Hand Applique

Applique is a needlework technique to attach patches of fabric onto a background fabric to form the design or embellishment pattern. We can sew the patches of fabric in place by hand or machine. If you are using sewing machine, set your sewing machine to a desired stitch and test the stitch on the scrap of fabric before you start stitching. If you are sewing by hand, you must know at least some basic hand sewing stitches like running stitch, backstitch, blanket stitch and blind stitch.

Before you begin stitching, you may have to pin or adhere the appliques in place, some of the tools like bead-needle, fusible interfacing, and fabric glue are popular choices that used to attached the appliques to the background fabric. Anyway, some people might not use any tools to help them in guiding their works.

There is a variety of methods to do applique, the methods shown below are my favorite hand sew applique methods.

1. raw edge applique
2. finished edge applique
3. needle-turn applique ( turned edge applique)

Raw edge applique

This is the simplest way to sew on an applique. The raw edge of the applique fabric is left exposed. From the photo above, you can see the edge become frayed, don't you think the frayed edge bring you a natural look? Usually, I will use the backstitch in this method. Of course, you can use other stitches as long as you are satisfied with the outcome.  Apart from the cotton fabric, you can see many people like to use this method on a felt applique. The edge of the felt applique won't become frayed, it will bring you a different look and feeling.

Finished edge applique

In this method, you have to place two applique pattern pieces right side together and stitch completely around the edges. First, place two applique fabric pieces right side together and start preparing your applique pattern pieces by tracing around your prepared template onto the wrong side of the fabric. Then stitch completely around the edge and cut a hole in the middle on one side of the applique, then turn the the applique right side out. Now, pin or baste your finished edge applique on the background fabric and stitch it down with blind stitch. If your applique involve a convex curve shape, and the seam allowance is more than 0.5cm then you have to make a few small notches on the curve edge so the shape can lay flat when you turn it to the right side. The photo shown above is a semi-circle applique, although it has a convex curve shape, I don't make any notch on the convex curve edge because the seam allowance is narrow enough to create a flat surface.

If you are using fusible interfacing, trace the pattern ( mirror image) on the dull side of the fusible interfacing. Place the fusible side (shiny side) on the right side of your fabric and sew the fusible interfacing onto the right side of the fabric along the line you traced. Then, cut out the pattern piece, leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance. Notch the convex curve edge if necessary and cut a hole in the middle of the fusible interfacing. Turn the applique right side out, press your applique in a nice shape, place it on the background fabric and hold it in place using a warm iron. The fusible interfacing will bond with the background fabric. Now, you can easily stitch it down.

needle-turn applique ( turned edge applique)

This is a traditional method, what we have to do is to turn under the seam allowance with a needle before the applique is stitched to the background fabric. First, prepare your applique pattern piece by tracing around your prepared template onto the right side of the fabric. Cut out the pattern piece and leaving a 1cm seam allowance around the edge of the shape. Before you start sewing, make a few small notches on the convex curve edge ( only if your design involve a convex curve shape) and finger press around the stitching line that you have drawn onto the applique piece so you can easily turn the edge under when you are sewing it down. Usually, I will pin it in place and sew it down with blind stitch.

If you find it is not easy to turn under the edge and press the edge with your fingers, there is an alternative method that you can try out. Place your template (mirror image) on the wrong side of your applique fabric, fold the seam allowance up against the template and press with a warm iron. Remove the template when you have finished pressing. Then, you can place and hold your applique on the background fabric with pins, fabric glue or the basting stitch and stitch it down with blind stitch.

Applique Stitch

The applique stitch is a popular and easy stitch for sewing all applique designs or shapes. We use applique stitch to attach patches on the right side of the background fabric. It can be worked from right to left or left to right and it is always used in the turned edge (needle-turn) applique. It creates small vertical stitches on the edge. Usually, we use a matching or neutral color to sew the patches on and works with single-strand thread. Much of the time we want to make an invisible applique stitch, then we have to match the thread color to the applique piece and use a tiny applique stitch. Sometimes, we want the stitches to be noticed and stand out, then choose a contrasting color and sew around the edge using either a small or a large applique stitch.

1. Thread the needle and knot the thread end. Insert the needle through the edge of the applique from the wrong side.

2. Insert the needle into the background right next to where the needle came out of the applique and bring the needle up through the edge of the applique about 2mm (or 1/16") away from the first stitch. Pull the thread through, a vertical stitch is formed.

3. Again, insert the needle into the background right next to where the needle came out of the applique and bring the needle up through the edge of the applique about 2mm (or 1/16") away from the previous stitch. Pull the thread through and repeat the step.

4. The last photo shown is a few applique stitches that sewn on the edge of a round applique.

Felt Triangular Coin Purse With Keyring

Some people may not interested in making crafts that required a complicated method or many steps to be followed. How about a triangular coin purse?  It seems not easy to sew a triangular coin purse with cloth fabrics, especially  those with lining and sponge. If you think some of the patterns that you searched from the internet are too complicated for you, then you can try out this simple pattern with felt cloth. This pattern required hand stitching, it is made entirely by hand. If you know how to do the backstitch, then, it is not a problem for you to get the work done.





materials:
1. a piece of  3.5" x 6" felt cloth
2. a piece of  3" zipper ( Shorten your zipper if it is too long for the project.)
3. two lengths of 3.5" self-adhesive decorative ribbon ( a conventional ribbon also could be used.)
4. a length of 1.5" fine ribbon.
5. a small keyring
6. matching sewing thread.





1. Take the 1.5" fine ribbon and slip the keyring onto the ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half and sew the ends together. A ribbon loop with keyring is done and set it aside.

2. Place the felt cloth right side up, stick on the self-adhesive decorative ribbon along the both short edges of the felt cloth respectively. If you are using conventional/regular ribbon, then you have to pin it in place. Sew the ribbon to secure in position using back stitch as shown in the photo below.

3. Then fold the felt cloth in half with the short edges meet at the center. In this step, your work should be placed right side out. Put the zipper under and between the two short edges, then pin it in place. The either sides of edges should be spaced apart evenly, the distance between the teeth and the edge is about 0.1" (approx.2mm).  As the second photo shown below, using matching sewing thread to top stitch a 0.1" ( approx. 2mm) seam along the edges respectively.

4. Turn your work wrong side out with the zipper set at the center and the tail of the zipper facing your right hand side. Sandwich the loop with keyring between the layers at the top right. The tail of the loop should be aligned with the edges. Then, Sew a 0.25" (approx. 0.6mm) seam to close the edges.

5. For the other side,  set the zipper to the side. Pull the puller slightly down and bend the top of the zipper as shown in the photo. Sew a 0.25" (approx. 0.6mm) seam to close the edges.

6. Done. The photo shown below is the wrong side of the finished triangular coin purse with keyring.

7. Turn the coin purse to the right side. It will turns into a whole new appearance. No matter from which angles, it will give you a pleasant look. What's more, it is not only handy but cool!

How to Shortern a Regular Zipper

What if you wish to shorten a zipper? If  you have a regular zipper with plastic teeth, that is pretty easy. You can create a new bottom stopper by sewing a few straight stitches over the teeth and cut the extra length. First, close your zipper and mark the point where the new bottom stopper should be placed on the zipper. At the spot where you have drawn a mark, start insert your threaded needle from the underneath and come up beside the teeth, create a bar tack over the zipper teeth by inserting and exiting the needle on either side of the teeth about 6 - 8 times and tie a knot at the back of the zipper. Cut across the zipper about half an inch below the bar tack using scissors.

Picot Cast On

What is picot cast on? Picot cast on is a knitting method used to create a set of small picots or bobbles at cast on edge of your knitting piece. It can be paired with picot bind off and create a really wonderful girlish look edging.

The picot cast on can be varied depending on the size and how far apart you want the picots to be. The picot can be made with just one stitch if you want a subtle look or it can be made with more stitches if you want it to be impressive. So, you can do it with any number of cast on stitches and any number of bind off stitches. Of course the size of a picot may vary depending on the type of yarn you are using.

I am going to show you how I make a two-stitch picot cast on ( cast on four stitches and bind off two stitches for each point). The instruction shown below starts by casting on four stitches.

Instruction

1. Using the knitted cast on, cast on four stitches
2. Knit two stitches, bind off two stitches. (Now, you should have one stitch left on your right needle.)
3. Transfer the single stitch on the right needle onto the left needle.
Repeat these three steps until the desired number of stitches that needed for your knit.

• Photo no 1. shown is the four stitches done by the knitted cast on at the starting point.
• Photo no.2 shown is a picot that created after you have bound off two stitches and transfer the single stitch on the right needle onto the left needle.
• Photo no 3. shown is a row of three picots.

Note:

• This method is requires a bit of extra yarn and it may take a bit more time than a normal/plain cast on.
• The picots can be spaced further apart by cast on more stitches. 
• If you want to make a bigger picot, cast on more stitches and then bind off more stitches. For example, if you want to make a three-stitch picot, you have to cast on 3 stitches for picots and then bind off the three stitches.

How to Knit Simple Baby booties

These adorable booties are ones that every mum will love. The knitting pattern shown below is a basic pattern, it is very easy to knit. Although it is simple, it can be well decorated in many ways. For example, tie a little bow on the strap or sew a little knitted flower on the toe cap. You can also knit the booties with several colors.

 I found that a lot of knitters like to use stitch holder when they knit baby bootie with single strap. Anyway, I don't use stitch holder. Let's go through the knitting pattern written below then you will know the difference.




Baby size : 0-3 months
Finished length : approx 3 1/4" (8cm)
Gauge : 22 rows = 2" ; 13 stitches = 2"  in garter stitch


materials:
1. yarn (100%  acrylic, weight 40g )
2. a pair of straight needles size 3.5mm
3. yarn needle or tapestry needle
4. two small buttons

knitting abbreviations :

K - knit
Kfb - knit front and back

SSK -  slip slip knit

K2tog - knit two together
YO - yarn over
sts -  stitches

Knitting pattern

Right bootie
cast on 32 stitches
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7 (wrong side ) : K all

Rows 2 (right side ) : K1, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K1 (36 sts)
Row 4  :  K2, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K4, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K2 (40 sts)
Row 6  :  K3, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K6, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K3 (44 sts)
Row 8  :  K4, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K8, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K3 (48 sts)
Row 9 - 19 : K all
Row 20  :  K16, SSK four times, K2tog four times, K16
Row 21  :  K all
Row 22  :  K10, K next 2 sts, bind off 20, K9
Now, you have two sets of 10sts on your needle.

For the first set of 10sts :-
Row 23 - 29  :  Knit seven rows.
Bind off and cut yarn about 12" to sew with.
(Leave the second set of 10 sts on the left needle when you knit the first set of 10 sts)

For the second set of 10 sts :-
Rejoin yarn at where you started binding off the 20 sts and cast on 16 sts tightly.
Row 23 - 25  :  K 26 sts
Row 26         :  K to last 3 sts. YO, K2tog, K1 (buttonhole)
Row 27 - 29  :  K26 sts
Bind off and cut yarn.



Left bootie
Rows 1 - 22  :  same as right bootie

For the first set of 10 sts :-
Row 23         :  K10, turn work, cast on 16 sts tightly
Row 24 - 25  :  K26
Row 26         :  K1, K2tog, YO, Knit to the end of the row (buttonhole)
Row 27 - 29  :  K26 sts
Bind off and cut yarn about 12" to sew with.
(Leave the second set of 10 sts on the left needle when you knit the first set of 10 sts)


For the second set of 10 sts :-
Rejoin yarn at where you started binding off the 20 sts.
Row 23 - 29  : Knit seven rows.
Bind off and cut yarn.


Finishing : Fold bootie with wrong side together and using the method of sewing invisible seam for garter stitch to sew up the heel seam. Then continue sewing the cast on edges (bottom edges) together with the whipstitch. Weave in yarn ends. Sew button opposite buttonhole on strap.

Note: attach button securely to avoid choking.
         : click here to get the free pattern for baby booties for baby size 4 - 6 months in another design.

Kellie's Castle, Batu Gajah, Ipoh

During this second semester school holidays, we visited a place where it is full of myths, legends and rumors - Kellie's Castle. Kellie's castle is located near Batu Gajah, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. This is an uncompleted mansion which was built by a scottish planter called William Kellie Smith. According to differing accounts, it was either a gift for his wife or a home for his son. Based on the information written on the board at the Souvenir Corner we know that  Kellie Smith built his first mansion, "Kellas House" in 1909 and in 1915 with the birth of his son, Anthony, he started planning for a huge castle with Scottish, Moorish and Indian architecture. However, it came to an abrupt halt with Kellie Smith's sudden death. He died of pneumonia during a trip to Portugal in 1926. His heartbroken wife, Agnes decided to sell Kellie Smith's properties and return home to Scotland.

Beside the haunted stories and the paranormal sightings, the unique architecture drew my attention. The uncompleted mansion designed with a 6-storey tower, rooms, a wine cellar, flat rooftop for parties and a tennis court. According to the history written in the brochure, all its bricks and tiles imported from India. He even employed a big group of Indian labors to build his dream house to keep the house authentically Indian. The bricks walls give it a rustic and mysterious feel. Try to look for a perfect camera angle, you can produce a stunning image of the historic architecture...

The brick walls give it a rustic and mysterious feel.

guest room, narrow staircase and the wine cellar

The first elevator in Malaya is located in this mansion. It connected the underground tunnel up to the top floor. Unfortunately, the plan did not materialise. We could only see a lift shaft there.

Lift shaft

I was very scared when I stood on the rooftop, there was no safety fence installed on the sides of the rooftop. Please take mighty good care of you children if you bring your children up there.

Scenery from the top.

It is said that a Canadian couple who came to Kellie's Castle to take the pictures of nocturnal creatures. After the night-time shoot, the woman saw a ghostly image of a man standing, looking out of the window.

Ghostly Cloister Balcony

 This is Kellie Smith's first home - Kellas House, Built in 1905 where he stayed with his family.

Kellas House was partially destroyed during the second world war.

It  is believe that there are four secret underground tunnels. One is connecting the Kellie's Castle to the Hindu temple, one is connecting to the road and one is connecting to the main gate garage. But part from three known tunnels, the last one still undiscovered.

This is the ventilation hole for the underground tunnel heading towards the Indian temple.

 Before we got there, we had heard that the Kellie Smith's spirit still wandering inside the castle, especially along the corridors. Some said that there are lots of workers' spirits wandering around the castle since they died during the construction of the castle and people died during the second world war. There was much curiosity about this unfinished mansion. Do you believe in ghosts? Anyway, an  image that looks very much like Kellie Smith's face was captured by my daughter accidentally!! Is that really the face of a spirit or it is just a kind of optical delusion? Oh, I don't know.

There is a ghostly face image behind the window.

Let's compare the ghostly face image to the William Kellie Smith's picture. Is it looks very much like his face?

Spirit of Kellie Smith?

This castle is well worth a visit. The entrance fee for Malaysia adult was RM5, kid (age 3 -12) was Rm 3.