Machine-Embroidered Bodice

2/25/2011

Several bodice patterns have been designed for my Super Gem this week, and I'm working on the lavender fairy outfit. I'm actually using the embroidery features on my new sewing machine for the very first time - it's about time too, since I bought it over a year and a half ago! Just the first layer has been done so far - there's still plenty more to do, and then the beading.

jane

3/12/2013 03:16:53 am

Hope you don't mind me pestering you with my questions.
(I'm reading all of your past posts, since I'm learning so much - you are so generous with your knowledge! Again, thank you!)
Looks like this bodice is made with corduroy, but I'm assuming that's not the case, since it would be too bulky, and just not the right fabric, but then again, you do so many things to change your fabric.
What are the bright pink "things" under the lilac netting. And when you say "embroidery features" are you talking an embroidery (w/ hoop, etc.) machine or just the embroidery stitches some machines can produce? I'm thinking the latter, since the lavender stitch you did here looks like something MY machine can do. I use a Bernina 1630. I'm curious as to what you use.

Martha

3/12/2013 05:00:20 am

The main bodice fabric is a stretch knit, backed with inter-facing. The "pink spots" under the tulle, is pink metallic lamé that's been bunched up a bit by the top-stitching, so it looks like "spots", but it's actually just the way the fabric catches the light.

My sewing machine is not an embroidery machine - just a high-end sewing machine that has a lot of fancy stitch options. It's a Husqvarna Sapphire 875 Quilt. I'd always dreamed of owning a machine with lots of fancy stitches, because they would have been so handy during my cloth doll embellishment days, but I've barely ever used any of the functions. My old machine had broken down, and I had been diagnosed with macular degeneration, so I figured it was then or never, and that machine was on sale (over $500 off) so I splurged. It turned out I was "buying a dream" and it was a total waste of money, as I'd have done just as well with a much cheaper machine with basic sewing stitches, which is what I was used to with my old simple Pfaff.

Jane

3/12/2013 12:56:53 pm

Thank you for your reply.
What you've accomplished with those fancy stitches however is very effective, IMHO anyway. It's too bad your purchase was for naught. I bought my machine with heirloom techniques in mind - a la Martha Pullen. Now my girls are grown, and I'm waiting on grandchildren to revise some of thos skills.
Sorry to hear that you have MD. I thought I had read that somewhere on your site, but then thought, no, it must have been somewhere else since she creates such wonderfully detailed costumes. My dad suffered with it in his last years. Now your work seems that much more amazing!
And I never would have guessed that was a knit!!!

Martha

3/13/2013 01:15:55 am

It's funny how I'm just stuck in my ways, continuing to do things like I've always done them, even when I have a machine that can do so much more.

I do have some eyesight issues - especially with beading - but at my last eye doctor's appointment he was amazed I still had 20/20 vision even with all the issues going on. I just hope it stays that way!!!

Jane

3/12/2013 12:59:51 pm

OH, and did you know you can spend up to $10,000 for those embroidery machines? Crazy. Then again, these dolls you create costumes for aren't cheap either. But if your tax code in Canada is anything like the US's you'd could probably claim them as a business expense/tax write off.

Martha

3/13/2013 01:18:24 am

In Canada everything costs even more. I think my sewing machine was already $2800. although I got it on sale. And yes, you can claim the cost toward your business expenses here too.

Comments are closed.

Machine-Embroidered Bodice

Author

Archives