I Did It! I Did It!!

Me and zippers? Well, I wouldn't exactly call us best friends - yet! But I would say that we are out of counseling and tentatively trying to build a relationship. (Which is more than can be said about me and the Farmer at the moment.) I've tackled two tutorials and one 'I can do this teeny tiny pouch without a tutorial' pouches. I only had to completely pick the stitches out of one. Yes, that would be the one that I thought I knew what I was doing and went out on a limb and tried doing it without a tutorial. But I did manage to correct my mistake and get it right, eventually.

Highlight of all this is most definitely that I have managed to do it and am not now sat glaring at a huge pile of zippers wondering if I can burn them. The low point would be when I forgot to reposition my needle after changing from the zipper foot back to the 1/4" foot. I didn't break it but I did bend it. This would have been okay if I had a replacement - but I didn't. Neither could I go out because I had to wait for a delivery. So I took that needle and with less than delicate force got it as straight as I could and soldiered on.

Yes, I know! I should not be doing that. And no, my machine was not that impressed with me. Eventually the waited for delivery arrived and I hightailed it to town and purchased two packs of needles to cover for the next few mistakes.

So, here are the photos. I am ever so proud of myself. Can't you tell?

This was the last pouch I made but the one I am most proud of.
I am showing them in opposite order here.
I accomplished this with Kat's tutorial, found here.

I am so pleased with the way this looks.

A little bit of stitchery because I could.

Oh, I like this bit. By pure coincidence the cross stitches join perfectly at the bottom of the pouch on the seam.

Pouch two, the charm square one.
This was the one I had to take apart.
Something to do with sewing so that the wrong sides of the fabric were on the outside.

I like the green lining up against the purple zipper.

The first tutorial I did was Ayumi's, found here.
Unfortunately I messed up on the size of fabric I pieced so the zipper didn't sit as well as I would have wished.
Entirely my fault and nothing to do with Ayumi's brilliant tutorial.

I've also had second thoughts on my fabric choice.
A little late for that!



And that is what I did with myself today, besides some more ornaments, and listen to Rhonda on her podcast. And buy more ribbon. Oh speaking of ornaments - someone emailed me and asked where I got the pattern for my crocheted snowflakes. I have been looking for that email to reply but failed in my search so am passing on the information here. I started with this very good tutorial here on Attic 24. I then went and did my own thing once I had the general feel for it. As long as you stick to the six sides it seems to work. What can look like a right old mess when crocheted can turn into the most brilliant snowflake once soaked in Stiffy and pinned according to  your whim. I highly recommend it.

Susan