syko

Mending knees in kids jeans tutorial

Today I did something that made me very proud of myself! I managed to mend little e's jeans that have been lying in an annoying pile in my studio for quite some time now. It took me about 20 minutes to get two pairs done! I had fun and used some scraps with heat n' bond (that's the iron-on adhesive I use for appliqué) that I improvised with to make the patches. It became a cat and a frog! Scroll down to see how I did it!

1. I ironed the patches with heat n' bond over the hole.

2. I used the mending foot/appliqué foot that allows me to move freely over the fabric. These jeans are very slim so it was a bit tricky! I worked the seams several times to get a durable patch.

3. Ready! As you see the seams are shaky, but when you stitch several times it looks like you did it on purpose. At least this is what I tell myself :)

The kitty looks like he has had something strange to eat... Little e says he's going to wear these jeans to school tomorrow! That's the best feedback I could get :)

 
 

The Close your eyes quilt -- part 2

I have retired to the sofa with aching limbs today and my daughter is down with fever, luckily it's Saturday and we have the time to take it easy. It's freezing outside too so we are happy to stay inside.

I finished all the blocks for the Close your eyes-quilt, yesterday. After sewing for awhile I stopped to do some measuring and counting and came to the conclusion that I needed 8 large blocks sized 24''x24'' (about 60x60cm), that's as big as my longest ruler, so I joined a couple of the smallest bocks. This is how they turned out!

I hope you are all having a relaxing weekend!

 

The Close your eyes quilt -- part 1

In a few weeks I will be teaching a quilt workshop, the theme is to (a) use up some of that stash and (b) go wild and creative and (c) not to think too much. So I decided I'd better make another quilt to show the participants what I have in mind! The idea is the same as in the Improv quilt top I made a few years ago, a free take on the traditional log cabin pattern. The colour inspiration is my daughter's new room that goes in grey, turquoise, pink, black&white and a hint of yellow. This is where she likes to sit and read (she is 10 years old and is reading the 5th Harry Potter in English, we speak Swedish at home, that child is a genius)!The other night we watched a documentary about the composer John Cage, which inspired me to make a quilt where I pick the fabrics "by chance". What I did was to fill this bag with fabrics in the theme colours from my stash and placed it by my sewing machine. 

I found 12 smaller pieces in different sizes in my scrap basket that became center pieces for the blocks and then I started sewing. I closed my eyes and randomly picked a fabric from the bag. When possible I chose the size of the strips "by accident" too. Like here on this black fabric that was already cut into, the strip naturally became 4 inch wide.

 This is so fun! I just hope it won't end up looking like a catastrophe, I promise to show you the result anyway :)

  It's too early to say, this is what I left by my sewing machine earlier today, can't wait to get back to work tomorrow!

It would be great fun if you would like to join me on this! If you do, feel free to post your links here! 

Appliqué workshop in Helsinki

It is the time of year when everyhting is happening at the same again! I can't believe it is already two weeks ago since I held a weekend appliqué workshop in Helsinki. I love these events, when you spend to intense days together with a group of ladies (so far there has been only ladies in my classes) who share the joy of sewing.

This was made by a lady who used to teach art to children and had travelled to Africa several times.

"My  birds" made by a lady who loved vibrant colours.

The fox from by book in a very romantic outfit, so pretty!
"Alp village", she was going to quilt piles of snow on it, I wish I could see the result!


Just a few of the pieces made during the class. I hope you have time for some sewing this weekend!

 

Pouch parade + coupon code

If you are fans of Syko on Facebook this might be yesterday's news for you! But I have just finished 92 zippy pouches with animal appliqué and I just feel like telling the world about it! It might be my record so far. The first thing I ever sold on Etsy was a piggy pouch on October 19, 2006 (I had to check that), that's 6 years ago! No wonder I have been cursing these (I can say that today, it's Halloween, right?) every once in a while and thought that I will never ever again sew a kitten in my life. But then people ask so nicely and I have some new fabrics that just seem perfect for a pouch with a Royal Moroccan cat... And I can feel the pouchy inspiration coming and here I am stitching up the whole zoo again!

It might take a few months before I make more of these, so if you want one, this is the time! And now I am thinking, why not celebrate the 6th birthday of my Etsy shop by giving you a little discount? With the coupon code PIG2006 you will get 15% off all products in my shop until Monday morning November 5th. 

Tomte gang available!

If you are looking for a Syko tomte (Swedish for elf/gnome) these fellows are looking for a new home! 

That's Amos, Melker, Mikael, Sigur, Edvin, Elias and Adrian for you! I made the the dresses from old Christmas tablecloths that I am always on the hunt for at fleamarkets. I have been making these for years now, but I still like the process, they are such personalities! This time around I think Sigur is my favourite! 

If you're thinking that one of these tomte buddies should be yours, go to my Etsy shop! If you'd rather make one yourself, there is a pattern in my book Scandinavian stitches!

I hope to have some angel dolls ready for you next week...

*edit* Sigur and Amos have found new homes!

 

 

Bad flu go away!

There was so much I was going to do this weekend! And here I am coughing and sneezing on the couch. *sigh* I really hope I feel better tomorrow, I want to go to work and SEW! 

I am liking this little corner of mine, but it still needs a lamp on the wall. And another quilt! The light grey quilt I covered the sofa with is actually this christmas quilt I made for an exhibit last year (click here if you want to see me looking silly in the paper...). I was very clever to make the backing this neutral (it is ash/kona/Robert Kaufman), I think, it is sad to hide quilts away in the closet, isn't it?I made the quilt on the wall behind me for the book We love color (Stashbooks). If you would like a signed copy of the book I have few copies for 19€ including shipping whitin Europe. Just leave a comment on this post and include your e-mail if you're interested!

 

I hope you are all well!

Hey, I'm sewing!

I have finally reunited with Bernina Aurora after what seems like ages, but it was a very healthy break, I must say! I am very happy and quite busy to get the new cards for Fall and the holiday season ready. I can't wait to see them in print and show them to you!

I still have no Internet connection in my new studio, but as soon as I get it fixed I hope to become a more frequent blogger!! Talk to you soon!

dream happy

Helsinki is in bloom and I enjoy it fully! I think the older I get, the more I love this season. Right now the town smells sweet of bird-cherry and soon it will be followed by lilacs. Just look at me! I'm running around hugging cherry trees!

I got some flowers for the balcony too, a rosy Busy Lizzie, a romantic little lady.

 For Mother's Day I gifted myself with this Clematis 'Omoshiro', such a beautiful name, don't you think? I hope it will be happy to live with us, but above all I wish that I will soon have a garden of my own to plant it in... *sigh*

We have found a house (we have been looking to buy a house for a long time now) and I am crossing fingers and toes that this time everyhting go well and we will be moving in June, but more about that later, when I hopefully have some good news to share! Until that I am focusing on:

I hope these two words will help! And the winner, I hear you asking? First I want to thank everyone who participated! The winner of Skandinavische Näh-ideen is: Katrin!!! Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

 

The story of a bag

I have a bunch of stuff left from the market last weekend so I have updated my Etsy shop!

I am trying to use second-hand fabrics in my work as much as I can, it does not feel wise to keep on buying new in a world that is filled with abandoned textiles in good condition. This means that the fabrics that come to me can be in colours or patterns that might not have been my first preference if I had went shopping for brand new fabrics. However I love the creative challenge that working with second hand materials gives me. Very often it helps me to step outside my comfort zone. 

My friend Tuija was very kind to give me these fabrics in burnt orange and yellow from her great stash of second-hand fabrics when I had run out of cotton canvas for my handbags. One of my favourite colours right now is turquoise, so I decided to combine it with the orange. And dots, of course! I am very happy with the 60's look it got. And I had to make a zippy pouch to match it, a little circus bird.