Crafting Lately

Since February I have been working to finish up some craft projects that have been sitting in my "WIP" stash ("Works in Progress"). I have been making pot holders, pillow cases and hats. I posted a tutorial on the potholders.

 

The hat is done in double crochet. This hat is made with a very thick yarn that I salvaged from another project someone else had done that I didn't think would really be practical. The hat is done in rounds:

R1: C4; 11 dc in 1st c; slip stitch in 4th c at beginning chain to connect round 1 (12 dc in round 1)

R2: c3; dc in same c; 2 dc in each remaining dc of r 1. ss to close r2 (24 dc in r 2)

R3: c3; 2 dc in next dc; 1 dc in next dc. Continue to alternate 2 dc, 1 dc to end of round; ss to close r3 (36 dc in r3) 

R4: c3; dc in next dc; 2 dc in next dc. Continue to alternate 1dc, 1dc, 2dc to end of round; ss to close r4 (48dc in r4)

R5  - R11: c 3; dc in each dc to end of round; ss to close round (48 dc each round till 11 rounds are completed).

End on last and tuck in tails.

You can do this hat with any size crochet hook. A size F hook with standard yarn gives a hat sized for a baby. I used a larger hook because the yarn is so thick. I used a hook only marked in metric: 5.5 - A Google search for a conversion chart tells me that is a size I hook (as in H-I-J-K).

I made 31 pillow cases so far. I have about five more cut out.

I also made 12 potholders.

 

The potholders and pillow cases go to my quilting group. They will be sold to get money for more fabric and batting for our quilts (Quilts of Valor and Quilts for Kids).

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the projects I have been working on this month. Have you been working on any projects? Or have I inspired you to do some craft work now? Leave me a comment below.

Binderless Potholder Tutorial

Today I am going to teach you how to make a binderless potholder.

 I made these potholders with Christmas-themed prints. Choose colors you like. Each potholder needs six 8"-square pieces of fabric and one 8"-square piece of batting. I also added loops. To do this I took a length of 1"-wide fabric, pressed it in half and pressed under raw edges.

 I sewed this strip and then cut 3" sections to make loops.

To make the potholder, first take one square of fabric and place right-side down.

Put a square of batting onto the first piece of fabric.

 Put a piece of fabric over batting, right-side up.

 Take four squares of fabric and press them in half.

To finish compiling the potholder, start with one of pressed halves. Line its three rough edges up with the top and two sides of your stack (pressed edge to center of potholder).

Pivot to the left. Overlapping the first half-piece, place your next pressed piece matching rough edges on long edge and two sides.

 Pivot and place your third pressed piece the same way.

Before placing fourth pressed piece, fold the first pressed piece to the side.

 Place fourth pressed piece, lining up rough edges.

Unfold the first pressed piece back down to cover half of the fourth pressed piece.

For a potholder loop, pull back one corner (to between layer 3 and the first pressed half piece) and put loop to the inside; pin the loop corner first, then the other corners as well.

 Sew using a 1/2" seam allowance. Do not sew to rough edges -- sew to 1/2" from the edge.

With needle down, raise the lever to release the fabric, pivot, and sew to next edge.

When done, remove from machine. (Notice sewing does not go to the edge at any point.

 Trim the corners fairly close, and trim edges to 1/4".

Next you turn the potholder right-side out. I tried to do a video to demonstrate, but it didn't turn out. Basically you go through the hole in the center and pull the inside to the outside one corner at a time.

I was working on seven today.

 I turned them all right-side out and then pressed.

 

 So that's my tutorial. Let me know what you think.
 

Quilting Day (5/2016)

So I am part of a quilting group called MSP Quilting Angels that makes quilts for Quilts of Valor and Quilts for Kids.  
Today was quilting day. I'm working on Quilts for Kids while I learn -- I'm not quite ready yet to make a Valor quilt.
A little background -- I'm still working to complete my first quilt. It is on the sewing machine downstairs in mid-quilting. The top is finished, and I'm machine quilting it. The bobbin jammed (I think I need to rewind the bobbin) and I got frustrated. It's been there two months waiting for me to make time for it.

The part I'm working on is called "stippling". It looks like this:

You can find it in the first picture if you look carefully. As I went to photograph that I was reminded that I also have out a stack of bibs to edge to send to my Online Angels charity.
So for quilting day today I was working on a second quilt. It will be a "Turn 20" quilt. I started cutting fabric months ago, and today it took me ages to figure out what my plan months ago had been. Once I figured it out I got back to work. Still cutting. Didn't get as much done as I would have liked, but am pleased to have gotten some new fabrics to add to the design.

The pattern starts with a 6-1/2" square sewn to a 2-1/2"x6-1/2" strip, and this is sewn to a 8-1/2" X 2-1/2" strip. 20 of these get sewn together, edged and finished. I don't have many colors cut or many seams sewn, but it will look a bit like this:

There was an exchange table today, so some of someone else's discard clutter came into my house.

There was an idea exchange about getting organized and decluttering (while we were sent home with stuff we didn't come with, heh! heh!)
Today also a quilt was presented to a retired Lieutenant Colonel. His life was turned around in childhood by his 4th Grade teacher! One day he finally located her to thank her. This quilt was made by this teacher for this veteran! So cool!   

It rained all day, so it was a good day to be quilting! What did you do today?