I have a confession to make: I sew. I have sewn since I was a kid. For some reason, most people don’t know this about me, but it’s true.
Not only do I sew, but I actually hand sew. I do a type of embroidery called “crewel work,” which basically hasn’t been popular since the Middle Ages. The appeal for me is that it’s much more freestyle than needlepoint, or counted cross stitch, or any of that other precise, mathematical and intimidating stuff.
The trouble is, since crewel isn’t very popular, there aren’t nearly the amount of kits for it as there are other type of sewing. And the ones that are still around are all flowers and Victorian ladies. Not exactly my fare.
Until. Until this awesome artist named Katherine Shaughnessy created The New Crewel, using the old crewel techniques, but putting them into new, hip, modern applications. Further, her book (the aforementioned New Crewel) gives you instructions and lots of cool patterns too, of which I am totally in love with.
My favorite thing to do of late is to use the patterns and make them as pillows for gifts for friends and family. I pick a color scheme and pattern that I think said giftee will like the best (I have been known to call and ask fishy questions like, “What color is your bedding?”). Traditionally crewel is done on white or cream colored twill fabric, but you can shake things up with any color twill (Shaughnessy sells fabric and yarn on her website).
When I’m done embroidering the front, I take the piece down to my local fabric store and find a funky pattern for the back. Shaughnessy has a pattern for making the pillow backing (you can sew that part by hand, but a sewing machine helps. A lot.) Then insert a pre-made pillow insert (I favor 14″ ones that I pick up at my nearest crafting-weirdo-filled Jo-Ann Fabrics).
The whole thing probably costs about $25 (mostly for the pillow insert and backing; the twill and yarn I get in bulk) and takes a couple of weeks (I like to sew while I watch TV), but produces a really special present that matches any wedding registry gift that would cost $100 more. People like them, and they’re pretty perfect for these lean times.
You can check out Shaughnessy’s stuff at her website: woolandhoop.com.
Comments
jackie
November 16th, 2009 - 1:41:34 PM
i recently picked up sewing as a hobby, but as of yet, i've only had a few successes. that said, i've been having a blast and really enjoy this new creative outlet. anyway, already i'm looking for new avenues for trying out stuff, and this seems just about perfect. looks great!