Something for me and you

I sat down yesterday and did a little sewing.

It was SO simple to sew this little pin cushion up.

I don't need another pin cushion..

but...

I LOVE my sewing machine.

 

It just HAD to be MADE!!!

;)

I used two PRE-cut 5" squares.

for a front and a back.

This is the fabric my little sewing machine came from.

The sewing machine was hand appliqued on the front

BEFORE putting the two squares together.

Then I filled my pin cushion with

crushed walnuts

and slip stitched the opening closed.

 

SUCH a simple project!!!

 

 

I have some extra sewing machine fabric

if you'd like to make one for yourself!!!

:)

 

Leave a comment.

I'll choose 3 winners next week

and send them a small piece of the sewing machine fabric.

Tell me ONE of your goals for this year!!

This and That

I've been weaving.

Or I should say....

I HAVEN'T been weaving.

 

This little bag has been on the loom for a couple of months now.

The body of the bag is finally DONE!

 

Now....

to figure out HOW to make a long rope handle with the rest of the yarn!

Should I braid it???

 

I saw a sample for this bag in a local yarn shop

and can't remember exactly how the handle was constructed.

;/

 

I was able to cover the ends of the warp with this antique!

LOL!

The bag only took ONE ball of sock yarn.

(photo above is for demonstration only.)

If you're like me...

You think of the pictures you SHOULD have taken

only when it's TOO late!

 

After warping the loom.....

Weaving the bag to right size....

I still had some warp on the loom.

So.......

I wove HALF of a bag!

;)

 

I used the same sock yarn

and wove with cotton yarn.

I was able to EEK out a rectangle.

The other half of a bag is fabric that has been quilted.

It makes my thrifty heart SING

when I can use up!

Even if it is only leftover warp on my LOOM!!!

 

On another topic....

Did you know fiskars have a lifetime guarantee???

 

I asked for a new SMALL rotary cutter for Christmas.

This little guy gets a LOT of use!

and he wouldn't stay clicked OPEN anymore.

My husband (Santa Claus)

found out that he could get a replacement. FREE.

He sent an email (with a photo, I think)

and we got a new one.

Small one???

No.

Oh well.

Lastly...

I was asked about piecing tree branches

for the quilt along.

After setting in the first strip....

I lay that last triangle (background fabric)

on....trying to CENTER it...

eyeballing the other background piece.

It doesn't usually come out PERFECTLY

That's why I like to TRIM!!!

So much less stressful!!

Don't you think?

a QUILT in action

One of my VERY favorite things....

 is to see someone USING a quilt I've given them.

This quilt was given as a wedding gift...

and NOW...

there's a BABY crawling across it!!!!
(you have to imagine the crawling part.
I couldn't figure out how to add the video here).
;/

 

I'd love to have a GREAT BIG collection

of pictures containing

friends and family USING their quilts!!!

 

Maybe THIS will be the year I get that collection started.

;)

 

 

Half Hexagons

Another quilt is coming together.

Woo HOo!!!

I think one of the hardest parts of making a quilt...

is cutting all the pieces!

AND....

for ME...

trying to get all the pieces the exact SAME size!

;)

I think I'll always struggle with THAT.

 

 

I cut strips 2 3/4" wide

and used my OLD FRIEND (60 degree line on my ruler)

I cut a diagonal line every 3"

(using the TOP of the hexagon as my 3")

to make each half hexagon.

 

It's ALL coming together.

In fact....

The OLD and NEW fabrics in my stash

are working remarkably WELL together!!!

 

That REALLY old turquoise floral print up there

looks perfect with that golden modern print.

Even some DATED gray/blue fabric

has found a good home in this quilt!!!

 

This quilt also contains a lot of fabric given to me

as gifts by a friend.

That makes it extra SPECIAL!

 

The FIRST tree

Welcome to the FIRST month

and the FIRST block

of a wonderful Christmas quilt along!

Thanks go to Julia Rothman

for permission to use her designs

as inspiration for some of the blocks we'll be making!

I plan on giving instruction the first MONDAY of every  month.

 

To begin Cut eight 3 1/2"x 4" pieces

of your chosen background fabric.

You'll need a LOT of background.

Not sure yet how much

3 1/2 yards???

The quilt will be lap size...

no bigger.

This quilt is a work in progress.

Hopefully it will be a SMOOTH ride.

;)

Thanks for joining in the ADVENTURE of it all!

 

Cut TWO 3/4" strips. (width of fabric)

These pieces are 4" TALL

and 3 1/2" wide.

Cut your branches at an angle.

Begin cutting at least 1/2" down from corner.

Use ABOUT a 60 degree angle.

Imagine the tree branches hanging slightly DOWN...

not OUT.

 

These are FREE form cuts.

You are cutting two rectangles at the same time....

so each SET should MATCH.

But all three sets are slightly different.

 

This is the first matching set.

Open it up

Set it in front of you at the machine.

set in the first two branches.

I used a SLIGHT 1/4" seam.

That means it was a BIT smaller than 1/4".

Press seam into the center

ESPECIALLY if you're using WHITE.

 

Here are your THREE sets of tree branches.

Trim to 3 1/2" wide x 4" tall.

If they're not quite that size....

don't WORRY!

(some of mine came out shorter)  :)

The only thing to REALLY make sure of

is that each SET is the same HEIGHT!

Here they are ALL trimmed up!

Line them up with the solid 3 1/2"x4" background piece on bottom.

Sew them in two columns.

Add a long 3/4" wide trunk.

Here's your FIRST tree!

Mine measures about 7"x14"

 

No need to trim yours to THAT dimension YET.

We will not TOTALLY trim this tree until later

when we know how things are going to fit together!

 

The CURIOUS ME

wanted to know what using a ONE inch strip would look like.

 

Here it is on the left.

I cut the strips 1" and tried HARD to use a TRUE 1/4" seam

instead of my LESS THAN 1/4" seam.

 

Isn't it amazing what 1/4" difference can make???

 

If that first tree was a breeze....

Make another.

;)

I think we'll want TWO of these in our quilt.

 

A Christmas quilt along

A Christmas package inspired me this year.

I'm imagining lots of trees.....

a scandinavian house or two.....

snowflakes.....

 

I'm thinking about a quilt along.

ONE block a month.

By December 2014....

we'll have a wonderful

CHRISTMAS quilt!!!

 

Anyone interested?

 

I'll post directions for the first tree next week.

See you then!

 

 

A Neighborhood Get together

House blocks for the neighborhood party have been arriving.

 

Today was the deadline.

 

I happen to know there are still a couple on their way here!

:)

That's o.k.

I'll add them to the pile when they arrive.

It was a COZY party this year.

House blocks from ALL over the world arrived

and I spread them ALL out today!

Don't they look nice?

 

I made two stacks of 9 blocks each for the winners.

 

I have a stack of blocks for Selina.

and a stack of blocks for Sharon.

 

I'll be sending them off soon!

I know these prolific quilters will make something GREAT

with all your gorgeous houses!

 

Thank you so much for joining in the FUN!

We even have some extras for a charity quilt!!

 

Thanks for being such GOOD neighbors here in blogland.

 

Let's make 2014 a year FULL of quilty FUN!