Beautiful Finished Projects!

We had quite a few finished projects today!

5th grader bunny.

We started out with the completion of this cute little bunny!

Bunny face close up.

Just look at his cute little face!

Two bunnies!

Another bunny joined us at camp today.  One of our students went home yesterday and created the cute bunny on the left all by herself at home and then brought him to play with us today!

Sleeping bunny.

After about half a morning of sewing camp, bunny needed a nap so another camper donated her handmade quilt for bunny to snuggle with.

6th grader backback.

A very lovely backpack was finished – these backpacks are fully lined and include a casing for the drawstring closure.

4th grader froggy.

Such a cute froggy made a debut in camp today.

1st grader quilt.

This young sewing enthusiast finished her quilt this morning.  Isn’t it beautiful?!

4th grader backpack.

Here is a second backpack that was completed today.  I LOVE this bird fabric!

Starting an innovative design.

This 7th grader is creating her own pattern for a shirt.  Shortly after this photo was taken, her fabric was chosen, cut and she started sewing – I can’t wait to see the outcome.  Maybe she will let me use the pattern she created for future camps or classes.

7th grader patchwork pillow.

This started out as a quilt but as this camper neared the finish line she decided she would much rather have a pillow.  I think she will be very happy with her pillow.

5th grader pillow case.

This student worked very hard on her pillow case and it turned out fabulously!

Bunny couch.

Bunny must have a couch to relax in after a hard day at camp!

4th grader bunny couch.

This couch was designed and sewn completely by a 4th grader – simply impressive!  She did such a wonderful job from her first idea to the execution of her design!

Bunny carrot.

Bunny must have a snack to make it through a whole morning of sewing!

3rd day of Sewing Camp!!

So many fun things happening today in camp!

Ironing!

Everyone learns to use an iron!  And they like ironing!

Sewing!

4th grader frog.

This student brought this to class this morning.  She left yesterday from camp and was so inspired, she made this at home!  Isn’t he fabulous?!!

5th grader quilt.

Close up of tied quilt.

Starting a new project.

Measuring and cutting fabric.

Pinning and hand sewing.

5th grader polo wrap.

This student came to class yesterday asking about making polo wraps for her horse – she even brought her own pattern.  I had no idea what they were, but we worked through it and made them!!  Pretty Awesome!

7th grader apron.

Close up of apron.

6th grader pin cushion.

2nd day of Sewing Camp

Every day at sewing camp is a good day!

Getting right to work.

Putting on the finishing touches.

Working on a new project.

Doing hand work.

Contemplating designs.

Cutting fabric.

Collaborating.

Sewing.

5th grader sachet.

5th grader pin cushion.

5th grader pin cushion.

5th grader pin cushion.

1st grader pin cushion.

5th grader pin cushion.

Sewing.

Fabric selection.

7th grader pin cushion.

4th grader owl pillow.

6th grader “Spot” dog.

5th grader “Spot” dog.

So many fun experiences today!

Sewing Camp!!

New students learning to use the sewing machines.

New projects.

Continuing work on in- progress projects.

New project.

Sewing away!

4th grader sachet.

Fabric color.

Fabric color.

Permanent markers and rubbing alcohol.

4th grader sachet.

Sewing, sewing, sewing.

Working together.

Sewing and chatting.

1st grader sachet! So happy!

Finished Projects Galore!

WOW!!  That’s all I can say about today!  All the campers worked hard and had a great time finishing up their final projects for the week.

Beaded Danish Medallions.

We started out the day with several of our student learning new stitch patterns on the looms.  Here we are doing some beaded danish medallions.  She finished her project and it is so very pretty.  I did not get a picture of it and I am very sorry to not be able to share it with you.

More Beaded Danish Medallions.

This piece also has beaded danish medallions, but they are much closer together and give a very different look.

Pile Weave.

This student chose to do sections of even weave interspersed with pile stitch.

Great patterning.

Check out the use of two different colors of thread used in the same shed on this piece.  This very creative camper came up with this on her own!

Finishing!

I always try to take a picture of each piece being cut from the loom because I completely remember how scared I was to cut my first piece off the loom – terrified doesn’t even begin to explain it!!  I thought the whole piece would literally explode and come unwoven!  These campers are not worried about it at all – they are completely fearless!!  It totally amazes me each time.

Even Weave, Pile Stitch and Danish Medallions.

This young weaver only had a day and a half to work on this beautiful piece of fabric because she had to leave early from camp today.  I can’t believe how much she accomplished in such a short amount of time – specialty stitches, color changes and enough fabric to use for many things.  I also think her choice of  colors are perfect and stand out so much against the white on this lovely piece!

4th grader placemat.

I can’t wait to hear about this camper using his new placemat!!  He came into class knowing exactly what he wanted to make as his second piece and he really did it.  Notice the two colors of warp (the dark blue and the light blue) and the great stripes he achieved from it!  He also incorporated Pile Stitch and Danish Medallions – great job!

Close up of stitch details.

Another project being cut off the loom!

4th grader fabric.

Look at those bright, sunny, happy colors!  Doesn’t it just make you smile to look at it?  I love all the beads – it really takes time and patience to place all of them.

4th grader shoulder bag.

Remember the fabric from yesterday?  The one with the many different patterns?  Well, this camper turned her fabric into an over-the-shoulder bag!  She also wove her own strap and sewed everything together by hand!!  What a lovely piece of wearable art.

4th grader bag strap.

Close up details of the beaded danish medallions on the strap.

VERY even weave.

The strap consists of several rows of beaded medallions and leno lace.  The rest is all even weave and it is very EVEN!!

4th grader mat.

Check out those great colors!  And all that pile stitch!  I can tell you that while creating pile stitch, it is very hard to maintain an even height from the fabric and this camper did an extremely good job at it.  All those rows – and there are quite a few of them! – are all even and beautiful!

 

Each camper did such a great job this week!!  They learned so much and had such a great time.  The projects that they completed all turned out so beautifully!!

Fantabulous!

Today was fantastic!  Everyone finished their first project and started a new one.

New warp being measured.

Our first warp of the day was measured and shortly after this picture was taken, it was wound onto the loom, threaded and the weaving started.

Danish Medallions

Danish Medallions are a big hit and very popular – they are not that difficult to do and they give a big “pop” on the fabric.

4th grader scarf.

Our first finish of the day!  Yeah!!

Measuring warp.

Of course, after a finished project, there is a need to start a new one :o)  Here she is almost done measuring the warp.

Even Weave and Pile Stitch.

And here is her work a little later. She is experimenting with color and texture.

Intermediate Sampler.

This actually came off the loom yesterday, but still needed some finishing touches which were completed this morning.

Pick-up stick texture.

I had to take some pictures of the different patterns she wove.  They are simply gorgeous – sorry for the blurry pictures, she was so excited she couldn’t keep still :o)

Pick-up stick weaving.

Pick-up stick weaving.

Pick-up stick weaving.

Pick-up stick texture.

Twill on the rigid heddle loom.

I just had to show the intricate patterns on her piece of fabric!

Measuring warp.

Since that piece of beautiful fabric will be turned into an over the shoulder bag, it needs a shoulder strap.  This camper chose some very colorful yarn for her warp.

All tied on.

The weaving has begun.

This is her weaving so far.  Some even weave, some beaded danish medallions and some leno lace which you cannot see in this picture.  I believe the strap is going to be as beautiful as the bag!

Hem stitching.

This is the other student who was working on the sampler project.  She has finished the weaving and is working on her hem stitching.

Cutting off the warp.

She was very excited to cut her project off of the loom.

3rd grader table runner.

Here is her project in all it’s glory!!  Instead of sewing it into something, she has chosen to use this as a table runner.  I think that’s a fabulous use of this beautiful piece of handiwork.

Close up of one of the pick-up stick sections.

I just had to include a close up of this section.  Using a pick up stick and following a pattern on a rigid heddle loom is time consuming and required great concentration – Both students were up to the task.  Job Well Done!!

4th grader scarf.

Another scarf was finished today!  Look how lovely it turned out!

Tying the warp onto the apron rod.

This student finished her scarf yesterday and is working on getting her loom re-warped for her second project.  She is actually quite a bit farther along now and has actually started her weaving.

Almost there!

Working on his danish medallions.

Hem stitching.

You can see that he has done several rows of danish medallions and a row of pile stitch.  Now just to finish his hem stitching on both ends and he will be done with his second project.

Lovely, Lovely, Lovely

Those colors on white just look so yummy and happy!

Tying onto the apron rod.

And another student almost ready to start weaving.

Beautiful Finishes and Starts

We had a fabulous weaving day!!

Hem Stitching.

This camper started the day out with some beautiful hem stitching.  I am amazed at this group of campers!!  Their hem stitching is really great.

Weaving Twill.

This third grader is working on the twill pattern for her sampler.  On the rigid heddle loom, this requires great concentration.

Cutting a project off the loom.

The weaving and hem stitching is done!!  Time to remove the project from the loom.

Cutting off of the loom.

Another project being cut off the loom!  Exciting times.

Hem Stitch.

The hem stitching on one side of this camper’s project is done and now she is hem stitching the other side.

Pulling out waste yarn.

Woo Hoo!!  The sampler is done!  Now to pull out the waste yarn at the beginning of her project and to hem stitch.  Then this part of her project will be complete.

New Warp.

A camper from yesterday finished his project and is now measuring the warp for his second project.  I love the colors he has chosen!!

4th grader scarf.

Our first finish of the day and isn’t it lovely?!!  The colors are so fun and bright!!

4th grader scarf.

Another fun finish!  This camper is so proud of her scarf!

Another Fun, Fun Day of Weaving!

We had our first finished project for this week of camp!

3rd grader scarf.

It is always such a thrill to cut your first project off the loom!!

3rd grader scarf.

I make sure that the warp is long enough to make a scarf that will wrap around the neck and keep them warm.  Isn’t this such a nice scarf?

Lots of weaving.

All of the campers are super excited each day when they come to camp.  They start their weaving right away.

“Tux”

Our resident furry “helper”.  Notice that her leg is actually THROUGH the warp.

Lots of attention!

Of course Tux knows that if she is being cute, she will get lots of love from our students :o)

Checking out our dye baths at snack time.

The first thing the campers did at snack was to check out their yarn.  I asked them to eat before they took the yarns out.

Chickens.

After snack the chickens had to be played with for a bit.

“Short Wing”

This chick really loves this camper.  He’s the only one she will sit on quietly.

Taking the yarns from the dye bath.

Now we were able to see exactly how our yarn hanks turned out.

Wringing them.

We had to wring them out a little so they would dry faster.

Pretty yarn!

Beautiful!

Here they all are, just drying in the sun this afternoon.  Tomorrow our campers will wind these into balls and weave with them if they choose.

Almost there!

Another camper is almost done with her scarf.  Here she is learning how to use the hem stitch in order to get a really nice finish.

Weaving Camp is Here!

Today was our first day of weaving camp this week.  It’s always fun to see new weaving students learning and enjoying themselves at the loom.

4th grader weaving.

4th grader weaving.

4th grader weaving.

It’s also great fun to have students come back for another session.  This time I created an Intermediate Weaving Sampler Pattern for two repeat campers.

3rd grader sampler.

4th grader sampler.

We worked hard for the first half of camp and then took a short break to eat snack and play with the chickens.

Chicken play.

“Short Wing”

“Sassafrass”

After our break we  dyed some yarn.  This time we made dye baths with food coloring.

Food Color Dye baths.

Each camper filled three jars with water and chose their food color for each one.  Then they placed each end of the hank of yarn into one of the jars and the middle of the hank into the middle jar.

Food Color Dye bath.

It’s fun to see which colors each camper chooses.

Food Color Dye bath.

It will be even more fun to see how the yarns turn out!

Gift yarn! YEAH!!

A friend of mine gave me some of her left over yarn.  Isn’t it so pretty?!

Gift yarn being used.

Well most of the campers felt the same way and wanted to use it in their weaving.  This yarn weaves up so nicely!

Gift yarn being wound onto a shuttle.

Gift yarn getting ready to be used as weft.

See how pretty it looks in this project?!  LOVE IT!  Thanks so much, Margaret!

Knitting Camp Wrap Up

Lots of finished projects today!!

4th grader headband.

Side view of headband.

Finishing up knitting.

Working on new projects.

Usually I try to have our students finish their projects before class ends for the week.  In the case of these two, they had finished their first projects and since they are coming back for more camps and wanted to knit more, I had them pick yarn and start something new.

3rd grader wrist warmers.

3rd grader wrist warmers.

These third graders worked so hard to finish their wrist warmers today.  Great job girls!

Campers working together.

Pin Weaving.

The start of a hat being knit in the round by a 4th grader.

The start of a colorful scarf by a 4th grader.

Finishing some pin weaving.

Pin weaving.

Pin weaving.

Pin weaving.

Knitting camp is done for this week – I am sad to see these campers leave – they are such great students and work so well together!