Juicy Bits

203: more christmas do-dads

Just a few more little christmas gifts that I hadn't got around to posting.

I added these little embroidered sprouts (vines?) to a yummy fur-lined sweatshirt from Old Navy for my Aunt.  (I know, not my best picture taking this time around.)

Here's some things I learned: Don't over-iron tiny bits of fabric adhered with fusible web.  The glue can sort of start to melt away and they won't stick too well.  Also, use a round-tipped needle when embroidering on knit.  You'd think that one would have been obvious to me since I know to do that for machine sewing, but it took me a bit to figure it out.

I also made these coat hook plaques for my sister's apartment.  They're inexpensive wood plaques from Michaels that I painted and mod podged fabric onto.  When I use mod podge on fabric I find it best to paint a layer on the the back of the fabric before cutting it and let it dry.  This makes the fabric stiff and allows you to cut without frayed edges and it seems to prevent so many bubbles.

JT

202: knock off

I kinda hate to post a negative post (this is my happy place), but I wanted to share and it's really not that bad.

I've been "knocked off".  In a way it is a bit flattering.  Really, my little owl is worth copying?

So, as many of you know I have this little free owl ornament pattern.  The key word there is free.  It's my gift to you.  But it is for personal use, not for people to profit from.  And in reality, anyone's who's asked me if they can use the pattern to sew them for charity or even personal profit, I've said yes to.  I'm fine with an independent crafter using it, but it was not intended for mass production.

Well, a reader sent me this picture:

She bought this cute guy in a store and it wasn't labeled except with "made in China".  Seriously?  China?  Clearly not hand sewn but some dedicated crafter.

Normally I wouldn't go right to "copy", because how many different ways are there to make a felt owl? And I know I've designed things on my own only to find that someone already beat me to it.  But you be the judge.  That's pretty darn identical to mine.  Right down to the decorative blanket stitching.  The only real difference is it's made by machine and glue.

Here's mine:

Since it's a free pattern I put out there I don't really see myself trying for any actual recourse. In this case it would be pretty futile. And I'm OK with that. (No, that's not permission for someone to copy this or any of my other designs.) But it does floor me that someone, somewhere decided to mass produce something of mine without permission.

Someone else was making them for sale on a website called fiverr and, worse, he/she was using my photo with not credit and representing it as their work.  Thankfully the site handled the matter.

Anyway, so that things don't stay negative on here for long, I promised to be back with another post very soon...

JT