Little Lowly Worm

My two year old grandson is a big fan of Richard Scarry’s Lowly Worm. He’s started saying: “Lowly, Lowly, Lowly!” It’s too cute, so I searched the web and found this blog post. It includes scans of a pattern from a vintage Richard Scarry activity book, for making Lowly Worm out of felt.

I purchased these tiny buttons more than 25 years ago. I must have known that one day I would need them for something tiny and cute! I’m glad I finally got to use them, and I’m equally glad I was able to find them in my sewing room.

This lonely little shoe slays me.

He’s also poseable, because I omitted stuffing him, and braided some pipe-cleaners to slip in instead.

After I gave it to him my daughter-in-law showed me that she had found and purchased the same activity book. The pattern in the book as drawn will make lowly a bit larger. The scan that I printed was smaller than the page in her book. I like the smaller size though. His body is just the right size to fit in a small fist. He is also the perfect size for driving my grandson’s toy tractors.

Kishie Shawl Update

In the evenings I enjoy settling into a comfy seat and doing handwork. I’m almost caught up on my mending and have been knitting almost every night lately. Since we are not out and about these days I’m taking advantage of the time to focus and work on and finish things that require a bit more attention than my usual crew sock knitting.

According to my Ravelry notes, I started this Kishie Shawl in November 2018. I worked hard on it for a few months and then slowed down. It later sat off in a corner by itself for more than a year and I picked it up again a few weeks ago. I’m at the point where one pattern row takes about 45 minutes - longer if we are watching a movie. Since I don’t want to put the project down mid row, I have to gauge how much time is left in our show to know whether I have time to start another row. I am really close (only a few really long rows) from starting the chart for the edging at the bottom of the shawl.

I am hoping to finish some long languishing projects this year but also seem to be starting a lot of new projects. We shall see how this plays out.

Design wall play

Playing with the layout is just as much fun as making the blocks!

Crabapple Tree Dorset Button

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.