Challenging Seam Treatments

In working on my current project, I ran into a seam treatment that just didn't show up well.  As I've mentioned once or twice before (LOL!) I use waste canvas to stitch the majority of my crazy quilt seams. 

Judging by the thread color that I used, I thought it would show up just fine but it wasn't until I pulled the waste canvas out that I could see that it didn't.

I do not like to pull threads out.  I remember doing that so many times with counted cross stitch.  Instead, I like to use beads and sequins to make the seam pop or at least show up better.

I went with electric blue beads for the points on the little fan stitches.  That helped.  Then I added larger aqua beads to the base of the fan stitches.  Finally, I added some light blue sequins.

As you can see, this did make a difference.  The electric blue seed beads elongated the fans.  The aqua beads and the sequins are eye catching so they draw attention to the seam even though the actual stitching still tends to blend into the print.

I honestly thought this shaded thread color would have shown up just fine but it didn't.

Using brighter colored beads for a dark background or darker colors for a light background will help to bring attention to a seam that doesn't pop.

It's just a matter of choosing the right colors.  You have to experiment.  And it's not a perfect fix but if you dislike ripping as much as I do, this is a good alternative.

Christmas Purse

It was quite warm yesterday but with my deck shaded in the afternoon, I was able to sit out there for awhile.

This is my next project, is a Christmas purse:

I've already crocheted the trim for the bottom.  I used fancy foo-foo yarn and added large hole sequins.

If you'd like to make some crocheted trim yourself and add the sequins, first, you have to string all the sequins onto the yarn before you start crocheting.

Then chain as long as you want your trim to be.  In the case of this purse, it'll be 9 inches across so I had to double that and then I add an inch for overlap on the back.

For the second row, single crochet adding a sequin every other stitch.

Third row, just do a single crochet with no sequins.  For the 4th row, single crochet adding the sequins every other stitch.

That's all there is to it!