Sunday 23 November 2014

Still sewing the blues

This week I've been sporadically stitching away at my second attempt with denim.  This time I tried making a more traditional sandwich, with a backing, batting, denim.  The back was a scrap, the batting is a 70/30 cotton/polyester, made entirely from recycled materials. 


For those of you who have been asking about sewing through denim, this was way harder than my first go.  So hard that after an hour or so I cut the backing fabric off, which made it a much more pleasant experience.  I think if I wanted to back it again I would look for a fabric with a much looser weave; the stuff I used is pretty stiff and dense - bad idea.  


Without the backing this is much easier, especially since it's machined together, so there's no overlapping of the denim to deal with. I'm not sure if these photos show the slightly more raised surface you get with the batting underneath, but it does make a difference, honest.


I could stop here - I've learned what I need to from this, but will probably go on stitching until it's all pretty, just because I like it.

Linking up with Slow Sunday Sewing again.



6 comments:

Quilter Kathy said...

I really love the look of this denim with stitches, but my hands feel tired just looking it!

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

So glad you are enjoying your stitches! That is what it is all about afterall!

Stephie said...

Love the stripes you've created - and that red/pink looks great on the denim. I'd carry on too, it's gorgeous!

audrey said...

It does look amazing.:)

Juliann in WA said...

Don't you love stitching just to stitch? Lovely work

Mary Marcotte said...

It just keeps getting better! Your stitches are so pretty. Keep going (with or without the backing).