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Mindful Embroidery: Stitch Your Way to Relaxation with Charming European Street Scenes

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Mindful Embroidery: Stitch Your Way to Relaxation with Charming European Street Scenes

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Sounds like the perfect book to dive into right now! "Traveling" from home through relaxing embroidery. Kim says this book is lovely!

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Really Excellent! This is not a beginner stitching book, and I love that. How many dozens of books need the basic materials and such as the first half of the book?? Only basic stitches are required in these designs -- back stitch, split stitch, French knots.

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Kim used the Visible Mending technique to adorn this great piece of denim.  I love the creative reuse! - Carla

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Wayward Threads: Techniques and Ideas for Upcycling Unloved or Discarded Garments

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Wayward Threads: Techniques and Ideas for Upcycling Unloved or Discarded Garments

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Newly published, Kim and Babs have both found inspiration for future projects in this book. I will need to check it out!

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Wayward Threads book. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers.

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Mine look more seaweed than leaves but I quite like it

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Perfectly imperfect 1st repair!

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Denim samples

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Kai Blunt-Tip Double Curve Embroidery Scissors

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Kai Blunt-Tip Double Curve Embroidery Scissors

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Kim used these scissors to cut away her fern in the T-Shirt Cutwork workshop. She recommends them highly for this type of project.

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The KAI 5130p is a 5-inch Blunt-Tip Double Curved Scissors that are perfect for cutting around appliqué designs as they are a modernized version of the classic duck-bill scissors. They are also popular for long-arm quilting and accurate trimming on embroidery designs.

As with the rest of KAI 5000 Series scissors, the 5130 Blunt-Tip scissors are made of a hardened stainless steel. This allows for a smooth and consistent, fatigue-free cut.

Free shipping for orders in the USA. Additional shipping fee for international orders.

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Kai 5130p: 5-inch Blunt-Tip Double Curve Embroidery Scissors

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The KAI 5130p is a 5-inch Blunt-Tip Double Curved Scissors that are perfect for cutting around appliqué designs as they are a modernized version of the classic duck-bill scissors. They are also popular for long-arm quilting and accurate trimming on embroidery designs.

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Our t-shirt cutwork workshop reminded Michelle of beautifully designed Molas, a hand-made textile that utilized reverse applique.  These textiles are a great source of inspiration!

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The Mola, or Molas, is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the Kuna people from Panamá and parts of Colombia. The full costume includes a patterned wrapped skirt (saburet), a red and yellow headscarf (musue), arm and leg beads (wini), a gold nose ring (olasu) and earrings in addition to the mola blouse (dulemor).

In Dulegaya, the Guna's native language, "mola" means "shirt" or "clothing". The mola originated with the tradition of kuna women painting their bodies with geometric designs, using available natural colors; in later years these same designs were woven in cotton, and later still, sewn using cloth bought from the European settlers of Panamá.

Molas have their origin in body painting. Only after colonization by the Spanish and contact with missionaries did the Guna start to transfer their traditional geometric designs on fabric, first by painting directly on the fabric and later by using the technique of reverse appliqué. It is not known for certain when this technique was first used. It seems to have originated in the second half of the nineteenth century.

As an inspiration for their designs, the Guna first used the geometrical patterns which have been used for body painting before. In the past 50 years, they have also depicted realistic and abstract designs of flowers, sea animals and birds, and popular culture.

Depending on the tradition of each island, Guna women begin the crafting of molas either after they reach puberty, or at a much younger age. Women who prefer to dress in western style are in the minority as well as in the communities in Panama City.

Molas have such an importance for the Guna people and their traditional identity that they can be considered responsible for the independent status of the Comarca Guna Yala. After the attempt of the Panamanian government to "westernize" the Guna in the beginning of the 20th century by prohibiting their customs, their language and their traditional dress, a huge wave of resistance arose. This resistance movement culminated in the Guna revolution of 1925 where, after heavy battles, the Panamanian government gave the Guna people the right to govern their own territory autonomously.

Molas are hand-made using a reverse appliqué technique. Several layers (usually two to seven) of different-colored cloth (usually cotton) are sewn together; the design is then formed by cutting away parts of each layer. The edges of the layers are then turned under and sewn down. Often, the stitches are nearly invisible. This is achieved by using a thread the same color as the layer being sewn, sewing blind stitches, and sewing tiny stitches. The finest molas have extremely fine stitching, made using tiny needles.

The largest pattern is typically cut from the top layer, and progressively smaller patterns from each subsequent layer, thus revealing the colors beneath in successive layers. This basic scheme can be varied by cutting through multiple layers at once, hence varying the sequence of colours; some molas also incorporate patches of contrasting colours, included in the design at certain points to introduce additional variations of color.

Molas vary greatly in quality, and the pricing to buyers varies accordingly. A greater number of layers is generally a sign of higher quality; two-layer molas are common, but examples with four or more layers will demand a better price. The quality of stitching is also a factor, with the stitching on the best molas being close to invisible. Although some molas rely on embroidery to some degree to enhance the design, those which are made using only the pure reverse-appliqué technique (or nearly so) are considered better.

Molas will often be found for sale with signs of use, such as stitch marks around the edges; such imperfections indicate that the mola was made for use, and not simply for sale to tourists. A mola can take from two weeks to six months to make, depending on the complexity of the design.

The traditional costume of a Guna woman consists of a patterned blue cotton wrapped skirt, red and yellow headscarf, arm and leg beads, gold nose rings and earrings and the many layered and finely sewn mola panel blouse.

The artistry of a mola reflects a synthesis of traditional Guna culture with the influences of the modern world. Mola art developed when Guna women had access to store bought yard goods. Mola designs are often inspired by modern graphics such as political posters, labels, pictures from books and TV cartoons, as well as traditional themes from Guna legends and culture.

Geometric molas are the most traditional, having developed from ancient body painting designs. Many hours of careful sewing are required to create a fine mola. The ability to make an outstanding mola is a source of status among Guna women.

The quality of a mola is determined by such factors as

the number of layers

fineness of the stitching

evenness and width of cutouts

addition of details such as zigzag borders, lattice-work or embroidery

general artistic merit of the design and color combination.

When Guna women tire of a particular blouse, they disassemble it and sell the molas to collectors.

Since mola panels have been worn as part of the traditional dress of a Guna woman they often show signs of wear such as fading and stitch marks along the edges of the panels. These "imperfections" indicate that the mola is authentic and not made solely to be sold to tourists.

Molas are often sold in pairs, the pair consisting of the back and front panels of a blouse. The two molas are usually two variations on a theme. Matched molas complement each other and should be displayed or used together for the greatest impact.

Mola panels have many uses. They can be framed as art or made into pillows, place mats or wall hangings. Some people even make them into bedspreads or incorporate them into quilting projects.

Molas are very sturdy and well sewn. Authentic molas have already been washed many times and can be safely hand washed in warm water.

Molas may be purchased in Panama or in Colombia.

The mola blouse is an important symbol of Guna culture.

Günther Hartmann, Molakana: Volkskunst der Cuna, Panama, Museum für Voelkerkunde, Berlin, 1980 ISBN 3-88609-001-9.

Kit S. Kapp, Mola Art From the San Blas Islands, 1972.

Clyde E. Keeler, Secrets of the Cuna Earthmother: A Comparative Study of Ancient Religions Illustrated, New York: Exposition Press, 1960.

Ann Parker & Avon Neal, Molas: Folk Art of the Cuna Indians, New York: Barre Publishing, 1977. ISBN 0-517-52911-4.

Michel Perrin, Magnificent Molas: The Art of the Guna Indians, Paris, Flammarion, 1999. ISBN 978-2-08-013674-9.

Salvador, Mari Lyn. Kuna Women's Arts: Molas, Meanings and Markets. Crafting Gender: Women and Folk art in Latin America and the Caribbean. Eli Barta (ed). Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 2003.

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The Mola, or Molas, is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the Kuna people from Panamá and parts of Colombia. The full costume includes a patterned wrapped skirt (saburet), a red and yellow headscarf (musue), arm and leg beads (wini), a gold nose ring (olasu) and earrings in addition to the mola blouse (dulemor).

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Michelle loves thredUP for great thrift finds.

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Another place to take making classes is Craftsy, recommended by Kim.

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Craftsy is your online resource for all creative makers, where you can find everything you need - from basic instruction to advanced techniques.

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Visible mending on denim!

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Babs is on the steering committee of this fantastic museum that records, shares and celebrate stories of East London women

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We record, represent and celebrate the stories of East London women.

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Julia likes the mission of Remake and their 90 Day of No New Clothes pledge.

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Remake - Let's turn fashion into a force for good - Remake

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Remake is a nonprofit with a mission to get women in the clothing industry paid fairly.

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Meg is inspired by Courtney Carver's Project 333, a minimalist fashion challenge.

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If you want to know everything there is to know about Project 333, get the new book Project 333, The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More.

This page includes everything you need to know to get started. Click here to read Project 333™ blog posts.

Project 333™ is the minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months.

My name is Courtney and when I wrote about dressing with less and Project 333™ for the first time in 2010, I had no idea that people from around the world would write about their experience and thousands would accept the challenge.

Project 333™ was featured in Unclutter Your Life by the Associated Press, on The Today Show website: Today.com, in the March 2014 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and in the BBC article, The Paradox of Stuff.

The Rules

When: Every three months (It's never too late to start so join in anytime!)

What: 33 items including clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear and shoes.

What not: these items are not counted as part of the 33 items - wedding ring or another sentimental piece of jewelry that you never take off, underwear, sleep wear, in-home lounge wear, and workout clothing (but your workout clothes have to workout).

How: Choose your 33 items, box up the remainder of your fashion statement, seal it with tape and put it out of sight.

What else: consider that you are creating a wardrobe that you can live, work and play in for three months. Remember that this is not a project in suffering. If your clothes don't fit or are in poor condition, replace them.

Quick Start Guides For Project 333™

First Timers
This is for those of you new to Project 333. You may have just heard about it, or perhaps you have been quietly watching others live with less for the past three months and you are ready to jump in.

1. Take inventory. I recommend the How to Make Space approach. How to Finally Clean Out Your Closet will be helpful too.

2. Working with your "I Love" pile of clothing, start to build your wardrobe. It will help to make a list on paper.

3. Consider signature items like a trench coat or pair of boots. Your signature item might be your sunglasses. You will find that having one well made version of something will be far better than 10 of the knock-off.

4. Once you start dressing with less, pay less attention to what you are wearing, or not wearing and more attention to something more important.

5. You are welcome to incorporate some of the bonus rules listed below, but I highly recommend starting with The Basics - listed above.

6. Get connected and ask questions. The Project 333 community is awesome! I've included a few important links below to help.

Starting a new phase
This is for those of you who have some experience with Project 333. You completed the first three months and really enjoy dressing with less. You may find that you have more time and space and even that you've uncovered your personal style.

1. Donate any items from your current collection that haven't been worn.

2. Start building your new wardrobe with items in your current collection. What will make the cut for the next 3 months? Consider what will fit the season and what you love to wear.

3. Box up whatever is not coming with you for the next three months, and mark the box accordingly so you can consider the same items for next year.

4. Make your new list. You have great experience to build your list. What will you change from the first attempt?

5. Stay connected and ask questions. The Project 333 community is awesome! I've included a few important links below to help. Encourage new members and let me know how I can help.

Above All Else

Even more important than choosing clothes that match, sticking with 33 and not wearing PJs to the grocery store, please only include clothing that fits and is in good repair. If you lose (or gain) 20 pounds during the next three months, replace or mend the items. Again, this is not a project in suffering. I want Project 333 to bring you joy not frustration!

Other ways to help you get started and stay connected

Other helpful information

Project 333 is designed for men and women of all ages and lifestyles.

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. During Phase 1, I had temperatures ranging from 95 degrees to 15 degrees. This can be done with extreme weather variations.

This is not a project in suffering. If you need to create a version of Project 333 that works better for you, do it.

People will not notice that you are dressing with the same 33 items for 3 months, although they may notice there is something different about how you present yourself. You will likely get more compliments. That has been my experience and that of others on this journey.

Check out these starter articles

If this is your first visit, take a look around. You will find tips and ideas to dress with less along with style stories and capsule wardrobe inspiration. Please make yourself at home and start with ...

The book

Read the book! Project 333, The Minimalist Fashion Challenge that Proves Less Really is So Much More.

Try the course

You are not in this alone! For extra guidance, motivation and support join the Dress with Less Video Course

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Project 333™ is the minimalist fashion challenge by Courtney Carver that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months.

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Stitch lounge in Cambridge, recommended by Meg

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We believe you (yes, you!) can make anything you put your heart and hands to.

That's why our Cambridge studio is well-equipped with enough fabric, yarn, pointers, classes and yays! to go around.
gather here and make something. (This is going to be so much fun.)

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We're excited to provide our online customers with the same quality and personal service our in-store customers experience. AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO SPREAD, ONLINE SHOPPING HAS INCREASED. PROCESSING TIMES FOR ALL ORDERS IS A MINIMUM OF 3 BUSINESS DAYS.

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Sustainable fashion brand that uses scraps to create new garments.
http://zerowastedaniel.com/

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Julia finds inspiration in sustainable streetwear designer Irish Latina who makes new garments out of recycled T-shirts.

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Megan personalized her embroidery with a flower on top!

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Inspiration from Meg. I love her work too! - Carla

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Shop the latest from our collection of organically produced, thoughtfully designed, women's fashion, home textiles, tabletop, DIY, and more. Made in the USA.

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Kim showed us her tawashi sponges in progress - Here's a pattern

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This pattern is available for$3.00 USD

buy it now or visit pattern website

A free version is also available.

Be sure to check out our knitting tutorial video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/BFUtyoLLc2A

Language: English
Skill level: Intermediate

Required skills:
Casting on
Stitches: knit, purl, increasing, decreasing
Sew parts together (join parts)

Materials:
Soft, smooth cotton worsted weight yarn
(2) Size #6 knitting needles
Darning Needle

(c) Codi Hudnall - All Rights Reserved
You may use this pattern for personal use, as gifts or for charity but you are not permitted to sell this pattern or the finished item for financial gain.

If you have any questions or problems regarding this pattern, or you find any errors, please feel free to email me at knitgrithelp@gmail.com

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Tawashi Spiral Scrubbie Sponge pattern by Codi Hudnall

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This pattern is available for$3.00 USD buy it now or visit pattern website A free version is also available.

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Beautiful repair - Inspiration!! - Carla

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Tea Bowl fixed in the Kintsuji method, public domain (Wikimedia)

The 400+ year old Japanese art of kintsugi (golden repair) or kintsukuroi (golden joinery) is a pottery repair method that honors the artifact's unique history by emphasizing, not hiding, the break.

According to art historians, kintsugi came about accidentally (well, it does fit). When the 15th-century shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa broke his favorite tea bowl, he sent it to...

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Kintsugi and the art of repair: life is what makes us

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The 400+ year old Japanese art of kintsugi (golden repair) or kintsukuroi (golden joinery) is a pottery repair method that honors the artifact's unique history by emphasizing, not hiding, the break. According to art historians, kintsugi came about accidentally (well, it does fit).

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These are the jeans that I wear that I used for the Visible Mending Workshop. They offer repair in store for the lifetime of the jeans. - Carla

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Nudie Jeans® | 100% Organic Denim Collection

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Visit the official Nudie Jeans® Online Shop for the full Nudie Jeans Collection. Jeans, jackets & clothing. A high-quality product made in a fair way.

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A great book for crochet patterns. This is my reference book for the Crochet Motifs Workshop - Carla

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Harmony Guides book. Read 6 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Harmony Guide: Crochet Stitch Motifs is a jampacked collection brimmi...

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Mr X Stitch Blog -Contemporary Embroidery and Textile Art

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Mr X Stitch Blog -Contemporary Embroidery and Textile Art

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One of my go to sources for inspiration. This blog highlights some incredible artists.

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link to Doily Free Zone Scholarships
The 2021 Doily Free Zone Symposium will take place online on the weekend of 12th and 13th June 2021 and features presentations and panels with an international collection of contemporary lace...
link to Inspiring techniques from Stitch to Sprang 100 Days of Textile Art Part Two

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Embroidery & Textile Art Inspiration | Mr X Stitch

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link to Doily Free Zone Scholarships The 2021 Doily Free Zone Symposium will take place online on the weekend of 12th and 13th June 2021 and features presentations and panels with an international collection of contemporary lace...

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Avril, one of our workshop participants, makes beautiful patchwork textiles. Check out her website!

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My favorite embroidery stitch book - Carla

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The Embroidery Stitch Bible book. Read 10 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. More than 200 stitches are photographed and accompanied...

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This is the thimble I like to use! - Carla

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Finger-molding soft leather thimble with dimpled metal coin disk inserted at the fingertip. Enables stronger push through hard fabrics. *One size only MaterialCowhide Brass

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Fixing my jeans :) - Carla