a dish towel makeover

 I wanted to make a little gift for someone, and I needed it the same day so I decided to fancy up a couple plain white cotton dish towels, which I had on hand, with a printed fabric border.

Just in case you are interested, here's what I did:

My dish towel measured 17.5"w x 36"l.  For the border I cut a piece of printed cotton that measured 19.5" x 6" ~ {this piece needs to be about 2 inches longer than the width of your towel}  This leaves an extra inch on each side, which gets folded in so the border is the same length as the end of the towel

I placed the border fabric {with the ends folded in} right-side down on the back of the towel and pinned the long edge together.

I sewed along that edge with a 1/2" seam allowance.

I opened out the border, turning the towel to the right side, and pressed the seam allowance toward the border.

Then I pressed the raw edge of the border under by 1/2".

I folded 2.5 inches of the border strip up {wrong sides together} to the right-side edge of the towel... 

...and stitched along close to the edge of the border as well as the two ends of the border strip.

When finished, the border will completely enclose the end of the towel and will look the same on both sides.

A great way to use up some odds and ends of fabric...you could even make the border a patchwork of different prints.

Happy Sewing.

hanging on to summer

Can August really be almost over?... we have only just begun getting some really hot summer weather here. But the days are getting shorter, the crickets are chirping, some leaves are even starting to fall.

I have been picking blueberries upon blueberries. It has been a great year for them, and I have at least 30 pounds in the freezer. Last night I was picking more and thinking of all the smoothies we'll be drinking this winter--good news for my brain:
"In a USDA Human Nutrition Research Center laboratory, neuroscientists discovered that feeding blueberries to laboratory rats slowed age-related loss in their mental capacity"

~ good news indeed!

As I picked I enjoyed the breeze in the pines, the birds singing, and the horses grazing nearby.

Inside, I've done a little sewing for the living room. Remember the stool covered in blue denim in front of the window...


...well the cover was fading in spots, and I found a project I knew would be perfect for it thanks to Clarice ~ an old grainsack pillow tutorial from Musings from a French Cottage...

I used a piece of inexpensive Onasburg cotton fabric and screenprinting ink that I had on hand instead of the fabric marker. I love the result and can't wait to try some pillows.

I also sewed a new cover for this little footstool with a fabric remnant I found at Ikea...

Some more painting projects are planned with the Light French Gray paint...

...which changes color with the light, sometimes more gray and sometimes this great blue...

Next up to paint {well, maybe once the floor is finished}is the green dresser in the hallway.

Knitted Mug Cozy Pattern

For all you ladies who would like to knit your own mug cozy, I have come up with these instructions. If you find any errors, please, please let me know...a pattern-writer I am not.

Happy Knitting!

Diagonal Mock Cable Mug Cozy


Pattern Stitch:
“Cross-Over on Two Stitches, Right—Knit
(Cross R)—often called a ‘Mock Cable’
Insert the RH needle into the front of the 2nd st from the point of the LH needle and Knit it. Do not slip it off. Knit into the front of the 1st (the skipped) st and then slip both sts off together.”*
*The Complete Book of Knitting by Barbara Abbey

Directions:
Using US size 10 (6mm) needles and two strands of worsted weight wool, CO 42 stitches.


Rnd 1: K4, [Cross R, K2] 9 times, K2.
Rnd 2: Purl across.
Rnd 3: K2, [Cross R, K2] 10 times.
Rnd 4: BO 5 stitches knitwise, P34, P2tog. (36 sts)

Rnd 5: Slip 1 knitwise, [K2, Cross R] 8 times, K3.
Rnd 6: Slip 1 purlwise, Purl to end.
Rnd 7: Slip 1 knitwise, [Cross R, K2] 8 times, Cross R, K1.
Rnd 8: Repeat Rnd 6.
Rnd 9: Repeat Rnd 5.
Rnd 10: Repeat Rnd 6.
Rnd 11: Repeat Rnd 7.
Rnd 12: Repeat Rnd 6.
Rnd 13: Repeat Rnd 5.
Rnd 14: BO knitwise, leaving the last stitch on needle.

To make button loop, I knit a 5-inch I-cord: Slip the last stitch from your needle to a dpn—you have two strands and need one more—so pick up a stitch to the left of your existing stitch, using just one strand of your working yarn. [Cut the other strand, leaving a 6-inch tail to weave in later.] You should now have three strands of wool [three stitches] on your dpn and a single strand of working yarn hanging from the left. Now, slide the stitches to the right end of the needle. With the yarn still hanging from the left, knit across using your other dpn. Be sure to pull the yarn tight when you make your first stitch so the fabric rolls in on itself. Switch the needles in your hands without turning your work, and slide the stitches [on your left needle] to the other [right] end of the needle. Continue knitting for 26 rows total. {You could make this shorter or longer as need be; the loop is designed to go over the mug handle.} Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail, and pull through the three stitches on needle. Thread strand of yarn through a tapestry needle and sew I-cord end to cozy to form a loop with the beginning of the I-cord.
If this makes absolutely no sense, I apologize. You could always crochet a button loop.

Now, you need to attach the two sides of your mug cozy. You will just sew together the side edges of the first few rows up to the Rnd 4 bind-off. This forms the section that will be under the handle of your mug.

Slide the cozy onto your mug and determine where your button placement should be in respect to the button loop. Sew your button on with some of your yarn.

Weave in all loose ends of yarn.

July update...

Summer is flying by as it always seems to do. Last week Mike was on vacation, and I was away from the computer, and here is a little bit of what we did...

~lots of weeding--the garden is loving the frequent rain that we have been getting...

~ a trip to a nearby town's gardenfest...

~ a day trip to a nearby canal town...

...lots of walking, lunch, and ice cream at Ben & Jerry's...

~ a family picnic at the lake and a new baby to meet. The perfect chance to use the Heather Ross gnomes fabric that I bought last year, to make this little dress and matching booties...

Both patterns were found online--the fabric baby shoes tutorial, thanks to Rhiannon at Maked, is posted here, and the "Itty Bitty Baby Dress" tutorial can be found here, thanks to Rae! Both patterns sewed up easily and quickly...

Hope you had a great Fourth of July!

painting the bookcase...

A few people have asked how I went about painting my 'very inexpensive' sewing room/office bookcases. These had been purchased at Target and assembled at home. (We needed something quick and cheap for homeschooling, and these worked out great.) They are MDF with some kind of woodgrain-look finish. As you can see, the backing is a sheet of cardboard...

I decided that I wanted to paint them for a new look, and add some beaded board plywood to the backs. I painted a small, similar-type cabinet several years ago, and that paint job has held up perfectly. This is what I did:

~sand surfaces lightly...I use a small electric palm sander, which makes the job much easier.

~wipe it all down with Klean Strip Easy Liquid Sander (this product can be used instead of sanding, but I do both to guarantee the paint will stick!)

~prime surfaces with Zinsser Bull's Eye 1.2.3 Interior/Exterior Water Base Primer

~paint with 2 coats of a satin or semi-gloss latex paint

Then I painted a piece of beaded board plywood that was cut to fit and attached it to the back...

On the window, is the Scandinavian blind -- yes, it's finally finished -- a project from Katrin Cargill's book Simple Soft Furnishings.

Monday morning

It's very gloomy out today, and I was a little slow to get motivated this morning, so I made a batch of my favorite orange scones to have with my mid-morning tea. Then I sat in the sunroom and went over my list of things I hope to accomplish this week...
...The rest of the morning was spent cleaning a bathroom, doing laundry, and washing the foyer floor, after cleaning out the front closet. This afternoon it's on to some hand sewing ~ six little fabric birds I made yesterday, that need to be stuffed and sewn closed ~ maybe while watching a Christmas movie. :)

And, I thought I would show you the finished project that I gave a glimpse of last week...

...a bucket bag with a drawstring top, (not seen, as it's tucked down in the bag) and a couple rice heat (or cold) therapy bags, all from the great tutorials on the SewMamaSew holiday gift list. (They also have some great gift tags you can print up, here.)

I filled the bag with a few more things, including some chocolates, and gave this to my mom for her birthday.

Wishing you all a great week!

handmade holidays

It's Thursday already?! I can hardly believe the week is almost over, it has flown by so fast. At least I do have something to show for it ~ some sewing for Firefly Farm in an effort to restock before Christmas. I have so many ideas, I'm afraid I'll never get to them all.

Speaking of Christmas, if you are looking for gift making ideas, you will love what is going on over at SewMamaSew. Check out the lineup for November:

Sew,Mama,Sew! Handmade Holidays: 30 Days of Gifts to Sew

November 1 ~ Aprons

November 2 ~ Pincushions & Pins

November 3 ~ For the House

November 4 ~ Lunch Bags

November 5 ~ Tote Bags

November 6 ~ Blankets for Baby

November 7 ~ For your Purse or Pocket

November 8 ~ Whimsy

November 9 ~ Fabric Ornaments

November 10 ~ Ties and Belts

November 11 ~ Reading & Writing

November 12 ~ For the Table

November 13 ~ Placemats

November 14 ~ Kids’ Clothes

November 15 ~ Warm those Toes

November 16 ~ Gifts for the Crafter

November 17 ~ Purses

November 18 ~ For Baby

November 19 ~ Tech Gifts

November 20 ~ Gifts for Organization

November 21 ~ Pillows

November 22 ~ Fun for Hair

November 23 ~ Soft Toys & Games

November 24 ~ Sachets

November 25 ~ For the Kitchen

November 26 ~ Embellishments

November 27 ~ Gifts for Warmth

November 28 ~ Drawstring Bags

November 29 ~ Fabric Boxes

November 30 ~ Gift Compilations

Great, great stuff ~ I can't wait to start my holiday gift making!

waffle knit dishcloth pattern

Lots and lots of dishcloths have been flying out of the Firefly Farm shop ~thank you all for the support!

My favorite is a pattern I came up with using the raised box stitch, which gives the dishcloth a great waffle texture. For anyone interested in making it, I would like to share the pattern. Wouldn't several of these, along with some of Mrs Meyers dish soap, make a nice Christmas gift?

Waffle Knit Dishcloth
from Homespun Living

Materials: 1 ball Lion cotton yarn; additional yarn for colored stripe, if desired.
Size 6 needles (4.25 mm)

Directions:

Cast on 38 stitches.
Knit 3 rows for border.

Row 1: (right side): Knit.

Row 2: K 3, purl to last 3 stitches, k 3.

Row 3: K 3, (P 2, k 1) 10 times, p 2, k 3.

Row 4: K 3, (K 2, p 1) 10 times, k 5.

Repeat these 4 rows, 6 times. If a colored center stripe is desired, change yarn now and work rows 1 – 4, 2 times in desired color.
Change back to main color and work the 4 row pattern, 6 times.

Knit last 4 rows.
Bind off and weave in ends.

*Pattern writing is new to me; if you note any mistakes, please let me know ~ thanks!

Part II ~ potholder/hotpad tutorial

~ next, pin the patchwork and batting layers together

~ machine quilt them together; I used a walking foot and stitched along the piecing lines ("stitching in the ditch")

~ a peek at the underside after quilting together...

~ I added a loop which you could make from some of your fabric or from some ribbon as I did here

~ I just used a zigzag stitch to attach it...

~ now the patchwork top is ready to be pinned and sewn to the knitted piece...

~ I slipstitched the fabric in place by hand...

~ and you are done!

I hope these instructions make some sense, and if you end up making any of these hotpads I would love to see them!

Part I ~ potholder/hot pad tutorial

A couple of you asked how I had made the potholder I posted about here. I made up another one over the weekend so I took some pictures.

~first I knit a 6 to 7 inch square in seed stitch using some cotton yarn

~ I like to throw it in the washer and dryer before adding the top

~ below are the fabrics I chose for the patchwork top

~ a little math is necessary to determine what size to cut the pieces so I end up with a square just a little smaller than the knitted back (I wanted the seed stitch back to show around the edges); I determine the finished size of each piece then add 1/4 inch to the seam edges and at least 1/2 inch to the outer edges

~ here my strips are sewn together using 1/4 inch seams... ~ once the top is pieced together and seams pressed, I press 1/2 inch to the wrong side on all edges...
~ I cut a piece of cotton batting to quilt the patchwork to; you could use heat resistant batting also...
~ place the batting on the wrong side of the patchwork top and tuck underneath the pressed edges...