Fallish apron

I didn't get this one done in time for Halloween, but it will still work for Thanksgiving. This is Simplicity 3979 (American Diner).

Overall, I'm not thrilled with this bunch of aprons. They just don't fit girls with any meat on their bones. Forget it if you have hips or are well-endowed.

This one is going to one of the nieces that actually works in a diner.

Sewing notions

I cleaned my living room today and had to dust my bowl full of sewing notions. It lives on the treadle and boy was it dusty. I took everything out of the bowl and group it up to share with all of you. These are things I've gathered over the years.
























Pst! A can of air is the only way to clean stuff like this. It's fast and easy.

Rag quilt

Here's the rag quilt I made yesterday. I finally got the seams all clipped and got it washed. What a mess! I told my sister there was more rag quilt in the washer (in bits and pieces) than what I'd just put in the dryer.

This is going to a sweet little lady in the local nursing home. Caitlyn drew her name for the 'adopt a grandparent' program at school.



















Be sure you click on this lower picture so you can see the mess I still have to clean off of the flannel. Now multiply that by...oh, say 10,000, and that's what was in my washer. Next time, we're going to the laundry mat.















How I did it: Cut equal numbers of 6 x 6 blocks from old blue jeans and flannel. Sew the first square of flannel to a denim square (wrong sides together) with a 1 inch seam.* Next, take another denim and flannel square put them wrong sides together. Sew the two sets together with the denim on the outside. When you get it done it should look like, well two pieces of denim with the seam on the outside. Keep adding sets of squares until you get it as long as you want it. Start another strip and make it as long as the first one. Keep adding strips until it's as wide as you want it.

I made mine 6 blocks x 7 blocks which works out to a good lap size.

Now you want to go along and clip all of the seams so that they'll fray in the wash. Be sure you don't clip through your seam. This was the hard part. Cutting through two layers of denim and two layers of flannel was more than my poor hands could take in one sitting.

Throw it in the wash with a little detergent and fabric softener and let it do it's thing. Take it out and go outside and give it a good shake or two. Loads of little threads will fly! I popped mine in the dryer, but you could hang it out if you wanted.

Finally, clean all of the little threads off the flannel side and it's ready to use.

I hope these instructions are clear. If not, holler and I'll see if I can help. There are loads of places on the internet with instructions too.

* I messed this part up. I started out with a 1 inch and ended up doing a width of my presser foot seam. I'm going to have to fix a spot where it came loose in the wash.

Warm and cozy crafting

I spent the better part of yesterday working on a denim and flannel rag lap quilt. The sewing is easy, but the clipping is hard on my hands. Today I don't think I could do it if I tried. I must be getting old. Once I get it all clipped and washed I'll show you what it looks like.

I finished my child sized scarf. I had it completely done except the binding off and discovered it was too wide. I've found that most scarves are too long and too wide to fit comfortably around a child's neck. I worry about them tripping and strangling an unsuspecting kiddo.



















This is 10 stitches cast on size 19 needles, knitted the entire length. This works up really quick (I can do one in a couple of hours if I get with it). I used double strands of Lion Brand Homespun in Candy Apple Red.

I've started another one in chocolate brown for another little person.

The girlies are getting aprons and boys are getting scarves this year.

Known by the company you keep

I've been in an online funk lately due to one of the boards where I was a member.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to be associated with those people. They're rude and hateful. A favorite past time is running other fine people in the ground and picking fights. I wouldn't want other people I 'know'on the internet to think I was also rude and hateful by my association with them.

I prefer to hang out with people like HerbalAnnie, NancyJo, Sue, Humble Origins, and the like. They are ladies that I'm proud to be associated with. I want friends that will lift me up and be lifted, rather than drag me down into the muck where they wallow.

Yes, it's time to do a little online pruning and only associate myself with those who are worth the association.

Thrift store aprons

The thrift store had a few more aprons today and here are the three I picked up.

This one is a holiday themed little thing. Look at all of that rick-rack. It's all sewn on by hand.



















This one isn't particularly old, but I liked the way it fit and got it to make a pattern.



















It takes a special apron for me to call it ugly and here it is. I'm sure somebody was thrilled with it at one time. I got it because I'm interested in the straps and ties. The bib is huge, even on me with my generous bust. The apple pie is machine appliqued.

Ruffle-mania

A while back I lucked on to some attachments that would fit my Pfaff. This afternoon I finally got up the nerve to try the ruffler.

Oh my goodness! I've never had so much fun. I think I ruffled on every setting it had and still have a few combinations to go.

I think I can see lots of ruffles in my future.