Alert! Alert! For Today

 Beginning today, May 5 through May 9th, you can enjoy these free patterns from many designers!

 Each Designer is sharing one free downloadable quilt or project pattern during this five day event.

• Fun and Simple Sewing Projects from 20+ Inspirational Quilt Designers
• 11 Quilt Patterns from some of the most creative quilt designers out there.
• 10 Quilty Projects – think bags, baskets, pin cushions, caddies, etc. that are fun and creative. 

Why not sew for your patriotic quilt now?  Here is free Sparky Stars pattern, designed by Melissa Corry

and here is pattern that is so versatile.  Chandelier!!  free from Lella .  Above Photo is from Alycia Quilts

What will you create this summer?

Fair warning!  This sew along begins June 8–

Another fun challenge sponsored by Pat Sloan. 

I’ll be doing red, white , and blue!  

Is It A Tea Towel or A Dish Towel?

 Today as I was doing laundry, I picked up a kitchen towel to fold.  Some I admire as the towels are handwoven; others are tattered and torn but still useful.  Then my brain wondered to ask the question--is a kitchen towel called a 'tea' towel or a 'dish' towel?  Or have you heard towels called “ cup” towels? 

Many moons ago, I did towel exchanges with several other weavers around the country.  Now, when I pick a towel from the kitchen drawer, I give it a look over and think "oh,  this one was woven from such and such" or this one was in an exchange from late 1990's.  The only thing I don't like is the fact, many of the weavers didn't put a name label on their exchange!  What a shame--I don't know who did the work!  I admire it all the same.

These towels have been used for years and not ready for the trash pile yet--all are from exchanges. 

This one has some holes from wear and usage--but still good to go! I could get my needle

and thread to reweave the vacant spots--nope, think I'll let it have the character it has--besides, I'm lazy!

The Very Best Ones are in the bottom drawer--not to be touched until one in the above drawer has absolutely exhausted their life period!!  Bet you have some of those--don't you?

I did give mother and mother-in-law hard time when I would give them a gift of handwoven towel and they put it away, never to be seen again.

Mine can be seen!  if you open the bottom drawer, just be sure you don't pull them out to wipe up a spill!!

Mother-in-law would give gifts of feed sacks that she had hand embroidered--poor cloth is waning away from use--still ready to be useful though.

Okay--now back to tea towel vs. dish towel--"a cloth for drying dishes." Often made of linen, cloth, or a combination of the two, tea towels date back to England in the 18th century, when they were used to insulate tea pots at tea ceremonies (hence the name), dry fine china, and cover baked goods. During this time, people also used tea towels to practice embroidery, often gifting friends and family tea towels stitched with flowers, initials, or other designs. As the times changed, so have tea towels: By the 19th and 20th centuries, most tea towels were reportedly made with striped or checked cloth for a more decorative touch.

The only time that you shouldn't use the names interchangeably is when you're using a towel made of terry cloth. By definition, tea towels are only made of linen or cotton, whereas dish towels can also be made of terry cloth. Both types of towels, however, are roughly the size of a hand towel, ranging from 16″ x 28″ to 18″ x 30″.

And now to a cup towel…

 

CUP TOWEL ..noun..soft fabric, used to dry dishes. Called CUP TOWEL/DISH TOWEL  in the South, especially in TEXAS..  

So, call them what you want--tea or dish or cup!  They serve the same purpose--

I'm going back to admire my handwoven towels and maybe dry some dishes!

Squirrel Moment!!

 Going off on a tangent  This is defined as: to suddenly start talking or thinking about a completely new subject; or to pursue a somewhat related or irrelevant course while neglecting the main subject.

You were going along just fine—doing what you thought was the right thing at the time.  You sit down to cut out a few pieces for a block and then it happens!!! 

Squirrel!!

 And your attention went the opposite direction!  The top of my cutting board is crammed with fabrics from various projects—just cut; don’t put away, lay them on top of each—let’s clear up the table…

 Now, it's time to do that chore,

cleared out the fabrics and found

embroidery hoop that I've been looking for!! and some squares that I cut many moons ago.

Found this bin!  Filled with blues and whites from 2019 or is it 2018–opened it to find twelve, yes-- count them 12 finished blocks! 

I'm investigating how to set these blocks--what a relief to get another thing off my table!

I discovered a bag full of half square triangles--these are portions cut from other squares.

When you sew those squares to make flying geese--I cut those 'dog ears" off and save them--

hate to throw away fabric, no matter how small.

I just need to square them up with my special ruler.  Some of the squares end up 2" 

but anything smaller, I decided to discard. 

Since I had so many 2' half square triangles, I will now make last row of Tuning My Heart pattern.

At first thought, nope! Not doing this row—look how many small half squares needed—nope!  Forget it—don’t need that last row.

When I found that bag of “dog ears”, my thinking changed—these are perfect 2” square, great for this row of baskets! Then!  My thinking went—don’t need those baskets and another row added to the quilt—that means—a finished top!!

Hurrah!!

Maybe! I need more squirrel moments in my life! 

 

This and That

 I was so ready to put these pieces together!  I just knew I had made all the flags needed to assemble...

And I begin--alas, I'm two--just two blocks (flags) short!  how is that possible?  I know I counted and counted--guess I can't count!  Now, I'm working on the two lost blocks so I can finally gather all the flags into one quilt!

There is a good amount of blocks here!  I cut 2.5" or 2.5” squares when I finish cutting and add them to the pile--as an leader/ender project, I sew together these 16 squares into blocks--I have several ideas on the quilts they will make.  Alycia Quilts had some ideas on how to set her blocks.

This is one of the ideas--spool blocks to act as a vase for my EP (English pieced) hexies--

I can't decide on how to arrange the flowers, so took several photos to get some perspective--

the flowers can be nestled with stems

Or they can be free standing 

Here's a cluster--not liking this so much

with stems

clusters without stems

 

On to a break in the week--I attended a quilt show presented by a church sewing group--they worked for two years and their presentation was just perfect for their display of quilts.  The one in front is

friend's Judy--Stars and Scraps Forever.  So many eye catching quilts!

It was such an inspiration morning!  met several expat friends, browsed the vendor section--no, didn't buy anything--although very tempted!

 

Bevy Of Hats!!

Word of the Day:  Hope:  a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; feeling of trust;

I'm not bragging--but I am!  I recently sent off these knitted hats to Linda's Hats For Hope

Initiatives   

I like knitting hats--the above hats were done over a period of 2-3 years.  I just knit and save until I find a worthwhile cause.  This time I found Linda and sent them off to her for distribution.  I'm happy!

She's happy! and the recipient is happy!

If you don't knit, yarn will also be accepted.

Another great cause is Hats for Sailors, which has collected over 8300 hats for 2022!

Our Mission The Hat for Sailors' mission is to provide deployed sailors of the US Navy and the Coast Guard with handmade 100% washable wool hats made by loving volunteers from around the world. These beautiful hats are delivered in time for the December holidays, a bit of warm love and thanks to those who unselfishly take time away from their families to serve our Country.

Knots of Love is another opportunity to donate your knit and crochet items. 

 

It Wasn:t Me!!

Word of the day!  Disclaimer: a statement that denies something, especially responsibility.

 Nope! Not ME!  I didn't do it!  Have you ever used an excuse to deny it wasn't your fault?  Of course, it wasn't your fault!!  I have the perfect card for you to pull when you need an excuse--a disclaimer card!

The other day I was cleaning out my desk nook and cubby holes and found this prize possession!

Years ago at our annual spinners conference, we had several spinners (you kown who you are!) claim they couldn't get their project finished--well, spinner, you had a whole year to accomplish that one task above all others that needed attention.  There were all kinds of excuses--"dog ate my fiber!; didn't hear the subject matter; it went down the toilet" etc. etc. etc.

One of our bright members came up with disclaimer card to use in case of charges made--"it was you"!

We can all relate to "it wasn't me" at some time in our lives!

so here you go--your own disclaimer ticket to pull at any time you see fit--

BUT, you can only use it once a day!  no more than that!  

Just accept responsibility and go with pride you claim even it it’s someone else's mistake!  

Clickety Clack

 Some days!  It’s like this……….

I finished spinning a bump of brown cotton as the wheel sang to me—“Clickety clack”.     It doesn’t always sing—has something to do with which bobbin I’m using—newer bobbins are quiet and peaceful.

It’s slow going with cotton—lots of twist please, the fiber says.  Three bobbins have been plied.  One at bottom right needs the finishing touch of two together.  I’ll use inside and out side thread to ply—I do that most times.  The ball comes out even. 

To satisfy my curiosity I purchased 4 oz of “ dye-able” cotton.  As a fiber, cotton doesn’t take dyes so easily, hence, this product sounded like a winner!  Years ago we bought sliver of silk cotton blend that was dyed beautifully!  And spun beautifully!  That vendor sadly stopped production! I hoped this dye able cotton would work—not a fan though!  Guess I’ll stick to natural color cottons until I can learn the basics of cotton dyeing.

Now, it’s time to tackle this pile of white cotton—and listen to the Clickety clack of my wheel!