Needle Tatting… Free Video Tutorial

Several years ago my oldest son grew quite excited by the art of needle tatting, came to our house and brought a needle and some thread… and the rest is history.. lol  I ran out and bought some thread and a needle of my own and loved the look of the needle tatting doilies.  Of course my Adult Onset ADD kicked in once again and we’re off to something else within a few weeks.  Well, I looked for my needles, couldn’t find them, bought some more after we moved here, found the old ones but not the book,  bought the book and instead of using it… lo and behold .. found all kinds of YouTube tutorials.. lol  I especially found this one useful… An Introduction to Needle Tatting by The Thread Corner.  At some point I am going to get up the nerve to try a really large doily…

It’s a lovely Saturday here in Southwestern Oklahoma… sunshiny but not terribly hot yet.  Hopefully it will stay that way for a while. 🙂

Have a lovely day… 🙂

Whirlwind Move… to another state!

One day.. not too long ago.. my husband walked into the kitchen and said “Let’s move” ..  I said “To where” .. he said.. “to Oklahoma”.. I fainted..

Well, we are now here and have had 2 months to unload, unpack, repair, rebuild, get legal with licenses etc… and I have finally awakened from my faint!

Needless to say, there has been very little (make that “NO”) time for my crafts.  Finally there is a little breathing space but there isn’t much to blog about.  So we shall go back in time and find the things that I haven’t had time to blog about.. 🙂

Last fall I became entranced with the idea of mug rugs.  I had some left over fabric 5″ squares and jelly rolls from a quilt that I am STILL working on so I sat down and got busy.  These are some that I loved.  I gave them to my sons for Christmas… but I may have to make some just like them for me.. 🙂  Very easy… if you have a minute or two, give these a try.

I also had some yarn left over from a doll’s hair that I made.. so I became involved with 2-hour booties and leggings.  (Bottom photo)  The booties are crocheted and after the photo had ribbon placed around the opening to pull close and keep them from falling off.  Very warm booties… I love them.   The leggings are knit from a pattern that I will have to look up and tell you about later… since I’m running out of time.. 🙂

The top photo is a made up pattern for wristlets that is simply a cuff with increases to make the ruffle.  I love these.. I use wristlets all the time to keep the wind from blowing up my coat sleeve.  The boot tops I have never used because I’ve not worn boots.. lol   But I will have to get some now so I can try them out..

Well, I must say that Oklahoma is one of the many places that I grew up and I do enjoy being back in the state.  Of course, the fact that our house is lovely with even more lovely landscaping makes a big difference.. lol

This is our 5 pound little poodle who loves the new sidewalk out back.. 🙂  Our 13 pound poodle just loves the back yard.. couldn’t care less about a sidewalk.. lol

Have a lovely day, everyone.

 

 

 

Matawindstorm … telling him thank you!

Several years back I posted about a floor inkle loom that my husband and I made in our shop.  I used that wonderful loom for several years and loved every minute of it.  At the time I could not find the person who had originally posted the plans for it.. but now I know.  🙂 Here is the link to his site..

https://matawindstorm.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/inkle-loom-floor-size-finished-free-online-plans/#comments

 

 

Ipad Cover.. a little quilting pleasure…

I’ve had my Ipad for a couple of years now, but seldom take it anywhere with me since I’m always afraid I will scratch it when I put it in my purse…  Good intentions .. gonna make me a cover..  Well, I finally did. 🙂

I bought some quilt kits from Craftsy a year or so ago and had some lovely fabric left over since I didn’t use it for the quilt pattern that came with it.  It was quite simple to put together.  I just used a few pieces of fabric, sewed them together.. quilted the piece and then sewed it up into an envelope.. 🙂

I’ve seen a few patterns that use a stretchable band to hold it shut, but I didn’t feel like I needed that much since I don’t use mine every day or take it with me very often.  The little velcro tab works quite well for me.

If you would like a tutorial for this, I would be happy to make one.  Just drop a line in the comments section.

Have a wonderful day.. 🙂

Making Wrapped Cording Baskets…Free Tutorial

I really should stay off YouTube.  But I just couldn’t help myself when I saw the video tutorial for making these adorable baskets.  Just had to do it.  The Crafty Gemini .. otherwise known as Vanessa Vargas Wilson… has a great craft blog!  And I fell in love with the ease of making these little baskets as soon as I saw her video..  Click here to see it.. 🙂

Top left is my first try.   It came out a little like a small curved plate and Vanessa is absolutely right… trying to do a round is more difficult than the oval shape.  I would suggest that if you decide to try making one of these (very easy… go ahead! .. 🙂 ) do make a small sample size to begin your journey into this craft.  I found my stitch width a little too wide.  Going in a circle made it difficult to get my seams straight.  The length of the stitch was way too short, so I have all these white, close stitches that really stand out.  But.. it got better toward the outside edge as I adjusted everything .  It’s still very usable as it will have “stuff” that covers most of the mishaps.

The bottom left and the large photo are my second try.  The edges “bowled” quite a bit better and I had already found the stitching sizes I wanted.. just couldn’t figure out what that clanging noise was in my sewing machine!  hmmmph… You’d think after 50 years of sewing a person could figure out when the bobbin is in upside down.. 🙂   Good learning experience… if you run out of bobbin thread or have to cut your thread for whatever reason, beginning the seam again at the cut off point is mostly hidden with your seams.  It’s not the end of the world.

For the miniature bowl in the center, I wrapped wool 2ply homespun instead of 3/16″ cording.  It was a little more fiddly to do, but I can just see it on the floor of a doll house with rolled balls of cut fabric (as shown) or tiny magazines.

I have so enjoyed making these and I know for a fact that they will not be my last.  🙂  Also.. as a side note… you don’t have to put the curved sides and make bowls.  These would make wonderful, sturdy place mats or trivets.  I can even see small purses made this way.

The days here in North Texas are cooling a little.. and by that I mean we are not getting the 90° – 100°  days anymore.  🙂  The mosquitoes still run rampant in the evenings.. which totally ruins the idea of sitting outside unless in a screened in area… but still..    It’s almost time to pull up all the sweet potato vines that have made the flower beds so beautiful this year.

I have no clue why WordPress will not turn this photo  properly… but there ya’ go.. 🙂

Have a wonderful day.. Smile lots and kiss your babies and hug your friends…

Spinning and Dyeing BFL

I love Blue Faced Leicester wool.  It has a long staple, it’s easy to spin and it has a bit of a sheen.  Wonderful against the skin… it’s just one of my favorites.

I haven’t done a lot of spinning since having the horrid rash of a couple of years ago.  So I got out my trusty Kromski and the wool I’ve had for quite some time.. (like years)… and decided to give it a try and see if I could get by without the rash.  So far.. so good..

I finished it about a week ago.  Lovely.

It came rather thick and thin, but that’s ok with me.

I dyed it on Thursday when my friend Sheila was here.  She had never seen any kind of yarn dyeing, so she was thrilled.  🙂  The BFL wool was added at the end of the dyeing process and turned into a lovely aqua color that will be beautiful when spun.  The purple (grape) kool aid always separates out into many different shades and colors.. Love that.

I have yet to measure to see how many yards I actually ended up with after the fulling and dyeing, but I’m thinking there will be enough for a small blanket… or a shawl..

I hear the dryer buzzing at me, so had best get with it.  Have a wonderful day.. 🙂

Sweaters for little dogs… June Bowman Style

I know it’s a least 100° out there right now and the knitting has to be something small or I’ll fry.. lol  I found some June Bowman little dog patterns not long ago and bought all 8 of them.  They are adorable! 

This is the beginning of the one for Sam … our 13 pound apricot Poodle.  It turned out perfectly.

It was much easier to fit the neck and sleeves than I thought it would be.

And here’s a partial picture of our sweet boy wearing it.  I had to grab this shot from a video since he would not stand still.. 😦   But I think you can tell by looking at it how well it fits.

If you are in the market for small dog sweaters,   June Bowman’s is the place to go!  I bought all 8 of the patterns and will be posting the smaller sweater that I did for Katie in a few days.  More than likely, I will be doing all of the patterns… some for gifts.

Go have a look.. 🙂

 

At Last… Free Plans for the Large Loom and more…

Several years ago I made a floor size loom that could either be used as an inkle loom or a card weaving loom.  I found the pattern for that loom online and linked back to it only to find later that it had disappeared.  Well… recently the author of those plans contacted me and I am happy to announce that it was “Mahee of Acre”… who also states that his mundane name is Russell Husted.  It is with great thanks for the pleasure this loom has brought to many people that I give Russell credit for the work he posted.

That is not the only loom plans that Russell posted on that site. It’s well worth a visit to the site he pointed me to where you will find plans for other looms.  The link is here:

http://web.archive.org/web/20091027111719/http://geocities.com/maithgen/wood/looms/inkle_looms.html

I especially love the plans for the standing tape loom and would love to see it made.  If you do make any of these looms, please let me know  and if possible send a photo so I can share it with others.. 🙂

Thank you again, Russell Husted, for sharing with us.

Sunbonnet Sue and Sam

I had a question asking if I have seen  a pattern for an adult “Sunbonnet Sam” to go with Sunbonnet Sue.  I have seen what I think is one at this site… Free Applique Patterns.com .. I’m not sure if this is what you are looking for Nancy, but this is the only one I know about.   It’s here on this page… Sunbonnet Sue  .. On the Sunbonnet Sue page there are also patterns for Sitting Sunbonnet Sue and Sam.  This is the only site I have found that has the sitting patterns.

Hope you enjoy these.. 🙂

Staying cool under the air conditioner here in North Texas as the heat index reaches 103°… 😦

 

Recycle/ Reuse and Make a Placemat

We finally found some sheets with pockets deep enough that the fitted sheet would stay on the bed… only took 5 years.  🙂  That left us with several sets of sheets and while most will given to a good cause, a few will be used to make placemats… and maybe even a rug.

You may remember that I posted last year about these Love and Money Lap Looms.  I pulled them out of the closet a while back, cut one of the sheets into 1″ strips and wove some placemats.  They are a perfect fit for our supper trays and I love them!   They’re very strong and sturdy.

While I had the looms out I also made some coffee rugs (or could be used as hot pads).

I tried different things with the smaller loom.  By mixing different colors of fabric a whole new look could be accomplished.  The blue is made from wool that just didn’t quite work out while I was trying to spin an art yarn.   I have to say… I love these looms!

If you noticed on the photo of the placemats, there is a large piece of fabric left over from the sheet.  Here’s the apron made from it.  🙂

 

I do love it.  It fits perfectly and is heavy enough fabric that even grease will not soak through.  Love that.. 🙂

If you look in the upper left corner of this photo, you can see where our tiny Katie photo-bombed … lol  She and her larger partner in crime Sam are our little loves.. 🙂

Well, summer is well on its way to normal here in North Texas.  Hot, hot, hot… and I must get up and around and go water my flowers before the sun gets so hot.  Have a wonderful day today .