FlossTube #56: Wishing You 14 Days of Crafting (9/12/24)

[@karenpatton8850]

Hi Carolyn and Anna, when I used linen to make heirloom garments for my grand babies I would wet it, put it in plastic and freeze it before ironing it. It then ironed beautifully! Your family piece is the most beautiful red sampler! I do hope you release it for your followers to stitch. Thank you for your flosstube!❤

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Really? The freezer? I have never heard of this, Karen! Thanks, and Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@jonnweiland5802]

Uplifting and inspiring. Your enthusiasm is contagious. The sweater is GORGEOUS Carolyn. Love the design and the yarn. Anna your three spool project bag is a hoot! 😂😂

[@lorrainebergstrom9391]

I love all of your finishes and wips. Your stitching is so beautiful and your videos are a pleasure to watch.

[@reneebebla422]

Oh Caroline, your sweater is absolutely beautiful. Plus an Icord bind off is awesome. Love all the finishes especially your family red Sampler. Your Sampler September projects are beautiful. I love this month for Samplers. The Sampler box was amazing, I love the Scottish sampler. The Mexican Band Sampler was great. I think I mentioned this before but the Sheepish Antiques samplers were all I stitched back in the 80’s, used to stitch them on Jobelan and Kitten Stitcher had some great ones on sale plus they are all DMC. Enjoy Sampler September.

[@Melinda0329]

Great inspiring video! I'm in the Bay Area and all in for a session of Inspiring Stitching with you two and Katie Strachan! 😁

[@joanna9620]

You two are so delightful…funny and inspiring.❤❤

[@kathy1896]

I loved that comment from Katie so much... it made me teary and I'm not really sure why! Loved seeing your projects!

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

As you could see, Katie's comment hit a chord with us, too. This crafting stuff we do is significant in many ways. -Anna

[@lindaskinner5887]

Wonderful video the stitching was amazing. Thanks for sharing. Happy stitching. ❤

[@carollorion5130]

Always love seeing your projects especially your knitting. I don’t knit so I especially enjoy seeing what you do. I agree that we should add our name or initials to our work. Thank you for sharing.

[@angelasawyer6714]

To get fold lines out of linen, heat your iron to the highest setting first, then using a fine mist sprayer, lightly mist the fabric and iron immediately. If the line stays in, repeat the process just lightly spraying with the water then ironing immediately. The lines will come out. Make sure to aim your water spray at the lines. If water hits the threads, don’t worry about bleeding as long as you iron immediately 😊

[@angelasaunders9424]

I have been thinking about maybe "washing" my linen and ironing it when I get it, then hang it on hangers instead of leaving it folded.

[@lindajohnson9164]

So fun! Awaiting the Aztec red results-I was ready to start but will wait! Thanks for sharing the over one thoughts.

[@angelasaunders9424]

Caroline, you have inspired me to knit sweaters. I bought the yarn for The Peacock sweater by le Knit this week.

[@obragg1]

I would gladly pay to get YaYa’s sampler. Love it!

[@robynknits]

Always lovely to see you two! Amity of Hathaway Stitchers is doing a beautiful revision of the Portuguese bird sampler. No verse I think The Reflets de soie is Mar kwaar oh Trant cease waaz oh or sampler of 36 birds

[@the.pokey.little.pineapple4546]

Love watching you two. Wish I had a sister. Your stitching is beautifil and you two are so prolific! Gigi "The Artsy Housewife" will be one of the featured designers at the next Pacific NorthWest Stitch Summit in Portland, OR! She's a charming lady.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Oh, I didn't know that about Gigi! At Acorns and Threads? Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@kathierichards3531]

So fun, as always. Flatter for wrinkles and folds? That basil fried rice sounds great. I already made my basil cubes bit have a new crop. hugs

[@margaretblank9351]

Thinking about Anna's folds on her fabric -- the fabric is originally put on a bolt form (like quilting fabric) so some of those folds might have come from time on the bolt before it was dyed -- or after. Wet blocking carries the same risk of bleeding re: any red or blue hand-dyed flosses (cotton or silk). Those two colours are particularly challenging re: bleeding. So...perhaps press on the backside using a damp pressing cloth rather than spraying with water. Still no promises about bleeding. Just be carefull! (I have a piece that's just been framed and if I look closely I can see wrinkles that didn't come out....but I'm thinking that back in the day, those little gals would have been using flat irons heated over a fire or on the stove. No steam. And their dyes were even less developed than ours. So...sometimes we've just got to go with the flow!

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Thanks for the idea of a damp pressing cloth, Margaret! Here's to going with the flow, and Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@bobh7275]

Enjoyed your interplay and the stitches. Beautiful progress and finishes. Always enjoyed the mountain streams in New Hampshire. Some designers only use steam from the back, not an iron but the steamer for clothes. Love alphabets. Stay well.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Oh, I think Carolyn may have a steamer. Thanks and Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@rosemontgomery5029]

Great video. I also love small Xs, but can't see well enough for linen & don't like stitching under a magnifier. So I stitch 1/1 on 25 count Lugana. The fabric is more coarse than linen & doesn't take dye as well, but I do love the little X. The only problem with it, is that smalls get really small.

[@rene6371]

Reproduce that for all of us please!!!!! Thanks KS! I’m really moved by that!

[@alisoncaronflyingfree]

Caroline your sweater is amazing. I kept wondering, at the beginning of the video, what was hanging from your wrist. 😀 It's funny too because your yarn came from Québec and you recently finished a Québec sampler. Never two without three. Anna, so sorry about your toe. I've broken a couple of toes but never knew a boot existed for that. I hope you'll be able to dance at the wedding. Ha Ha Ha subtle about the ornament Caroline. Unfortunately Anna I can see those lines. Did you try Best Press? Anna, when I saw the first photo at the beginning of the video I had to stop and look twice because at first I thought it was a painting. Hats off to the photographer. Love the ending. Can't get a smile off my face.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

What will the third Québec experience be?! Always love reading your comments, Alison. Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@dianehaun711]

I'm not a linen stitcher but I am a quilter. There is a product called Flatter and it is a miracle at getting creases out of quilting cottons. It's made by the Soak company. You can find it at quilt shops and probably online.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Thanks, Diane. I just looked up that product. Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@Threadgremlins]

❤❤❤

[@connieenevold1745]

Anna - have you tried synthrapol on your red linen? It’s used to wash out excess dye that hasn’t bonded with the fabric, thus preventing further bleeding. May want tomcheck it out. Alex Anderson swears by it for quilting cotton. Good luck!

[@theresaclark762]

This is a old trick I have used ever since my husbands grandmother told me. I use to lengthened pants and asked her for ideas about getting rid of that old pressed hem line. She told me she had always used white vinegar. So for 30 to 40 years now I place my finger in white vinegar and put that liquid directly down the old press line, and ironed it while still wet. The odor is strong but over a few hours it loses it odor. I don't stitch yet on linen so I haven't tried this out, but I don't see it not working.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Good ol' white vinegar! Amazing. Happy Crafting, Theresa! -Anna

[@alyssarietveld]

This was a great FT video- I like all of your videos but really enjoyed this one. I’m very curious to hear what others say about those stubborn linen lines. I’ve had similar trouble before.

[@caspinall6296]

Breaking the Blocks podcast may be of interest to one or both of you. If you’re still interested in quilting give it a listen.

[@DeeAZstitcher]

I iron my fabrics with unscented Mary Ellen's "Best Press" on the back Before I start to stitch.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Have you ever had any color bleed? Thanks, and Happy Crafting Dee! -Anna

[@PegC52]

Best Press has taken out every bad wrinkle - worth a try

[@DeeAZstitcher]

@@we.are.curiouscrafters I have not, but I believe now more vibrant DMC floss colors have been bleeding for many. I also have heard that Color Catcher by Shout in the laundry aisle works great. GL with the Aztec Red.

[@DeeAZstitcher]

@@we.are.curiouscrafters Aztec Red is not color fast, so I'd use Cold water.

[@katiestrachanembroidery]

Okay, I haven't finished but since you were just talking to me through the screen - those are both ideas that get suggested to me regularly, and one of them is not out of the realm of possibility. I'm a complete shut in but you can come stitch with me and be inspired!

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

That would be a dream come true! -Anna

[@katiestrachanembroidery]

@@we.are.curiouscrafters You're both always very welcome!

[@jeannegiebe2718]

I want to stitch the entire book by Pigeon Coop!

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Love it! Do it! And Happy Crafting, Jeanne! -Anna

[@deidremiller-shaut8914]

I wet and iron all my fabric prior to stitching.

[@deidremiller-shaut8914]

I don’t fold any of my projects that I’m stitching.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

What do you do if the fabric color bleeds? Do you soak it until it stops? Thanks! And Happy Crafting, Deidre! -Anna

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Me neither. I keep the projects flat in a drawer. -A

[@jeancurrie1862]

You ladies need to get the book “Half Finished” by Lauraine Snelling. Then past it around to all your sisters & crafty friends! After you read it you’ll know why I recommended it! Enjoy! Love your channel too!

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

I'm intrigued! Thanks, Jean, and Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@jfitzhugh4119]

Anna, if the lines are creases, white vinegar and the iron should take them out. Wet a clean cloth with white vinegar, dab the crease with the cloth, then press the fabric with the iron. Could they be fade lines? Nothing I know of would help with a fade line.

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Thanks for the vinegar idea. I'm going to try it. I'm a little worried that the lines are fade lines - that's what my intuition is telling me they are. Happy Crafting! -Anna

[@angelasaunders9424]

Suggestion: if you want to know how to pronounce a french title, type it into google translate, select french language and click the microphone icon. It will say the word you type in so you can hear how it is pronounced.

[@nature4urhealth]

I know nothing about blocking. A tutorial on that would be wonderful! Thanks!

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

We follow Katie Strachan's directions in her blocking video (link below). Happy Crafting, Carol! -Anna kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJXZlXihqr2GotU

[@nature4urhealth]

I love Katie Strachan and follow her. Now I see the wisdom in watching the vids I missed before I found her. Love you two too. My Mom and Granny were both teachers so I fit with your vibe.

[@nerdystitcher]

:D :D

[@noreenkennedy5381]

As usual great update, Caroline love your sweater, could you direct me to a designer for a slip over to knit plz ?

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Thank you Noreen! I'm super happy with how my sweater turned out. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "a slip over"? Can you give me more details? An excellent resource for browsing patterns is Ravelry. I highly recommend it, if you're not already on it. Happy Crafting! -Carolyn

[@noreenkennedy5381]

I would describe it as a sweater with no sleeves

[@TheStitchingOwl]

How are elephants and fabric alike? They both have amazing memory. Sometimes people use flatter or best press to help reduce the strong creases but we have to be careful with this if there is overdyed colours on the fabric or floss. It is truly frustrating…I don’t think your ironing technique is the problem. Did I hear the word retirement? I am enjoying having more time for family and crafting. 🦉🪡🧵🌻

[@we.are.curiouscrafters]

Yes, so it's the over-dyed flosses and fabric that I need to think about carefully when selecting them. Thanks, Karen, and Happy Crafting! -Anna