GreenStitch Episode 45 - The 4 a.m. episode

Back to you with two more bags, although I'm really going to take a bag break after this! But sometimes, you just need bags! (Listen to the podcast here.)

Here's what the Kenlons will be bopping around Prague with this next week. As you can see, Dan has already test-driven his, with much success. I love the corduroy print in mine! I haven't sewn the vintage buttons in place yet, but will do that before we leave .... which is now in about four hours!

See you soon, everyone, and thanks so much for listening.

GreenStitch Episode 44 - Cutting a rug

Thanks for tuning in to Episode 44. Here's the link to the audio recording.

My first little locker hooking project. I didn't love the process, but I did like it enough that I don't mind using up the rest of the canvas I bought to make a larger rug.

I found this YouTube demo published a few years ago - check it out here.

I was fascinated by these adjustable pattern-drafting tools at the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, NY. This volunteer was kind enough to show us the hand-loom process for a good long while.

Sewing machines!

Oh, yeah, and then there was that baseball museum. Look! Brooks Robinson!

Lou Gehrig! Jackie Robinson! Roberto Clemente!

The tail of my friend Beth's new shirt. Bad dog! Bad Tucker! (not really)

It was easy to transfer the shape of the gaping hole onto paper and make a template for the patch.

Here's the newly patched shirttail hem of Beth's shirt.

Doesn't Beth look great in her sleeveless shirt? (and nice setting for a photo, right?!)

Finally, I can't resist sharing this shot from our campsite in Cooperstown. We were very careful to keep the cats inside the RV, of course, but Betty parked herself regularly on the steps looking out into the woods.

GreenStitch Episode 43 - Dog days of summer

Just a couple of notes for this week's ramble-fest. Here's the episode link, too.

Try these instructions for the Martha Stewart oilcloth lunch bag - just adapt the measurements to suit your needs. As you can see, I didn't make all mine the same size as I was working with a limited amount of the vinyl fabric. It did take a fair amount of piecing.

The outside edge-stitching gives an amazing amount of body to these bags and they stand on their own just fine. It's really easy to grab them and toss them into the truck when they're full.

Oh, and in editing this episode, I realize there was a little thumping in the audio from time to time. I must have been tapping on the desk without realizing it - I got a new microphone that's much more sensitive than my old one, so it picks up everything! Sorry for the distraction!

I really appreciate all the comments and notes - and I will catch up eventually!

GreenStitch Episode 42 - Tick, tock...

Thanks for listening in to my ramblings about making a quilted clock. Here's the link.

What do you think? The really antique, jewel-y buttons don't show up well in the photo, but they look pretty good in real life. I had to snap this up off the windowseat right after taking the photo as Betty was eyeing it suspiciously. I could just see her rubbing the buttons with her paws - nope, not gonna donate this with traces of cat hair.

Here's the compost tea just beginning to brew. Really, it's wonderful stuff for the plants and gives them such a good pick-me-up this time of year. I brewed two big buckets with one burlap bag of compost. Each bucket brewed in the sun for about four hours. I've let them brew for a couple of days before, too, and it doesn't smell if you use well-aged compost. There's no real science to it.

The compost goes right back into the bin after brewing. And yes, this burlap bag will remain dedicated to this purpose in the future. I'm not about to wash it out and use it for something around the house!

GreenStitch Episode 41 - Five bags of summer

This episode gives us a chance to talk about some fun, very easy bag projects that just have summer written all over them. Listen in here.

Here's the almost-finished library bag/car organizer based on this tutorial from Katie at Punk Projects. Thanks, Katie! Gotta find that button foot so I can finish it up - buttons go where you see pins here.

This view shows you a little more how the strap goes around the passenger's seat. Depending on your tolerance level for floppiness, you might be able to skip this strap.

Here's what I was trying to explain about making an outside-pocket bag out of a single strip of fabric. I'm not good with adding text, but maybe this will help.

E-mail me if this isn't clear. Honestly, this is one of the fastest bag-making methods ever.

Here are the produce bags we use. The check-out folks at our local Wegmans have never had a problem with them, and if they get sticky, they wash like a dream. (the bags, I mean. I assume the same's true for the Wegmans staff.)

Odd and quirky little farmer's market bag out of a T-shirt. Looks funny, but really handy.

ETA on 7/27: Thanks to listener Elisa, we now have the link to this bag tutorial. Here 'tis. Thank you so much, Elise!

Ah, yes, the yippee-aye-oh-kai-ay camera bag. I've gotten so used to it that I don't even think twice about it anymore - it's just the right size and the fleece interior makes for a very nice padding.

Finally, here's the link to Martha's Beach Towel Tote. I think the basic idea is really good, but I'd definitely stitch sides into it to make it more reliable as an actual bag. Let me know if you make one - I'd love to feature your photos and thoughts.

GreenStitch Episode 40 - Some little summer projects

Not a lot of energy for big, complicated projects today - but these will be very useful all the same. You can listen in here.

Here's the finished doorstop - just wrapped with scrap fabric like a present and hand-stitched into place.

A scrap of rubberized shelf liner on the bottom will help keep the doorstop from skidding on the hardwood floor. You could achieve the same effect with a few squiggles of puffy paint or harvesting a non-skid bottom from old slippers or pajama feet.

I put a little strap on the side just because I could. Probably doesn't need it.

And here's what it looks like underneath. A double-bagging of old cereal box liners, with a few scoops of sand inside, wrapped up with packing tape. It's about the size of a small brick.

Now Dan's shoe is back in the closet with its mate!

Finally, here's what I had been using to bring home small compostable items, and what I'll use starting tomorrow. The applique was a lesson in how not to over-think things.

GreenStitch Episode 39 - Friends, porches, and e-reading

Today's episode was a rambling collection of summertime observations - but we got to a little bit of sewing, didn't we? Listen in here.

Not quite finished yet, because I have two more throw pillows to do, but I do love the new look. Fresh, crisp, and much more comfortable with the thicker seat cushions! As you can see, we inaugurated the new cushions this evening by enjoying a glass of wine.

Really, the old red cushions weren't exactly awful, but those thin seat pads just weren't very comfortable! I did re-use the pad for the rocker back instead of using new foam - also re-used the pillow stuffing for the new batch.

Here are two of the little cuddlers headed for the OHSU neonatal unit. So small, so cuddly! The pink one is from a mill-end of jersey knit - the green-and-white polka-dot one is flannel.

Fresh blueberry coffeecake for the gal-pal sewing day! The recipe was a great recommendation from my sister Karen, who is much better at baking than I am. (Vintage napkins from thrift store.)

Finally, please enjoy these great podcasters:

• Tanesha at Crafty Garden Mom


• Sandy at Quilting...For the Rest of Us