Everyday Napkins

I am setting aside my Farm Girl Vintage blocks today to sew a few much-needed everyday napkins.

The stack above was getting pretty worn - I thought it was about time.

I like larger napkins - around 18  to 20 inches.

My everyday napkins usually come from leftover fabrics from another project or older fabrics I purchased and never found a use for.

As you see, I am not too worried that my everyday napkins don't always match.

 While I do try to make at least four matching napkins, there are many times I don't have enough leftover fabric for four large ones so I work with what I have.

To be honest, I fold them as I pull them out of the dryer and stack them in a basket. 

I don't worry that all the matching ones are folded together.

No one in my family really cares if the napkins match at a meal.

We just grab one off the top and sit down.

I have sewn cloth napkins many times in many different ways.

For our everyday napkins, I find using a serger is the quickest solution.

While I do find using a serger is the very quickest I still love a nice neat hem.

  I recently found this YouTube video that looked interesting and thought I would give it a try.
They looked super easy and pretty quick to make. 

I found this border fabric in my stash and thought it would make really pretty napkins.

 I had just enough to make four 18 inch napkins.

Just look how nice the mitered corners come out.

Because they came out so pretty, I decided to make a little tag and give them as a gift.

I have never thought about using border fabrics for napkins until now.
I will definitely be on the hunt now for more border fabric.

Back to MY everyday napkins...

As you can see, for every day they don't need to match or even be the same size.

Just use what you have.

Speaking of napkins, be sure to come back tomorrow...

I have a yummy recipe I am going to share.

DIY quilt markers

I LOVE cherries.

Cherry pie, cherry fabric, chocolate-covered cherries, cherry cupcakes, etc.

While I'm in this cherry mood, I decided to try my hand at making a few homemade labels for my fabric pieces.

Up to now, I've been using Scrabble tiles to label my fabric pieces after cutting.

I actually really like using the Scrabble tiles because they have a bit of weight to them. 

I see Lori Holts Alphabitties everywhere and decided to see if I might like something similar. 

Since I have a Cricut Maker I thought I would try making my own "Alphabitties".

 I thought these may come in handy if I needed to clip the fabric pieces together with the appropriate marker.

These were super easy to make. 

I designed the square and used an existing cherry design I found in Cricut Access.

 I printed my design on cardstock and adhered stick-on laminating sheets to both the front and back.

I then put my laminated cardstock into my Cricut Maker and set the cut for cardstock.

 Even adding more pressure to the cardstock setting it still took 3 passes to cut all the way through the two sheets of laminate and the sheet of cardstock. 

If anyone knows a better setting, please let me know and I will pass the info along.

Honestly, between me and you, I still prefer my little Scrabble tiles to my homemade labels.

The only thing I might change would be to add a bit of felt onto the back to keep them from slipping around on my fabric.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Just a reminder

Just a bit of Cricut humor.

I made this back before Covid-19 was even a thought, but I find it very appropriate especially today.

I purchased the hand soap container at The Dollar Tree, removed the label, and made it my own using my Cricut and a bit of permanent vinyl.

 It holds quite a bit of soap and is easy to refill.

In case you are wondering, I haven't given up on my Patio Picnic quilt.

We have been busy with a few home projects lately which hasn't left much time to sew.

I was hoping to finish my Patio Picnic quilt before the August Sew Sampler is released, however,

 I did notice the Fat Quarter Shop has already posted a sneak peek of the new August Sew Sampler.

Yikes!

I better get sewing...

😊

Improvise

I have been cutting the fabric for my Patio Picnic pattern.

There are so many little pieces to keep track of.

I love the Alphabitties and the Lori Holt Design Boards that The Fat Quarter Shop sells.

 Unfortunately, neither was in my budget this month. 

I decided to improvise and use what I had.

I drug out the ol' Scrabble game and sorted through all the letters until I found A through Z.

   

I then cut a piece of cotton batting to fit the bottom of a 18" x 13" baking sheet.

It works perfectly to hold and keep my pieces in order.

 I cut 189 itsy bitsy 1 1/2" squares for letters F and G.

All pieces cut and ready to go.

See ya soon..... 

Cherry Sorbetto

These Sorbetto tops are just too easy to whip together.
They take very little fabric and are super comfy.

I made my own bias tape for the armhole and neckline, but store bought would work just as well.

The placket in the front comes together very easy.

All the fabric, bias tape and buttons came from my scrap pile so this baby didn't cost me a penny to make.
I love it when that happens.

You can check out my others here and here.

Happy Wednesday!

Crying over spilled....... coffee?

 

 

Not me.

I just cut the stain off and keep going....

 

 

Before the coffee stain this was a perfectly good (almost new) bar mop towel.

 

Rather than throw it away, I chose to repurpose this baby into a new washcloth using a bit of bias tape and embroidery.

 

 

Here's how it went...

 

After cutting off the stain I had enough left to cut an 11 1/2 square from the remainder of the bar mop.

 

I then rounded my corners using my fancy schmancy French curve.

 

 

If you don't have a French curve, you can use a coffee cup or saucer to round the corners.

 

 

I serged the edges to keep the towel from raveling.

 

 

 If you don't have a serger, a zigzag stitch will work just fine.

 

  Open your bias tape and pin it right side down on the serged edge.

 

 

Pin all the way around leaving about 2 inches overlap at both the beginning and end of your bias tape. 

 

 

Pinch the overlapped ends together as below and mark the point at which they meet.

 

 

Stitch across this line and trim to 1/4 inch.

 

 

Lay your bias tape flat again and continue pinning.

 

Using a straight stitch, stitch on the fold all the way around.

 

 

Once you have stitched the whole way around, wrap the bias tape over the serged edge to the other side and pin.

 

 

 I usually use the "stitch in the ditch" method to finish sewing my bias tape, but decided to try something different. I used a small zigzag stitch and stitched from the pinned side. I zigged on the towel and zagged on the bias tape....in other words, make sure you catch the bias with one stitch and the towel with the other.

 

You can barely see my zigzag stitches from either side.

 

 

You can stop there and have a perfectly cute washcloth...

 

 

....or add a bit of embroidery.

 

 

And have an even cuter one!

 

 

I'm thinking about stitching up a few more to have on hand for quick gifts, adding

 facial cleanser and a head band.

 

 

 See....

 

 

no need to cry over spilled.... coffee.

 

 

Just cut it off and move on....

 

Happy Monday!

 

 

Linking today to:

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/

http://tatertotsandjello.com/

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/

http://lilluna.com/

http://www.avisiontoremember.com/

Repurposing flannel sheets

 

Call me cheap (I prefer smart and thrifty), but I have a hard time throwing anything away I can recycle, repurpose or reuse.

 I grew up with a Mom who actually darned socks, so I come by it honestly.

 

My daughter sleeps on cuddly flannel sheets and when the elastic on the fitted sheet wore out, rather than throw it away, I chose to repurpose it into extra pillowcases.

 

I got 4 "new" pillowcases out of one twin sheet.



I'm thinking flannel pj's out of the flat sheet.

What do you think?


Linking today to:
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

Score!

I haven't had much time to sew lately, but I was able to pop into Hancock's last week and pick up a couple new patterns.

 

 

A couple.... meaning 10  :-)

Hancock's had a 5 for $5.00 sale I couldn't pass up.

 

I just recently found out how fun it was to sew for these little 18" dolls.

 

 

I can't wait to get started.

Fashion trends

A few years ago I walked into a small, fancy shmancy ladies clothing boutique near my home.

I should have known as I pulled my minivan into the parking lot between the Jaguar and Mercedes, it might not be my kind of place, but I was curious.

They had beautiful clothing.

 I found a little white linen blouse I liked and checked the price tag...$335.00.

  YIKES!!!

Come on....how in the heck do these designers justify $335 for a yard of linen and a couple buttons?

Trying to act cool and not run screaming from the store, I continued to look.

They had an entire rack of designer jeans ranging from $295 to $480.

I did find a nice pair with a bit of embroidery on the bottom of the pant leg for just under $300.

Still - WAY outta my price range!

I thanked the ladies behind the counter and strolled out the door.

 

I decided to experiment and made my way to the closest thrift store where I found a perfectly good pair of (slightly used) jeans for $2.

Grant it, they were not a fancy name brand for $2, but I didn't care.

 The fancy designer name is usually on the pocket or waist band; I figured if I didn't tuck my shirt tail in... Who's gonna know - nor did I care.

I took my slightly used jeans home, washed them, dried them and took the inside seam out of the pant legs up to the knee.

I embroidered my design and stitched the inside seam back up.

For just $2, thread, stabilizer and a little of my time, here is the finished project.

 

 

I wore these one season and haven't worn them since.

My question is...

Are my $2 jeans now IN or OUT of fashion?



HomeGoods, Michaels and a little sewing

 

I am putting together a tiny little gift for a new neighbor.

 

 

Thanks to HomeGoods and Michaels I was able to keep the price down to around $12 not including packaging and personalizing.

 

 



 Of course, I GOTTA personalize it!

 

Stay tuned....

 

 

 

The Dollar Tree comes through again!

 

Once again, I was asked to put together the door prizes for my daughter's school dance.

We have two drawings - one for the boys and another for the girls.

 

My plan was to spend $10 on each basket, not including the stuffing, tag or any of the wrapping.



Thanks to The Dollar Tree I didn't exceed my budget.

 

His contains the following:

 

1. Box of candy (of course)

2. Travel mug

3. Flashlight

4. Batteries for the flashlight

5. Two pairs of tube socks

6. Cologne

7. Rubber baseball and soccer ball

8. Men's comb and brush set

9. Valentine tie

 



 

Hers contains the following:

 

1. Box of heart shaped chocolates

2.  Set of lotion, shower gel and shampoo

3. Coffee cup with hearts

4. Valentine socks

5. Pedicure set

6. Funky heart shaped glasses

7. Girly erasable marker board with matching note pads

8. Shower puff

9. Perfume

 

 

I purchased the containers for $1 each and included nine gifts which brought me to my $10 goal per basket.

 

I LOVE The Dollar Tree....