from my sewing room

I’ve been working on a scarf to donate to a silent auction for an event I’m attending next month.  I’ve done this for a number of years now and I can’t always predict what will be a hit.  One year I spent a ton of time making a small wardrobe for an American Girl doll thinking this would be very popular but it wasn’t.  Another year I cut up a printed velvet scarf that I had purchased at a thrift store for $1 and made it into a simple evening bag.  It went for big bucks.  I have also learned that the way I feel about a piece is also no indication of how well it will sell and am no longer disappointed when something I love is not loved as much by others.  The scarf I’ve made this year is not something I would personally wear, but I am hoping it will appeal to some of the artistic-of-nature in the crowd.

I based the design on a scarf by Diane Ericson which can be found in Linda Lee’s book Scarves to Make.  The body of the scarf is made from silk velvet.  The ends are embellished with three knots.  The largest and smallest are made from dupioni silk.  The middle size is made from stretch velvet.  The tassel is formed by tying a piece of silk organza over the smallest knot and securing with silk ribbon.  Silk velvet is a very trying fabric to work with.  I have found that basting the seams with Wonder Tape before stitching prevents the fabric from shifting, a real sanity saver.

Here’s hoping I’ve come up with a winner this time.