GreenStitch Episode 26 - A winter pick-me-up

This week, we do a little vintage-style embroidery to help chase away the winter doldrums. Listen to the full episode here.

The dancing coffee pot didn't show up brilliantly on the striped tea towel (and dim winter afternoon light makes for dreary photos anyway), but the design on the striped linen was still worth doing. The designs on solid colors, of course, always turn out great. I'll definitely spice up more of my towels with fun designs like these. Here are some good sources beyond your local craft store:

• The Pattern Bee (lots of free stuff, too)
• Floresita's blog isn't active right now, but you can still find lots of good patterns and ideas - plus, her commentary is fantastic.
• A quick search on eBay will turn up tons of vintage embroidery patterns, too, as well as embroidery supply. They can often be overpriced, though, so watch carefully.

And need to brush up on your basic embroidery stitches? Mary Corbet has some super instructional videos here.

I keep dreaming of the day when Dan and I have our morning coffee and our evening glass of wine at our cafe table overlooking the garden. For now, this is what it looks like... :-(

Many thanks to listener Sharyn for her super idea of putting even the tiniest of fiber scraps to use by creating stuffing for a dog bed. I made the exterior pouch out of leftover fleece, then lined it with an old pillowcase. Felt and fleece appliques were a simple touch (and great idea from listener Laurel, the Simple Romantic.)

I sewed all day yesterday and tossed all the scraps and trimmings into this pouch, getting a good start on filling the bed for a shelter dog. Thanks again for the super idea - this is one I'll be using for a long, long time!

Finally - the giveaway winners! Congrats to Laurel, Judy, and Carrie. I'll be contacting you very soon.

And thanks so much to everyone who left comments. I love knowing that you listen to podcast even while flossing teeth, feeding chickens, and blocking out annoying colleagues in the next office! See you soon...

Episode 25 - Wow, it's Episode 25!

Thanks for celebrating podcast 25 with me! Listen in here.

Here's a partial result of our Scrap-a-palooza event at guild. At top, you can see the ever-vigilant Inspector Betty - who did not go to guild, but was happy to see the project that came home.

Here's more information on how to make these blocks. You don't have to use a foundation muslin, but it does make the project a tad easier.

And next - the giveaways!!! Just leave a comment (by noon ET on Sunday, Feb. 27) telling me where you typically listen to the podcast - I'll draw three names, e-mail you if you're one of them, and you can win one of these three prizes:

Here are 25 (it had to be!) 7-inch felted wool squares, cut from spanking-clean-washed-in-hot-water sweaters. You can add these to your own squares and have a great, cozy throw - they're also super for potholders. Have fun with them!

And here's the quilted jewelry roll! Surely you'll want this for some of your bedazzling finery when you travel to Prince William's wedding this spring.... ;-)

If one Morsbag is good, two will be better! OK, so I haven't made the second one yet, but I'll have it done by the time I draw winners on Feb. 27. Keep one, give one to a friend! Genuine vintage tablecloth at work here...a friend gave it to me after cleaning out copious amounts of table linens from her grandmother's home.

UPDATE: Forgot to add these felted hat and mittens photos last night. So thick, so warm, so cozy!

Hope you can see how these pattern pieces work - one thumbless piece for the back of the hand, two thumbed pieces for the palm. Then just add a cuff from the ribbed sweater bottom. Make the ribbed cuff just a tiny bit smaller than the bottom of your mitten, and ease it in. Instant warmth and great fit.

And as we indulge in a little toast to Episode 25, here are two lovely ladies enjoying Finger Lakes Wine Country wares with clever hand-knit wineglass holders - made out of scrap yarn, and just the ticket for a chilly night!

And here's their warm-weather cotton version -- just made out of a scrap of fabric with an elastic casing at the bottom to secure the wine glass. Suzanne even put some cute button embellishments on the top edge - so cute for a warm summer's evening. People were coming into the store all evening saying, "we just saw these women with the greatest wine glass holders...!"

Thanks so much, and don't forget to enter the giveaway drawing!! The question: Where do you listen to GreenStitch?

GreenStitch Episode 24 - We get by with a little help from our friends

It's Episode 24 - two dozen! Haven't heard it yet? Click here to download.

Above is the schematic Sue provided for me, and the final product - Maggie's going-down-the-stairs harness. Denim, fleece, plaid binding, webbing for the straps, plenty of Velcro, and a few D-rings -- all stuff I had on hand.

Above, a rail fence block. See how easy it is? Here's the link to the pattern, which uses 2 1/2-inch strips. Just watch carefully how you have the segments oriented before you stitch together.

Learn more about the Quilts for Carisbrook project here (Wilma's blog). U.S. volunteers can check out this list for mailing information - remember, all blocks must be 12 1/2 inches (unfinished) and they're due by Feb. 28.

Here's the "Comforts of Home" block. Pattern is here. I use the option with the Flying Geese turned the other way around, which forms a star.

Various rail fences.
I used up some more of the nine-patches to form 12 1/2-inch cobblestone blocks.

Obviously, I hadn't yet woven in the ends of this sweater before I took the photo. I also hadn't blocked it yet - one arm looks bigger than the other here, but it turned out just fine after blocking. Learn more about Afghans for Afghans here.

Me ----> "Betty!! Get off that wool sweater this instant! But first, let me take your photo because you're so darn cute!"

Great and very helpful podcasters!

• Pam at Hip to be a Square
• Sarah at Stash Resolution
• Darla at The Scientific Quilter
• Jean at The Quilted Cupcake
• Shilo at Spin Control
• Lori at Sew Forth Now
• Sandy at Quilting...For the Rest of Us
• Frances at The Off-Kilter Quilt
• Katie at Katie's Quilting Corner
• Susan at History Quilter
• And since I recorded this yesterday, I also downloaded this podcast you should check out: Nonnie's Quilting Dreams.

Want a glimpse of what it's like to be 23 and looking for a job? Check out Nick's podcast.

Give us a "like" over on Facebook and get some behind-the-scenes news....

Finally, here's the link to the terrific Morsbags movement - I love it!

Latest poll results: 31 of you answered the question: "Do you craft more in the winter months?"

Yes	23 (74%)
Not really	6 (19%)
I don't keep track	2 (6%)

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.)

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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.