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Blanket stitch - great for applique and decorative impact

The Old Button Play On The Go © Play Scenes - Safai Zoo What is blanket stitch Blanket stitch is an edging stitch, traditionally used to finish the edges of woollen blankets (or other woven items) to stop them unravelling.  Sewn in a connected row, the stitch forms neat 3 sides boxes, with the effect of "down" side stitches connected by "top" stitches, but they are formed by looping the thread in a continuous stitch.      When used as an edging stitch, it wraps itself around the edge, with down stitches showing at the front and the back, and the top showing across the outside edge.      The Old Button felt flower brooch Securing applique As it can be eased around curves and used on angles of any shape, including internal ones, blanket stitch is also great for securing applique patches.  I use it a lot with felt, but it also works well on cotton or wool fabrics too as where it has the added benefit of catching in any fraying threads.  The Old Button heart an
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Tie Dyed Stuff for Teen Boys?



My nephew came round yesterday -  I'm arranging a work experience for him and he needed to sign some forms. He and my eldest daughter Hedd are the same age and although they spent a lot of time together as kids, we don't see that much of him now he's older as they go to different schools. 

Surprisingly for a teenager, he's rather chatty - while I was digging out the forms he told us all about his recent clothes shopping trip with his mates. He was wearing one of his buys - a Help the Hero's t-shirt - which he was rather proud of - his dad was in the RAF and his older brother is just coming home from Afghanistan.   He also showed us a picture of a tie dye t-shirt he's bought from a popular clothes shop and was pretty interested in finding out what Hedd had ben up to - he had seen her posting tie-dye photos on facebook. 

Tie dye t-shirt in slate blue
One of Joe's tie dye t-shirts
He was asking all sorts of questions about how to do it and where do you get the dye from - it was pretty obvious he was dying to have a go himself! Apparently tie dyed clothing is pretty popular with teenage boys as well as girls at the moment - one of his mates had even bought himself a pair of tie dyed boxer shorts!

So while Hedd took herself back off to her room to revise - she's still in the middle of exams - I let him lose on a batch of slate blue dye and a couple of t-shirts.  Pretty impressive results!

He's dead keen now to do some more - he's coming back on Sunday to make a few batches up - he reckons he can sell them to his mates in school. I've been tasked with sourcing tag-less t-shirts - apparently boys prefer t-shirts without labels on the necks! I tracked some down by Hanes and ordered a load which hopefully should arrive tomorrow.

Dip dyed, bleached and re-worked denim shorts
Hedd's dip dye and bleached denim shorts




I noticed Hanes also sell white cotton boxer shorts - and remembering my nephew's mate, I was tempted to get some - but I doubt even my budding entrepreneurs could sell tie dyed boxers to their friends! So we won't go there.

Despite her exams, Hedd's still managing to get some crafting done. As well as tie dying some t-shirts ready for screen printing and applique, she's been dip dying and customising denim shorts.





      
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