A use for some chicken prints.

Earlier this week two prints I ordered from Tatiana Popova arrived. These were art works by Marina Popova, printed on to fabric for embroidery. Tatiana and Marina are Ukrainians who have sought refuge in Australia and hit the ground running with art and craft.

I wasn't sure what I would do with the prints - but I do like a good chicken. Maybe a pouch.

When they arrived, I decided against embroidering them. They are lovely, and printed on to cotton using the panels you use to print on to t-shirts. I have used these on t-shirts. They work well, but the resulting surface is not one I fancy embroidering on. 

It occurred to me that these panels would work well as patches on some of my t-shirts that have those pesky holes from zips. I have a several of them, so dug out a couple that fitted with the chicken colours.

The chickens were just the right size for the job, so I tested the size, cut them, backed them with iron-on fabric adhesive and ironed them on.

Oddly, this worked well on the red top, but the adhesive didn't take on the cream. Maybe it was something I did in the process, or the composition of the fabric. In any case, I stitched around both of them. 

Hopefully both will hold for a couple of seasons of wear. The red, which has adhesive as well as stitches, might last longer.

I have put the patched tops away until the weather warms up a bit, but I'm pleased to have two more tops that I feel good about wearing outside the apartment - and I've found a way to display these very attractive chickens.

 

Makes me satisfied and happy.

Blanket finish

I took my finished blanket into the Junior Embroiderers' meeting to ask their advice on whether I had enough horses on it - and to get their tutor's advice on washing it! The girls thought there were enough horses, and Margaret's advice was to hand-wash the whole thing, spin it dry and hang out. So that's what I did. It has been raining in Adelaide, but I got 4 hours in the middle of the day - and it dried.    

I wasn't entirely satisfied with the coverage, so consulted Niamh and Veronica who agreed it needed a few more in the corners.

So I added a few more. 

I've got used to these little horses! 

               

It is almost impossible to photograph the whole blanket. Maybe I need a drone! I tried a few different angles and directions, but it is all partial and the light isn't good enough. 

                      

In the end I made a little video - more for my own record than for sharing. 

I had promised Bernadette, who helped me choose threads for the text, that I would take it in to show her at Create in Stitch, so before delivering it to Brigid, I duly called in on Tuesday to discover she is returning to her dressmaking career and now longer working there. Di Kirshner's class asked to see it, so we showed each other our work! Loads of fun.

It was while doing this that I realised I hadn't signed the blanket, so brought it home again and added our initials and date to a corner.

I delivered it on Saturday night and Brigid is pleased. She is house-sitting for the next few weeks and has taken it with her. It is very warm and cosy - I miss it over my legs while stitching - so will not go unused in our current chilly winter.

I tried inserting the video here for my own record - I didn't expect anyone else to view a video of a blanket!  However, as I have found with video before, it took far too long to load, so I have abandoned that idea.  

It's been 15 years from conception to making and I am delighted to have delivered.