Christmas In July QAL!

There is a coolness in the air--that's right it's time for Christmas in July--

Not only is Hallmark Channel bring you Christmas movies in

July, Confessions of a Fabric Addict is giving you a free

sew along--

It could be a Quilt of Valor 

or

how about Christmas colors?

This quilt will measure 68" square

Each step will be revealed for twelve days--the designer

states you can do each step in an hour, if you keep up!

Gather your supplies:

Fabric:  Three different fabrics--Fabric A:  1 3/4 yards; 

Fabric B:  2 1/8 yards; Fabric C:  1 3/8 yards  

I plan to use fabrics from my stash--it might look scrappy.

Happy stitching beginning July 14!

Absolute Slouch..................

Woolly Wormhead, one of my favorite hat designers is

offering another one of her knitted hat patterns

free of charge---have fun knitting a creative hat--

The hat is worked flat and seamed; it includes slipped

stitches and basic increases and decreases.

Visit her website to join her Woolly Wormhead Hat Society--

free of charge as these free patterns are exclusive to members

for a month, before being published on the free pattern page for

all access.

The next newsletter goes out towards the end of the month.

Let's Finish This!

There is a bin of pieces for a quilt--almost

looks like scraps--nope--these are the "parts"

for last November's Quiltville mystery

"On Ringo Lake"--it was free for several

months but not now--so glad I saved all

the monthly instructions/directions.

It looks like a mess--look again--there are some

assembled bocks--this clue is more time consuming,

the reason I put the box away

I was tired of working with all those small parts and pieces

Now, it's a go to a finish!  One small problem--can

you find it?

Blaring mistake once I begin again on this conquest--

the blue block in right hand corner is turned wrong!!

glad I found it!  It wasn't the only mistake either--

This is the finished block--all 50 of them!

I Have ONE!!  continue on....................

Here is my stack of 50 complete blocks--

now to find the next step in my files

to carry on!

Well, OKAY--

When I was making this Texas Flag quilt for our son,

I cut WAY sooooooo many 5" squares!  I had a pile of

reds, whites and blues--and I'm thinking--

what do I do with these?

Idea hit me that a disappearing nine patch would be

perfect way to consume all those extras--so

we begin to sew! and sew! and sew!

Till I had a pile of nine patch of positive and negative

patches--next decision, which way to cut those blocks.

I decided on cut through the middle both ways

and now you have more blocks to deal with--

how to set them??

This one works for me--but I tried several other ways

to place them

We're on the track to create a Quilt of Valor.

Quilting Time

Finally catching up with Fat Cat BOM for Christmas

and Halloween

Of course, a new pattern rolls around with the month--so

I'm not quite caught up!  These blocks are filled with

raw edge applique--which suits me just fine

This is the first block of the series--I opted to sign up

for reminders--only $5 for the year and each month,

there is a reminder in my email with each month 

listed with link--perfect for a slacker such as I

The camera eye sees colors different than your human eyes

When I decided to place the yellow "Y" on this gold

background, I thought it would work; once it's

photographed--not good!  will need to take it off

and replace with another color

Jingle! Jingle!  all the way!  Love her tree!

Hello Halloween--these mice are just so cute!

I don't do much purple-- but this ghost is ohh

so ghostly!! 

Silken Works

For Years, In the back of my mind, I've thought of a silken pillow case--one

that will feel so soft. and smooth.    If I could spin the silk for that pillowcase,

I would be so happy.  Spin the silk, weave the yardage--

what a goal!!

Any idea how much silk it takes to weave a pillowcase?

Me neither!  I know I can do it--I did spin a brick of  bombyx 

for daughter's wedding dress--that was 30 years ago.  I know I can

spin silk again--it's just time consuming; little bit at a time--

I spin!  The bobbins fill slowly.......

This is plied from two bobbins that were spun several

months ago

My make do "lazy kate"--works well--a good way to

ply when on the road......

ahh, silk through the fingers--such a lovely feel and

I keep thinking about that silk pillowcase that my head

will fall on.

Blue Hands!!

I'm anxious to get those Indigo Blue Hands again!  Doesn't matter if I wear gloves--I still
get blue hands!  Enjoy these videos on Japanese Indigo Dyeing!


Why the interest in Indigo dyeing?  Every year our expatcher quilt group shares birthday
fat quarter fabrics with each other on our birthdays.  One of the girls has asked for Indigo
fabric for her selection--here comes the dye pot for her!! And my handspun cotton towels on
the loom--