Pillowcase created with transfers from Sublime Stitching, plus jumbo red rickrack!

[digression]

I was part of St. Ned’s delegation to our diocesan convention last weekend. This wasn’t my first convention, so I knew the first rule of convention, which is: bring handwork. Or you will be sorry because you’ll only be able to doodle on your little Embassy Suites notepad while the people in the know knit or draw or, in my case, embroider. My only mistake was not bringing enough work; I only had two dishtowels with me and I finished the final design just as the budget debate was getting into full swing. And by ‘full swing’ I mean nit-picking tedium. Overall, though, it was a nice, civilized convention and some good work got done, so I’m glad I went.

Outcome of Convention 2004: deranged fruit towels [designs by sublime stitching]

I’m moving this weekend. You might think that this means that all of my stuff is packed up in boxes and neatly labeled. You would be wrong. Clearly, it is not going to be that kind of move.

These jeans were a Christmas present for Dennis. I kidnapped a pair of his well-loved jeans and did some functional patching of the buttular area, followed by some interesting patching and embroidery to produce what I consider to be a fine pair of hippie pants. I know, there’s something kind of odd about giving him back his own pants, but they were cooler! better! stronger! and weren’t a couple threads away from revealing his underwear anymore, so that’s something. I was so happy with them, I put my This American Life flaming squirrel patch on the back.

Here are photos (I know, I need to get some of him actually wearing the pants!):

The coin pocket was blown out, so I covered it in coral and gold silk brocade.

I downloaded this design from Ann the Granand converted it to Viking format – it’s called the Irish angel. It’s stitched out in black thread on gold silk duopioni. It’s on the lower back of the left leg, and you can also see some of the borders I did right above the hem.

Anther design from Ann the Gran, stitched out in orange thread on wool felt.

This American Life flaming squirrel patch. To understand the squirrel patch, go to the TAL website and listen to show #115.

The other patches are silk brocades, and I embroidered the Capricorn symbol directly onto the denim on the left thigh. They seem to be holding up well through multiple washings. I wash them inside-out to minimize abrasion on the brocades and embroidery.