The weekend I showed Phoebe how to make Dorset buttons. This Crabapple tree was her third button. I am in awe.
Scrap Work
I’ve been deep in the string piecing lately and thought I’d share this shot of my work area. My sewing machine is on the right, a small cutting mat in the center, and a small pressing mat and tiny iron on the left. Above you can see a block that’s ready to be trimmed. I work with a big pile of scraps, smallest pieces and triangle pieces are in a pile for easy use on the corners.
Studio Time
Yesterday was my first day back in the studio since March 12, 2020. It was heaven. I have missed the LIGHT and space, and all the things. I’m hoping to make it in once or twice a week now while my daughter is back in hybrid school.
It turns out I forgot to take my iron with me (I brought my ‘good’ iron home back in the spring) but I did get the string project on the design wall, prepped all my fabric on the table and cut a few plain squares. I am happy to know everything is ready for me to sew next time I go. I just need to remember to take my iron.
Filling the Void
This string project has grown too big for my home design wall. I have packed it up to take to my studio in town. It has been almost a year since I have worked there. My daughter is back in school two days a week so I plan to work in the studio on the days she is at school.
The empty design wall was a void calling to be filled. It lasted only a matter of minutes! I pondered what do work on and then my eyes landed on my overflowing bin of solid scraps. That’s all it took.
I have no idea where I’m going with this but I’m having fun getting there.
Dorset Button Class
A few days ago I took a class in making Dorset Buttons with Catherine Redford. It was great fun and now I want to make all the buttons! Stay tuned, I’m sure there will be more of these in my future. This button was made on a 1 inch curtain ring with rayon thread.
Simple Strings - Revisited.
I love this quilt I made two years ago that was inspired by a quilt in Roderick Kiracofe’s book, Unconventional and Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000. I gave this one away and have missed it ever since.
I have recently started another in the same vein.
I’m making smaller squares (5 inch cut) but am still aiming for a bed size quilt, just not KING size like the first one.
The sewing plan calls for simple string blocks with the strings on the diagonal. I want to keep the number of strings in each block minimal with only a few having more than four. Most blocks will probably have two or three pieces.
As I make and add more blocks to the design wall I see that it needs a bit more solid to calm things down.
This project is quickly outgrowing my home design wall.
Now that my daughter is back to in person school two days a week I plan to take this self contained project to my studio in town and work on it there where I have a much larger design wall. I will work on it while she is in school.
She is a high schooler but I have been staying at home to be available for technical issues and for company during her school breaks and lunch. We usually plan and play games during her morning break.
String Piecing.
I taught my Licorice Allsorts class yesterday and it was great fun. String Theory is on the schedule for next week and there are still a few spots left if you want to join us.
Mixing Genres
When the employee at the quilt shop tells you that you can’t use a modern print with Civil War reproduction prints because they aren’t in the same “genre” you know you’ve got to double down and use it.
I told her that it would be ok because I’m making the quilt in 2021 and all the genres are available to me.
There was only a fat quarter of this print so I’m still on the hunt for the perfect acid green.
Snow Day
We woke up to a light blanket of sticky wet snow. Miss P and I suited up and took our cameras out for a walk around the fields. The snow did not disappoint.
Frog and Toad
I’ve been eager to share this with you. I made Frog and Toad for my grandsons, well, maybe more for my daughter in law who sent me the link to the pattern last spring.
I plan to knit a another jacket and a pair of pants: I don’t think Toad will want to wear his swimsuit on ALL of his adventures.
P and I took them for an outing by the lake. It was too cold for swimming but they seemed to enjoy a little time sitting on a log and soaking up the sun. “Don’t look, Frog.”
I hope they have many adventures together. My oldest grandson listened to the Frog and Toad audio books with them yesterday afternoon.
I love having at least on handmade gift each year that I am excited about. Frog and Toad fit the bill this year. Knitting these little creatures brought me a lot of joy this fall. I’m also pretty proud of those eyes and eye sockets.
Details about the yarns used are on my Ravelry page.
