This Week

I made some more pretty Wash Cloths for my Etsy shop.

A set of Burp Cloths.  

Old eyes need a little help.

 

Working on some more Wash cloths.  These are quick and easy.  Can be used for bathing or in the kitchen.  100% cotton.

Hemmed another pair of skorts for my Niece.  

DONE!

Etsy Pictures.  

Just finished

I made a gift box for someone.

 

Kitchen towels, Alma Mater & Just for fun.  

Pretty Bathroom Towels. I'll let her wash away the stabilizer.

And then just for fun, some little bags.  I might make more for my store booth.  Think I'll gift these to my nieces.  

I am still learning about stabilizer and I recently found some I really like.  I was using Light Tearaway 1.5oz.  I ran out and went to buy more and bought Tear N Wash.  It is similar in weight and feel of the light tearaway but washes away.  I still use clear stabilizer on the top and it too washes away.  

I was struggling with that darn bird. I hate to admit, to get 4 towels I had to stitch out 7 times.  Two are not too bad and I think I will put on a quilt for my daughters, they are alum.  The third was a mess.  It all came down hooping.  I finally switched to my large square hoop, kept the position of the bird alone instead of flipping 90 degrees.  I did move the bird to the place I wanted but with my square loop I was able to ensure the towel was held firm along with stabilizer.  

I use to get so nervous when embroidering.  I have come to learn that it just takes some practice and a little knowledge which I have gained via trial and error.  Machines I have owned:  Brother PE (15 years ago), Janome 350E, Singer Futura, Janome 11000SE and now Baby Lock Destiny II. 

All good machines but with each up grade, definite improvement.  The Janome 110000SE is an awesome machine, you can pick one up used for a good price.  Make sure you get all the hoops. 

I have also learned to use good thread.  It's worth the money to avoid the headache.  I use Robinson-Anton because I can buy it locally and it's good thread.  I also use Sulky without any issue.  I have had problems any time I have tried to use Coat & Clark for embroidery.  I have lots of Coat & Clark embroidery thread so now I use it now for quilting if the stitching will be seen.  I use Schmetz Gold embroidery needles.  I love them!  I travel often and make sure I hit up quilt stores along the way.  

I'm going to Texas soon,  Time allowing I will post pictures of some of my favorite stores in the San Antonio area.   Happy Stitching!

Another Quilt Done!!

Done and ready for the craft sale! You can see the floral quilt stitch made with my Singer Futura Quintet.

I hope to get more quilt designs. A new friend, Berneice showed me some she had titled Baltimore quilt designs. She has a Brother embroidery machine and a brand new Viking Epic, ooohhhh! The Baltimore quilt designs came on a CD she bought from her Brother dealer.
I really enjoined making this quilt. Yesterday, I purchased more fabric, like I don't have enough, for more quilts. Look out Etsy, here I come, LOL!

I think I might have a surplus, LOL!

And some more. . .

That's just some, my goal, to stitch it all! A little crochet on the side.

Happy sewing, crocheting, cross stitching, relaxing!

Posted with Blogsy

Getting done, More Quilt fun

I'm making another quilt. I plan to donate it to the church craft sale. I've made chevron and what I call strip quilts so I thought I'd try simple blocks. I cut out 5.5" squares, finished 5" squares. Now remember, I'm a self taught sewer/quilter so I may be using incorrect terminology.

I used my Janome for the straight lines, Eliose is my main gal, we stitch everything together.

A tight work space but it worked.

I just bought this gal, but classic me. I bought this gorgeous machine and it sat for a couple of months before I could work up the confidence to use her. In the mean time, I've misplaced the bobbin case and part of the power cord for the bobbin winder. Lucky for me, I took a "fun" part time job with our local Viking store and will be able to order the right parts first time out. You never know when you're hunting on the internet if you've ordered the right part or if it's actually made by the company.

I did some decorative stitching on my Singer Futura Quintet.

Sandy, in action, LOL!

I'll post again after I have the quilt binding on. Wish me luck, usually I put on piping or gathered satin around the edges. This will be the first time I actually bind my quilt the traditional way.

Posted with Blogsy

I'm Back!

After a brief hiatus, I've returned. I've not sew any dance costumes in a couple years, but I have request and do plan to get back at it. But I have been sewing.

A quilt for Ezra, my newest granddaughter.

I learned by making a quilt for Everest, my first granddaughter and older sister to Ezra.

Two years ago, we became grandparents. Five years ago, our oldest son moved to Texas, meant the woman of his dreams and married. They've had 2 blessings since.

My daughter ran for Fiesta Mexicana Queen, a large fund raising event for our church Our Lady of Guadalupe in Topeka. The campaign consumed our lives for five months.

She won! Here she is with Father Jerry at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Two more quilts I made for the girls. Sorry the lighting isn't the best. I promise to get better.

The lighting doesn't do this quilt justice, it is very pretty. Light pinks and cream colors.

A little bit of crocheting on the side.

Everest and daddy sitting on grandma's porch Fiesta time!

My Ezra Joelle. Precious.

Well, I'll be back with pictures of my latest quilt. I've misplaced part of my embroidery frame, so I took a break.

I just had the frame, I put it down and it walked away. Ho hum, I'll find it now that I've had a moment of calm.

Posted with Blogsy

Crochet and Grandma Land

Since my last post, I haven't done much sewing. I did sew rank patches to my son's uniform.
But, I've been crocheting!  My first ever baby sweater! I've crocheted off on, completed a few blankets but I have more unfinished crochet projects sitting around that completed projects.  I think I just might have graduated to an "accomplished" or "intermediate" crocheter.  A proud moment. 

 For my granddaughter Everest. I used the 12 month pattern. She's 6 months and wearing 6-9 month perfect, so next week they'll be too small.   The pattern is free online from Caron yarn site, I think it's yarninspirations.com. A shared site for Caron, Patron and Bernat yarns. The patterned called for Caron International"s Simply Soft Brites weight 4.  I had Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable yarn on hand.

I really like this yarn. I have it in blue and plan to make a shawl for myself.

Then I made another sweater!

I added buttons but didn't take a picture. I finished it and went straight to the post office to mail to SA, TX.
This pattern was from RedHeart yarn website and was free too. I've bought patterns from Etsy.com but the yarn sites free patterns are hands down much easier. I used Bernat's baby warn weight 3 for this sweater.  The pattern called for Red Heart Anne Geddes Baby weight 3 (light). 
Next? A baby dress, I bought the pattern from Etsy.com seller.

I'm using YarnBee lace yarn weight 2. The pattern calls for baby fingering weight 1 yarn. I like this yarn, it's $5.99. It bought it on sale and am going back for more in different colors.

I always thought yarn was yarn.  I never understood the weight  catagory.  I understood that crochet hooks came in sizes and impacted stitch count or gauge.  I just never understood the same for yarn.  So, after purchasing some patterns from Etsy.com sellers, I went looking for yarn.  It isn't easy to find "Baby Fingering Yarn, weight 1".  In my area I have Joann's, Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  Joann's and Michael's carry mainly weight 4, Sport Weight Yarn with a handful of weight 3.  Hobby Lobby has a nice selection of yarns and they have a small selection of different weight's.  Walmart carries one isle of yarn and mainly weight 4 with perhaps 4-5 colors in weight 3. 

Right now I'm hanging in my kitchen watching TV before I leave for work.

Coffee please, and yes to the whip cream!

I love my outlet covers. I need a couple more. It took months of watching EBay to get the 4 I have and then, no mas. I can't find anymore. I'm hoping to find some in SA, TX when I go at the end of this month.

Still waiting to go to day shift. Still tired most of the time but overall I'm feeling better. I only work 4 hours at my second job in the last 2 weeks! Wow! But I had 16 hours OT. Life is good, time to go.

Posted with Blogsy