Basic Tricks To Take Your Sewing Up A Notch

09 October, 2016

Can You Stand More Rope Bowls




My friend, Pencil Girl, hand dyed some more clothesline for me.
I scored on the styling end as I happened to have some hops and white pumpkins in my kitchen table centerpiece. They offset the autumnal colors of the clothesline perfectly.




 I just love all the random swirls this method of dying creates. She keeps the hank of clothesline intact and uses a tall vase for dying.

I will say, I wasn't as enthused about this orangy and dusty purple combo when she handed it to me. I loved the blue/green combo she dyed for me before, so these colors weren't as exciting to me.

But my friend hand-dyed it for me, so I jumped in and fell in love with the autumnal colors that emerged as I designed as I zigzagged along.


I wanted to do those loopy things again  - for no particular reason.





 There was enough left to do a small saucer which is just darling.







  I had in mind a black & white version and what emerged from the sewing machine is another piece of awesomeness. It doesn't scream black and white as much as my vision but I did a couple of new techniques on this one.

For more color at the top, I did a final round of zigzagging so it shows more.
I also made my three knots looser and just attached them with the sewing machine for a cleaner finish.

I also discovered when turning it inside out, I like the loops inside and I also like the top edge rolled down.

You might say, I have found my groove.
So much fun and quick to do.











If you search for Rope Bowl over on my sidebar (web version - won't appear on the mobile version), you can see all the posts I've done on Rope Bowls.

I am amazed I haven't gotten tired of making these yet. They are super quick to do -- less than two hours, and they come off the sewing machine all different. Very organic designing - very freeing.

13 comments:

  1. You are cranking the rope bowls out! The white pumpkins go great with the autumnal bowls, and the saucer is darling indeed!

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  2. You definitely have a talent for these bowls. It is so fun to see your new creations!

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  3. The orange and brown one looks like an Indian basket, with the design woven in. I really like that one, and the saucer, too.

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    1. I just love how her hand dyed rope becomes even more awesome. It's a bit like that self-striping yarn - how the design emerges.

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  4. The Autumn coloured bowls are my favourites so far - love the mix of oranges and browns, especially in the large bowl.

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  5. Oh, the orange bowl is just beautiful. I'm wondering how difficult it is to do this on my sewing machine?

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    1. I wish I could answer you directly but your bligger profile doesn't contail an email address. These are not difficult. A good #14 needle and some clothesline is all you need. Give it a go.

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  6. I've made a great many of these coiled rope bowls and they addictive. It's definitely a learning curve - the first one won't be perfect, but keep on!

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  7. I love the autumn coloured bowls. You have such a talent. I know it’s an old post, but is there any chance you have more info on the dying process

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    1. My friend used a dye she already had (Rit Dye or from Dharma trading) and did a small batch utilizing a tall glass vase. Without unwinding the rope, she placed one end of the hank of rope in the vase, left it for 15-20 minutes, then put the other end in the vase.
      After dying, she unwound the rope and used some spare cardboard to wrap rope around to dry. Nothing complicated.

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  8. Love your bowls as you said fun, beautiful and useful.

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