SewLibra:
I was asked to make my new grandson, Nash, a Christmas stocking, but it was already December so not enough time. I found this online and ordered it.
SewLibra:
The kit came in a plastic bag with a large color pic and everything you need. My intent is to document my progress as I go along. My hand stitching is not that good so I'm a little worried about the outcome.
SewLibra:
Before beginning the stocking I found lots of wonderful Youtube videos by Jennifer Good. Highly recommend! She gives many tips in a way anyone can understand.
SewLibra:
I told Nash's parents the kid might be in Kindergarten by the time this is done. (He's 6 mos. old) Lol. It's all hand sewn, sequins, embroidery, you name it. I'll have to work on it a little at a time and get it done hopefully way before Christmas 2021.
SewLibra:
April 23 and I'm finally getting started. Not going to be able to sew this watching TV in the living room. There are too many little parts. So, I set up the appliques, instructions and guide pic on the guest bed in my sewing room.
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I found I had these plastic dividers for organizers that I wasn't using. I wound each embroidery thread color on them to keep them separated and from tangling. I had a separting organizer that I'm using for sequins.
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Removed my sewing machine so I could spread out the sequins, beads, threads. My lighted magnifying mirror is attached to the table and I NEED that! Got one row of sequins sewn so I guess I have finally begun!
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The instructions don't have a lining but I saw a YouTube by Michelle Wood on it. To prevent show through I'll use white. This cotton has a design on it kind of like snowflakes. Perfect!
SewLibra:
My first problem. When I lined up the chimney with all the lines (my hand is covering most of them here), the top covered part of where the leaves and sequins go so I trimmed it off. I hope there are no more like that!
SewLibra:
On the back of the front piece I decided to use Fray Check on the knots. This is the only place I feel is compromised since it might rub against the lining. Not doing it on all the pieces that have other pieces underneath though.
SewLibra:
You get one sequin needle and one applique needle with the kit. I have to use a needle threader on the tiny sequin needle. I found the arm of my magnifyer light is perfect for hanging threads that I'll use again soon.
SewLibra:
Embroider each piece as needed before cutting out and cut inside the embossed lines. The lines are ugly if you don't cut them off and they don't come off easily after the fact! Edit: After this I cut the pieces first because I was cutting off my knots!
SewLibra:
Second problem, there are two #22 and no #18 where the leaves go. I figured it out but since I'm new to this it kind of ticked me off. You really have to go by the colored photo that comes with the kit.
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Happy to get all those little leaves on and finish the top border. The background fireplace is on too so now on to the fun Santa and toys.
SewLibra:
I realized after sewing the gifts in Santa's bag, which sticks out beyond the stocking's outline, that the back piece would not cover the stitches there. Noooo! Fortunately I hadn't cut the back piece yet.
SewLibra:
There was enough felt beyond the cutting lines of the back stocking to trace Santa's bag with an air erasable pen.
SewLibra:
At the end when the front and back are sewn together, they will match and the back will look nice. The lining will be cut straight just like the cutting line of the back piece.
SewLibra:
Getting a little smarter here. When I pulled my lamp forward the threads slipped down and combined with one another. I put these snack clips on the lamp arm to keep them separated and can also hang threads on each part of the clip "handles".
SewLibra:
My first piece that needed to be stuffed, Santa's bag. I used a chop stick but it didn't work well. Polyester fiberfill is unruly!
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The rocking horse is smaller than Santa's bag and the chop stick was useless. It just slipped around in there. I found using my long serger tweezers perfect for stuffing where my fingers won't reach.
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This is the second time so far I had to make cording. You tape one end of several strands of floss and manually twist the threads. Place a pen with a clip on the twist while holding up the free end. Then tape the other end to the first end.
SewLibra:
Here is my cord and it looks great! Carefully remove the tapes and tie the ends that were underneath together.
SewLibra:
I pinned the cord on my horse like the one in the picture on the upper right. Even though it shows the cord on the pic, there are no instructions to put it on the horse! Had to wing it. Also had to tie the cord at the upper pin and cut off the excess.
SewLibra:
At the end of my sewing day I decided to pin some tissue paper to the top of the stocking where the name and holly leaves are. I have so much more to do and want to keep it clean. Also the felt gets fuzzy with too much handling.
SewLibra:
Once the Santa suit is sewn on and stuffed it's in the middle of the stocking. Too bulky to hold in my left hand while I sew with the right. I had to fold the bottom part under and sew it while flat on the table. It's getting more difficult to handle.
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This is Santa's suit upside down to show how I had to push in the stuffing as I sewed around the interior. It's a long awkward piece and too difficult to stuff from one small opening.
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This is my first piece that has a "back" to it. The instructions seem to want you to sew the sequins through both layers but it was vague. I decided to sew through one layer then add the back. Not sure if this was right but it worked.
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Santa looks grumpy without his beard! The instructions say you can add blush to his cheeks, but not how. I saw online it can be done with a Q-tip. Pink would be better but I don't wear pink makeup.
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Some of the pieces are ridiculously small to stuff and sew. The poly fiber fill wants to pop out everywhere! This is Santa's mitten.
