clear, the tool really matters. This Speedman (?) carver found at the bottom of the craft/junk drawer is excellent. Excellent in this case means that it is much easier to cut with and therefore more precise. The two envelope stamps (Merci and Air Mail) took very little time and came together like a charm. The erasers are so cheap and available all year long that I am thinking of carving several sets to give away.

practice stamps brown brown mercy close up

This post getting really long winded (!) but this is an exciting discovery around here, carving erasers is tremendous fun, whether you are printing on fabric or paper. The moral of this story being "don't quit after the first try", duh!

Posted at 06:03 PM in CRAFTING, sewing summit | Permalink | Comments (3)

September 14, 2013

Nani iro + sewing summit

Il_570xN.441079711_pg6c

I received the class supplies list yesterday for Sewing Summit. It's really last minute but gift invitations usually are and that makes them all the more exciting. This left me in a state of heightened awareness, looking around Pinterest for the perfect fabric to sew a skirt (Caroline Hulse's class). I found it around midnight, I had made the mistake of drinking a caffeinated beverage that afternoon, my girlfriends will know what that means... back to the fabric, I am in love with this Nani Iro print, gold dots on Grey. It will make a wearable garment for the fall and winter. The class description called for quilting weight, this is double gauze, close enough and more drape I think.

I was feeling lousy ordering online when I have a few perfectly good fabric stores around the Salt Lake County, but I found a LOCAL etsy store and she answered my question past 11pm! it's called FABITAT.

For the legging class I will pop in to Yellow Bird on 33rd. Finding a 4-way stretch might require the expert knowledge of Amy and her consorts.

Did I mention how excited I am?! ridiculously.

Posted at 09:08 AM in FABRIC, sewing republic, sewing summit | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 04, 2013

Sewing Summit 2013

Well, much like a secret birthday surprise party the Bernina team at We All Sew has invited me to join them during the 2013 Sewing Summit, held here in Salt Lake city. I will help them monitor the +60 Bernina machines they are bringing to the event classrooms (they are a sponsor of the summit) and get to take two classes daily!

This is completely wonderful because I have been in a kind of sewing blues and need my pedal stepped on in a major way. To this end I have selected mostly sewing classes with the exception of a fabric hand printing class. The classes were already quite full so I had just a few left to pick from, but never mind that. Sometimes it's good to be forced to pick things you would usually overlook, it builds character!

The first class I will be attending is taught by Caroline Hulse of Sew Caroline. She is going to walk us though a simple skirt design. We should be able to get it done during the class.

The second class will be Handprinting fabric with Miriam Tribe. I am especially excited about that one, as I am hoping to handprint something onto the skirt I should have made that morning with Caroline, always have a plan!

Miriam blogs at Mad Min and looks like a thoroughly cool cat!

Mad-mim_Bustle-Tee_Printed-Leggings_LA-Fabric_03

photo copy-pasted with love from her blog

On Saturday it's on to a metal frame clutch making class with Elena Roscoe of Hot Pink Stitches. She is a very accomplished quilter amongst all things and an alumna of the Sewing Summit.

Elena-Roscoe1-300x225

The last class I am hoping to attend is taught by Miranda Anderson who blogs at One Little Minute She will be teaching us how to draw a custom pattern to make our own leggings! I am all over that, since the only ones I like are from Nordstrom and what they lack in variety they do not make up in price...

Draft-and-Sew-Leggings-One-Little-Minute-Blog-Great-Simple-Tutorial-09
image also copy/pasted with love from her blog

I am so excited it goes without saying, Alice of Bernina will be there, one of the nicest people I have ever worked with and Melissa Esplin as well, my calligraphy teacher. We are already making plans to meet! Time cannot pass soon enough to the 19th of September!

Posted at 08:17 PM in SEWING, sewing summit, We All Sew | Permalink | Comments (2)

CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO

May 13, 2014

A Room of My Own

October 03, 2013

{ fleece socks, maybe? }

September 30, 2013

Mon Petit Navire- rope basket

September 24, 2013

Grey Leggings

September 23, 2013

Carving Stamps with Dollar Store Erasers

September 14, 2013

Nani iro + sewing summit

September 04, 2013

Sewing Summit 2013

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