Hearts For Teresa

My blogging friend, Teresa, has a serious addiction to red hearts.

I planned to make her one for Christmas, but, you know how that goes. I made it last night based off a pin on one of my pinterest boards.


I dragged out a box of wool stash (clothing and yardage) and found the red and the blue (from a plaid) I was looking for. Nabbed my embroidery floss and a super awesome needle and settled into watching episode 4 of Downton Abbey. This heart took about 20 minutes more than the episode.


I actually had to grab a youtube video to recall how to start the blanket stitch - and how long has it been since I've made french knots?

More Heart Pouches

 More Heart Pouches for small things.
Coins, Earbuds, Lucky rabbit foot, whatever.

 

Two go as gifts - I'll let Connie and Janine pick their favorite.
The other two will go into my etsy shop.

I didn't delve into my new Japanese fabrics, although one came from there in a gift - cute bunny rabbits! The other fabrics are form the small scrap basket, trying to keep going on my new year's resolution of "keep sewing until you use the fabric up". ahem.

I think the Japanese fabrics need to age a bit longer.



Earbud heart tute is here.

Chicken Hot Pads

I had a productive rainy day Sunday sewing time.
And I needed to change my blog post photo from the last one. Eewww.

Everyone I know was watching the super bowl but me. I've never been into football that much, can't drink the beer {Glutens, barley, hops :'( }. I almost watched it because Pencil Girl helped make the giant lion who made an appearance at the half time show.

   

I have a friend who is dire need of replacing her chicky hot pad so I dug out the box from where it had been stored for a few years and found that I already had some chickens cut out and ready to sew. I used to make these for holiday bazaars.

The wings are pockets for your hands. She keeps hers sitting/nesting over the teapot handle.

My zips came in so I was able to finish using up my laminate and I also used this free 'suede'  sample swatch from Spoonflower. Just the right size to make this Dumd Valentine Pouch.

This one might be my favorite. Soft airplanes.

I tried top-stitching on the vinyl laminate with a dull sewing machine needle and the backside is cruddy with skipped stitches. I am contemplating tossing this one or doing a giveaway. I spent about two seconds thinking about ripping out the top stitching and hand stitching around the heart instead with a thicker thread (the holes in the laminate are permanent). It might have to go into the time-out closet.

Heart Pouch

I saw one of these on facebook today about an hour before I had to go to work and get dressed.
I remembered Crafty Tokyo Mama had sent me some laminate scraps which have been sitting on my ironing board taking up space, cuz there wasn't a better spot.
I have three more small  pieces of laminate I plan to turn into heart pouches tomorrow.

Pouch measures about 3 1/2". Perfect for ear buds or coins or other tiny stuff.

Rainbow Sewing

I finished two items today.
A rainbow heart bunting and a vinyl zippered pouch with a rainbow on the back.

Sewing with vinyl can be curse-worthy.
But interesting.

I used  my clover clips to hold the bias binding in place. I also utilized the paper that came with my vinyl to help sew it easier. Then I tore the paper off the stitches. The trick with vinyl is a fresh needle, and something to help make it move - whether it be a teflon foot, tissue paper or K-Y jelly. Yep, Pencil girl told me that one. She sometimes sews for Michael Curry Design in Scappoose, Oregon.
They sew a lot of weird stuff. Where you need some tricks up your sleeve.

Heart Pops

I have made three batches - so far- of these zippy heart pops.

Random Valentine's Week Projects

I saw this tutorial via One Pretty Thing for a knitted Big Heart Dishcloth. I had some red acrylic yarn and about two hours later - impressed with how easy it is to knit a dishcloth.

I ran out to Michaels and bought up all their solid color Sugar 'n Cream cotton skeins to send to my 4-H groupies for their Thursday meeting. While they are learning to knit and purl, this project seemed easy enough for a beginner and interesting with Valentine's Day coming up.
(unfortunately, their meeting was canceled and they will resume in a week or so - I will post photos if they can squeeze in another project.)

I am on my second dishcloth - about 3/4 of the way done. The second time is much faster.

 

 

Cotton works better for dishcloths. I used my #7 needles. 

 

Valentine Cupcakes for work.