Christmas table runners

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We celebrated small here at our house.  It was good...it was our first Thanksgiving without Baba (my grandma) and so it was nice to stay intimate and low key.  I did miss the craziness of lots of people, but it all worked out.  After the holiday our good friends made a stop over for the weekend...it was so awesome to see them....my soul needed it!

Before Thanksgiving I worked on some Christmas table runners.  I gifted one and so now I can share!  These are so fun to make.  Choosing all the different fabrics is so much fun.  I used holiday fabrics but I think they would be fun in winter fabrics too....guess I'll have to find time to try one of those for after Christmas.

I cut out 15 strips each 2 1/2 by 11 inches.  I sewed them together in a pleasing pattern without being too repetitive or symmetrical and after pressing all the seams, I ironed some fusible batting to the back of the strips.  After that, I created a frame with four strips of fabric that I wanted to look like binding.  From that point on, it's merely sewing it together like you'd do to make a pillow.

Once everything is turned right side out, I press really well and then stitch in the ditch on the inside of the frame.  Stitching in the ditch is when you stitch right in the crevice that the seam leaves.  This doesn't really show up, but it does do a nice job of anchoring the front to the back.

As soon as the table was cleared from Thanksgiving I had mine out!  It looks really pretty with an old black tray, some greenery and a jar candle.  Tis the Season!!!  Stay Jolly and enjoy all of your days!

stash building

Dishcloths...I love to knit them.  I've gotten into trouble before with my wrists from not knowing when to stop.  I like to keep a stash of them in my 'gift drawer' for when I need a gift for a special friend.  My stash has been running low and so this summer I've been trying to replenish it (in moderation).  Here are a couple of my favorite dishcloth patterns:

~this is the "granny dishcloth"...my dad requested these for Christmas last year.  He does the dishes at my folks' house and this is his dishcloth of choice!  Gotta love that!  This is the easiest dishcloth in the world to knit.  (follow the link above to see a full shot of the granny dishcloth)

~this is the "waffle knit dishcloth"...it's easy too and it's a fun one to add stripes to.  I love to make two of these that match and give them as a set.  I only have one of these done, but the next one will be the opposite of this one.  It'll be cream with a tweedy red stripe.

~this next one is fun when you want a bit more of a challenge but aren't wanting to tackle a big project. Dishcloths are great for (almost) instant gratification.  This one also knits up the biggest of all of the ones I show here.  It's called "spring is in the air"...but you can knit it anytime.

~this "feather and fan dishcloth" pattern is my favorite.  I especially like it knit up in the variegated yarns...the color patterns are really cool.  This one actually got finished and was immediately employed in our kitchen....before I got a finished picture.

~I just knit two of these "double bump" dishcloths and I have to say, they are fun to knit...very easy and the pattern is quick to memorize.  I picked these colors out because they reminded me of summer fresh tomatoes...yummy!

 I have enough dishcloth yarn to make some more....the only trouble will be deciding which pattern to work on next.  How about you, do you have a favorite dishcloth pattern?

sweetness times two

My cousin and his wife recently had twins.  They live way up north in Minnesota and we never get to see them, but this summer they were in the DC area and we got to have lunch with them and catch up. Becky was pregnant and glowing....it was so exciting to watch them knowing that they are heading into the next best phase of their lives.   The next time we see them, their family will have doubled in size!  I sent off some goodies for the babies....

onesies with their initials  (Jack and Grace)

and burp clothes for all the fun stuff that comes with parenting

I used soft cotton flannel on all the gifts.  The initials are wonder under-ed on and then blanket stitched around the edges for durability.

The burp clothes are simply seamed flannel on top of the center panel of some white cloth diapers.  I pre-washed and doubled rinsed everything (diapers, onesies and flannel) before sewing.

When I opened the package of onesies I was surprised at how small they were...makes me realize how big my kiddos have gotten.  Although I'm long past the days of babes and burp clothes, there's something irresistible about sweet baby items.

the scarf dilemma.....yes or no?

When we went to the beach this summer I found the best knit shop....organized, loaded and full of inspiration!  I bought the yarn for this mohair scarf with plans for it to be a gift, but as I've been knitting it, I've been questioning the 'giftability' of this particular scarf. 

 It's a bit off beat as far as scarves go. I like it.  It's soft and the colors are very fun.  But when I've shown it to some of my friends and family I get a mixed reaction.

 They've made comments like : "Oh, that would be cute on someone younger...I think I'm too old for that style"

  or "I like it, I'm just not sure I'd wear it, but it looks cute on you"

  or my favorite: "It kinda reminds me of sausage links"

So, what do you think?  Go ahead...be honest, I can take it. 

stitches and stuff

Working on a bit of this and that....enjoying my days

~a camera strap cover using this tutorial

~reading this with my boy....it started out slow, but now we can hardly put it down

~working on a secret project...it's so fun, like sewing rainbows

~gearing up for the basketball season

~working on Christmas gifts

~slowly working on this knitting project and trying to decide how I feel about the way it's turning out

`~watching my favorite coach....as the shots that won the game went through the net!

Hope your day is filled with happy stitches, fun stuff and game winning shots! 

saturday sewing

I had some sewing time last Saturday and it was just what I needed.  Some people shop for therapy.  I create for therapy.  It's a good thing when I get some sewing time....You know that saying about mama being happy?  Well, when this mama is sewing, it's all good in the house!  You'd think they'd be pushing me into my sewing room but no, I've got to wait it out and carve out sewing time here and there.  When I get a whole day...it's like Christmas. 

OK....I'm not complaining...just being silly.  My family is fabulous about allowing me some time to create and they are always wanting to snatch something that I've made.  Especially these pretties.

Jodi from Pleasant Home has a fun Etsy shop with patterns and fabrics.  It's like a perfect storm.  Just the right amount of goodness ready for a day of sewing therapy.  I purchased these patterns and some fabric from her and after a day in my craft room studio.  I emerged triumphant and giddy. 

I'll be making some more of these wallets as gifts for my girl's friends.  I think a gift card inside one of these wallets would make a sweet little gift. 

Out of the two patterns I thought the wallet would be the hardest, but I think it might have actually been a bit easier than the note holder.  Neither of them was hard though.  The directions were clear and easy to follow. 

The note holder is similar to the mini notebook covers that I made earlier, it just has a bit more pizazz to it!  There's a tab to keep it shut and a handy little pocket in the front for notes and stuff.
I love how it turned out but I think it could benefit by being a bit sturdier.  I think the next one will get some heavier interfacing for stability. 

 These projects would both be a great way to use up some scraps and try out some new color combinations.  I've never been a big pink and red girl but I love how the fabrics and trim all worked together to make this so fun and girly.  I also love the red and turquoise combo....I'll be using those colors together again.

How about you, do you have a favorite color combination that you love use?  I'm loving the fresh look of these two projects and it's got me thinking about some new color combos. 

a little bit of bling

This simple cowl was a freebie pattern from my lys.  The pattern calls for 1 skein of "Nuna" by MIRASOL, but I had this luscious Wenslydale yarn from Amanda of Joli House that was perfect for this project.  In addition to the main yarn, you hold a strand of "Lazer FX" alongside when you knit every 6th row. 

The sequins add just the right amount of bling to a rather ordinary knit.  You don't even have to cut the sequin yarn, you just let it run on the back side and it hides itself wonderfully. I used size 8 needles and knit until it was about 7 1/2 inches tall....easy enough! 

It seems like cowls are the thing among knitters these days. I see them all over the blogosphere and on Ravelry.   They are fun, fast and make great gifts, but what I really want to know is, "Do people who aren't knitters wear them?"  Let me know what you think....I've got some on my list to knit as gifts and I'm wondering if they are going to be received with joy or that "ooh, how nice! (what was she thinking knitting me a neck tube)"  kind of reception.  You know what I mean?  Sometimes I wonder if my knitting gifts are as appreciated as I hope or if they're received like that scratchy sweater your grandma knit you in bright green and orange acrylic yarn when you really wanted a curling iron......maybe that's just me. 

ADVENTuring

My ADVENTure has been on vacation lately.  The start of school and three birthdays in September seems to have knocked all ADVENTuring to the back burner, but this weekend I was able to get in some sewing.  It was a great Sunday afternoon full of football and sewing.  The windows were open and the sun was shining.  I had a hot cup of coffee and I was ready to go! 

  I made some mini notebook covers for my book club.  These are so fun to make!  The book club is a mother/daughter book club - I'm a daughter which is weird because I'm so used to being the mother these days. We've read some great books and it's been really good to get me out of my comfort zone with literature.  I tend to pick the same genre over and over again.  Some of my favorite book club reads have been:  To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.   We've worked through about a dozen books so far.   I'm the oldest of the daughters which makes my mom the oldest  most mature mother (in the book club).  It's a great mix of ages...30's to 70's. 

 I tried to pick fabric to coordinate with the personalities in the book club. Can you tell that we have some free spirits and some whom might be more easily labeled as traditional?  The diversity makes for great discussion!  They'll probably all get their notebooks and want to swap with each other for a different fabric choice! What do I know!?! (Remember how you used to do that in elementary school?  The teacher would pass out folders and you'd be nudging your neighbor to trade colors with you...) 

  I found the tutorial for this mini notebook cover on blogger a couple of years ago and I couldn't find the blog to link to it anymore.  (it came from a blog called "knitting after hours").  The covers each take a fat quarter and they sew up pretty quickly.  I bought these little notebooks in packs of three from Office Depot.   I'm sure you can find them in any office supply store. 

As I was taking photos of the notebooks, my boy came riding up on his bike and after checking it all out, asked if I would make him one.  I told him that I'd be glad to after I bought some more interfacing.  I mentioned that we could pick out a boyish print and he'd have a notebook for doodling.  He bent down, picked up the striped notebook and said, "This one looks like boy would carry it...can I have this one?"  After hearing yes, it immediately went into his back pocket and off he peddled.  Hopefully my book club members will pocket theirs with just as much joy. 

So, before it's my turn to choose our book club read, do you have any favorites you'd recommend? 

to market, to market and home with more bags

I have an overabundance of plastic grocery bags....they are like rabbits.  Despite the fact that I grocery shop with reusable bags, I somehow still end up with a plethora of plastic ones.  I actually like to have some of them on hand for wastebasket liners and for bagging up things here and there. So I've been stuffing them in a bigger bag and keeping them in our laundry room. They started to take over my space.  I am certain that they were planning a coup.   They looked unassuming, but I could tell...they needed to be dealt with.  So I did.

 I made this adorable grocery bag holder.  It has elastic at the bottom so you can pull out one bag at a time.  It has a great big opening at the top for stuffing in more bags.  And it holds a lot of bags.  Whatever it doesn't hold, I've decided I don't need to keep.  I'll take them back to the store and recycle them at those big bin. 

I also like it because it's make out of cute fabric and it makes me smile.  It was super easy to make and because it's quilted, it seems to be pretty sturdy.  I didn't quilt mine quite as fancy as the tutorial suggested, but I like how it turned out.

 I used this tutorial (thanks AnneMarie!)  and made it from material that I had on hand.  I think it would make a pretty nice gift....in a practical, kind of way.  Not sure that a grocery bag holder has the same appeal as a piece of jewelry or a candle does in a gift giving situation, but still.  Since I was ambivalent about the gift-ability of the bag holder, I only made one.  for me.