from Alabama Stitch Book

Isn’t this lovely?  It’s a weighted over-the-arm pincushion and supply caddy from Natalie Chanin’s Alabama Stitch Book.  This is the project I took with me on our trip to Nashville to keep my hands busy in the car and late at night.    Small, manageable pieces requiring lots of time and love. I’m halfway done now. Would you like a sneak peak?

This time I traced the stitch line with a fine permanent black marker.  Rather than stitching with buttonhole thread, as suggested in the book, I’m using doubled regular black thread since I didn’t have time to run to the store before our trip.  Worked fine!  The outer nude jersey is an old T-shirt and the peak-through fabric is a purple woven from Aria’s Christmas Stocking.

Another work-in-progress.  Sigh… I need a finish soon!

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Alabama Chanin Refashion

Voila… it’s finished!

And, I love, love, love, LOVE it!  I’m so glad that I was reading the Alabama Stitch Book when this skirt was bleach-stained on our camping trip.  Using the bloomers stencil and reverse-applique technique to hide the stain and salvage the skirt was oh-so-enjoyable; and successful, if I do say so myself!

I have two more projects in mind right now in the Alabama Chanin style.  I’d love to make this “over the chair pincushion” also from the Alabama Stitch Book and a new shower curtain utilizing the bloomers stencil.  Either would be the perfect portable project for our vacation in Nashville at month’s end.

I can’t decide what I like best about reverse applique – the process or the finished product.  The basic method is to pin your contrast fabric underneath your outer fabric layer.  Trace the design and then stitch.  I find the stitching so relaxing!  Last, cut out the outer fabric 1/8″ in from the stitch line to reveal your contrast layer.  Cutting can be a little nerve-racking.  But, happily, I never cut the contrast fabric!

Alabama Stitch Book, Natalie Chanin’s first book, was recently followed by Alabama Studio Style.  Both books contain complete how-to instructions and gorgeous imagery.  The main difference is in included stencils and projects.   I’d really, really love to own them!  Sigh…

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New & New

I’m so glad to have a new handwork project.  This pretty gray skirt was stained this summer  when I geniusly wore it on our camping trip.  I’m using the Alabama Chanin reverse applique technique to give it a whole new look.  Just started…

In other shades of “new”, I’m working on expanding do. Good Stitches to include all the many that would like to participate, as well as some new charities.  Today, I found Piecing Hope, which sends quilts to a Christian orphanage in Africa.  If you’re interested in becoming a host of one of our charity circles, please let me know!  Charity suggestions welcome – especially from members and members-to-be!

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