~ Update ~ As I was linking this post to the many parties "I may or may not contribute to" ( as seen on the right sidebar ) I realized that I am linking up a clothing project to a lot of decor websites. This tutorial is also relevant for tablecloths, slip covers, towels, blankets and quilts, pretty much anything that needs a punch. You are only limited by your own imagination!
As promised ~
I have this cute, colorful pair of capris that I picked up at a garage sale a few weeks ago. The capris look new and colorful bottoms are in style right now. I figured, why not decorate them a bit, right?
Remember seeing this dress? I used some of this fabric for the trim.
Super awesome 70s dress!
Use whatever trim you want, at any width you want. Really, its your project :) My pieces began as two inches wide. I cut them long and trimmed the excess after it was stitched on. You can, and probably should, pin the edges under but this fabric folded and stayed pretty well. And, I always stab my fingers. So I left the pins out and simply folded the fabric as I went along.
Embroidered capris
I did a split stitch all the way around on the top and the bottom. As a southpaw, I do my split stitch a bit different. Do you see the position of the needle in the photo below? I stabbed the needle halfway back into the previous stitch. I included a video on the right handed way of doing a split stitch. Do whatever is most comfortable for you and gives you the best results.
Embroidered capris
Once I was finished and ready to cut the thread, I cut it several inches long, split the six threads in half so I had three threads on each side I tied the strings, looping the threads double instead of single and pulled it until the knot was just even to the fabric. Any tighter and the stitches will pucker. Tie again twice (regular) for a nice, tight knot and cut.
Embroidered capris
Nice and close so as to reduce tickles to the wearer.
Embroidered capris
I made some french knots randomly through the middle of the fabric. Maybe 8 to 10 knots on each leg. Begin by wrapping the thread twice around the bottom half of the needle. Keep it fairly taught.
Embroidered capris
Poke your needle into the fabric. Using your other hand (mine was holding the camera here), keep some tension on the thread to keep the loops in place on the needle.
Embroidered capris
Carefully pull the thread all the way through and you will have a pretty french knot.
Embroidered capris
There are lots of great tutorials on how to do a french knot. Here is one, the technique is the same whether you are right or left handed. Southpaws just have to switch sides . . . . .
I did think that the upper half of the capris needed to be tied in to the bottom now, for balance. I used the same thread and did a back stitch under the opening of the front pockets. Stab your fabric with the needle like shown, all the way through. Pull your thread through . . . .
Embroidered capris
Then stab the needle into the hole where the last stitch completed. Similar to my southpaw split stitches except you are not going into the last stitch. They're just sharing holes.
Embroidered capris
Here is the finished product.
Embroidered capris
Embroidered capris
Embroidered capris
Embroidered capris
Embroidered capris
My Kodak shoot spot is going through its seasonal changes. Off in the distance are hay bales. The foreground shows rows of hay drying, before being baled. Its hard to imagine why hay prices remain so high when there is such a bounty here in my town.
I had mentioned recently that I want to show you where I shoot my photos. I love, love, love including barbed wire in my photos. I used to shoot in a public park 80 miles from home, near where I used to work. I loved the location but then I stopped commuting there. And 80 miles is a bit far to photograph projects, right? Well, it didn't occur to me until I began this blog that I have a real gem close to home. Real close. Four houses away. DUH!! It had to grow pretty green hay for me to take notice.
I was standing in front of my house. See, how close it is? Right at the end of my street.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
On a clear day you can see Yosemite from here. Snow covered mountains and everything. Its quite a view here.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Someone seems to like to set this parcel on fire.....see the burnt fence?
Los Banos, California neighborhood
I use the post on the left a lot for cuff photographs.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
And the wire.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Here is the view when facing south. More farmland at the end of this street.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Old outbuilding with lots of cactus. The cactus has a lot of unripe fruit.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
I wonder about this little house. Its a teeny-tiny little house, obviously not lived in for a long time.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Seems that someone broke in. To party inside, probably.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Check out that cool screened in porch off the back.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Who knows what this is? Maybe grain storage?
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Someone made it look pretty at one time and these are still hanging on!
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Big, beautiful old barn.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Someone set the palm on fire a couple of Saturdays ago. Bummer :(
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Old livestock stalls.
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Perfect place for my goat ;-)
Los Banos, California neighborhood
This makes me wonder....
The downside to living in an ag area is all of the pesticides used. Los Banos grows a lot of cotton, including in the fields surrounding my neighborhood, and cotton is one of the "dirtiest" crops grown. We have a lot of crop dusting here. Its fun to watch the helicopters and airplanes do their thing until I remember what they are spraying. Then its into the house with the doors and windows closed!
Los Banos, California neighborhood
Still, what a gem, right? I love, love, love this spot for my photos.
