FFT - Progress

Some amazing photographs have hit the Fun Friday Tute (FFT) 2015 photo folder over on StitchMAP!  It's fun to see the results when a stitcher puts his/her own spin on a project!

On this mini-weaving, Caroline W. pulled her colors from Scripture, and then she backed the piece with a long piece of black felt so she could use it for a bookmark in her bible!

Isn't that clever?  Love the color combination!

Ann S. didn't make just one . . . she got really creative and  made THREE!  

Check out the detailing with the beads.  Isn't that nifty embellishing and a good way to use up an odd bead or two from your stash? Ann was also very gracious to walk our members through her process, pointing out the things she did differently as she moved from piece-to-piece. It's always educational when a member shares this way.  It really helps some of us to better understand an artist's process.

And speaking of process, check out this darling adaptation from Suz C.:

Precious, no? The tiny tatted lace flower, the buttonhole lace edge trimming, and bullion handles make this little weaving a darling handbag for a special doll!  If a chain were slipped through the handles it would even make a sweet pedant.

There's still time for you to make your own woven piece! The instructions can be found HERE. If you're a StitchMAP member, make sure you upload a photo of your finished project to the group's FFT 2015 folder. If you're not a member of the group, send a photo of your finished project HERE so we can feature it on the blog. Or better yet, why not click on photo of the little girl stitching on the sidebar and join us at StitchMAP?

Until next time, remember:  any day spent stitching, is a good day!

Let the Fun Begin!

A famous author once wrote, "What's in a name?" A valid question, especially if the 'name' in question is an acronym like FFT!

Fanciful Fabulous Teapots?  

No.

Frightfully Famous Terrapins?  

Uh, no.

Frivolous Fortunate Terrestrials?  

That would be a big N-O!

How about Fun Friday Tutes?!?  Yes, yes, yes!  It's time for the first Fun Friday Tute of 2015!

This first FFT is a miniature weaving project and everyone on StitchMAP can participate in the making of the project and sharing their photos. If you are not a member of MAP, feel free to participate and share a photo of your finished project with us by emailing it HERE. We would love to share your photos, along with those of our member's, here on the blog after the closing date.  The instructions for the project can be found HERE.

The charm of making this project is simple . . . use up some scrap floss and make a darling piece of jewelry (or a zipper pull, scissors fob or maybe even a book mark), while learning (or reviewing, as the case may be) some basic principles of weaving. It doesn't take much time or effort to make the small version demonstrated, but you could expand upon the idea and try these variations once you have done the small one:

• Change the width and or length of the weaving
• Change the fibers to some other type - larger weaving should equal heavier fiber perhaps
• Mix the fibers up - one for the base and one or more for the weaving
• Add additional colors in the weaving

Four things Shari recommends when taking on the project (in deference to the needle-arts): 

1. Strip your floss and lay it back together before threading your needle, so it doesn't twist and will lay fuller and smoother.
2. Specifically use a tapestry needle so you don't pierce the loom threads as you weave.
3. Whip that closing edge before adding the jump ring.
4. Use the proper jeweler's pliers to open and close the ring if you have them. Here is a wonderful YouTube video on opening and closing rings of all sorts:

Now that you have all the information you need, try your hand at one (or two, or three)! Closing for this FFT is February 6, 2015, so you have two weeks to upload your photos to the 2015 FFT Album located on StitchMAP.

Happy weaving!