Who want's banana cake?????
Originally uploaded by nichancraftroom
(-.-)...I would like to share my learning experience when making cake or other project made from felt fabric (in my place, it's called flanel fabric...but it's only a term...it's felt fabric...)
1. There are some stitches that we can use for assembling the pieces...I usually use: handmade-button-hole stitch (please check out my other cake in flickr) and simple stitch like i use on this banana cake.
Each stitch has it's own unique...Sometimes, it's not exchangable, sometimes it is...
I like using handmade-button-hole stitch because for me it gives neater result. However, as I said before, sometimes, I must use simple stitch instead...
2. Whatever kind of stitch you do, please make sure: it's done as neat as possible...the space between each stitch, the width of the stitch.
*Don't make the space too big and uneven (it's seen uneven).
*Don't make the width (or length?) too long. It can distract the enjoyment on your project, unless, you are intended to do that...for example with different color of thread...but still, you have to do it neatly...
My banana cake here is not my favorite result as I don't feel i make it neat. Even so, I would like to show the easiest stitch to use...this is not my fave stitch but it's the easiest...Sometimes, I use this stitch, not because it's not exchangable, but because i want to shape my skill in using this stitch...
3. Be royal on stuffing so your project won't be looked lumpy (^o^)...
4. This is a technique I got from Japanese book. In case, you want a firm look like square cake, you can layer the felt fabric with hard paper.
5. Some embroiderry techniques may be used to decorate or add a little bit accent to make things more real...like on the banana slice, I also use mmm...I don't remember the name of the embroiderry stitch but I remember how to make it...haha...it's basically making a knot...
There are still a lot more of stitch that can be used...I'm not really into embroiderry (-.-)...so, I still use stitch that I need only...I haven't had any creativity to expand other embroiderry stitch on this felt project...
But if you know a lot of embroiderry stitch, you can use it to add an accent to your felt project...
I just got another idea...if you want to make sheep brooch. You can cut the shape of the sheep, then add "curly" stitch to the piece...so, your sheep now is really have "fur" (^.^)...
This "curly" stitch is a stitch that is used to make rose flower...
6. Sometimes, we don't have to pull the thread/seam too hard...in this banana project, you may see, i pulled a little bit hard...I also pulled a little hard on my latest cake, the white cake (in flickr)...
But STILL, keep checking the tense of the seam...don't make it too loose, too...
7. BE PATIENT! This is one of the very important elements when making this (and all of craft, of course)...and have PASSION!...
I made my white cake for about 2 days (although it didn't mean 48 hours...haha)...It's simply...too many repeat when making decoration...fiuhhh...Can't stand the repeat...but I kept this in mind: I want to do my project to my best. If I need a break, I will do it...and then I will continue again...I don't want to quit my project as well as I don't want to mess it up just because I push myself to finish it...
When doing project with details, although with reference book or example, please analyze thoroughly before making and keep your Passion and Patience inside (if you have passion, you usually have the patience...(^.^) ). Once you mess up, you can break the material, or redo everything or just ruin the project...it wastes your materials, your time, your mental...let's not do this...(^.^)...
It's technical sharing, though...not inspiration...
I'm not a person that really into "food"...So, I don't have any idea about decorating food or what to make on felt fabric...Even so, I like decorative and cute cate...Right now, I'm still looking my wonderful Japanese reference...but when I make my white cake, I use my imagination to decorate it...hahaha...you will see, it looks odd...
What we get from any reference books or knowledge sharing like this can be a good advice and reference to improve technical skill...when it comes to an idea...you can go to cake shops (we don't have good cake shop in mountain here)...i like go to cake shops...i buy some then admire them...I won't eat them like i'm so into food (unless, tiramisu...yummmyyyy)...haha...i really like the decoration...
and hey...any decoration, any shape are LEGAL! So, let's use our imagination (^.^)/