Sunday, July 20, 2014

When It's Hot and When It's Not


It has been unseasonably cool this year so I've managed to get all the hand quilting around the butterflies and along the back stitching finished...



...and now I'm hand stitching in the ditch around the green sashings. Then I will use a template for some hand stitching IN the border...where it will show. 


And when it is too hot to sit around in a house with no a/c and a quilt on my lap I work on other things.

 I have a habit of picking up things from the thrift store like these four napkins that were originally $9.50 but marked down to $1.95 at the thrift store and in an unopened package. 

 I have a box full of things like this I've been collecting for years (and years and years) so decided it was time to dig into it and work on some things for Christmas gifts.  These napkins will probably go to my daughter since she loves decorating the whole house for holidays (unlike me) and these would be cute for Valentine's Day. I will more than likely add a backing since I don't like those serged seams as a finish.  No floss was included so I get to pick my own colors. 


And, speaking of Christmas...I've got a few potholders that need the binding sewn down. Yes, I hand sew the binding even on potholders.  Oh...and just a tip when making potholders...remember to QUILT the potholders before you add the binding!  (I knew they went together too quickly). 

Working on some Slow Stitching today? 

11 comments:

Mary said...

The handwork on your napkins is coming along nicely. One of these days I need to make some potholders too.

The Cozy Quilter said...

Good for you getting started on those gifts already...I have not thought about that yet.

Jo said...

Pot holders are a great way to practice new quilt designs too

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

What a great bargin on those napkins. Good idea to start thinking about Christmas it will be here before you know it.

Julierose said...

Loving those napkins--what a bargain--good cross stitch is hard to find today. Hugs, Julierose

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

So jealous of your cool weather! We have been in the mid-90s for a month now. Too hot to sit under a quilt! I started working on a cross stitch project to avoid getting too hot.

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

The butterflies are so sweet and the other projects look great too. I was working on applique this morning..a flower on a red and green block thinking about Christmas due to the red and green :)

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Those appliqué butterflies are so cute. My mom made an appliqué butterfly quilt ... I wonder where it is now.

scraphappy said...

Making some potholders for gifts is a great idea. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about having a hand made holiday.

Chantal said...

Lovely projects you have. Those napkins are so sweet. I'm sure your daughter will adore them. Love the colour of your potholders. Gorgeous!!

CathieJ said...

I still love those butterflies. I love those napkins too. I inherited a few items like this too. I should really sit down and work on them. Some of them are for children so I thought I would save them for grandchildren. The potholders are great too. Do you put heat-proof fabric in between? I often find them too thin for my taste without it.