Little scraps and orphans

I don't get tired of making practical potholders.

It makes me happy to give little things away

using UP leftover scraps of pretty fabric.

Even Orphan blocks make great little mugrugs!

I was happy to use this lovely plaid on the back that I've been saving!

One thing is for SURE!

I will use up my old towels... 

before I even make a DENT in the SCRAP BASKET!!!

Monday Making

Meet the newest member of my family!!

Born last week.

Healthy mom. Healthy baby. HAPPY grandma!

WhatEVER I make this week will revolve around HER...

and in between I'll add a few more stitches to THIS:

I've been carrying this scarf around with me.

It's knit back and forth with only a couple of thoughtful stitches at each end.

;)

I say THOUGHTFUL because I DO have to think..

and when I CAN'T think...

I look at that index card attached to the bottom there

and remind myself of the SUPER simple pattern.

LOL!!!

Pattern found here at Purl soho.

What are you making this week??

Link up and share.

Merry Christmas

As you can see...

I used EVERY last piece of fabric to complete this quilt.

The borders have that

FREE TO BE ME kind of vibe!

I love the way this Christmas quilt turned out.

It will fill out my Christmas quilt collection

and is one of the FEW that will actually cover a twin size bed!

Most are lap quilts and hang around the sofas and chairs.

One of these years I'll ask the kids to choose a quilt to KEEP.

I don't need them ALL!

;)

Merry Christmas to YOU!

Monday Making

Christmas is almost here.......

so I pulled out my box of Christmas fabric!!

It's not too late - YET - to make a Christmas quilt!!!

It's MY way of AVOIDing the wrapping of all those gifts.

I confess....Wrapping is NOT my favorite.

I know the day will come.

I know I'll have to DO IT!

But...

I also know how to AVOID it for as long as possible!

Hah!

Anyone else have trouble fussy cutting??

This seems SO wrong!!

My frugal nature had a HARD time cutting this fabric!!!

I have enjoyed having a sewing buddy read to me though!!

One of the perks of the holiday BREAK!!!

What are you up to???

Link up and share.

Practical handwork

I've been busy.

I have a nice HEALTHY stack of practical!!!

(knit dishcloths)

I love the waffle pattern shown.

I'll add some soap...

or something sweet...

wrap it up and say...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

monday making

I was so pleased to receive this photo of Maria's TRIO this week!!

Aren't they sweet???

She fashioned them after seeing my little kitty a couple of weeks ago.

I love the little PUPPY in the middle!

So cute!!!

It's time for Monday making.....

And Christmas is right around the corner!

What are you up to???

Link up and share your creative pursuits.

We LOVE to be inspired...RIGHT?????

five by five

I like to make little somethings for the new members at my church.

It's usually a couple of potholders and the church cookbook....

but this is for a young man who doesn't do much cooking.

I had fun piecing all those little 1 1/2" squares!

Little tiny pieces are SO wonderful!

The back of my little coaster did NOT come out as planned.

This is the wrong side of a lovely piece of blue/gold fabric.

When I realized my mistake....

I decided to just GO WITH IT

and avoid the seam ripper.

No one will EVER know.

After all....

the back side will be hiding MOST of the time anyway!!!

;)

Monday Making

It's Monday!

Time to think about what I'd like to make this week!

All I could manage this morning

was to pull this old friend out.

 This is a quilt I made a few years ago that doesn't scream Christmas...

but I think it fits in with all the red and green!

;)

I used paper pieced stars ala Peggy Martin

and some applique by ME.

I've been pulling out my Christmas quilts

and Plopping them here and there.

Christmas decorations are going to be VERY minimal this year

due to a long kitchen remodel going on.

Christmas cookies can't even be baked!!!

I'm just crossing my fingers it'll be done before the 25th.

I'm so glad remodels happen only ONCE in a lifetime.

LOL!

What are you making???

I want to hear all about it!

Thursday thoughts

It's time to decorate for Christmas.

Already!

Good thing I have a quilt to hang up...

Decorations are going to be minimal this year because my house looks like this...

(there's a kitchen remodel going on)

and I'm not up to pulling out more STUFF to add to the confusion!!

;)

This quilt came back from the publisher JUST in time to sling over a chair!

I was so happy to be included in the recent McCall's Quick Quilt

Dec/Jan  2016 edition.

  ;)

My knitting needles have been moving around with me.

Days have been busy!

The scrap quilter in me had to see if I could use a variety of yarns

to complete this little fall vest.

I'm happy I wondered!

Monday Making

At this time of year I usually get into HIGH gear

as I finish all the homemade gifts that I WANT to give away.

After all....

Handmade is special!!

Are you scurrying around too???

This week I'll probably do a little bit more knitting.

I try to use what I have!

I dig around here and try to find yarn and fabric that suits the project

and the person!

I don't collect fabric and yarn much...

but...let me tell you...

It doesn't take LONG to acquire a MASS of RAW ingredients

for all my creative pursuits!

;)

I've been going between TWO baby vest patterns...

trying to decide which I like best.

Fall vest???  knit top down

Or

Plain vest???  knit bottom to top

The advantage to the first is that I did NOT have to figure out the decrease rows.

I don't like fiddling with the numbers. AT. All.

This week I may try to get some of my yarns to

HARMONIZE.

It might take some doing.....

but I want to try!

What are you doing this week??

Not QUITE square

This baby quilt is ALL about using UP!

I love a good scrappy quilt!

For this quilt I began with ONE 3"x 3" white square.

I added random sized strips all around "LOG cabin style".....

(I have lots of random fabric strips!!)

Then I trimmed the block to 7 1/2" X 8 1/2"

Not QUITE square.    ;)

I then added 3" strips between rows

and 3" borders all around.

I love the way the white squares float around!

I love that I didn't have to do much cutting and matching seams!

I loved using LOTS of scraps!!

solids....checks....plaids....stripes.....and cute baby prints!!!

Happy sewing!!

Monday Making

Bibs!

Leftover flannel pieces make GREAT bibs.

The simple blog tutorial for these is here......

and there's a youtube video here

I plan on making a whole stack!!

What are you making???

Friday Fun

Isn't fabric FUN???

I took some leftover pieces from the simple flannel blanket

I made for the newest baby

and had SO much fun creating this little kitty cat!

Except for the fiddly little tutu this project was a breeze!

I will never tire of happy and scrappy!!!

Baby knit

Don't we all love baby knits??

With a new grand baby almost here...

I think my mind is ON babies!!!

I found a simple pattern for this vest here...

and worked on it NON-stop until it was DONE!!!

Ravelry also has the pattern link here.

I enjoyed looking at everyone's projects based on this pattern.

There are a WHOPPING 1300 projects!!!

It might take you a while to see them ALL!!  LOL!

It was helpful to read comments on this as well.

The decreases are not specific enough for new knitters....

so there were some helpful hints given in some of the projects!

Thank heavens!

The pattern calls for TWO kinds of yarn...

and this is what's leftover.

I was happy I had some suitable yarn in my stash!

I love buying new yarn and fabric...

but am so PLEASED when I can use what I already have!!!

My hands a little sore from all that knitting...

think I'll sew some stitches today!

;)

Kitchen table Crafting

My kitchen table has been BUSY!

When my son's weaving doesn't cover it....

My knitting does!!

Then once in a while we EAT!

LOL.

I'm not complaining!

I love a MESSY creative table!!

Don't you??

(I'm so PLEASED my son caught the weaving BUG!)

What are you up to this week??