GreenStitch Episode 23 - A bit of this and that

Sort of a short episode this week. You can download it here.

Here are the denim-and-felted-sweater dog bones that turned out sort of wonky -- but it didn't matter! And go right here for the no-nonsense encouragement we can all use from the fabulous Ginger of Wienerdog Tricks.

Here's the skirt that became an apron as part of Jenny's January Challenge. I'll post a photo of the finished apron soon. Check out Jenny's blog for future repurposing challenges. I can hardly wait to see what she's got up her sleeve for the months to come.

Two more links:

• Sarah's great fabric shop: SwellCloth
• Best meat loaf recipe ever!

GreenStitch Episode 22 - Family Ties

We're all the way up to Episode 22 of the GreenStitch podcast. Haven't heard this one one yet? Just click here.

Here's the little apron that started out as a voluminous denim dress and a plaid cotton shirt! (It looks substantially different from the knitting pattern that prompted it, but the inspiration was there nonetheless.)

ç

Hope you can see here how the buttonhole placket turned easily into button tabs on the sides.

Here's the button shoulder. No need for buttons to match, I say! That's what Aunt Anne's button jar is for....

OK, so it's probably hard to get a sense of the full wonderful-ness of these vintage embroidery linens from this photo - but at a dollar a pop, I wasn't about to resist them. The linen just feels so wonderful. I'm sure that after I let the thoughts percolate around for awhile, I'll think of a suitable use -- am delighted to take your suggestions as well.

That's it for now - thanks for listening. I do appreciate all your comments, e-mails, and iTunes reviews. See you next time!

GreenStitch Episode 21 - Channeling our inner Ma Ingalls

Haven't yet listened to this episode? Here's the link.

I'll start with the braided coasters, since the scrap-recycling nature of the project is very true to Ma Ingalls and the Little House on the Prairie family.

First, here's the link to Carolyn's blog post. Bookmark her blog and go back - she always has terrific ideas!

Here are my coasters. I'll make different colors next time, but these are the T-shirts I had handy - and I must say, the coasters have been put to great use already.

Here's the little pouch made out of the skirt lining. You can also see above the little paper template I drew to make it. Nothing fancy, that's for sure.

The shopping bag is small, but a useful size to keep handy for little purchases.

And because of the thin, slick fabric, look how easy it is to stuff that shopping bag into the tiny pouch.

Clipping the pouch just inside my purse means I won't have to dig for the shopping bag -- and will help avoid using a little plastic.

As for the quick-as-a-wink quilt block, above is step one -- seam two 3-by-5 1/2-inch rectangles together, the long way.

Attach two more rectangles, top and bottom.

Finish it off with two more rectangles that you've joined on the short ends. A great 10 1/2-inch block - and when they're all sewn together, they have a great vitality. Super stash busting! I still have visions of making a quilt like this entirely out of plaids from old shirt. Someday...

Oh, and if you're the Facebook sort, will you head over here and give GreenStitch a "like"? Thanks so much!

GreenStitch Episode 20 - Bread and Roses

Haven't yet listened to the podcast? Click in here!

I wish I had old images to share with you from the Bread and Roses strike. There are quite a few on Google, but I don't have confidence that they're authentic. Here is, however, some more information.

Want a glimpse of the Brother PR-1000 embroidery machine? Here's the video from CES and a few images below.

In the photo above, the old car image at upper right is an original photo. The others are stitched renderings on lightweight canvas, straight from the Brother PR-1000. Pretty remarkable results!

Finally, I hope you enjoyed the recording of the Women's Chorale of 171. If you're in Western New York and want to get our performance schedule, just e-mail me!

Thanks very much for listening, and thanks for all your great notes and comments. See you soon.

GreenStitch Episode 19 - Tina Sparkles and "Little Green Dresses"

Happy New Year, everyone! Here's your link to Episode 19.

What fun to visit with the awesomely awesome Tina Sparkles, designer and author of "Little Green Dresses." (Visit Tina's Web site here.) She's got such a great combination of sustainable mindset, creativity, and style -- and her ideas are so adaptable! Hope you feel like you're right in the sewing room, chatting with both of us.

If you can't find the book at your library or local bookstore, find it here.

Not many other links for this podcast (except for Bananagrams!) but I do have a couple of photos from my flannel-blanket-making extravaganza:

You can make almost any size of flannel yardage into a great receiving blanket. These are all double thickness, so they're nice and warm, but still drapey enough to swaddle a baby snugly. See the rounded corners? I cut those using an old CD as a guide, then serged a rolled-edge hem around the perimeter. The layers of flannel tend to hold together effortlessly, so there's no need for quilting the layers beyond the hem.

Oh, here's another tidbit - in the photo above, notice the jungle animal print and also the print with the little airplanes. Both those pieces of flannel were from the stash of dear Mrs. Flannery, the guild member I talked about in Episode 18. She was always so generous in making things to donate to babies, and I know that's how she would have used this flannel if she hadn't become ill. It made me feel great to know I could spend just a couple of minutes with her fabric and get it off to the purpose she would have intended!

Of course I forgot to photograph the burp cloths before I packaged them up, but those were super cute, too. Size doesn't matter for those, either - just make a strip long enough to toss over a shoulder and serge the two layers together. One layer would be fine, as well, but the double thickness makes it a little more cuddly for the baby, I think.

Thanks for joining me! I'll be back soon.