Wednesday, January 13, 2010

New Leaf Technique


This new leaf I've been turning over has sure been turning out the leaves!!!

Well, this one I just have to share because I was so excited that it worked...I really wanted this fern-like leaf shape but wasn't quite sure how to get it...

So I decided to take my leaf shapes and put them on water-soluble stabilizer with a dab of glue...


I then put a wire down the center of all the shapes and sewed a small zig-zag stitch to secure the wire in place...


I removed the water-soluble stabilizer...


And Voila! It worked!

Problem was that I ruined the other two leaves I had cut out trying to find the right stitch width/length for my zig zag stitch...and I used a 28 gauge wire which cuts very easily, I've learned, if you hit it with the sewing machine needle.


I found that stitch width of 1.0 and stitch length of 0.5 worked perfectly... The leaf is almost two inches in length but I love being able to shape and bend it!

Now I have to go make a few more so I don't just have one...

One is the loneliest leaf that you'll ever do, two can be as bad as one, but the loneliest number is the number one...

(somebody will get that out there...)

14 comments:

Vicky aka Stichr said...

oh i get it...we sing that around here, along with 'i don't know why you say good-bye, i say hello!'

gorgeous leaves you have there.

Gerry Krueger said...

Hey leaf lady...I scored on a silk blouse with fabulous fern leaves in your colors. Send me your snail mail and I will share!!

Gerry K.

Cathy said...

Three Dog Night. The leaves are gorgeous - you are so creative! Hugs, Cathy

Michelle Frae Cummings said...

what a clever idea!

Marty52 said...

Great song!! You have been coming up with some gorgeous leaves, Ms. Susan!

Maryanne said...

Got the lyrics and love the leaves!
Love your new header, too.

Judy S. said...

Nicely done! They look just like the ferns in our backyard. You are so clever, but how many sewing machine needles did you break? BTW, you have an eagle's eye; however, that wasn't a candle graveyard, that was my "wee Willie Winkie" collection of candleholders, all ready for the next power outage......

Loralynn said...

Love your leaf! So sweet! Isn't it great when an idea actually works!

Vicki W said...

It's an awesome leaf and I know it won't be lonely for long!

MeganH said...

Do you know the silk covered purl that Thistle Threads has? (or, more standardly, you can get it in gold, copper, silver).
That's what I thought you'd used when I first saw the photo - stretched out. You could do that too (tho it'd be a more expensive solution) - but then the leaves would be on 'wire' and you'd have an actual branch that would stick up to some extent.
(Tell me if you want more details on silk covered purl)

Barbara C said...

I'm getting ready to do leaves on my current project, and I find your ideas to be ingenious and inspiring. Plus now I have Three Dog Night running through my brain for even more inspiration.

allie aller said...

Genius!!!!!!

FredaB said...

I second Allie.

Hugs

FredaB

Unknown said...

I am suddenly feeling very old cuz I also got those lyrics.. and I sang that song ALOT...not something you hear much anymore, unless you listen to an oldies,classic rock station.. Ugggh again feeling older. Wasn't I just a teenager yesterday??? and you know that those leaves are FABULOUS!

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