Slow Stitching - colourful circles in chain stitch on black squares

 While I was away over this month I ran out of slow stitching and decided I needed to invent something new.  I bought a new apron made from black cotton, raveled the seams and washed all the pieces.  I managed to get ten 7.5" squares from the body of the apron.  Then, I needed a design.  Without a lot of tools at hand I used a large glass and drew 4" circles centered on the squares using a regular pencil.

  I chain stitched these in the colours of floss I had on hand - brights!!!  It served the purpose very well and I got all but two done before we headed home.  They are now all finished and I have started brainstorming ideas of what I can fill them with.  I am thinking small fabric collages would do nicely.  

I have sketched a few ideas and it remains to be seen which ones will survive the culling as I move ahead.  Not sure where these will end up - they could be potholders at that size with bright backings or they could easily be accent squares for a quilt.   Only time will tell!!  Therese

Slow Stitching - finished the little hearts

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!!!  

I am just getting back into the groove with my blogging after a busy holidays season.

I have been working on these little hearts for quite a while off and on and managed to get them all done since the beginning of the year.  

These are hand cut hearts about 1.5" or so cut from bright fabrics.  I stitched them down on the edges with embroidery floss and then added stab stitches on the inside in a variety of ways - all over, following the fabric patterns, a few stars, etc.  Just whatever seemed necessary at the time.  

These will be framed with bright fabrics (maybe quilt as you go) into squares that can be stiched into a small quilt for Linus Project.  

Therese

 

Gifts - two card holders make from cotton, batting and CDs with button accents

 I made these as Christmas gifts for a couple we know.  They play cards and I thought this little gift would be the perfect thing for them.  

Quick and easy - four 6.5"circles of fabric, four 5.5" circles of light weight batting and 4 used CDs.  I used heavyweight thread to make running stitches around each fabric circle, put in one circle of batting and then the CD.  Pulled that tight and tied it off.  Repeat 3 more times.  Place two of these CD sides touching and add buttons - one on each side - and sew them tight and secure the heavyweight thread with several knots.  The gathered fabric grips the cards and keeps them in place - works really well when you have more than handful of cards!!!  Therese

Sewing Gifts - unpaper towels can be used as everyday napkins, to wipe up small messes or as a small placemat

I sewed up three sets (8 - 12 per set) of these unpaper towels for Christmas gfits.  Before I started I found the little trays at the dollar store that would store them nicely.  It is easier to make the towels to fit the container rather than the other way around.  I made them up by upcycling flannel from my stash.  I cut them about  8.5" x 9" and used a decorative stitch on the raw edge which will be sturdy enough to keep them from raveling and leaves no thick edges.   

I used some of them to decorate the snack jars I made for the guys and tied them on with some cording.  No waste!!    

I made a bowl cozy in coordinating colours for my oldest grand daughter who is at university. Useful for so many tasks and easily washable.  I managed to find a clear glass bowl for the cozy at the thrift store.  Therese

 

Sewing - tea towels made from a cotton sheet and hemmed with a decorative stitch

I made these four tea towels from a cotton sheet I had on hand.  They are approximately 18" x  24"  - I maximized the fabric and was able to get these four from one end of the sheet.  I simply folded the edges over once and stitched them down using one of the stretch stitches on my Husqvarna.  It will be very durable and is also decorative.  They will be eminently washable.  She is quite creative and has been doing some hand stitching so I have collected a few supplies for her so she can customize them for herself with embroidery. I used a glasses case to hold a 5H pencil which she can use to transfer her personal designs to the towels before stitching them.  It gives a very light line and easily washes out later.  She requested a thimble while she was working on a different project so I gave her one I inherited from my Mom.  She had several so I still have a couple that she passed on to me.  A few needles as well which store very easily in the felted wool insert.  I did not find a pair of scissors but I expect she will find a pair in her thrift store travels.  I have a stash of embroidery thread as well so picked out a couple dozen skeins in all the colours of the rainbow.  I found a really great book on Embroidery stitches at a thrift store last week which gives instructions on 101 stitches with good visuals.  A bit of inspiration on the front and back and all the stitches in colour on the inside as well.  A very comprehensive book!!!  I have also included a hoop.  I am not sure if she uses a hoop or not but should she want to give it a try she will have one.  The little stitching book I printed off from a PDF provided by Stitched Stories.  It has very good basic information and is what I had prepared before I found the embroidery book at the thrift store.   A birthday gift!!