Spectacularly Made by Cheryle Cole-Bennett

Rosey Alphabet from Hang To Dry is the source of the “P” and the flowers. The font for Page is Sweet Tart from 8 Claws and a Paw. The bib is an ITH design from FiveStarFonts.

Have you ever seen a sweeter combination of fabric and design?  Like everything Cheryle Cole-Bennett makes,  it is perfectly stitched and perfectly coordinated.  Any new mother who received a set like this would likely be dancing on the ceiling between each feeding and diapering session (if she weren’t too exhausted).

This set and everything featured here was made by Cheryle, an incredibly talented designer.  I happened upon her projects while surfing the very active, broad spectrum SewForum.com site which is graciously sponsored by AllBrands.com.  The forum is one you must join in order to have access.  Just do it–you’ll be glad you did.

Here’s a close up of the onesie.  Cheryle mentioned a modification she made. “The P was edited to use the flower component from a different letter.” Can you see that the flowers are 3 dimensional?

After downloading many of my favorite photos from SewForum into my computer file called “pics inspiration,” I noticed that several were  “ccb” (Cheryle) submissions.   When I saw her preciously pink Roses for Page,  I had to know more about this person.

But first, I rushed over to Hang To Dry  to purchase the Rosey Alphabet for use on a top for my granddaughter.  Partly because the alphabet came with no instructional file, the embroidery on the little shirt for Vivian Rose was not nearly as nice as Cheryle’s.  It also lacks her design flair.

On the forum, she generously shared these tips, which I wish I had read before I embroidered the shirt for Vivian Rose.  Cheryle said,

“For the rose, the design will stitch a placement stitch, followed by a triple stitch to tack down the fabric. For raggy edged designs, I do not use HBL (Heat & Bond Lite). I add it for the letter, but not any of the flower elements. The first element to stitch is the leaves – trim the fabric after the triple stitch. Since the intent is to have a frayed edge, don’t trim too close. The next element is the bottom layer of the rose – placement, then triple stitch. The rose stitches in 3 layers, each smaller than the one beneath it. As you trim each layer, use the stitch line from the element beneath as a cutting guide. Trim the fabric to just cover the stitch line beneath – you don’t need to be precise.

I like to use two pieces of fabric for each rose layer, single for the leaves and the buds. I just like a fluffier flower. Each element of the design is small enough that you don’t need to worry about how to keep the fabric in place while you stitch – you don’t need tape or pins, just lay the fabric down smoothly and stitch.”

She posted this photo of another sweet-as-pie project using that same Rosey Alphabet.

Again, when queried by a forum member, she responded with more helpful information.

“The flower element also makes a great little design on it’s own. I’ve borrowed it to add to a baby hat, also thought it might be cute to embroider on a headband. I’m attaching a photo of another set I did awhile back where I used just the flower element.”

Let me tell you what I know about Cheryle.  Did you notice the watermark on the photos?  SeeSeeMe is her business name. Her new venture is being readied for launch,  so there isn’t a web site or Facebook page yet.   She explains the name like this, “I go by Cheryle Cole-Bennett.  My last name is hypenated (hence my user name on SewForum, ccb).  SeeSeeMe is a play off of my initials to some extent.”

Cheryle has a Flickr account where she has been loading photos of her projects.  I loved seeing those pictures.  Without exception, they are just as described by the title of this blog, Spectacularly made by Cheryle Cole-Bennett.

As usual, I’m writing this post late at night, too late to contact Cheryle.  But if I can get permission to post her Flickr account, I’ll add it.  You won’t want to miss that.

UPDATE:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/seeseeme

AND THERE IS MORE!  In a future post you will see her bridal shower gift, an apron embellished with vintage linens and machine embroidery, mimicking a wedding dress.  And guess what?  It is SPECTACULAR!