Freedom shoes (Liberty Espadrilles)

Earlier on this year I noticed that my local haby Creaseys was selling espadrille soles, what a lovely idea!  They very kindly ordered them in in my size, have rather large feet.....and I started looking for inspiration. 

I have box of fabric strips, mainly Liberty Tawn Lawn which I had used for decoupage, 

that were perfect. The backing was just a pair of old jeans. 

You draw round the pattern provided with the soles and then get creative.

I simply stitched the stripes down with a line of back stitch in embroidery silk, 

so that the fraid edge of the fabric was a feature.

It was only after I had finished the tops that I realised the denim had some stretch....

not what you want for the top of a shoe!  So I backed them with a woven interfacing. 

Creaseys by now were also selling the espadrille thread, a nice strong (red)  cotton, 

perfect for doing the traditional blanket stitch to hold the top to the bottom. 

The only problem I had was as you fold the fabric under to do the blanket stitch, it meant I was sewing through two layers of denim and interfacing plus the rope sole, so I ended up having to use a pair of pliers to pull the needle through!

Must say I am very please with how they turned out, I decided not to do the backs as when I used to wear espadrilles a lot and you always stood on the backs, so why bother with them in the first place?

And today they have had their first outing in the sun!

True Granny knots

I didnt know my Granny very well, sadly she died when I was about 6, 

but I think we would have got on very well.  

You see she was a dress-maker, that talent totally skipped my Mum, 

she couldn't sew to save her life, draw yes, sew no.  I remember her hemming my jeans with staples!  

So I think Granny and I would have got on very well. 

By the time I appeared (a bit of an oops moment for Mum and Dad ;-)), 

she was rather elderly and not quite with it,

 but the other day I re found a dress she had made for my older sister when she was little.

 

Its a stunning gingham dress, the attention to detail is brilliant, 

from the little tucks down the bodice, to the run of French Knots round the waist

And when you look really closely it is all hand stitched, everything....

.....you then take into account the amazing band of embroidery going round the skirt 

and the time it must have taken is a true expression of love.

Even more so when I think she made a matching one for Serena's doll, 

which sadly now has gone walk about. I will treasure this.

 Its an important link to another woman I wish I had known as an adult.