Category: Needlework

• Copper Flutes and Hand Dyed Hemp

  These two copper flutes were based on D (small) and Bb (large) 6-hole English tin whistles that I bought years ago.  I played the whistles quite a bit when I was in high school, but quit in college when my asthma became too severe.  The new copper flutes have a larger bore than the tin whistles and a…

  ironwing

  March 2, 2012

  Iron & Metalwork, Lapidary, Needlework

• New Spoonflower Fabric Swatches

  I received my Spoonflower fabric order yesterday, which was mostly black and white cat drawings for a wall hanging.  But I also had two designs printed in color.  All the designs were printed on Kona quilter’s cotton.  The swatches are 8×8 inches. The first swatch is a collage made from four digital photos of copper ore…

  ironwing

  February 25, 2012

  Nature, Needlework

• Embroidered Cotton Shirt

  More spiral hook and eyes, smaller than those on the vest.  The clasps on this embroidered cotton shirt are made from 16-gauge yellow brass wire.  I drafted the shirt pattern.  The collar, cuffs, front placket, and back yoke binding are made from tea-dyed muslin secured with handstitched commercial black bias tape.  Sleeves and front placket have…

  ironwing

  January 25, 2012

  Iron & Metalwork, Needlework

• Embroidered Patchwork Vest

  I recently finished this vest which had been an intermittent evening project for several months.  I love vests but it is difficult to find one that fits properly, since I have such a short back.  It took me three paper drafts and two muslin ones to get this pattern just right, but it was worth…

  ironwing

  November 25, 2011

  Needlework

• Forged Iron Cat Mask

  This is the forged iron black cat mask that I made for this year’s Tucson All Souls Procession.  I won’t post a photo of me wearing it until after the procession, since I’m still deciding on the rest of my costume.  The mask is hot-forged from heavy steel sheet, and has a riveted nose and whisker spots. …

  ironwing

  October 19, 2011

  Cats, Iron & Metalwork, Needlework

• Calico Jumper

  Since I make most of my clothes, it means that I don’t have many of them, but they are well-made and last a long time.  They typically have a wearable-in-public life of at least two or three years, a couple more years as hiking outfits, and maybe a year for shop, yard, and housework. This…

  ironwing

  August 8, 2011

  Needlework

• Spoonflower Fabric Printing: First Three Test Swatches

  Just got my first three 8″ test swatches of my original designs from Spoonflower, the fabric printing company.  Spoonflower offers several natural-fiber fabric options.  I chose the two that I thought I’d actually use.  Colors for these three designs were all picked from the “preferred colors” chart that Spoonflower provides in an attempt to help designers…

  ironwing

  June 25, 2010

  How-To, Needlework, Scratchboard

• Rainbow Lion Again

  Rainbow Lion got another makeover.  I removed all the metal ornaments.  On the blanket, I kept the shisha mirrors but replaced the copper spirals and glass beads with fluffly double tassels.  He finally feels “right”.  He is light, bright, and cuddly now that he’s not weighed down with metal and glass.

  ironwing

  March 22, 2010

  Cats, Needlework

• Fabric Cat Mask Pattern

  I recently posted about my Feral Black Cat Mask made from cotton fabric.  Here’s the white version, for which I shortened the pattern so it covers a bit less of the face.  Snowball the Shelter Ghost Mask is made from undyed 60%hemp/40%cotton muslin, a single layer of cotton batting, and a backing of unbleached cotton muslin.  This…

  ironwing

  February 4, 2010

  Cats, How-To, Needlework

• New Dresses

  I made some new clothes to replace several things that wore out last summer.  This is a dress pattern that I made in 2002 and have used several times.  My cotton dresses last for about five years (sometimes more) of regular wear.  They start out as “nice” clothes and are relegated to hiking wear and…

  ironwing

  January 22, 2010

  Needlework