Rambling, Until Later

Today I attempted to sew. Happy day! Even though I didn't get much more done than cut out the pattern, at least I made it up to my sewing room. It's been a good but busy week so far. Tomorrow I have an oboe lesson...another good thing...and I hope to do some more sewing, maybe even start the skirt I cut out today.

On another note, recently I added a few more sets of pattern weights to my Etsy shop, and today one set was included in a "treasury" made by Lynn Minney Designs. Thanks, Lynn! Isn't this collection pretty? I like the primary colors of the images.

Okay, I'm rambling. Until later,
Ruth

Aqua and Red

I'm loving this color combination--aqua and red. This granny bag is made from a Martha Stewart towel. I've already had two daughters try to claim it as their own, and if it doesn't sell on Etsy they can fight it out. : )

Ruth

Birthday gifts for Special Little People

A crayon roll and coloring books for little Miss Emily...

Per Mom's advice, I made one for Emily, one for Elliot (someday), and one to put in my etsy shop. Wouldn't it be fun to be a kid again and have one of these for your very own? I still love crayons, and using brand new crayons is one of the best feelings in the world. I was so excited to have a few crayons extra after filling these rolls. Anyone want to color with me?

Next is an apron and matching potholder for one of Justin's little sisters. The colors in this picture are a little off. The pink is much pinker. I designed and cut out the pattern (inspired from a picture of an apron in my Mary Jane's Stitching Room book), sewed the apron, and then re-sewed it (after I realized I'd made it too big), and sewed up the potholder all in one evening. Justin was so nice to watch Elliot and let me sew like a crazy lady.

Finally, I just finished a receiving blanket. This was the first time I'd done one with such chunky thread, but it was fun, and I thought it ended up really cute.

Hugs,
Jessica

Fun news this morning!

Oh my, I just found out that my pancakes pincushions are featured on the banner of Whiteley Creek Bed and Breakfast in Brainerd, Minnesota!

Adrienne, the B&B owner, purchased two of my pincushions some time ago and asked if she could use them in her site design. Of course I didn't mind, and am delighted with her photography and design. They look so much cuter on her blog then they do in my photos on etsy!

Now I want to take a trip to Minnesota, because I know the perfect place to stay...

Blessings,
Jessica

Pretty Pattern Weights

When you sew, do you pin your patterns to your fabric or do you use weights?

When I discovered pattern weights many, many years ago, I never looked back. Well, I do use pins on occasion---with slippery fabrics, fussy prints, or to hold a pattern piece in place until I mark darts or other markings. But for the most part, I use pattern weights.

Recently I decided to pretty-up my rather boring pattern weights, and I think I went overboard. :-) I now have a few sets listed in my Etsy store. I can't keep them all--just how many weights does a person need?!

I've started a couple new tops, one for Ellen and one for Emily. Pictures will be coming soon, but here's a preview:

Happy Sewing,
Ruth

Sew Chic Tea Cozies

Now available in my shop!

Crocheted-Edge Blanket Tutorial

( Edit: Click here to see more of finished blankets and more edging variations. )

Because I've had a number of people ask me how I make the baby blankets with the crocheted edging, I decided to post a tutorial-of-sorts here. I am not going to show how to crochet, but will tell how I make my blankets. If you don't know a few basic crochet techniques, you can learn from a library book, other book, or online.

Supplies:
1 yard of flannel
size 10 crochet thread (available at craft stores or Wal-mart)
size 8 steel crochet hook
optional: serger

Instructions:

• Start by squaring off the yard of fabric into a 36" x 36" piece.
• 
  
• Fold the fabric so that all four corners are together, one on top of another.
• 
  
• Use a small plate as a template to draw rounded corners. Cut along the traced line through all four layers. (I used my rotary cutter to cut directly through all 4 layers of the fabric).
  
  
  
• You may stitch a narrow hem, or just serge around the fabric like I did.

• 
  
  
• Poke the crochet hook through the edge of the fabric and begin crocheting a single-crochet stitch around the blanket. If you serged the edge, narrowly turn it to the back one time as you crochet, encasing the serged edge. If you stitched a narrow hem around the blanket, just encase that hem as you crochet.
• 
  
• Continue crocheting around, using any edging pattern you desire. For most of my blankets, I use a simple 2-round, picot stitch edging, as follows:
• 
  
• Round 1: single-crochet, chain 2, single-crochet, chain 2. Repeat until you are all the way around the blanket.
  
• 
  
• Round 2: Slip stitch into the beginning single-crochet. Chain 4, slip stitch into the same single-crochet (picot formed). Slip stitch two times into the chain-2 loop. Slip stitch into the next single-crochet. Make picot. Repeat all the way around. Fasten off.

Round 1: single-crochet, chain 2

Round 2: picot stitch
You don't see the serging because it was turned to the back as I crocheted along.

That's it! If you make any of these blankets, I'd love to see pictures!

blessings,
Ruth


p.s. I like to make a matching burp cloth with the scrap piece of flannel that I cut off when squaring up the blanket. I listed this finished set in my Etsy store.

To rest upon such a lovely pillow. Oh, happy pillow, happy sleep.

:-)
Ruth

Another Crochet-Edged Blanket

This time I made a matching burp cloth to coordinate with the receiving blanket. I actually bought this fabric when I was expecting Emily, but it never got finished for her use. I love the colors and the polka dots!

Ruth

Zippered Bag

I don’t often need a full-size diaper bag anymore, so today I sewed up a couple of zippered bags just the right size for one or two diapers and a travel-size wipes container. I’m keeping one bag for Emily’s use, and putting the second in my Etsy store. Now I keep thinking of all kinds of things I could store in these little bags.... Maybe I need to go sew a few more!

Ruth

Edit: Yes, I did sew a few more--all with coordinating fabric I won as a door prize at the last quilt guild meeting I attended. These are so much fun!

Pretty Heart Pillows

Don't you just love my new pillows? I adore old granny-type pillows, and have amassed quite a collection for my bed. These heart shaped pillows are made from an old vintage bedspread and I think they are so sweet! I made 3 of them, one for me and two for my shop!

Cheers!
Jessica

New felt pincushions

A few little fun things I've been working on....I so enjoy working with felt!

Cheers!
Jessica

I Opened an Etsy Store!

I first read about Etsy from Annie, (either on her blog or on an email list) and I immediately signed up. That was in August 2006. This week, Jessica and I were talking about Etsy and once again I was inspired to get started with Etsy. Today I listed 6 items, and hopefully they will sell. Thank you, Jessica, for motivating me on with this. I hope you get your store up and running soon. Yes, Jessica is going to open an Etsy store, too! I'm excited to see where this all goes, if anywhere. Take a look if you wish: www.sewchic.etsy.com.