Category: WIP

what’s on my worktable : rag doll wardrobe patterns and hexies

May 27, 2021

by annwood

A late spring update on all the things.

Let’s start with hexies : while not at all consistent, I am quite slow. The consistent part is easy to fix : commit to making one every morning, which most often leads to more, you know, once you get going on something like this…

I’m starting to have a vision for the color shifts plus I’ve decided to square off the edges, meaning my progress shape has been an irregular amoeba but I’m shifting into working in straight lines.

And sewing pattern work – a wardrobe for the elegant rag doll is in progress.

Patterns take forever to make. We’d be in real trouble if I didn’t enjoy the process.
The centerpiece of the doll wardrobe will be a versatile dress, a pattern you can add or subtract details from and make a short and long sleeved version – you get the idea.

The construction needs to be simple, easy to make, and I want an option for a fitted look. This is accomplished with pleats and gathers in strategic places. I would totally wear this.

There is another summery tea dress too but this pattern is further along. It’s in the woodshedding stage, I am making tons of them to work out details and make adjustments. After the early muslin drafts I converted the hand drawn patterns to an illustrator file and start tightening things up. I’m pretty close to a final version and as I’m sewing little dresses the pattern starts to write itself, I’m hard in the zone and hear the directions in my head whether I want to or not.

Besides the other tea dress I’m thinking of a satchel, slip and pinafore. Maybe some bloomers. She’ll need a coat too and I’m pretty sure I can make a version of the free felt jacket in her size.

A couple other projects on my mind – mending and garden beginnings.

I love everything about having a tiny garden. Except bugs. The container is a re-purposed cedar chest I got for almost zero dollars last fall. I never really loved it and it was in sever disrepair so I took off the top and planted stuff in it. I suspect it will fall apart by the end of the season but it looks cute now.

What are you up to? Are you making hexies? Are you growing stuff?What would you like to see in the elegant wardrobe?

fragments : small stitched compositions

June 23, 2016

by annwood

I’ve been experimenting with small compositions – making marks and texture with thread, exploring, observing and maybe expanding my vocabulary of stitches. Some are organic feeling marks – spilling out of the botanical things I’ve been working on and some mix with and echo the meandering stitches of mends and intricate darning I find in garments. I’m paying attention to my impulses and habits and challenging them – looking for the rules I’ve made for myself but am not always conscious of – the musts and can’ts that get in the way of being truly expressive. I’m asking myself to be responsive and un-self-conscious – to pick up a thread and follow it.

And P. S – regarding tiny rag dolls – thanks for your feedback and the pattern making is well underway – it will be available in the next week or two!

botanical experiments

June 9, 2016

by annwood

This big pink flower woke me up last night. It’s one of the new botanical experiments I’ve been working on and it was finished but I didn’t love it- something wasn’t right. The original stem and roots felt too delicate, too fussy for the flower and out of balance – that idea would not leave me alone. My subconscious must have been working on it for me and last night I woke up abruptly knowing exactly what it needed – a bulb, a more substantial stem and very simple leaves. I love the bulb! More botanical experiments soon – there are all sorts of strange new species on my work table.

Have a lovely weekend,

ann

pixie toadstools and mr. cups

June 2, 2016

by annwood

Meet Mr. Cups! My new helper – I found him upstate in a fabulously junky junk shop – he makes a very cheery pin holder. I love the way his details are painted – I looked him up and found out he was made in Japan in the forties and there is a Mrs. – I’m on the look out. He helped me make lots of mini toadstools – pixie size fungi made from little scraps.

I used the mini size from the little mushroom sewing pattern – just big enough for someone’s pocket.

They’re fun to make in a batch and easy to travel with – just a little bag of scraps and a few supplies. I always use wool stuffing – it gives them a nice sponginess and you can fine tune the shape.

PS -There’s a print version of the sewing pattern too – a 16 page booklet.

I hope you make a batch of sweet mini fungi! Use #annwoodpattern on instagram to share.

Do you get my free weekly-ish newsletter? There are tips and tricks, ideas, stuff to try, all the latest news and blogposts and extra stuff, just for subscribers, delivered mostly on Friday. Pretty much.

drawing and painting

December 21, 2012

by annwood

I used to draw and paint a lot.

merriwether lewis 2005 (after the Charles Willson Peale portrait)

west side water park 2005

illustration for film poster 2005

And my begining here, this blog, was making marks on paper – the cardboard horse project.

And then all of a sudden I was sewing. A lot. And as I sewed more and more the drawing and painting went away. I miss that kind of work and that kind of expression but even though I feel inspired in that direction I keep not doing it. It is very easy not to. So I’m making it mandatory and planning a project in the 2 dimensional world for 2013. I have figured out what it’s going to be, the focus, and I’m excited about it but I’m still working out the particulars of how I’m going to share it – when I get that figure out I’ll tell you all about it.

thanks

August 31, 2012

by annwood

seashell folk, off to celebrate

Thanks to everybody who showed up for the shop update yesterday – I’ll be packing everything up this weekend and getting things on their way right after the holiday. I’m working on things for Tuesday’s owl and ship update ( there will be one more songbird too) – here are some things in progress:

This is the bodice it’s made from- I bought it years ago and have been using bits of it ever since.

A grey owl – fabrics courtesy of Sri Threads.

And a pair of turn of the century wool swim bloomers I’m about to turn into an owl.

I got them for next to nothing – the seat is terribly moth eaten. The fabric is wonderful- weight, shade, fading , texture – everything ideal. Also, in the unlikely category, technically, I’ve just posted a picture of myself on the internet in a bathing suit.

collection : linings

August 7, 2012

by annwood

Almost a year ago I got together a box of linings with plans to make things but not much happened after that. I’ve lately pulled that box out and I’ll be posting progress and previews of finished pieces here throughout August. They will be available in September. I love linings and they often end up being my favorite part of a garment.

I’m working on the usual suspects : owls, spiders and songbirds but this collection will have a couple surprises too. I’ve made the most progress on a songbird made from the printed lining of an edwardian bodice.

I spent the weekend with it – stitching, restitching, experimenting and not worrying about progress or efficiency. I’m allowed to do that on the weekends. Pretty vacationey.

This bird, the layering of this print, reminds me of tramp art a little bit and I think I’ll experiment more with that idea.

collection : fortuny

July 24, 2012

by annwood

fortuny owl

A long time ago, way back in 2010 I visited the Fortuny showroom here in NYC to talk about making some creatures with their exquisite fabrics. There have been fits and starts and interruptions in the process but lately solid progress has been made towards creating a full collection of creatures that will be available beginning this fall.

Working with patterns, large scale patterns, has challenged how I think about my owls in particular and some interesting things are happening.

More progress photos soon as well as information on where and when things will be available.

owl beginnings

July 17, 2012

by annwood

I’ve started several new owls including the two robust grey fellows below. The owl on the left is made from a silvery Fortuny pattern and the other from marvelous Japanese textiles courtesy of Sri.

I have also gathered a little pile of things for another fabric ship and owl captain – a moodier pallet than the last – I love the purplish tones – those are for the ship and the indigos are for the little captain. These are all Japanese and again courtesy of Sri. These are the colors I’ve been most attracted to for weeks now – silver, stone shades, and bits of violets and blues

I finished the quilt ship but I haven’t taken it’s official photo yet, this is an instagram shot of the very nearly finished ship and captain.

getting organized

July 9, 2012

by annwood

I am. And getting rid of things. And rearranging. This is my newly appointed button drawer:

It was formerly my “drop in anything I don’t know what to do with and then never open again” drawer. I dumped it out and found a tiny hand-full of things I might actually need someday. It’s perfect for buttons and much better than searching in a bunch of jars and boxes and bags. Now that my buttons are all organized and in one place I’ll probably be a millionaire by the end of the week.

I’ve also been working on some special caketopper bird orders. This is the world’s tiniest garrison cap (airforce).

And the world’s tiniest boutonniere.

And a very fancy fascinator for his girl.

owl work

June 1, 2012

by annwood

A new owl I’m working on:

Seaton

get the owl sewing pattern

I named him for a nice man who sold me tires a couple weeks ago. I’ve been working on him forever and he’ll finally be finished tomorrow.

There were ferocious thunderstorms on Tuesday – this is a photo of a thunderstorm gathering over a little pond upstate. I wish I had my big camera with me – It was spectacular:

I’m also working on new little boats made from quilt scraps and getting ready for my boat making class at squam next week. You can find the pattern to make your own stitched sailboat here.

* thanks for the helpful comments regarding the grey hair situation. I’m interested in hearing about other peoples experience with this. Mine is in a particularly bizarre two tone moment but I’m sticking with it.

good morning

May 23, 2012

by annwood

( I worked late last night and left a big mess)

I’ve got stuff to tell you about and no time to tell it. I’ll be back later with some important topics:

collections- new things I’m working on ( including some pieces for Fortuny)
my hair – I’ve decided to let it be grey ( it always has been – but I stopped dyeing it in december). I’ve got mixed feelings…..
Squam ! Just 2 weeks away!
My terrarium.
And hula hoops.