Don't Blink Poncho #2

I recently shared my first Don't Blink Poncho. After looking at it for a week, I decided I needed to make another so at least some of the wording would be right-side up.

While the fabric has that tossed/scrambled look, I think it looks better on this one than the last.

Here they are side-by-side. The left is the first one I made (I think the words look upside down). The right is the second one (I think the words look right-side up). Now I have to figure out what to do with one of them. I certainly don't need two weeping angel fleece ponchos. I'm going to keep the upside down one, because it is a little more jarring and therefore more creepy. 

Don't blink!

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Dream Big

Part 1

I've had this Dream Big panel for a while. I picked it up because it seemed everyone was doing it.

I found a piece of leftover backing fabric that was wide enough to user and I picked my threads. I wanted to blend the thread with the petals so I pulled seven different thread colors. 

I used a double layer of batting and basted the entire panel before beginning. I don't usually baste, finding I get a better result without basting. 

I started in the middle. 

If you look at all the different versions of this panel, both in color and quilting, you'll see so much variation. I looked at none of those while planning my quilt. I worked color by color, petal by petal, until I was done. 

I tried to use a different quilting motif on each petal. It wasn't easy, and I needed my stack of free-motion quilting books to get some inspiration. I'm breaking this post into two because it's just too many photos. Look for the second part next Wednesday.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Micro-Tip Scissors, 5 Inch
Hoffman Fabrics Hoffman Digital Dream Big 43'' Floral Panel (I didn't see a panel in the colors I have, but there are loads of options)

Books in my Library (affiliate links):
Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book: • 155 Mix & Match Designs • Bring 30 Fabulous Blocks to Life • Plus Plans for Sashing, Borders, Motifs & Allover Designs Spiral-bound 
Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: Choose & Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts
Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting: 50+ Visual Tutorials to Get You Started • Professional-Quality Results on Your Home Machine
Shape by Shape Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: 70+ Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Shape by Shape, Collection 2: Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters - 70+ More Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Graffiti Quilting: A Simple Guide to Complex Designs (no longer available through Amazon but you can buy it directly from the designer)
Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts

Quick Laundry Bag

We have quite a collection of face masks. These little bits of  fabric end up in pant legs and trapped in bed linens. I wanted a way to keep them all in one place both once they've been worn and when going through the laundry. I grabbed this piece of fabric, a 16" zipper, and got sewing.

This project took about 20 minutes from start to finish. Fabric is cut 16" by width of fabric. I left the selvages on so I wouldn't have to hem before adding the zipper. I used french seams to finish the side seams. This means no raw edges to fray in the wash. French seam: with wrong sides together, sew a less than 1/4" seam allowance. Turn wrong side out, press, sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. 

The zipper is sewn directly to the selvage edges, with the zipper end not enclosed. This is a technique similar to Noodlehead's Open Wide Pouch directions. I top stitched after attaching to make it a little neater. 

Here is the finished bag. Seriously, it took about 20 minutes from start to finish. Then I promptly filled it with worn masks and threw it in the wash. When the masks come out of the wash, I'll stack them neatly and hang the bag in the laundry room until it fills up and goes back in the wash. 

So quick that I made another one to hold my hand-knit socks when they go through the wash. This might be great for felting slippers, too. Finished size is 15" wide and 22" deep. 

I buy my zippers from ZipIt on Etsy. They have very limited hours right now but their service has always been excellent.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Odds and Ends

I tried to make a quick-disconnect holder for masks. Progress was spotty, needs more work.

I worked on another Granny Hack shawl that turned out too short and will end being a cowl. 

I made some Tunisian crochet swatches to test an idea. 

Because my set of Tunisian crochet hooks arrived.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Knitter's Pride Dreamz Tunisian Crochet Hook Set
Plastic Quick Side Release Buckle
KAM Snaps Starter Fasteners Kit

Don't Blink Poncho

Continuing to work on projects that I have just waiting I decided to make a poncho using this fun Doctor Who fabric I bought on sale last year. A print this size deserves to be something big that doesn't chop up the print. 

The first thing I had to do was clean off some of this workspace. Cutting fabric for quilting isn't difficult with less space, but when it comes to cutting fleece for garment sewing I need room and less clutter. 

Afterwards there was space to work and and think. Sometimes the clutter gets in the way of my ability to create. It's funny.

First was construction of the the yoke and collar. I didn't use any interfacing (as directed in the pattern instructions) because fleece doesn't really need any. And, using fusible interfacing on fleece is just silly. 

By lunch time I as almost done. After my lunch break I had a finished poncho. Looking at it now, I think I may have miscalculated the direction of the print. The weeping angels may be all different directions but the text looks to be mostly going the other direction. Maybe I should make another. I still have fabric!

Don't blink!

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Crochet Crazy Granny Chevron

Last week I shared my progress on this granny ripple shawl. 

I reached the end of the yarn, so that means the end of the shawl. 22" wide and 60" long.

I must admit I like this fabric more than I thought I would when I started. 

Two cakes of Lion Brand Mandala resulted in this substantial shawl. 

This is a pretty simple design and you can find the basic directions for the stitch in several crochet stitch dictionaries. I used my copy of Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways to design this shawl. If you want to make one like mine, I also published through Ravelry. Check out my free Granny Hack pattern on Ravelry.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways
Lion Brand Mandala is available on Amazon, though you might be able to find it cheaper locally.

Star Storm Quilt

Finished!

In December I finished my Star Storm Quilt. I finally loaded it onto the frame and got quilting. 

I decided to go with the flower motif (yes, it is one of my favorites) to coordinate with the prints.

Big petals cover the quilt in a light pink thread that almost fads into the background of the fabrics. 

 I knew I would need a bunch of binding, so I picked the binding fabric based more on how much fabric I had than by colors. I had an abundance of this yellow. 

I cut eight pieces by width-of-fabric and still came up short. I grabbed one of my 1930s prints and cut a single strip from a fat quarter to fill in that gap. 

Machine-finished binding for the win. Want to see how I finish my binding? Check it out on my binding tips and tricks page. 

A finished quilt is a happy quilt. You can buy a copy of the Star Storm Quilt pattern directly from the designer. Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts has so many great designs to try.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White
Quilter's Dream Batting- Poly Select

Crochet Crazy Granny Chevron

I've been eyeing this stitch pattern in my copy of Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary for a while now. I decided it was time to make a swatch and plan a project. This was my first swatch. Very good start. So I ripped it out and cast on for a shawl.

That got me to here, five happy little chevrons and the certainty that I would run of yarn well before I got to a suitable shawl length. So I ripped back again.

I cast on for four happy chevrons and I think this will work out so much better.

The piece is about 20" wide and should finish around 64" long.

I'll have to work through the second cake to be sure, though. I've only just started on the second cake. I think I'll have to write this pattern up and add it to Ravelry. It won't be all that original, but it will be mine. I think this really is a beginner pattern. If you can granny, you can make this shawl. I did finish my Crashing Waves Cowl pattern and it is available on Ravelry.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways
Lion Brand Mandala is available on Amazon, though you might be able to find it cheaper locally.

Paper or Plastic? Neither!

Pulled out the serger this past weekend to make some quick totes. It took me almost as long to set it up for 4-thread overlock as it did to make my totes. I'm not saying it is difficult to change the set-up because it isn't. It just takes a few minutes to find the cheat-sheet and tools to get it set up correctly. Threading is a breeze!

My aunt sent me these fabrics a couple years ago and they've been sitting on a shelf for entirely too long. I went over to the Green Bag Lady's blog to refresh my memory on the free tote pattern and cut out four bags with these remnants. This was my Saturday morning project. So satisfying to use something up and have a finished tote ready for gifting. I'm trying to use more fabric I already own. I'm not sure I'm making any progress but I'm trying.

Then Green Bag Lady regularly gives away totes through random drawings. Follow her blog or the Green Bag Lady Facebook page. Great work keeping paper and plastic bags out of the landfill.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Odds and Ends

Happy Friday! This is one of my strawberry plants making with the spring!

Last week I finished this fun crochet cowl/infinity scarf. I even managed to navigate the process of self-publishing through Ravelry. Check it out: Crashing Waves Cowl.

I grabbed my favorite crochet stitch dictionary and started a new crochet project.

I machine knit and finished a pair of socks. One of the nice things about mostly working from home is the fact that I get to wear socks I knit almost every day of the week. Okay, it is every day, but Monday barely counts because I can't wear colorful and fun socks to work. Yarn from Knit Picks.

I did a little drop spindle spinning just to prove it isn't my thing. Again. I admit, it is pleasing to turn roving into yarn, but considering how fast I knit or crochet, and the fact I still have more yarn that I can use in 5-10 years, just tells me I should leave the spinning to someone else.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary: 125 Essential Stitches to Crochet in Three Ways

Finished Objects

In the crafting world there are many UFOs. Un-Finished Objects. This photo from a couple weeks ago shows some of mine. I finished the mesh tote and shared it on the blog last week. I'm going to keep wandering around my creative space, finding some of those UFOs and trying to finish a few. 

These hats are from a machine embroidery design I picked up from Urban Threads Embroidery. I had the applique pieces and even some silly horns and ears cut out for I don't know how long. I decided it was time for those to be finished. They won't keep anyone's head warm until they become hats. 

I finished this green monstah hat first. This one is my favorite. 

Then I worked through the other pieces I had prepared. That makes four finished hats perfect for little monsters.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q