Heart Pouches

A really fun little sewing project.  I found this will make cute gifts for those who like to corral little things like earbuds, loose change, stitch markers, earrings, or the like.

They are super fast to make. I found the tutorial at Dog Under My Desk blog. It is great for scraps.

Happy end of January to all~!

In Knitting: Hats

Yes, I am knitting. The big project I am working on, I am to the slogging through K2, P2 rib over 560 stitches, no sense in boring you with that.
What I did do this weekend was a fast and fun knit for mom. She and I went on a little adventure on Saturday after our much needed haircuts, to Black Forest to visit Table Rock Llamas.

They have a lovely selection of yarns in the store and we browsed yarns, petted the shop dog, Daisy, and viewed their selection of weaving, dyeing, and spinning supplies.

What mom really liked was the skeins of Berocco Brio yarn, which is a bulky yarn and has 109 yards in it. We discussed what could be done with it and, with the help of one of the shop folks, decided that a Shroom hat was the answer. (this is the same hat pattern I made her once before that has become her favorite hat).

The yarn colorway she chose is called Riot and is bright colors with thick and thin consistency and a sparkle fiber running through it.

I brought it home, knit it up while watching Netflix and gave it to her on Sunday morning when she stopped by. Doesn't she look cute in it?

I am knitting myself one out of the same yarn, in the colorway Zing. Happy Knitting to All~!

Mad Scientist: Making a Heart

 

 

Since my Christmas sewing got derailed, I decided the Valentine's is my new favorite holiday to craft fabric items.

I found this pattern in the quilt shop and knew that I had the perfect charm pack at home to use. The pattern is from Pieces of My Heart - it is #471 called The Lonely Hearts Club.

While the pictured sample on the pattern is made from a true Valentine themed fabric line, I chose to go with Midwinter Reds by Minick & Simpson for Moda. It is more subtle and does not scream SEASONAL, which means I can use all year long if I like.

I had so much fun with this one I got another charm pack of the Midwinter Reds and one of Josephine that I will make up next.

All that is left to do on this one is to quilt it, I hope I can do it on the longarm with a computer version of little loopy hearts. If not I will try to do it free motion on my machine. This is one of the things I can see it in my head, can I get it onto the fabric the way I see it?

I hope everyone is enjoying their January~!

Warming Hut

Pedro got a new warming hut this week. He has been showing me that he is feeling the cold more, so I lined it with his favorite squishy polar fleece blanket and introduced him to it.

He has been using it a lot as well as his new space in the closet with his wool bed as a base and another polar fleece.

Doesn't he look content in there?

String Block - 1st Attempt

On a tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Company I saw her demonstrate 10-inch foundation papers that she used to make string blocks. I raided my scrap stash of strip scraps that I created last year for the monster mats and found enough to try this idea.

Yes, I had ordered papers previously just had not had time to try this technique before now.

Now that I have tried it, I love it. There will be more blocks in my future.

Now back to digging them out of the scrap bucket and ironing them. Happy crafting to all~!

Paper Piecing - First Adventure

Somewhere I found a couple of videos about paper piecing made easy, one here and one here.

So I had to go find some supplies to test the idea for me.

Vellum sheets were found at Hobby Lobby and the add-a-quarter inch rulers were part of my birthday discount purchase at my one of my favorite quilt shops.

From my scrap bucket I found enough to create a block (go figure) and from the internet, a free block pattern to play with.

The results are pictured. It was lots of fun and I can see a scrappy quilt using a variety of blocks all about the same size in the future.

Then I treated myself to a dinner of tacos at home. All in all a great day!

Prepping for 2014 Stitch of the Month Club

Pictured are some of the things I am using to create 9 months or so of fun learning for my Stitch of the Month Club members.

This will be our fourth year together, it is hard to believe.

To recap - the first year was all about knitted textures using knit and purls combinations. The second year we explored lace stitch patterns and last year we learned about colorwork. This year it will be a potpourri of techniques that I am still designing.

Don't want to give too much away because each month it is about the surprise - what will we learn this time.

Thank you to all for your dedication and sense of adventure.

How Do You Get Your Sewing Mojo Back?

My answer is - a little bit at a time. And with some cleaning and organizing. Once I got my cutting table back in shape I was ready to review what I had to work with.

First up was creating some scrappy mug mats out of leftover pieces from zippy pouches I had made over the last few months. They just needed some binding.

None of them match but they will make really cute gifts that can be mailed in a card for just because.

Then I found a free pattern for reversible cowls out of polar fleece and just happened to have some pieces to work with. Love the buffalo check look, now if I can just find some in purple and green.

I have some other projects cut out and laying on the sewing table for tomorrow.

Tonight I will go back to knitting on the shawl I am finishing for mom. Knitting goes good with movies and football.

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Happy New Year!

Here is to all - may this year be better than last!