Free motion sewing tutorial: how to make a bowl

Yesterday I had the opportunity to gate crash a meeting of the Embroiderer's Guild in Paignton with my Mum.

Armed with sewing machines, threads and embroidery hoops, about 20 of us came along for a sewing tutorial given this week by my Auntie Liz (aka LimeGreenLizzie). It was a free motion sewing tutorial to make one of these delicate little bowls.

free motion sewing

I've put together a tutorial below if you'd like to make one yourself. They're extremely simple so a perfect sewing project for beginners.

Free motion sewing: bowl


#1 - Prepare the embroidery hoop

Fit a piece of water soluble plastic into your embroidery hoop. You can buy soluble plastic laundry bags which are perfect for this. They dissolve in warm water, leaving behind the stitching.

Draw around a bowl or another circular object with a pen onto the soluble plastic.


#2 - Attach the free motion foot

Fit the free motion quilting foot to your sewing machine and select the threads you would like to use. I went for plain cotton to practise with, but sparkly threads give a beautiful shimmery effect. I've used cream cotton for the bobbin and navy for the top colour.


#3 - Stitch a foundation

Slide the embroidery hoop under the foot of your sewing machine and begin to sew. To give your bowl integrity when the soluble plastic is dissolved, the stitching needs to overlap, but you can do this in any pattern you choose.

I started this one by stitching from the centre to the outside line all around the circle.


I've been experimenting with videos so here's one which shows the stitching in progress.



You should end up with something like this.


It's a good idea to sew around the edge of your circle to stop it all falling apart.

#4 - Stitch into your circle

You can decorate your circle however you like. Think about colour and what you want to see on the outside and inside of your bowl.

I turned my circle over when I stitched into it again so that the thread colours were inversed. This video shows how to stitch little circles all over it.



I then added a few more spirals in cream in the centre of some of the circles. This is what I ended up with.


#5 - Cut the circle out

Once you're happy with the design of your bowl, cut the circle out of the soluble plastic. You can save the offcuts for another project as they can be wet slightly at the edges and stuck back together to form a larger sheet.


#6 - Dissolve the plastic

Wash the soluble plastic away in warm water. Don't be too thorough because, when dissolved, the plastic becomes gluey and will give your bowl a bit of structure when it's dry.


#7 - Mould your bowl

Gently mould the circle over a bowl or other rounded shape. If you'd like it to have a flat bottom, make sure the thing you're moulding it around also has a flat base!


Leave it to dry in a warm place. If you're impatient (like me) a hairdryer works a treat!

#8 - Admire your wonderful creation

Gently prise your bowl off the mould. It should be stiff enough to remain bowl shaped.

Here's a little video to show how mine turned out. I got a bit carried away with the music feature of the video editing software here, so I apologise in advance!



There are many, many different techniques you can use to make your bowl individual. Stitch different patterns, use two layers of soluble plastic with fabric in between to trap between stitches, add embellishments when you've finished - the possibilities are endless!

I'm sharing this tutorial on the following blogs: Handmade Harbour, Be different Act normal, Tatertots and Jello, Sunny Simple Life and Lamb Around.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Clare Willcocks: Free motion sewing tutorial: how to make a bowl

Sunday 27 April 2014

Free motion sewing tutorial: how to make a bowl

Yesterday I had the opportunity to gate crash a meeting of the Embroiderer's Guild in Paignton with my Mum.

Armed with sewing machines, threads and embroidery hoops, about 20 of us came along for a sewing tutorial given this week by my Auntie Liz (aka LimeGreenLizzie). It was a free motion sewing tutorial to make one of these delicate little bowls.

free motion sewing

I've put together a tutorial below if you'd like to make one yourself. They're extremely simple so a perfect sewing project for beginners.

Free motion sewing: bowl


#1 - Prepare the embroidery hoop

Fit a piece of water soluble plastic into your embroidery hoop. You can buy soluble plastic laundry bags which are perfect for this. They dissolve in warm water, leaving behind the stitching.

Draw around a bowl or another circular object with a pen onto the soluble plastic.


#2 - Attach the free motion foot

Fit the free motion quilting foot to your sewing machine and select the threads you would like to use. I went for plain cotton to practise with, but sparkly threads give a beautiful shimmery effect. I've used cream cotton for the bobbin and navy for the top colour.


#3 - Stitch a foundation

Slide the embroidery hoop under the foot of your sewing machine and begin to sew. To give your bowl integrity when the soluble plastic is dissolved, the stitching needs to overlap, but you can do this in any pattern you choose.

I started this one by stitching from the centre to the outside line all around the circle.


I've been experimenting with videos so here's one which shows the stitching in progress.



You should end up with something like this.


It's a good idea to sew around the edge of your circle to stop it all falling apart.

#4 - Stitch into your circle

You can decorate your circle however you like. Think about colour and what you want to see on the outside and inside of your bowl.

I turned my circle over when I stitched into it again so that the thread colours were inversed. This video shows how to stitch little circles all over it.



I then added a few more spirals in cream in the centre of some of the circles. This is what I ended up with.


#5 - Cut the circle out

Once you're happy with the design of your bowl, cut the circle out of the soluble plastic. You can save the offcuts for another project as they can be wet slightly at the edges and stuck back together to form a larger sheet.


#6 - Dissolve the plastic

Wash the soluble plastic away in warm water. Don't be too thorough because, when dissolved, the plastic becomes gluey and will give your bowl a bit of structure when it's dry.


#7 - Mould your bowl

Gently mould the circle over a bowl or other rounded shape. If you'd like it to have a flat bottom, make sure the thing you're moulding it around also has a flat base!


Leave it to dry in a warm place. If you're impatient (like me) a hairdryer works a treat!

#8 - Admire your wonderful creation

Gently prise your bowl off the mould. It should be stiff enough to remain bowl shaped.

Here's a little video to show how mine turned out. I got a bit carried away with the music feature of the video editing software here, so I apologise in advance!



There are many, many different techniques you can use to make your bowl individual. Stitch different patterns, use two layers of soluble plastic with fabric in between to trap between stitches, add embellishments when you've finished - the possibilities are endless!

I'm sharing this tutorial on the following blogs: Handmade Harbour, Be different Act normal, Tatertots and Jello, Sunny Simple Life and Lamb Around.

Labels: , , , , , ,

16 Comments:

At 27 April 2014 at 09:47 , Blogger Liz said...

Brilliant as ever Clare. I would recommend pulling up the bottom thread, doing a few stitches then cutting off ends. You can then continue without getting tangled in the ends. I just love the little trinket bowl. Look forward to the next blog xxx

 
At 27 April 2014 at 10:34 , Blogger MadBirdDesignsUK said...

What a great idea. I think these would look super in Sparkly yarn hanging on a Christmas Tree with a chocolate inside. Thank you for sharing.

 
At 27 April 2014 at 11:41 , Blogger threads 'n' shreds said...

Wow, that looks amazing. As a non-sewer that looks very intricate, and difficult but great results xxx

 
At 27 April 2014 at 11:49 , Anonymous Patchwork Fairy said...

That was fascinating - so many different sizes could be made - I can't wait to have a go but have never heard of this plastic and no idea where to get the it from?

 
At 27 April 2014 at 12:19 , Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you for your lovely comments! As for where to buy the soluble plastic, I found this link (http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/68585058/solvy-water-soluble-plastic-topping-5?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted_en_gb&utm_campaign=supplies_low) on Etsy and if you search 'soluble plastic' in Google there appear to be several other suppliers (I've never actually bought it myself!).

Liz, do you have any tips on where to get hold of it?

 
At 27 April 2014 at 14:17 , Blogger Ginx Craft said...

What an interesting tutorial. I would love to give that a go.

 
At 27 April 2014 at 15:35 , Blogger Sum of their Stories said...

What a beautiful idea. I've never even heard of soluble plastic and now I think I really need some!

 
At 27 April 2014 at 17:09 , Blogger Ana Love Craft said...

Amazing project! Love it! Thanks for sharing this great tutorial!
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

 
At 27 April 2014 at 18:31 , Blogger Lilly's Mom said...

This is amazing, really! It like a machine made doily. I wish my sewing machine was so talented!

 
At 28 April 2014 at 00:04 , Blogger Lucy Blossom said...

It's beautiful, and looks so incredible that it's hard to believe there is no fabric underneath it.

 
At 28 April 2014 at 01:27 , Blogger Janice Gill said...

Fab piece :)

 
At 28 April 2014 at 02:56 , Blogger ike said...

Gosh !! - this is just brilliant Clare :-) Tell me though, how do you stop the 'dogs' from moving when you do free style sewing ?? Do you have to have a special machine. ?

Hugz
IKE xxx

 
At 28 April 2014 at 06:22 , Blogger Suze Bain said...

This is lovely, I love the swirly pattern you've created. I have some soluble fabric somewhere - must have a play! xx

 
At 28 April 2014 at 08:25 , Blogger Liz said...

Clare, you can get the soluble film from craft/ Quilting shows from some vendors and some quilt shops may sell it. On line there should be no problem if you put in soluble film. I have ordered online and bought extra wide by the metre or you can just buy the packs.

 
At 28 April 2014 at 23:24 , Blogger vicky myers said...

What a great idea to use soluble wash bags, and to rejoin the edges for creating new pieces.

 
At 5 May 2014 at 07:57 , Blogger Unknown said...

Sorry, I missed your question! The feed dogs on my machine can be lowered so they don't keep pulling the fabric through. Mum's is the same and hers is really old so I presume it's a common feature? Ciao! x

 

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