Fiber Curtains, The Beginning...

Today I will begin the saga of the "Fun Little Project" that ended up causing a BIG problem last weekend. Those who know me locally or who have read my blog for awhile are familiar with my fiber shawls constructed on the long-arm using water-soluble stabilizer and lots of ribbons, yarns, silk fibers, and Angelina. Here is one that I made for my daughter-in-law, Emily.

And here is the first one I made for myself.

The inspiration for this method of "sewing" fiber garments came from an episode of Simply Quilts featuring Marilyn Badger (instructions still available on the web.) She was making ponchos with this method. I had no desire to make a poncho, but I had a March wedding coming up on a cold weekend, and needed something dressy but warm. I just adapted Marilyn's methods to make a big shawl. I bought my Tussah Silk tops from Myrna Ficken's web site, A Quilters Choice.

I even wrote a three-part tutorial on how to make these shawls on the long-arm.

http://allthingsquilty.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-to-make-fiber-shawl-part-2-set-up.html

Now, you would think that someone who had a wonderful web resource like the Simply Quilts episode, and who had even written their own (provide favorite expletive) tutorial on the process, might actually refer to these instructions before attempting this project again. Ha Ha Ha! Big Mistake.

I decided to make a pretty curtain for my sewing room. The room is painted in peach and marbled with a yellow glaze, so it has a sunny, happy glow.


There is only one small window from this third floor room, but it overlooks a big hemlock and a woodsy back yard. I did not want to cover up this view with a big curtain.

So, I gathered up my yummy supplies of hand-dyed silk ribbons, Tussah silk tops, yarns, and Angelina in colors that I thought would be pretty in my sewing room if I made a lacy fiber valance.


Since this project would be only about fourteen inches wide, I brilliantly decided to just use the actual width of my Sulky Solvy and pin it to the long arm. Just one layer. Quick, quick.

This time I decided I would like some silk ribbons to form a vertical pattern, so I machine-basted them down to the water-soluble stabilizer with water-soluble thread (Vanish Extra).

Once that was accomplished, I started adding silk tops. These come in long, hand-dyed ropes in gradients of colors when you purchase them from Myrna. You just pull off a hunk and start fluffing it apart. Here is the project with the silk tops added. Beautiful!


Then, I started adding some more ribbons and fluffy yarns horizontally to build up this lacy fabric. Those are my actual canvas leaders on the long-arm just above and below the pretty stuff.

Can anyone guess the problem that occurred when I started stitching?

But not yet. I added in some Angelina in several shades of white, pink, yellow, and green. Oh, this is so pretty!



I did not take a picture of my last step, which is covering the whole works with another piece of Sulky Solvy Water-Soluble stabilizer. That is pinned down on top of everything. Then, I started basting across the top of this sandwich with the water-soluble thread to hold everything in place until I started stitching a grid with real thread.

I did one pass across the top, and when I got six inches from the end of the row, the Sulky stabilizer on the bottom tore away from the leader, exposing the ribbons and fibers to the sewing machine needle. In just seconds, there were ribbons and yarns wrapped all around the hook assembly of my poor Gammill. This jammed the motor, which started making loud, scary, groaning noises.

So, I stood practically on my head to access this bobbin area, yanking and pulling on threads and ribbons to unwind the big mess they made in there. When I had removed all I could, I tried to turn the flywheel on the machine, but it would not move. Still jammed.

The worst part is that this had happened when I made the first shawl, except that I was able to clear that problem away myself. This time, DH had to come to the rescue, remove the hook assembly, take it apart, put it back together, and re-set the timing of the machine. Yikes!

When I made the the second shawl, I made sure to put a double layer of Solvy on the bottom and leave a wide area at the top and bottom before adding the fibers.

So, now, I have removed the pretty fiber sandwich from the machine, and will be packaging it much more intelligently next time.

Meantime, I am preparing some quilt kits for my quilt bee's Charity Sew-In Day tomorrow, and must finish those. I have only had the fabric to make these quilts since July! Should be a fun day tomorrow.

How to Make a Fiber Shawl- Part 1:Gather Supplies

I made my first fiber shawl, named "Luscious," following the excellent tutorial on HGTV episode 1110 with Marilyn Badger. She actually gave instructions for a poncho made with Tussah silk tops and Angelina fiber. I loved the silky and shiny look, but did not want a poncho. Often, when I get excited about a project I see on a show, I purchase the supplies, then put them away without learning to use them. However, I finally had need of a shawl to wear to a wintery wedding last March, and made my first shawl. I am wearing it in the sidebar picture on this blog. This new shawl, Precious Gems, was just finished last week.

If you want to start making fiber garments, you need to start building a stash for different things besides fabric and thread. Usually, there is at least one fiber vendor at the quilt shows, selling ropes, skeins, and bags of yummy-looking yarns and ribbons that you have no idea what to do with. I have been buying those things for years, and using them in art quilts as trims or bindings. But, they are wonderful additions to a fiber shawl or scarf!

The supplies recommended by Marilyn Badger are water-soluble stabilizer, Tussah silk tops and Angelina fibers. I bought the first two originally from Myrna Ficken at A Quilter's Choice. Just check out the silk tops. When you click on the color selections, a new window opens with delectable shades in beautiful combinations. These arrive in baggies with rope-like bundles of fibers, dyed in variegated combinations. These are then to be fluffed out into lovely, Tribble-like puffs of silk. (Anyone else seen all the Star Treks ever made?)

Once you have decided on the lovely range of colors to use, you can add other ribbons, threads, yarns, and Angelina fibers to complement the silks. I ordered my Angelina from The Weaving Edge originally, but these are now widely available from many sources of embellishment and craft supplies. These also will be pulled apart into lovely puffs of fluff. Some types of Angelina fibers fuse to themselves when heated. When you finish your shawl, you will iron it and create lovely shimmery areas where the Angelina was used.

You will also need some lovely yarns. Marilyn used yarn for fringe, but I also used it in the construction of the shawl itself. For Luscious, I just used one skin of a mohair/acrylic blend in a cream color. For Precious Gems, I used brown fuzzy mohair, purple mohair, and several crinkly and variegated yarns. I've got to say I was a little concerned about the mohair after soaking the final project in the bathtub. This shawl smelled just like a wet dog! But it dried nicely without the offensive pet smell.

Finally, gather up any lovely embellishments you have been hoarding. I have added variegated rick-rack, hand-dyed silk ribbon, satin ribbon, metallic threads, and anything else I thought would be pretty. Just don't put anything in there that will break your sewing machine needle! You will be stitching through all this heavenly stuff. Can't add any beads or bits of metal, at least until the sewing is over!

A word about the water-soluble stabilizer: Marilyn recommended heavy weight for the base, and light-weight for the top. I purchased these from A Quilter's Choice, and they were the correct size without having to piece the stabilizer together. This was a great time-saver! For my second shawl, I decided to use a bolt of water-soluble stabilizer that I had purchased previously from JoAnn's or somewhere when it was on sale. Unfortunately, it was only 19" wide, and I wanted my shawl to be 24" wide. Also, it was light-weight. I used two layers to make the base. However, I think the purpose of the heavy-weight is to make it less likely to tear when pinned to the leaders. I think it would have been just fine to use one layer of the lightweight on the bottom layer, and maybe my thread would not have broken so much!

You will need is LOTS of polyester thread to sew the grid over your fibers. Cotton thread could shrink when soaking in the hot water. I chose to use two shades of The Bottom Line poly thread on each shawl. Using a different color on the top and the bobbin threads gives a slightly different appearance on each side. You can get The Bottom Line from Superior Threads. I used the pre-wound bobbins because they hold a LOT of thread. I was able to stitch about twelve inches along the length of the shawl before changing bobbins.

And don't forget your water-soluble thread for basting the fibers to the stabilizer. I used Vanish Extra, also available from Superior Threads.

All this makes for a rather pricey garment- another layer of meaning for the names Precious Gems and Luscious. When I wore Luscious to a cocktail party/dinner in New York recently, my husband's co-worker said I should sell the shawls. I replied that the price of materials made it not very cost-effective, and she wanted to know if I had as much as twenty dollars in it? Ha! Obviously not a crafter.

Okay, get your goodies together, and stay tuned for Part 2!

Christmas fun...and The Reveal

The Turner clan Christmas gathering is officially over- at least the part where we all gather for dinner at my house. It takes days of preparation, and then it is over so quickly! Of course, after having a week of warm days in the 70's and 80's, it turned very cold Friday night. Dave, Emily, Charlie and I were the only ones there on Friday night, and we bundled up in parkas to watch the Geminid meteor shower from our deck. That was a delightful prelude to the busy Saturday. I think about forty were there for dinner, and it rained for about the fifth time all year. The weather forecast for ice and snow in the mountains prevented my aunt and cousin from Alaska from coming down from Virginia. But all the NC mountain Turners braved the trip.

Just had to show off granddaughter Lily in her Christmas outfit! She was quite the party girl. Avery was much more sedate than usual, and in fact took a little snooze while all the company was there. The next morning, we exchanged presents with Dave and Emily, since they are going to be in Richmond for Christmas. So---I am now able to reveal my secret project from last week! Here is Emily's fiber shawl that I made on my long-arm machine. I decided to name it Precious Gems. I couldn't locate my camera while we were opening gifts, so I asked Dave to take her picture wearing it and send it to me. But here it is:

I took lots of photographs and took notes while I was making it. The plan is to post a tutorial. Frankly, I am still exhausted and don't have the energy! But check back and I will see what I can do!