Duplicate Stitching on Sweaters

I love handiwork.....perhaps you can kind of tell.  I love making things with my hands, but I adore the work made by others even more.  When I pick up a piece at a yard sale or antique show, it connects me to someone in another time or place, and I want to know her/his story.  How did they find ALL the many, many hours to make this piece?  Was it a labor for someone they loved?  Did they need to support their family?  Did they leave their special mark on the piece somewhere?  How could their family have ever parted with the piece?  As you can imagine, to see the piece considered out of style and valued at only a quarter or a dollar really rips at my heart - but then again.....Oh so lucky for me!

One craft that has lost its fashion savvy is Duplicate Stitch.  Like Cross Stitch, it is just following a pattern to put a decorative design on a piece of fabric, only you are stitching V's instead of X's - and on knitted sweaters instead of Aida cloth.  Here is a great video on how to do Duplicate Stitch:

http://verypink.com/2011/02/15/duplicate-stitch

The reason it has gone out of style is because we don't wear colorful sweaters like this, along with our ginormous Pilgrim collars, and bangs hairsprayed 6 inches high anymore.......and we never want to again!

And yet, as dreadful as this sweater would be to wear now, I invested months of my life stitching all of this design.....and it still makes me happy.  A little dated....but happy!

Here is the thing:  Duplicate stitch doesn't have to be an all or nothing craft.  If you are not someone who knits, but would like to personalize a little sweater for your child or a baby gift - what about taking a small part of one of these designs and stitching on a knitted item?

Like the barn, tractor, or a few of the chicks?

Perhaps the little bunny heart for an Easter sweater?

Or, you can even design your own!  Just color in an anchor, a little whale, the Eiffel Tower, or a Monogram on this chart, and stitch it on a sweater. 

Another method, make a photo copy of your sweater, and color in a design for a chart.

Smaller designs are quite in style and can be stitched in a very short amount of time.  Imagine how accomplished you will feel seeing a little person running around in a sweater, or with a favorite blankie customized by YOU!  So you didn't knit the sweater.....the gift will be just as special.

I hope you will give Duplicate Stitch a try - even if it is only to cover a stain on a sweater to give it new life.  Someone, someday may see your work and ponder about the wonderful person who stitched it.

Thanks for stopping by the Tub!

Ellie

You don't have to use yarn to stitch on a sweater.  Some of these designs were stitched using embroidery thread, and some with pearl cotton thread.

GAK!!!

Got Spring Break?

Need a Diversion?

How about some homemade GAK?

This stuff used to be all the rage.  

I haven't seen it around for a while, but perhaps that's because my kids are teens now.

My sister texted and said, 

"Hey, put that slimy stuff you used to make with your kids 

on your blog."

So, here it is!  

It is so much fun to make, and your kids 

will play with this for hours.

All you need to make GAK is 8 oz. of school glue, 1 . 5 tsp. of Borax, warm water, food coloring, and 2 bowls.

Dump the glue into one of the bowls.  Fill the empty glue bottles half full of warm water, then shake.  Finish filling the bottles with warm water, then dump the water into the glue bowl.  Mix well.  (The water you add 
should be 8 oz. altogether)

You can make GAK any color.  

Since green is the color of boogers, and snot, and icky things that boys like, it has always been the color 
of choice at our house.  

I added about 8 drops of green 

and 10 drop of neon yellow.

In the second bowl, mix together 8 oz. of warm water 

with 1 . 5 tsp. Borax.

Now, slowly pour the Borax mixture 

into the glue mixture while stirring.

Instantly, a slimy mass will begin to form.  To me, this is the most fun part.  It will take 10-15 minutes for all the water to absorb into the slime.  If you are making this for a party and creating a few batches - I think the water will continue to absorb even if you are not working it the entire time.  I'm not sure since we have never kept our hands out of it that long to know for certain.  

That's it!  

Time to get out some marbles and army guys.

For the cost of a couple of bottles of glue and a teeny amount of Borax - you just bought yourself a nice long coffee break.

WORDS OF CAUTION:  We have tried to color this with kool-aid before, and it does not work.  Something in the kool-aid messes up the reaction.

Also, while it is quite diluted, it is still glue.  Don't allow stray pieces to dry on the piano bench, legos, the carpet, or the dog's fur.  I'm just speaking from experience.

Store in an airtight container.  It keeps quite well, but will develop mold after several weeks.  By then, it will be disgusting (or have reached its prime in a boy's mind), and you will be ready to toss it anyway.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie

Parties I Will Be Linking To:

Sunday - The Sunday Showcase Party at Under The Table and Dreaming, DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff   

Monday - Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy, Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Tuesday - Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife,  

Wednesday - Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style, 

Thursday - Open House Party at No Minimalist Here,   Catch As Catch Can at My Repurposed Life

Friday - Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Weekend Wrap up Party at Tatertots and Jello