Cup Cozies

Went a little crazy making cup cozies.  These are great for putting around take out cups.  Insulated, so keeps your hands from burning.  Also fits multiple sizes. I originally did some using velcro, but changed to elastic for these ones.  Easier to sew and I think they look better.  Fully washable as well.  

Made the Calgary Flames one for my grandson Owen (a big Flames fan), and the Maple Leafs was for my brother.  60+ and he is still convinced the Leafs will win another Stanley Cup. 

Heron

This was a project and a half!  My sister-in-law (Wendy) had done a horse with this method and she showed me how to do it.  We both did the heron.  It was a lot of fun doing it with her.  Really enjoyed the cutting out and piecing, but the top stitching got to me.  Was a pain in the butt.  Had issues with the top thread breaking all the time and the stitches not being even.  Probably because i didn't use the proper thread.  Wendy used Superior threads.  I used my embroidery threads.  But in the end, it didn't turn out all that bad.  

I don't have a place to hang it in the house.  A friend of mine in Campbell River is into heron's, so she may inherit it.  In some way, I would like to keep it to show people what I have done, but I don't really have any place to show case it.  But I know my friend will and will love it.

At least now, I know the technique.  Was fun to learn something new.  And was special that we got to work on it together.  Would like to live closer to Wendy and my friend in Campbell River so we could do more quilting together.  And the fact that I love the Island wouldn't hurt either.  But my kids and grandkids are all here, and that is enough to keep me rooted where I am.  

Memory Apron

A simple project, but full of memories.  I had an old tablecloth from mom.  But it didn't fit my table.  And I just couldn't get rid of it.  So decided to make an apron out of it.  I use aprons a lot - yes, I am a messy cook.  Was very easy to do.  Just took an existing apron I had, laid it on the tablecloth, and cut around it, adding a bit extra for the hem.  The ties were cut out of the extra bits of the table cloth.  I think of mom every time I wear it now.  Unfortunately, her cooking abilities did not come through with the apron.  The first time I used it, my bread did not rise :(  I think it had more to do with the cook than the apron - LOL.

I still have some of the border print left from it and will have to decide what to make out of it.  Maybe a basket.  Not enough to do another apron.  

Mini Baskets

Made some mini baskets.  I had one made before out of Christmas fabric and really liked it.  They are great for sitting beside the machine and putting garbage in it, or for holding my clips.  Lots of other uses too, but those are the main one I use the baskets for.  The one I made before was done with two different fabrics.  These ones I did using the same material for the inside and outside.  I like the one with two different fabrics better.  You can't really see the fold over on these ones.  But the fabric I used was awesome!  Little spools of thread.  Perfect for the sewing room.  Got the fabric from my neighbor who was cleaning up her sewing room and decided she wasn't going to use it.  Also have some with scissors and other sewing themes.  Going to make more baskets and little bags.

The baskets were done from 10" squares, put together and sewn around the edge, leaving an opening for turning.  Then top stitch around the edge and quilt as desired.  I did a square spiral going towards the middle.  Fold the square in half and mark 2" in from the fold on each side.  Sew together (so a 2" triangle on the side).  Fold in half the other way and do the same.  Fold basket right side out (folds go in the middle).  Tack down the inner folds.  Fold the triangles over and tack down.  They also look nice when you use buttons on the folded down triangles.  I thought I had some pretty pink buttons to do this, but couldn't find them :(  I have been doing some tidying in the room, so probably the issue is that I put the buttons somewhere and now can't remember where!   LOL.  Baskets finish to a 4 x 4 x 3" box.

Didn't spend the whole day sewing.  These baskets come together in just 1/2 hour.  Went for a walk along the lake as the weather was beautiful.  Not a lot of people out walking so was easy to social distance.  Fresh air and a beautiful view!

More masks!

Made a total of 40 more masks fro my daughter.  This time I finally figured out the pleating.  Was not very good at it before so daughter had to do the pleating for me.  But I think I did a good job on these ones.  Trick was to do the top and bottom pleats first and then the middle one last.  

She came over to pick up the masks in the afternoon.  The girls tried out the new bean house that my daughter-in-law (Jaye) made.  Will be even better once the beans grow up the vines!  

Covid-19 Face Masks

I think face masks are going to a necessity from now on.  My daughter and I have been busy sewing masks.  She is selling them on Facebook or giving them to friends.  Not as easy as they look to make!  We finally got a warmer day so we took the machines out on the deck and spent the day sewing out there.  Was nice to spend some time together (yes, we were socially distanced).  Last year I did a lot of sewing on the deck and really enjoyed it.  The weather is not cooperating so far this year, we have not had many nice days.  But I am sure it will get here.  

Using up some of my stash doing these masks.  One way to deplete it :)  Although we can't get elastics for the masks.  My smart daughter has been using hair elastics instead.  They work well, but are harder to sew in as there is less width to connect with with sewing.  But we are making them work.

So far, she has sold enough masks to pay for an overlock/serger machine she has been wanting for a while.  Good for her.  Although, I seem to be doing a lot of the work and supplying the fabric!  But now the proceeds are going to go towards a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for me.  Although I think we will be running out of flannel for the liners soon.

Covid-19 has changed life as we know it.  So many people are out of work.  I am glad I am retired, although investments are taking a hit with the markets.  But we will make it through.  Catching Covid-19 is a real threat and scares me.  Trying to stay as safe as possible and have only left the house a couple of times in over a month.  Ordering groceries on line and my kids pick up anything else I need.  Kids are all working still, so that is a blessing.  Although it scares me that my daughter-in-law is working in retail.  I don't think life is ever going to get back to normal as we knew it.  Will have to adapt to a new normal.  Finding that as I get older, it is harder to adapt to change.  

Fat Quarter Baskets

These were fun baskets to make.  Made the first one (batik squares) according to a post on Pinterest.  Used regular batting and found the basket didn't have enough form.  The second one I did with batik strips and used a stiffer interfacing instead of batting.  Worked much better.  Also did the edging around the top different.  Used the same technique for what I do for quilt bindings instead of using the lining.  That way I did not have to turn the basket inside out.  Liked the finish look better and the stiffer interfacing worked really well.  The next two where made out of fat quarters.  Sometimes the fat quarters are not all cut the same :)  There are some minor measurement differences.  So I cut the largest bag I could out of them, only varied by an inch at the most.  As long as you cut 6" squares out of the quarters, it works.  I guess you could cut a smaller square and get a slightly different shaped bag.  I like the size of the 6" ones.   They hold fat quarters really well.  

I am saving the 6" squares that I cut out for these baskets and will make a scrap quilt out of them.  Need to make a lot more baskets for that to happen!  Maybe it will just be a doll quilt :)

Sewing these during Covid-19.  I am blessed to have such a large stash so I don't need to worry about buying fabric.  Did have to get some more thread as I was running low on that.  Using up all those partial spools when it doesn't matter what color you use.  Won't be able to sew too many more of these baskets as running low on the interfacing.  Showed them to my daughter and now I am missing a basket!