Sometimes we should embrace the fray

I'm heading up north this weekend for a friends mini-reunion, and one of the girls will be running in a charity fun run.  This is a charity that's pretty near and dear to her, and helped her with some problems in the past, so I wanted to get a Congratulations card.  Congrats on finishing the foot race, and for getting across the finish line and tackling her problem head on.

I'm leaving early tomorrow morning, and remembered at...oh, about 9:00 tonight that I wanted to come bearing swag.  I 'made' a 'card' by folding a piece of pretty cardstock and writing a note inside, and jumped at the chance to sit at the sewing machine to fashion up a little bagvelope.  That's right.  Bag + envelope.

There are no frills associated with the bagvelope.  Not even one.  No lining, just french seams on one side and the bottom.  No pressing or folding of the patch on the front.  I even pulled some strings to encourage a bit of fraying.  Somewhere around here I've got a sharpie and I'll write her name on the front.  Even the top is cut parallel to the selvedge so there was no casing, no pressing, no measuring, no anything at all.  Solid linen, scrap silk and the thread that was already in my machine.

Best five minutes of my day.

Why, yes, I DO love patchwork!

Hello.  Me again.  Long time no see.  The short story is home (not so sweet) home is still where the sewing machine is, and still not where I've spent a lot of time.  Plus, I've actually been busy with other things.  Who knew?

I was able to fit in two sewing projects last week, but I will only show you one.  The other was an experiement that I made up as I went along.  Which went about as well as you'd expect.

I got Rashida's book, I Love Patchwork, for Christmas and have dog eared (sike! I can't ever bring myself to dog ear books, but they're marked in my head) a whole ton of things that I want to make.  I've been holding on to a charm pack of Rouenneries, so I grabbed the scissors before I could change my mind and hoard them even longer, and made this.

I know, it's just a kitchen towel, but I still love it.  It was a really easy project, which made it quick AND fun (except for that one time when I burned my finger trying to press that curve under 1'4").  I think the Rouenneries looks great with linen, and I'm glad I used it.  I'm also glad that I needed such small pieces that I've still got a whole bunch of charm squares left over.  I'm thinking of the table runner in the book to match the towel, yes?

Different stitches

I know I said I hadn't been able to make anything lately, but that's not entirely true.  I haven't been able to sew much of anything, but I've been knitting a bit.  A few things that are just to horrendous to show the universe, a few things that I've actually taken out in public. 

The beauty of knitting is that it's portable, which means when stuff gets sticky, I can take it with me.  Right now I'm trying my hand at the ninebark cowl sweater from the cover knitscene.

Don't go and assume since I've completed a few scarves and hats aI think I'm ready to take on some significant colorwork, I'm going to do the body in a grey tweed and the cowl in a single contrast color.

Raveled.

My one and only (sort of) quilt

I've totally slacked on not only updating, but on actually making things.  I really hate it, not even not being able to post, but being able to hang out and relax by the sewing machine.  Problem is, not that the Internet much cares about the details, my sewing machine is at home, and home...home sucks right now. 

I've made a few quick projects here and there, but still on my camera card are pictures of this (wannabe) quilt that I put together for my favorite baby's first birthday.  Every single piece came out of the remnant bin at Jo-Ann, and probably didn't cost $10 to make.  I did it that was because I'd never tried to quilt before, and if I either failed or gave up I didn't want to be mad that I forked over all kinds of cash. 

The backing is a super soft minkee-type white fabric (remnant bin...I didn't purposely make a solid white backed quilt for a baby), and the rest are mysteries.  The quilting is solid lines stitched (as close to) in the ditch (as I could get it).  The binding is machine stitched. 

You cannot see photos of the back of the quilt because I'd rather not remember it.  Total puckersville.  Thankfully, the minkee was pretty scrunchy, and by the time I washed and dried it it was decently camouflaged.   

I haven't tried to quilt since, and I'm afraid to try anything bigger.  I finished this one in about three days and by the time I was done it was cozy and heavy and soft and crinkly and I know that once I get up my courage and am back in a peaceful place, I'll give it another try.