Thursday, April 9, 2009

Step 3 - The actual sewing

Step 3.

Certainly for Milton this step was the easiest part of the project. As I said, halfway through the poor fellow almost got abandoned for a new shinier idea but here is he is in all his Milton glory.



The sewing process for Milton was reasonably straight forward I just had to be sure to sew it from the front to the back. That means the black of the eye to the blue of the eye and then the blue to the white and then the white to the face. This means I was only ever sewing through the least number of layers possible.


I started with Milton's face as you saw in the last post because to me, that seemed like it would be the hardest part. I usually start with the bit that I think is going to be hardest, (or the bit I am most excited about) just in case I cannot make it happen. There is nothing worse than spending ages on something only to stuff it up.



Yes, the observant among you will notice he lost his red glasses. He felt he needed something more manly once I put him into a mauve shirt!
(That's a Teflon foot on my machine-especially for sewing plastic stuffs and yes I have just realised how crooked that sewing line on the glasses really was - ! )




(see I unpicked that bit and fixed it)

One of the things I have learnt from doing this little Milton-a-long is how much of my "making" happens before I get anywhere near the sewing machine.

Whilst I still go off on crazy half cooked ideas, I do tend to spend more time preparing for a project than I realised. Apart from the incredible grumpiness I share when something goes wrong, maybe this is part of the time constraint as well. If I am finding the time to make things (and we all know that is often the hardest thing to find) I really do want it to work out.


I also find, that as frustrating as step 2 is, it is often the part I enjoy the most.....I enjoy trying to see if I can make something work and step 2 helps build that crazy library of knowledge that crafters hang on to , the knowledge of what works and what doesn't, which fabric does what - all those things that we learn by trial and error.

Milton, once I got to this step was reasonably straight forward. That is not to say I am totally happy with him or that he can't be improved upon. All that comes in the last and final step.

Onto Step 4- Where did I go wrong- Or the dissection of Milton.
(not for the faint of heart)

58 comments:

  1. Oh Jodie, You know I love him. I held him in my hands last night and wanted to bring hime home. He is just sooo handsome! Looking forward to seeing the "girl" version!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Milton is a real cutie! Great to see your creative process in action.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So cute! Please... no dissection! Maybe I'll have to ignore your next post! I think you've done a great job and it's been interesting seeing the creative process along the way! Thanks for sharing it with us all!

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh no, shock horror! don't dissect him!!! He's so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've really enjoyed seeing how the process comes along - thanks so much Jodie, it's been very helpful. And Milton is absolutely gorgeous! What a hunk of spunk.

    ReplyDelete
  6. He looks JUST LIKE my husband!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. OMG what did you say you were on? whatever you are taking I need some too!! you are soo clever, he is AMAZING and such a hottie too!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my goodliness! Milton is my postman - seriously! Could we have one of those little postie motorscooter thingies to match now please? (oh, and I'm seriously impressed).

    ReplyDelete
  9. OMG I think I'm in love! I need a new man in my life. Is Milton free?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh he's too cute to dissect! He looks like he wants to stay! Love to see the whole process in action, very inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love your blog, and LOVE milton! I'm enjoying seeing how you make things :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'll say it again Jodie. Milton is fantastic and he could come home with me anytime. Your attention to detail is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Milton is fantastic. Love him !! You are soooo clever...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well H-E-L-L-O hansome.... Milton turned out fantastic Jodie and exactly like your drawings.
    Well done.
    Hugs ~ Kerryanne

    ReplyDelete
  15. That is awesome! Don't disect him...poor Milton.

    ReplyDelete
  16. oh he is gorgeous...
    love the detail that you put in all your work...he is just so life like...
    and yes i can't wait to see what you have come up with as a result of doing milton....
    you package is in the mail today and will hopefully arrive next week...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh Jodie, be still my beating heart :-) He is perfection! I love the detail, the expression, the colours, everything. You are so very, very good!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Milton? Aha, now I remember! Milton is that creepy guy in the movie Office Space who was obsessed by his red swingline stapler! Have you seen it? Great movie - well worth watching :) Love your Milton, lots of personality!

    ReplyDelete
  19. If you dissect him, are we going to see squishy, gorey bits? Surely Milton has a heart.
    Seriously, I'm impressed. I like his personality you've given him. Very straight up and down but with a flair of mauve so he's not too straight-laced!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fantastic Jodie, he could be the best handy man around my place. I could stand him up against the wall until I needed him. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  21. he so looks like a milton! and yes - most of the creating is in the process & planning, i agree :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love that second picture. "Milton would rather stick pins in his eyes". He is fantastic. You are soooo good with all those little details, that make Milton and all your other creations, have that xtra "thing". I wish I had your patience. I am so full steam ahead, and starting cutting things out before I have even thought it through. I must use my notebook more!!! WEll done.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jodie - got to love a man who comes with his own screwdriver. Milton is a star and so are you for bringing him to life. So cute.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Gosh Jodie - you GO girlfriend!!! I can't believe how quickly you have turned Milton around... and he is fantastic! I love the vinyl and his rectangular shape. He is awesome.

    I was interested to see that you can get a bespoke foot for your sewing machine for sewing through plastics... hopefully that might mean fewer trips to see Milton?!! Thanks for sharing that!

    Thanks for sharing Milton!
    Vikki :-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. He is soooo much a Milton! The level of detail you've gone too is amazing, Another Great Job Jod!

    ReplyDelete
  26. You are very clever.... I have/am enjoying reading the Milton-making journey...

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love this, you characterised him with a whole lot of details!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, he is just brilliant!!! I love all the detail that you have put into him, like the little pocket, and screw driver.
    Good on you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. jodie, he is just fabulous, and looks so much a 'milton' BUT are we ever going to see the real milton so we can compare??

    ReplyDelete
  30. He's a hottie that Milton. Very clever Jodie

    ReplyDelete
  31. Will it be like the game 'Operation' when you disect him? Come to think of it he looks a bit like the patient in that game ;-P
    I think he's wonderful and you are a fabulously talented lady!

    ReplyDelete
  32. He's fab!!
    The shot with all the pins in his face is a bit disturbing though! Bit like a voodoo doll or an accupuncture experiment.
    Anyway. He's adorable.
    Andi :-)

    ReplyDelete
  33. oh my - so cute! loving your posts, i've been thinking about starting to make my own designs soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Milton is gorgeous! Well done you. (We had our bloggery picnic yesterday and you were definitely there in spirit!)

    x

    ReplyDelete
  35. Milton is awesome. And for me, someone who can't even properly sew a button on a shirt (poor me!), it's fascinating to watch your process.

    So what will you do with him? Will you gift him to his namesake?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Milton is lovely! I used to work with a Milton and he bears some resemblance to your softie version although nowhere near as cute or huggable. Great work!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I do hope you'll show your Milton to the sewing machine wizard Milton. Very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I LOVE Milton... and I don't care what anyone says!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I think I'm in love, Milton is the man for me!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Well I don't see how you can improve upon Milton. The attention to detail is amazing...stitching on his jeans and even the glasses frames going behind his ears. Perhaps he needs a mini softie sewing machine?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Phew! For a minute I thought that upright pillar of the Community was carrying a cut-throat razor...!!!!!

    Of course, it's a screwdriver... he looks vaguely like Flanders, Homer Simpson's neighbour...!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Milton is amazing! Love all the intricate details, your sewing is wonderful. I'm all for anyone who has to wear glasses. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  43. We are our own worst critics. You should be very proud of what you have created. Milton is utterly adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Fantastic. He's very cute and you are very talented.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Milton is one of a kind for sure - you have done a terrific job. I wonder what he really looks like??

    ReplyDelete
  46. My mum and I are sitting here and adoring Milton from afar.

    We wonder...how big is he? How cuddly is he? He'd be such fun to have in the room, good company...and so very very dependable.

    Happy Easter crazy, fabulous Jodie.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Milton is superb! But I'm very concerned at the concept of dissection! Are you sure that's really necessary????

    Locket xxx

    ReplyDelete
  48. AMAZING.
    i want to marry him.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Oh what a groovy baby kind of sewing machine fixer upper.... I dont need to say anything about your fabulousness because the word verification is (I am not shitting you!)irevelu... sound that out you creative whirlwind you!! (Hope I dont regret this post, have enjoyed way too much wine and now I am filling in time waiting for easter bunny to arrive....Jo

    ReplyDelete
  50. Milton is awesome! I hope if you ever meet the real-life Milton, he lives up to expectations :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Milton - he is a really fun guy. I've never sewn with PVC before, i always imagined it to be hard, but you make it seem like a breeze - as usual!

    Monda
    x

    ReplyDelete

Hellloooooo !!!!