Friday, January 25, 2019

Selvage Strip Snack Mat


Some inventive fabric designers have begun using clever motifs instead of printing the color coordination “dots” on the selvage of the fabric.  Instead, they often coordinate the color compatibility choices using motifs that complement the fabric, with things such as butterflies, flowers, leaves, animals, birds, fans, etc.  Then other clever people came up with ideas for using those selvages in innovative ways instead of tossing them into the garbage can.  Pictured below is my current pile of strips on the cutting mat.


Incidentally, there appear to be two spellings of selvedge... or selvage... and each of them is acceptable, not to be confused with salvage, which refers to rescued property. One of my friends surprised me with an adorable pincushion made of selvage strips, and said there is a myriad of ideas on Pinterest for using these selvages in ways we would never imagine! 

A Minnesota quilter on one of my quilting lists said she makes orphan quilt blocks into 12” x 18” place mats, and donates them to a Meals on Wheels program, where they are given to shut-ins when the meals are delivered.  That sparked an idea in my mind.  I love snack mats, or mug rugs, to set my mugs and glasses on that protect my furniture… and thought it would be neat to make them out of the selvage strips. Last night, I treated myself to an evening of “fun” sewing… and stitched up a couple.  They can be made in any size you choose… and I think the strips would be great for making a set of coasters with 5” charm squares as the backing, to give as a gift for someone special. It would be a perfect way to use leftover charm squares, as well as using leftover batting pieces. I love the colorful mats, but perhaps no one would appreciate them as much as another quilter!   

Here’s how I made mine. 
Cut the backing and batting to the desired size. My examples are 10” squares. Lay the batting on the wrong side of the backing.  
See photo on left.
Place one pin on each of the 4 sides to keep the layers in place while you begin sewing strips on the batting, shown above on right.

Begin by placing one strip diagonally across the center of the batting side. Pin it in place on each end to secure the strip. Each strip will have a selvage edge and a cut edge, with a bit of the fabric showing, where it was cut from the width of the fabric.  Choose a second strip and either slide the cut edge under the selvage edge of the strip you have pinned in the center, or place the selvage edge over the cut edge of the strip you have pinned on the center, depending on which side of the center strip you are working on. See photo on left.  Stitch as close to the edge of the selvage as you can, securing the two strips to the batting. Your stitching line will also quilt the layers together.  Be sure to remove the pins when you reach them, so you don’t sew over them. Continue to choose strips and sew them outward from the center until the batting is completely covered, as in photo below on the right.

 Looking at the back side, you will have diagonal rows of quilting covering the backing.  See photo below on left.
 
When you have covered the whole square of batting, put it on your cutting board, backing side up. Using a rotary cutter and ruler that is longer than your snack mat and using your backing as a guide, trim all edges of the selvages even with the backing. Now your mat is ready for binding.
See photo at right.

Binding: Cut strips of the background fabric or coordinating fabric the width of your choice… for the 10” square, one strip of binding fabric cut the width of fabric was enough to go around the mat. If binding is not familiar to you, there are many you-tube videos demonstrating the process. I cut my strip 2” wide. I also do my quilt bindings this way, but use 2-1/2" wide strips for them.

Press the strip in half along the long edge, wrong sides together so your binding is doubled with both raw edges together. Turn one end in to form an arrow point.  Press well… it’s okay to use steam! Then fold it along the center again and press neatly.  See photo below, right.

Beginning a few inches away from the “point” you pressed, line the binding up with the edge of the snack mat, so that the raw edges are all lined up together, and begin sewing.  Start sewing a few inches beyond the “point”, leaving that portion until you finish, as you will tuck the other end of the binding into that arrow point before sewing that last portion. I start at about the middle of one side, and I do not pin when sewing the binding on at this point, just line it up as I go. 




On the corners, bring the binding corner “loop” up so the fold is even with the side you just finished sewing. There are You-tube videos demonstrating that, if you do not know how to sew the corners of the binding.  Then bring the edge of the binding even with the mat edge and sew each side until you come to the last side. See photo at right.

Put the end of the binding into that arrow point, so that it is well covered, and then cut the excess binding off and finish sewing the binding. See photo below, left.  



I sew from the front side, but some prefer to sew it to the back side and topstitch from the front.  After the binding is stitched down, turn the folded edge to the back of the mat and pin or clip it so that the folded edge is just covering the stitching line. 






Then stitch from the front, next to the binding, and it should catch the edge of the binding on the back.  I have some vision problems, so I stitch along the edge of the binding. Using a thread color matching the binding helps to disguise any errors, but I just used the same off-white I used to sew the strips on.  I strive to be neat with my stitching, but at this point in my life, I think close is just fine!  I sew for the joy of sewing, and if my stitching isn’t as pretty as it once was, I accept that… or my frustration would force me to give up one of the things that gives me fulfillment and satisfies my creative needs. There are no quilt police in my neighborhood to pass judgement on me, thank goodness!

Finished snack mat is shown on the right,  The distortion is from my photo angle. Now I am excited to make some small, 5" coaster sized mats.  I might also experiment with some different ways of binding them.  With my diminished eyesight, it's difficult for me to machine sew binding on neatly.  Hand stitching the final seam would make a neater binding, I believe, but it would also be difficult to see well to do the hand hemming, so it is a Catch 22.

I have two baby quilts to get finished for Cairo... then I will be free to work on more of the quilts that are forming in my  mind, beckoning to be translated into fabric.  I also have a huge bin of finished tops to sandwich and quilt. I think I'll need to live a lot more years to get everything finished! 

Happy sewing to you all, where ever you may be! Spring is coming... the squirrels are busily performing their high-wire acts in my back yard, so I am convinced that warmer weather must be on the way.

Knitted Preemie Hat


Baby Cairo arrived about a month earlier than he was expected, and is tiny… so he needs to preserve his body heat.  The photo at right was taken when he was only a few days old... already smiling and happy to be part of his family!

They gave him a sweet little knitted stocking cap at the hospital, and I knitted him another one. He just got it today, and his mama texted me a couple of photos of him wearing it… it fits perfectly! Here’s a photo below, of the completed hat and the very simple pattern I used to knit it.
Preemie Hat:
Supplies needed:

Size 8 double pointed knitting needles (mine are bamboo, 5 needles to a set)
Soft worsted weight yarn (weight 4); I used Bernat; it does not use much yarn.
Yarn needle
Knitting marker

Cast on 40 stitches, not too tightly . Divide among 4 needles, 10 stitches per needle, taking care not to twist stitches.
Place a marker for beginning of round.
Rounds 1-6: Knit 2, Purl 2 around to form ribbing.  Begin stockinette stitch.
*Knit 5 rows around.  Next row: Purl around.  The purl row will create the ridged pattern.
Repeat these 6 rows four times, then knit every row until cap measures about 4-1/2” long.
Begin decreases to form crown; note that sometimes you will need to transfer a stitch to the adjoining needle to make the decreases.
Row 1 (decrease row): *Knit 6, knit 2 together; repeat from * around; 35 stitches.
Row 2: Knit to end of round.
Row 3 (decrease row): *Knit 5, knit 2 together; repeat from * around; 30 stitches.
Row 4: Knit to end of round.
Row 5 (decrease row): *Knit 4, knit 2 together; repeat from * around; 25 stitches.
Row 6: Knit to end of round.
Row 7 (decrease row): *Knit 3, Knit 2 together; repeat from * around; 20 stitches.
Row 8: Knit to end of round.
Row 9 (decrease row): *Knit 2, Knit 2 together; repeat from * around; 15 stitches.
Row 10: Knit to end of round.
Row 11 (decrease row): *Knit 1, Knit 2 together; repeat from * around; 10 stitches.
Row 12: Knit to end of round.
Row 13: *Knit 2 together; repeat from * around; 5 stitches.
Place the remaining stitches on one double pointed needle.
Decrease one stitch, so there are 4 stitches remaining.
Using 2 double pointed needles, knit an I-cord with the remaining 4 stitches.
Row 1: Knit all 4 stitches. Do not turn the work, but slide the stitches to the beginning of the needle.
Row 2: Knit all 4 stitches.  The yarn will be carried from behind the ending stitch to the beginning, forming the I-cord. 
Repeat these 2 rows until I-cord is desired length, about 1” or 2”.
Cut yarn, leaving a tail long enough to thread into a yarn needle.  Draw yarn through all 4 stitches, and secure well.  Pass needle through the “tube” of the I-cord, hiding the yarn tail, if desired.

The cap with the ribbing turned up is pictured at left.




Here's Cairo wearing his new hat, wrapped in the shawl I crocheted for him.  I asked my granddaughter (his mama) if she wanted more hats, and she laughed and said he's growing fast, so I'd better make them a little bigger! 

Babies are truly little miracles... I remember looking at my own babies in awe, amazed at how quickly they grew and changed, day to day. Now, my "babies" range in age from 42 (43 in a few days) to 57. I still can remember how they looked and how I felt when I first cradled them in my arms. No matter how old they get, they are still our cherished babies... and those memories live within us always.

And now... another generation of babies are adding another layer of sweetness to our family. I am proud of my grandchildren, seeing what good parents they are.  My children have done well, raising their children to be loving and patient adults.   Most weekends, my son and daughter bring their grandbabies (and often the babies' mothers) over to bond with each other and with me... it's one of my greatest blessings, to be part of their lives in a tangible way.  It's one more reason I'm happy I moved to be closer to my family.

These little hats take very little yarn and I knit one in just a few hours... although I am not a fast knitter.  The one Cairo received in the hospital is striped, of several yarns. It's a wonderful way to use up yarn left from other projects, and provide a needed ministry, donating them to local hospitals to be given to newborns. If you aren't a knitter, I'm sure crocheted versions would be welcomed, as well.  There are many services that are based on donations like this... Project Linus is one, with quilts and blankets given to children in hospitals. Our church quilting group made quilts for them, as well.  Even as we become less mobile, we can still work on projects like these, and feel useful, with a purpose.  Babies will blossom, wrapped in the love gifts we make!   


Thursday, January 17, 2019

Shell Stitch Baby Shawl


January 17, and winter has come to the heartland! There’s about 8 inches of snow on the deck and picnic table… and the ground.  We were fortunate to escape the snow for this long… last week, the temperatures were in the upper 50’s! It is pretty outside, but I was hoping the warmer weather would last a bit longer.  At least, we often have spring weather in March, so we may not have to view a white landscape for long… certainly not as long as my Minnesota friends and family have to endure the cold and snow.  The temperature is 39 degrees right now, and the forecast predicts temperatures in the 40's the next few days, but we are expecting another snowstorm toward the end of the week!  The "Sprinkle" for baby Cairo has been postponed, due to the predicted snowstorm.  I didn't know they have baby showers for babies after the first... but they are called "Sprinkles" now.  

I’ve been busy crocheting a baby shawl for my new little great-grandson, who was due the beginning of February, but he made his appearance just after midnight Sunday morning, so that means he was born on January 13th. 

He weighed in at 5 pounds 9 ounces, and is 19 inches long. Welcome to our family… and the world, Cairo Donavon Davis!  I just finished his shawl Friday night, and am now working on a couple of baby quilts for him.

Newborn, left photo

One day old, photo on right

Big brother, Arlo, is happy to have his little baby brother, but is quick to let him know that Tricia is HIS grandma, and he isn't very willing to share her at this time. 





Shell Stitch Baby Shawl:
Crochet Hook: J/10
Yarn needle
Baby Sport Yarn, weight class 3, 1 ball  (12.3 oz.)
Finished Measurement: approximately 34  x 36                                                                                   
Pattern difficulty: Easy
Key to abbreviations:   
Chain (ch)
Single crochet (sc)
double crochet (dc)
slip stitch (sl st)
skip (sk)
stitch (st)
space (sp)

Using J hook, chain 122 stitches (multiple of 8 plus 2).
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sk next 2 ch, 5 dc in next ch, sk next 2 ch, sc in next ch, *sk next 2 ch, 5 dc in next ch, sk next 2 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across; turn—Twenty 5-dc shells.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 2 dc in first sc, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc (center dc of 5-dc shell), sk next 2 dc, *5 dc in next sc (5-dc shell), sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc (center dc of 5-dc shell), sk next 2 dc; repeat from * across to last sc, 3 dc in last sc; turn—Nineteen 5-dc shells and one 3-dc half-shell at each end.
Row 3: ch 1, sc in first chain, sk next 2 dc, *5 dc in next sc, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc (center dc of 5-dc shell), sk next 2 dc; repeat from * across, ending with sc in top of last dc in the set of 3 dc shell.
Repeat Rows 2–3 to desired size, or until all yarn is used, ending with a complete row.  I left a bit of yarn to do Round 1 of the border, then switched to ivory yarn to do rows 2 and 3.

Border (shown in photos):
Round 1: work sc evenly spaced around all edges of blanket, working 3 sc in each corner; join with sl st in first sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sc, ch 1, sk 1 sc, working 3 sc in each corner; repeat from * around; join with sl st in first sc.
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, *sc in each sc (2), 3 dc in each ch 1 space; repeat from * around, working 6 dc in center of each corner. Join with sl st in first sc. Using yarn needle, weave in all ends. Block lightly, if desired.







Today is my oldest little sister's birthday, and also was my parents' wedding anniversary.  Happy birthday, Dianne!  Dad lives with her now that our mother is gone, and they take good care of each other.  I hope they are having sunny weather and are able to get out to celebrate!

If the sun isn't shining today where you live, add a few more smiles to brighten your surroundings!  Everything is better when you're smiling.