And Now For A Couple of Hat Tricks

My husband is having a mandibulectomy one of these days if they quit moving him around on their schedule. (Right now he is scheduled for Sep. 1). Well, anyway, it will involve at least a week in the hospital which is an hour away so I will probably be an overnight visitor staying with him.  I was thinking of things to take with me to do other than read books on my Kindle. I have one small box of yarn for making washcloths and dishcloths and I have a box of yarn that's been around since I used to make things like hats, scarves and sweaters for the grandkids and shawls for me (shoulders get cold in winter). 

Ok, so anyway, I decided to take a look in the box of yarn thinking of making hats and eeeek! a mouse jumped out and traumatized me. Maybe I should store the yarn in plastic bin or use the yarn? Oh, yes, that's what I can do while with hubby in hospital! 

I happened to come upon a Ravelry group called "For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud" (actually they have projects for the elders too) and saw that one of their projects was making 300 hats for Christmas for the children at Rosebud School.  So, I'm in! A use for the yarn before a mouse shreds it for a nest or something!

I decided to see if I remembered how to crochet so pulled out one of my books on hats, found my bag of hooks and pulled out some yarn and, yes, I do remember how to crochet! Now I will put yarn with patterns so I can work on hats in the hospital. 

The hat above was one of my granddaughters' favorites when they were pre-teens. 

This wild and crazy one should have a pom pom but I didn't have enough yarn for that so maybe down the road after I finish a few hats I will buy some yarn for pom poms and add before I send them off for Christmas. 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

 

Handwork Hodgepodge

I've gathered together a variety of handwork projects so I can be nearer to my husband until he gains some strength and gets back on his own two feet. Just like my quiltmaking - I like to multitask and don't usually work on any one thing from start to finish.

One of my projects is the applique of coneflowers to my background for the Bramble Blooms QAL. 

I'm doing needle turn applique with freezer paper. I actually had a roll of freezer paper on hand from a few projects in the distant past. I was not looking forward to hunting for my applique pins and applique sharps in my unorganized mess of all things crafty but I must be more organized than I thought because it did not take long to find them.  Gosh, those applique pins are sure a lot smaller than I remember...I can hardly pick them up. There might be a few scattered here and there now where I work.  

So I've finished all the stems and the two big coneflowers. Now I need to cut out and applique a few small ones and then I will be ready for the next step of the QAL (whatever that might be). 

I've also been working on this little cross stitch. I have a little stack of old cross stitcheries I made in the distant past and never framed (somewhere around here) as well as some cross stitch kits I've been given or picked up from thrift stores. I've decided to use some to make baby/toddler quilts. When this one is finished I will use it as the center of a Courthouse Steps baby quilt. I had been working on the green dress and was almost finished with that area but needed to thread my needle one more time. That's when I noticed the last bits of green thread disappeared. I searched high and low, low and high and could not find two strands of green thread. So I went to my floss box of greens and although I did not have the exact same color (by number) I did find one that matched so I could finish the green area. That night when I took off my sweater I found my two strands of green thread on the back of my sweater. 

Then a long long time ago when knitting socks was all the rage I bought some sock yarn and a couple of books on how to crochet socks. (I do crochet a bit now and then but have not knit anything since I knit my one and only sweater way back when I was a sophomore in high school which was a very long time ago.) Well, I knew crocheting socks would take a bit of concentration so I've never gotten around to concentrating enough to try to crochet some socks. When hubby is asleep I have a bit of quiet time so decided to try to concentrate and crochet some socks. I found the correct size crochet hook, my books and my yarn as well as some stitch markers  and made my swatch which looked pretty good.  I could tell right away that the first pattern I wanted to make had an error so decided on "Painted Desert" which I thought might be fun. The patterns in this book are made "toe up". So I set about crocheting my sock. I did not get very far when I thought it seemed like it might fit Big Foot. How frustrating. And after all that concentration!

So I looked at a different pair of socks in the same book that started out with the same number of stitches in the beginning rows and the same sized crochet hook. I found different yarn and made my test swatch to measure gauge. All good. Then I set about crocheting Rose Quartz socks. 

When I got to the point in the pattern where the stitches changed to double crochet clusters I compared the size to the Painted Desert socks and sure enough Painted Desert sock I started is for Big Foot. So for now I will proceed with Rose Quarts and Painted Desert is a UFO. I will probably see how the Rose Quartz socks turn out and if I am satisfied they look and wear like socks I will probably pull out all the stiches from Painted Desert and try again or use the yarn to try a different pattern.

I'm working on clearing all the medical supplies as well as end of season gardening stuff from my dining room table so I can bring my sewing machine upstairs to the table temporarily. I'm not sure I can only do Slow Stiching. 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

 

Loose Ends

I had a whole bunch of loose ends of different balls of mostly variegated cotton yarn. It's been around for awhile. I had it stored in a box and when I looked in there to see what yarn I had in there I found a mouse must have chewed through the balls of yarn in a couple of places. Thank goodness there was no sign of the mouse.  Eeeeeeeek! 

Well, anyway, I decided that I should probably do something with those loose ends and so I found my crochet hook and one of my pattern books and made a very scrappy pocket shawl. 

Goofball hubby thinks it is ugly. He likes a world that is more black and white. 

It's not for him. It's all mine and I think it will warm my shoulders when they get cold next winter. 

Before I used any of the balls of yarn I crocheted a dishcloth if there was enough yarn for one. When the urge strikes I will embroider on some feedsack dishcloths and make some potholders and make up some gift sets. I found some scrubby yarn too so I may crochet up a few scrubbies to go with the sets. 

I still have lots of unused cotton yarn so may crochet a few fancier washcloths to combine with body wash or handmade soap gift sets.  Several years ago I included luffas I grew with those gift sets.

So that's how I've been making myself useful in the evenings. 

I think I'm tired of crochet right now and hope to get a quilt in the hoop one of these days so I can do some hand quilting. 

 

It's a Finish! Rose Petals

Rose Petals

68 x 82

It's a finish!

Since last blog post I've woven in all the loose thread ends and...

...crocheted a dark pink edging all around. 

All of the crochet was done with odds and ends of #10 crochet cotton in shades of pink and a #7 crochet hook. 

The coverlet consists of 286  4.5 inch rose themed scraps sewn right sides together and turned right side out. So that makes 143 reversible squares. 

 Since the squares are reversible it was difficult to avoid some of the same squares next to each other on the back side. And I'm okay with that. I love how this turned out. 

Rose Petals

This is the front of "Rose Petals" so far. 

I hurt my hand quilting "underneath finger" so set hand quilting aside for a bit to work on my Rose Petals. I now have 143 blocks all joined together like granny squares in an 11 x 13 layout. 

I started making this back in September 2019 as a way to use up 4.5 inch rose themed scraps as well as a variety of different shades of pink #10 crochet cotton.  To make the squares I first sewed  all the way around two 4.5 inch squares right sides together leaving an opening for turning. I turned right side out and blind stitched the opening closed. I then blanket stitched around the outside of edges of the square and then crocheted a simple shell stitch edging around the block with a size 7 crochet hook. Then I randomly joined squares together with a single crochet. 

I did use up most of those 4.5 rose themed scraps and I used up all of the pink partial spools of crochet cotton I had on hand and had to order more. 

 This is the back. 

I should have woven in my ends as I joined together blocks but I didn't. So now I am in the process (ugh, such a chore) of weaving in loose ends at each block intersection now that I've found my yarn needle.  After that is finished I will crochet a border all around it. 

My husband usually doesn't say too much about the things I make although sometimes he does get a chuckle. When he saw me working on this in the evenings he asked if it was for him. 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework

What's On My Plate?

Since I finished hand quilting the quilt that was in my hoop and since it is getting warmer (well, it was getting warmer it is actually unseasonably cool today) I will enjoy some smaller hand work projects for the next few months.  I've picked up where I left off on my crocheted squares I started last September. Eventually they will be joined together like Granny Squares into a throw. 

The squares are made from rose themed 4.5 inch scraps. I have several partial spools of pink  #10 crochet cotton that I'm using for the crochet and blanket stitch.  When I run out of rose themed scraps then I guess I will have enough squares at that point. When I run out of pink crochet cotton I guess I'll move on to another color.  In the meantime I guess I can start blocking the 16 squares I have finished. 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework

Rose Petals

 These aren't really quilt blocks but a combination of rose themed scraps left over from two different quilts and leftover crochet cotton. 

 The squares are 4.5 inches. Two of them are sewn right sides together and turned.  That will make for a reversible blanket. Next I blanket stitch around the sides.  Then I crochet around the edges.  I took 14 of these prepped squares on vacation with me last week. 

I completed the crochet around the edges of 12 of them. 

Time to prep more squares. I'm not sure how far the pink crochet cotton will go. If I run out I may have to switch to another color. I have lots and lots of odds and ends of crochet cotton so I definitely won't run out. 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Two Sets of Finished Pillowcases

These pillowcases were stamped for embroidery and hemstitched ready for a crochet edging.  My daughter found them in her mother-in-law's things when she passed away and asked me if I wanted them.  Sure!  (I received several unfinished sets and did finish one set a while ago for my daughter and son-in-law).   Can you tell I like variegated threads? 

This set I purchased at a thrift store ages ago.  Since I'm working on finishing up a few rose themed quilts I figured I might as well finish up some rose themed pillowcases to match. 

I probably should have used a smaller crochet hook to go with my #30 thread (11 instead of 8) but I can hardly see to crochet with an 11 hook. I think the edgings turned out just fine. 

I picked up the #30 thread I used for the crochet and the crochet edging books at the thrift store long ago too.  I'm finally getting around (now that I'm retired) to doing something with all those thrift store finds.   I have several more sets to embroider that will probably go into the grandkids' hope chests. 

And on a final note...one of my garden roses. Ahhhh...the scent!

Looking through rose colored glasses today and

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

Yes, Sir. Yes, Sir. Six Baskets Full

For Bacon Lovers or Piggy Lovers 

I've been making sets that consist of hot pad, crochet dishcloth, crochet scrubbie, 4 coasters and a hand embroidered dishtowel.  These sets will go into baskets for a silent auction benefit on September 24 for my son-in-law diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). 

This is the Bacon Lover (or Piggy lover)  set.   Piggy tutorial was compliments of Sally of Objects of Design and the Four Squared four inch  coaster pattern was compliments of Beth at Love Laugh Quilt.   The back of the hotpad has bacon themed fabric. 

Bacon Lover Dish Towel

For Cherry Lovers

Cherry Lover Dish Towel

For Chicken and Rooster Lovers

Rooster Lover Dish Towel

I'm not sure anyone loves dancing dishes but there are some strange people out there...I'm one of them. 

Dancing Dishes Dish Towel or maybe Kool-Aid, Kool-Aid Tastes Great. 

For the Chocolate Lovers

Chocolate Lovers Dish Towel

And for those who think Chocolate and Bacon and Chicken is unhealthy I have a healthier alternative for the 

Fruit and Veggie Lovers.

Vegan Dish Towel

That's enough for six silent auction baskets or actually six Batter Bowls full. I'll add in some other miscellaneous items, add some shrink wrap and maybe a bow and call it good. 

Since this involved quite a bit of handwork - crochet (dish cloths and scrubbies), embroidery (dish towels) and hand quilting (on coasters and some hot pads)  I'm linking up today to 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

Izzy's Shawl

I've finished a shawl for my granddaughter, Isabelle. 

It's a Christmas gift. 

She liked the shawl I made for myself a few years ago so I decided I would make her one. 

This was one of my second quarter Finish Along Goals.  (#15)

At the end of June I will link up my Finish with Adrianne at On the Windy Side. 

And now I can start on a pink shawl for my other granddaughter, Kayla. 

Miscellany

My hand hurts after all that hand quilting on Wild Thing so for hand stitching projects  I'm working on a variety of different projects and won't be hand quilting any quilts for a while. 

I just finished the embroidery on a dishtowel.  This one will probably be for me and not make it to the Christmas gifts box.   A couple of cherry themed hot pads and a red crocheted dishcloth should complete the set. 

I'll probably stamp a few other dishtowels to work on when the urge strikes.  I think I need to wash up a package of towels first.  The transfers work better on laundered fabric. 

And in my bag of crochet I have a shawl I've been working on for one of the granddaughters for Christmas.  Sometimes I take it to work to work on during lunch break.  When this one is finished I'll be making a pink one for the other granddaughter.  

And finally, I'm going to start working on my version of the The 1718 Coverlet.  I want to make it all by hand like the original.  I thought it might be a good summer project for many summers to come. 

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts. 

Slow Sunday Stitching - Partly By Oil Lamp

I put the final big stitches on my Apple/9 Patch quilt very early this morning and was heading downstairs to the sewing machine to cut and sew on the binding...

...when the power went out because of the snow storm. It doesn't look like much but so far I think we have 9 inches of heavy, wet snow.  It's so heavy that we have a couple of small tress down in back. I heard a crack. looked out of  the back window and saw one drop.  I'm hoping none of the fruit trees down in the orchard are damaged. 

I had nothing else but the Apple Quilt binding lined up for hand stitching so while the power was out I lit the oil lamp and worked on a shawl I'm making for one of my granddaughters for Christmas. I took a good look at it (of course after I added a few new rows) and I don't think my gauge is right because it will be a short shawl even for a little girl if I continue on.  I guess there's a reason you're supposed to check gauge. So, I'll be undoing all my work and look to see if I have a larger hook or I'll use a different pattern. I have two books of shawls. 

Power is back on now.  It's still snowing and starting to blow. Neighbor has been over with his tractor to clear out our driveway (he won't take money but he likes the homemade bread we give him in return) so I'll probably be able to make it to work tomorrow, and I'm on my way to sew on my binding. 

Slow Sunday Stitching? 

Join us at Kathy's Quilts.