avoidance...it's in the bag!

Over the weekend it was too cold to work outside and to avoid inside work because I had some cute fabrics I wanted to use, I did a bit of sewing.  I saw this cute project tote on Yarnmonster's blog and had just enough fabric to try it out. 

 I've been wanting to cast on for a sizable knitting project, but can't quite seem to settle on a pattern, so dishcloths have become my back up therapy.  I have a fondness for dishcloths and whenever I'm in between projects these little babies fill the gap for my idle hands.

This little bag is perfect for holding my cotton yarn, my needles, tape measure, scissors and chocolate.   Now my dishcloths in progress have a totable, practical home. 

 You can whip one of these up with a mere two fat quarters of fabric.   Jessica's tutorial is easy to follow and satisfyingly quick.  The only modification I made was to add eyelets for my cord to pull through.

These little bags would be great for holding socks, hats, mittens or hand sewing in progress (whatever your addiction might be!)  And since we're full swing into baseball season, now I can grab my bag and head for the ballpark!

And in the midst of my weekend sewing, I received my napkins from Elaine!  She made these out of special indigo fabric her mother sent her from Japan...aren't they gorgeous?  And check out the mitered corners she did...fabulous. (Thanks Elaine...I love them and they've already been put to use!)

I hope your weekend was full of good things even if you were in avoidance mode like me...and since I'm on the prowl for a new project let me know what projects you have going on right now?  (I might be wanting to avoid more indoor jobs....)

swap it out!

I can't believe it's almost April the 15th...are your taxes and napkins both finished?  I mailed my napkins off this morning. (and my honey took care of the taxes a while ago! so I'm good to go!) Thanks to everyone who participated in the Napkin Swap.  It turned out to be a lot of fun!  I've been seeing some napkin sets popping up here and there around blogland. 

 It's so fun to see what everyone chose for their fabrics.  Courtney set up a flickr group so everyone can see everyone's napkins...isn't she clever?!  Thanks Courtney!  Just click on the words flickr group and it'll take you straight to the group, you can sign in and upload your napkin swap photos to share! 

I've also added Mr. Linky...if you've blogged about your napkin swap, feel free to add your link below.  Make sure the post you link to is the specific post where you blogged about your napkins, not your main blog url.  Simply copy the url from your post and add it to the Mr. Linky that way everyone can see all the homemade goodness that's being shared!  Feel free to add your link even if you wrote it last week or for that matter, when you get to it next week....no worries.  I'll leave the Mr. Linky up so we can all see the fantastic napkins from the swap!  Just come back to this post to add your napkin love. 

Special thanks again to Courtney for all her help with the Napkin Swap! I couldn't have done it without all of her help! And thanks to Kristyn for the Mr. Linky idea and for allowing me to bounce ideas off of her before going 'public'!  So, go ahead and link up to the flickr group and the Mr. Linky so we can see what you and your swap partner swapped out!

It's a shoe in...and swap info!

My dear friend Kristyn celebrated her birthday last week and I wanted to send something that would make her smile as she is always so good at bringing smiles to my face.  When she was here over Christmas, she mentioned that she wanted to try to make some shoe bags.  Shoe bags are great for keeping your clothes and shoes separated when you pack your suitcase. Betz White has a tutorial on her blog, so after I shopped for some fun fabrics (Kristyn's favorite color is pink)....I followed Betz's tutorial and made 4 shoe bags.  

Kristyn and her family travel mulitple times a year, so I knew these would get lots of use.  I don't have a serger but I wanted the inside seams to look nice, so I hooked up to Larissa's tutorial for making french seams.  I love how the inside seams look...so professional.  These were so fun to make and Larissa's directions were the perfect finishing touch. 

Aren't blog friends just great for tips and tricks and patterns and stuff?!?   And speaking of friends...I've emailed everyone their swap partners.  If you didn't get an email from me with your partner and their email address, please let me know.  {my email address is on my sidebar} Thank goodness it's Friday....Shoe hope you have a great weekend!  (sorry I couldn't resist)

and the winner is....

I used a random number generator to pick the winning comment and the number 3 came up.  (that was so easy...and no little papers to cut up and pull out of a hat!) So congratulations to Renea!  Renea, email me your address and I'll get your prize in the mail to you!  Thanks everyone for playing along and for sharing...I loved reading about all of the blessings in everybody's life...isn't God good!?! Have a wonderful week enjoying more of God's goodness.  {let's just hope that goodnesss doesn't come in the form of snow...ya know what I'm sayin!?!} I'll be back later in the week with some more stuff to share and I'll also be emailing all napkin swap participants their swap partners later this week. 

swap!

My small change for February was for our family to do away with paper napkins.  So, we made the switch to exclusively using cloth napkins.  So far...so good.  When I originally posted about that small change there was some interest generated in having a cloth napkin swap.  Courtney actually suggested it...so we've been 'talking'.  Courtney and I are excited about the swap and it sounds like several of you are as well. 

So, here's the nitty gritty:

Leave a comment here with your email address so I can get in touch with you.  {If you have a blog, make sure you're signed in, in order for me to get your address....sometimes I get that no reply comment thingy...that won't help me get in touch with you.}  If you don't want to leave your email address in the comment section...send me an email instead.  My email is on my side bar.  Once everyone has signed up, you will be paired with a partner and you and your partner will swap a set of 6 handmade cloth napkins ~ 16" square. (version 1...directions here.)

Here's the mother in me coming out, but if you sign up, you need to follow through with making and sending your napkins to your partner.  We've all been the recipient of a secret Santa exchange gone bad...and you know how that feels.   So, sign up under 'Scouts Honor'.  You and your partner can be in touch with each other and share addresses and color preferences once you get their name.  Just think, you'll be making a new friend as well as getting 6 napkins!  So, if you're commited to making 6 napkins and sending them off to a new friend, leave a comment or send me an email.  Hopefully, we'll get a flickr group set up so you can post pictures of your napkins as you make and receive them.  The deadline for sign ups is the end of next week....2/27.  I'll aim to get you your partner's information by March 6th...You should plan on having your napkins in the mail along with your taxes by April 15th...sound good? 

Oh! and Courtney made a button (isn't it cute!?) if you participate feel free to grab it and add it to your blog!

snowthing much

We're out from under the bulk of the snow....but it's still piled up all around outside.  We're slowly getting back to our regular routine after having all of life cancelled.  It's been nice to be home enjoying the slower pace that snow days bring.  We've been:

{playing}

{drying out}

{building}

{warming up}

{exploring}

{celebrating}

{relaxing}

We've also been shoveling, doing school, crafting, baking and watching lots of basketball.  Hope your days have been full as well...Check back later this week for sign ups and information about the Napkin Swap....

napkin fever and a feeler

You guys are the best..thanks for sharing all your thoughts and ideas on my last post.  I've gleaned some great tips for reducing our paper towel usage. Sounds like so many of you use cloth napkins regularly or want to. 

So I was thinking ahead to my next post and I was going share my thoughts on how to survive a blizzard.  We're under a blizzard warning today and we've already got over 2 feet of snow piled up out there. 

However, several of you asked for directions on how I sew my cloth napkins so I thought that might be a better post instead.  And besides, if you're inside during a blizzard it will help you pass the time.  (two birds with one stone!)  Here are 3 quick ways to whip up your own set of cloth napkins.

For all the versions,  You will need cotton or linen fabric.  Your choice...it should be something easy to launder and something you'd want on your table.  You can cut your fabric to the size that works for you and your family.  Standard cloth napkins come in a variety of sizes...12, 14 or 16 inch square seem to be the most popular. 

Version one:
This is the one I use almost exclusively.   You'll use one piece of  fabric for each napkin.  Cut your fabric to the size you prefer and iron under all edges 1/4 of an inch. 

Then go back and iron them all again folding them over another 1/4 of an inch.  (This hides your raw edge inside the seam.). 

 Using your sewing machine sew all the way around; pivoting at each corner. 

 (If you want a really sharp, professional mitered corner then follow the directions on this tutorial.) Press and enjoy. 

Version two:
This version yields a thicker, reversible napkin.  This is how Larissa made the napkins that she sent me.  Cut two pieces of fabric the same size.  You'll be using two pieces for each napkin.  With right sides together, pin around the edges.  Sew 1/4 inch seam all the way around leaving an opening for turning.

Clip your corners and turn right side out.  Press, rolling your seams to get them flat.  Now, topstitch around the edges closing your opening as you go. 

Press and enjoy.   

Version three:
This version is the one my mom made and used when I was growing up.  It takes a bit more time but it looks really nice once you've finished.  For this version, a woven fabric such as a homespun works really well.

 In order to tell if you have a woven fabric look at both sides...it should look the same on both sides.  Most cotton prints have one side that is the obvious right side.  With homespuns, both sides are identical because the design is in the color of the thread so both sides are the same.  Homespuns are also woven more loosely and they fray better.  Cut your fabric for the size napkin that you desire. You'll only be using one piece for each napkin. 

Sew all the way around your piece about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch with a straight stitch. The bigger the seam allowance, the more fringe you'll get.  

Now, using a straight pin, start fraying the edges removing the horizontal threads.  (Grab a comfy seat...this part takes a while)  Fray until all four edges are done...this results in a great edge that won't come undone because your stitching holds the remaining fibers in place. 

Now that you're done, use those beautiful napkins!!!  I just throw mine in the wash with my towels and fold them when they come out of the dryer. I don't even bother with pressing them...we just load them back in the drawer for the next meal. 

So here's where I want to see what you guys think...there's been some interest in doing a cloth napkin swap.  Courtney and I've been talking about it so, I'm putting a feeler out there to see who else is interested.  I'm thinking that swapping sets of 6 handmade cloth napkins would be pretty practical.  Let me know what your thoughts are...are you interested?    Once I see what the interest is, I'll post that here and we'll go from there....sound good?

And enjoy your week...however snowy or clear it turns out to be.