Batik Knit Bag

Finally finished.  Some projects get put aside and forgotten. Time to finish of my sassy pink bag.  I'll need it come spring. This is just a fun bag and easy enough to knit. First you have to cut strips of batik fabric on the bias--lots of strips. Then using the plain and simple garter stitch knit away.  No need to roll into a ball, just keep the strips in a basket and tie on as needed. The pattern calls for adding a new strip each time you turn the needles.  I just tied it on wherever it ended. Batik is used because it doesn't ravel and bias cut to limit stretching.

Here's the inside with many pockets.

By tying on extra pieces here and there, the bag has a frilly look.

This black bag below is the first one I made sometime ago to take on a trip.  It looked good with everything. The black handle makes it look dressier too.

And here's a photo of both of them.  I bought some lime green batik fabric to make another one and hope to start on it soon.

The pattern is Fab Knits #2 by The Rag Merchant. It takes about 3 yards of fabric and size 17 knitting needles.

More Octagonal Table Toppers

Somebody stop me. These are so much fun to make--other than the diagonal seams that occasionally get messed up. The top is actually "pillowcased" and quilted after. My last post shows the two I made last week and today I gathered more fabric from my stash to make two  more. It's just as easy to make two as one. Today's toppers haven't been quilted yet.

The quilting is simple:  stipple the center and stitch-in-the-ditch for the smaller inner border strip. I topstitch the edge but it really wouldn't need it.  For the first one, the inner border doesn't offer as much contrast. Perhaps I should stipple it with black thread to give some depth.

Since I am keeping these for myself, maybe some hexagon coasters would be fun with the scraps of fabric.

Octagon Table Topper

In my previous post I showed some hexagon coasters made from a friend's fabric for the hospital gift shop. Then I realized there was enough fabric to make a table topper.  This pattern is simple and quick. When I delivered them, I told my friend I had a hard time parting with the table topper. She said there's plenty of fabric and to make one for myself. That's mainly what I did today besides a teeny tiny bit of housework. What a treat.  The depth of the colors is amazing. Sorry the second picture is awful but I wanted to show you it with the gold inner border. Can you figure out which one is mine?

What's on My Ironing Board?

Some bloggers show what's on their design wall.  Today I'm showing what's on my ironing board. They are all small items, but fun nonetheless.

First a philanthropy small children's quilt.  I did not assemble it but will have fun quilting.

Then I cut binding for another philanthropy quilt. I used stitch-in-the-ditch quilting so the quilting didn't take away from those awesome 1930s fabrics.

For a creative project I am working on, a practice run with two-colored prairie points.  This fabric has gorgeous deep red-orange mixed in here and there, so my coloring eye said to bring it out.

A quilting friend of mine had this coffee cup fabric which I told her would make neat coasters (small mug rugs) for the hospital gift shop.  She said, "have at it" and handed me the fabric  I also used some pink Valentine-looking fabric for another set. I used a chocolate brown for the base.  Perhaps I can package them with a piece of chocolate. It'll only take minutes to stitch the centers down.

So what's on your ironing board?

Paper Piecing

Today I was paper piecing and thought I'd share some of the tools I use.

First I set up a TV try for cutting.  It's just the right size for a medium sized mat.  Then with my left drawer open, I set my small ironing mat on top (a board covered with a few layers of batting and fabric)  Then it is on to sew, press, cut--then repeat.

This is a mini iron and it is as hot as a regular iron. When you unplug it stays warm for about 5-10 minutes. Every so often, I press my pieces with a real iron just for safe measure. I find it very important to press after adding every piece.

I like to use flat-head pins for paper piecing and keep them away from the sewing line.  They don't seem to catch on anything and no need to remove as you go. The magnet pin catchers are best for me since I'm a pin tosser.

I use a dab of washable glue stick to keep the first piece in position. It easily comes off when removing paper.

Here's a "must have" tool for paper piecing.  These sharp light weight scissors have a curved bottom.

Let me show you how it works.  When you slightly pull on the top thread, the bottom thread rises. Using these bent scissors clips both threads at once.  Got it?  One clip, two threads.

 

Also necessary are both a seam ripper, tweezers and an empty house.  This requiires concentration.

But a final reminder. Make sure you have enough fabric. I had to dive into my trash and scurry around on the floor to retrieve a few small pieces to complete one phase of my project.  When paper piecing you may want to save your scraps until completed.

Scrap Quilt

Happy New Year!

So what have I been up to?  Since the two eye surgeries kept me from hand sewing and reading, I found I could see the quarter inch marker on my sewing machine.  I would have gone nuts if not.

Do you keep scraps? How big or small? I started saving 2 1/2" squares from projects some time ago and glad I did. I stitched most of those squares together with minimum rhyme or reason. First I took all the Christmas squares and made a 12 1/2" blocks. Hmmm. Then I found plenty of 1930's and even some Civil War reproduction fabric squares. The rest is all odds and ends. Those four blocks are on the corners.

If you ask me, I can probably tell you just what was made with each fabric. I tried not to duplicate but there are just a few. Also, there are two or three fabrics wrong side out. The corners matched up pretty good and if they didn't it made no difference. It's only about 48" square and not sure what I want to do with it now. Maybe I'll leave it as is or just add a small border. What do you think? Hey, it's just my memories all scattered out there.

Do you recognize any of these fabrics?  Some have been "aged" in my stash closet.