Clamshell Report

Well, I have been clamming aplenty, however, because of the plan for my clamshells, you won't be seeing them stitched together for awhile yet.  I have prepped 132 clamshells:

On the left, the pre-cut paper template. I ordered these from the UK over a year ago, because it was the only place I could find them at the time. Now, particularly for those of us in the US, I have found a site with precut papers at www.paperpieces.com/ . In the middle is the paper pinned to a cut out fabric clamshell. Finally on the left, and I hope you can see the thread, I have stitched through fabric, and paper, on both the concave sides of the clamshell, and then run a gathering stitch through only the fabric of the top, pulling it up, and gathering in the fullness. I anchor the thread with a double stitch, starch, and press like crazy with a steam iron. Eh voila..............c'est finis!!!!!

In this manner, I have prepared the 132, and traced, and cut out another 120. I must say, it is many years since I've done a lot of scissor cutting out, and along with sewing through paper, it is taking a toll on my hands and wrists. Plus, it's a bit like potato chips. I thought four a day, would be a painless way to go about amassing the 520 (or so) I anticipate needed for my project. Well, sisters, I find myself unable to stop after four. The last few days I've done 12 a day, plus the pulling of repro fabrics, and the whole tracing/cutting deal. Have any of the rest of you found it difficult to stop, once you've begun?

Many thanks to Robyn, Jossie, Sue-Anne and Valentina, who have all responded to my frantic questions with helpful indepth answers. I could not appreciate you more! I only hope I can be of help to you one day.

No doubt the saga of sewing these little babies together will present a whole other set of challenges, but "no pain, no gain".................ain't that right, fellow clams, clammers, and clamees? Cheers, and Ta for now, it's back to the salt mines for me.  Michele