Stash Busting

It has been a busy month of stash busting at my house. I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more yarn until I managed to use up some of the overflow that already exists. The hardest part has been to select the yarns and patterns. It is not always an advantage to own so much that you can't seem to make a decision.....ugh. Finally I settled on four items of different sizes and uses but all out of fingering yarn. Since I don't make baby clothes I need to actually utilize this yarn for something. Here are the projects: A full size lacy afghan, a baby blanket, a sleeveless shell (to wear) and some fingerless gloves. All of these projects have been started and so far I have finished the gloves and the sleeveless shell (all but washing and blocking). I am not quite halfway thru the baby blanket and have only one skein of the afghan crocheted. But, at least it is a start. There are two or three Doris Chan clothing items that are calling out to me to begin. Her lacy designs seem to transform the ordinary into extravagant. However, I know these will be things I will want to take my time and savor the crochet journey as much as the end product. So for now I am content to rhythmically hook repeat patterns as speedily as I can.

To break the constant hand and wrist movement of crocheting, I am just beginning to work on some designs for a couple of patchwork quilts. I absolutely love to play with fabric.....the colors, feel and possibilities are all exciting. Just laying out the different shades and textures to see what I like with what has been an adventure. So many of the quilt books tell you to keep everything just exactly so, but in reading the history of American Quilt making, our pioneers found a way to mix and match (mostly out of necessity) and still end up with a beautiful and functional work of art. They took what they had and with imagination (and little else) stitched together little pieces of their lives into a handwork object that their descendants would cherish. THAT's what I want to create from scraps of items I have sewn for myself, family, friends and charities. I want each piece of the quilt puzzle to have a special "behind the stitches" story. So I am taking my time and letting memories help me choose how these quilts will evolve.

Sometimes I feel that hand crafting is almost spiritual in it's ability to lighten your heart and give you peace.

Till next time.....happy stitching.

Still Sewing

Hubby found a wonderful older portable Kenmore sewing machine at a local salvation army and I fell in love with it. I found a website, Sewing Educational Warehouse, that had copies of instruction/repair manuals for a very reasonable cost. So I ordered a printed copy and it came within less than a week. I have already sewn a Jacquard loose fitting jacket on this machine and it sings right along. I now have a Viking/Husqvarna, 2 Kenmores and a Babylock serger. My sewing table is getting very crowded.

I'm still trying to decide on my next project and am leaning toward something that uses a quilted/pieced look. A couple of weeks ago I found a treasure trove of lovely colorful quilt fabric pieces at a local thrift store. For six bucks I ended up with three shopping bags of good quality cotton fabric in both patterns and solids. I still have to wash and press all the pieces but I can't wait to play with them. Also, at the bottom of one bag was 7 or 8 pieces of upholstery fabric that will be perfect for a carry-all bag or project tote.

Yep, you gotta love those thrift shop bargains.

Hint of the day: Have trouble saving money? Here is a suggestion published in a recent Woman's Day magazine. Open an interest bearing bank account and every time you receive a $5 bill, stash it in the account. DON'T be tempted to dip into this little windfall until it has AGED for a year. You will be surprised how much has accumulated by just denying yourself one Starbucks coffee, or a McDonald's quick meal or that pricey magazine.

Have a great day and keep on crafting.

Good Grief, where does the time go!!!

Geez, even finding time to write a quick blog entry seems to have escaped me. I did manage to "de-decorate" the house. What a job. Why is it always much more fun to "put up" than to "tear down"? Anyway, I have the furniture back to looking more like a living room. I can actually watch the TV without leaning over in the chair to see around the tree....LOL.

OK, so I wonder if you all have gone back to a less frenetic crafting pace. I know I have. For now I have set aside the crochet hooks and in their place I've begun sewing once again. Way before Christmas I had cut out several items but with all the holiday hullabaloo, these projects were stuffed back into the closet. This month I have emptied the pile of sewing projects onto the table then picked out two of them to work on. I finished the chemise (more like a camisole) and found I truly like the fit. So I will now make a couple in a more expensive fabric like tricot.

Next, I put together a light weight bath robe made of a cotton fabric. It turned out well even though it is from a pattern that can be used for either gender. In fact, hubby liked it so well that I will be making one for him as well. I offered him the one I had just finished but I think the Chinese Red color didn't really jazz his jets....go figure.

I am now down to only about 6 or 7 items in my "crocheted gifts" blanket storage bag. Before the holidays I had two storage bags filled to overflowing. Guess it was a great gifting Christmas.

Tip of the day: Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately. (Grandma's Cures)

Hope you are having a great start to the New Year and keep on crafting.