Gotta Have Bling Part 2- Chenille Letters

First let me say a big "Thanks!!" to all who emailed me for the first set of files.  I am happy to share my files, and would love to see what you make with them!

Second- let me just say a big "Boo-Yah!" and "Heck Yes!!" on the harvesting of the first vegetables from my garden!!!  Yes....it's true!  For a mere cost of $3500 and a timeframe of 7+ years, I grew and harvested 3 watermelons!  But, I don't want to toot my own horn here (right...?)

Okay...on to the tutorial and freebies!!  
Is this just the cutest High School sweatshirt ever??

 I branched out from the High School sweatshirts and did one just for the love of Texas:

And here is how to make some of your very own!

Like before, just shoot me an email and let me know what format you need the font files in, and I will send them to you FOR FREE!!


Note:  These are not true type fonts.  You will need to use your editing program to size them and arrange them.  These designs fit 4 x 4 or 5 x 7 hoops.  I am giving away these font files.  You may use them for your own personal use, sell items made from the files, give away the files with appropriate tag-back to Ticklish Moose, but may not reproduce and sell these font files.  Simple enough, right?  


If you do not have an embroidery machine, you can still make chenille letters by printing out fonts on freezer paper, pressing it to the fabric, and sewing a small zig-zag stitch following the outline of the fonts.  Use a stabilizer backing to give the letters some body.  Then follow the final steps to create the chenille. 


Start with any T-shirt, sweatshirt of hoodie, the fabric of choice, and I use flannel behind the fabric to make a *poofier* applique.  I have found that like the rag quilts, the flannel makes a really nice fringe-y edge.

Alabama Chanin With A Texas Twist!

I recently bought a fantastic book, Alabama Stitch Book, by celebrated and inspirational artist Natalie Chanin.  I have looked through it several times, trying to decide on a project, but since I have not hand sewn for some time, I wanted to do a 'sampler', so to speak, to try a few techniques shown in the book.  This latest pink top upcycle represents that effort.

So, lets see where it all started.

I wanted the top to go from kinda plain and boring, to something that reflected the more whimsical side of my personality.  I played around with fabric ideas, and finally came up with this combo.

I definitely needed a design inspiration, so I looked around through some wallpaper files and came up with this:

I played around with the items, and came up with this:

I kept messing with the flow of the design, and pinned it into place:

Then I used some embroidery floss I had on hand, and started working the stitches.  The book suggested working a cross stitch by doing all of one side of the X's one direction, then going back and completing the other side of the X's on the cross stitch.  It worked incredibly easily that way!  And like the book said, there was a certain peace and relaxation to the hand stitching.  It isn't something that has to be perfect, if fact, it's beauty lies in it's imperfections.     

Here is the finished top!