Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Fabric Basket

Hot off the presser foot . . . .is a fabric basket! 

Pattern found here:  Noodlehead fabric basket 

I have been dreaming of trying this pattern for myself but have not been able to find any selfish sewing time with April 15th nipping at my heels.  However, recently a friend contacted me looking for something homemade to give as a girl baby shower gift.  We looked at skirt patterns, dress patterns, and shirt patterns, and finally settled on a fabric basket filled with baby goodies.

I think she is going to love it. . .my friend and her gift recipient.  Fabric: canvas from Joann's,  Amy Butler Passion Vine on the inside and Amy Butler Wood Fern for the outside.  Both are from the Nigella series.

Pattern review - simple, well written, good photo instruction, and a great end result.  Two thumbs up on this one.  I will be making more of these in the future.

Simple coasters

What to do with those left over scraps?  Well, if you can get eight 4 1/2 inch x 4 1/2 inch squares you can throw together some cute matching coasters.

Simple but fun.  Two 4 1/2 inch squares sandwiched with one square of cotton batting.  As I did with the pot holders I quilted five times around each square working from the outside to the inside with my quarter inch guide foot (the first foot I ever bought and used constantly).  The pot holders were quilted a 1/2 inch apart.  And I will do the same with the placemats (coming soon).

I am thinking these will be a great way to use up scraps and will be great for craft fairs.  Tied with some twill and pretty tag.  What a great gift to give or to and gift.  Set of 4 for $8 or 6 for $12.

Brooketrout Designs: Pot holders

Friends are always saying to me "can you make me this or that?  I will pay you!"  

Ok, lets do that!

Alright, now I know its the middle of tax season but what the heck right?  The best stress reliever for me is to have a project or a goal.  Even if I only get a hour or two a week to work on it.  It just keeps me focused on the light at the end of the tunnel.  

I am an accountant . . .I need a checklist.  Its just in my blood.

These pot holders were a request from a friend of mine.   Who like me, LOVES wine.  We always have the best of time hanging together after a long run sitting of my porch with our feet up and a glass of a fine cabernet.  (Note - can't wait for summer, can you tell?)  So when I was shopping for fabric for some kitchen attire for her, I saw this fabric and fell in love with it.  

This pattern is just off the top of my head, 10 x 10 inch squares that are sewn together with cotton batting.  **Note - make sure you use cotton and not polyester.  Heat and polyester do not play well together.  I used two layers of cotton batting so its padded, but not too padded.  I am not a big fan of those granny looking pot holders you see at craft fairs.  I wanted a more modern look.  I also chose to sew a little hook hanger for the corner edge.  

Each one has a 1/2 inch seam all the way around leaving a 1.5 inch opening to turn.  Remember to trim the corners for ease.  After turning, I pressed and then quilted a 1/2 inch all the way around the inside of the square.  Then again, and again for a total of 5 times.  

I love these and the fabric.  I am also making her some coasters and some placemats to match.  I do have a little bit of fabric left over, so I think I will make a set of pot holders for inventory for sale later on.  Interested? - See my Brooketrout Designs tab for more information.

As I finish up the place mats this week. . .I might have to finish with a glass of wine in their honor:)  Cheers!

Irish Polka Dot Infinity Scarf

Happy St Patricks Day!  

I love green!  It's my favorite color.  And I LOVE polka dots.  This looks fabulous with a pair of black pants and a white poor boy turtle neck.  Just the right splash of color.  

Sewing an infinity scarf is also a great way to get your sewing fix in when you are running short on time.  I have been straight out the past few weeks with tax season and the itch to make something really gets to me.  This takes only 1 yard of fabric and can be completed in 1.5 hours (cutting and sewing).  

A Blanket for Dad

I started this project this fall with the high hopes of getting it done for Christmas along with a gazillion other projects.  Unfortunately, I didn't even get it to the cutting board until January.  But it will be well worth the wait.   

I am so excited about how this turned out.  I love the colors!  They are so vibrant.  Now, Packers fan or not (I am so not a sports fan in general), its pretty cool!  

This blanket is super warm since it is a double layer of fleece.   Of course due to my delay, he may not use it until next year since winter is pretty much over in Tennessee.  

Oh well, that is how holidays work in our family.  Brooke just got her Christmas gifts from my parents a few weeks ago.  No pressure:)

Pattern:  free Joann's pattern which consisted of 9 x 9 inch squares.  I bought some Packers fleece when it was on sale this fall at fabric.com and then hit Joann's on black Friday for their super fleece sale.  I have lots of fleece left over and it only cost me $40 for all the fleece to begin with.  A total deal!

The only complaint I have is the hand sewing I had to do at the corner seams where the 8 pieces of fleece came together.  Not even a jeans needle and a walking foot would go through it without skipping and leaving big stitches.  Other than that it was a breeze.  

Would I make another one. . . . maybe??  I think I would have to figure out the corner seam issue first.  It was very time consuming and time is not something I have an abundance of.    

I even got it out in the mail this week!  Should be there on Monday. . .I await the call saying the package arrived.  

Crafting into February

Wow . . .was it me or did January just fly by?  I just can't believe it.  We had our tax kick off yesterday and I counted the days. . .74 left until the end of tax season.  Seems like a lot but when you in the mounting piles of work . .it goes by way way too quickly!  

I have been running a lot these days to release the stress and give myself an hour to clear my head.  Training for CBHM (Covered Bridge Half Marathon) again this year.  I really enjoyed it last year.  Its no terribly hard (well it is still 13.1 miles) but challenging and the course is just beautiful.  Compared to the Maple Leaf Half in Manchester I think the difficulty is lower.  Manchester has some enormous hills and the one in the Maple Leaf feels like it will NEVER end.  I am still planning on running that one again this year too.  That hill has not seen the last of me!  I made it up last year without stopping but it killed my steam on the last leg of the race so this year I am training harder and will practice that hill a few more times before the race.  I will succeed!  

I am shooting for a third this year as well.  My third will be the CHAD half in NH.  I had planned on running it last year but the Maple Leaf took my knee out for a few weeks.  Right during my perfect fall running weather too! grrrrr.    

So with the crazy hours, running, and Brooke . . .hasn't been a whole lot of crafting time.  Just a bit here and there when I can.  I did get to finish one project, start a new one, and I am almost done with a belated Christmas/Birthday gift (oops. . .ya just my Dad. . .he doesn't care).

The completed project - is the Shelter Infinity scarf.  This is a free pattern on Ravelry.  Used three hanks of Malabrigo that I purchased at Green Mountain Fibers in Rutland.  Not a difficult pattern.  It has some cables throughout in a 4 or 5 row repeat.  I did wear it to work during that ridiculous cold spell we had and it did a great job in keeping my neck warm which is half the battle for me in my drafty office.

The newly started knitting project is a pair of socks!  Been a long time since i've knitted socks!  I remember the days when that was all I knit and my friends and I would take trips around the state looking for different sock yarn.  

This is a Plymouth yarn called Diversity (93% acrylic and 7% polyester).  Now I am not a big acrylic fan . . or polyester either . . .just sounds gross . .but I actually like this.  Its stretchy and squishy soft.  I think in the end they will be a nice tight fit without being uncomfortable and will not become all slouchy like some hand knit socks do.  I think they might just hold their own throughout the day.  Time will tell.  

The pattern is completely made up. . .just co 56 stitches evenly and knitted a k2 p2 ribbing for an 1 1/2 inches and then continued with a baby cable every 4th row.  

I am also close to finishing a fleece Packers blanket for my dad.  His Christmas/Birthday gift which is a little late.  Good thing he doesn't mind.  I think it will be worth the wait . . .this puppy is WARM!  9 x 9 inch squares double layered and sewn into strips and then together.  The only thing that was a challenge was the point where 8 layers of fleece come together.  Now I switched to a denim needle on my Bernina and I used my walking foot too.  Still skipped and left big stitches in those spots so I am having to hand sew over those areas.  Ugh. . .was suppose to be quicker than this but oh well.  Its going to look great and will be well worth the extra effort.

And tomorrow Brooke and I are headed to Sesame Street live in Albany.  I don't know who will be more excited . . .me or her.  I know I am going crazy because I want to tell her but I am making myself wait until tomorrow morning.  A test for when I take her to Disney (this is way in the future but I really need practice at this!!!).  Very excited for a mommy-daughter day with lots of photos!