Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Stitching Up A Storm


We're between winter storms.  

Heavy wet snow fell yesterday and starting tonight we're getting more snow turning into a snow/sleet mixture over night.  


I machine embroidered a cute Santa Claus and by accident discovered how to add monogram lettering to the design so it all stitches out together.  


I was going to make it into another mug rug but I forgot to add the batting under the design.  

I can always make an appliqué out of it I guess.  

I have an apron that I'm thinking of adding this cute embroidered design too.


This view is from my digital embroidery software program, TruEmbroidery, that runs on my Mac laptop.  

I like this program but I'm still trying to figure out how to use it.  

It has three program modules and is quite powerful.  

There is a neat feature that let's you load a design and then see how the design stitches out.  

Lots to learn here.  

First try…one row for each color.  Flogged it.

On the crochet front I'm working on a baby throw, "Leaping Stripes and Blocks Blanket".   

I loved the first colors I chose but after working up a couple rows I wasn't happy with the feel of the throw. 

The cream and lime colors in Loops & Threads Impeccable Impecable yarn were too thick and made the throw feel too stiff.  

Followed the pattern to start with two rows for each color repeated twice…
Then I'm crocheting four rows of each color.

So I substituted a different cream in Loops & Threads Simply Soft  and, black instead of the lime, in Caron Simply Soft yarn.

Unfortunately, I didn't have any lime in Simply Soft yarn.  

Now the throw isn't as stiff and is softer too.  

This stitch is solid so there are no holes for little fingers to get caught in. 

Leaping Stripes and Blocks Blanket

I had some spasms in my back this morning so I'm taking it easy today.   

I haven't had any spasms for quite awhile...do you think cleaning yesterday had something to do with it!  

LOL!  

Probably.  



Sunday, February 2, 2014

A Winter Sunday

I know we must be the only family in the USA that won't be watching the Super Bowl today.


My Hubby isn't a sports guy at all.

And if I haven't seen some postings on Facebook I wouldn't even know what teams were playing.  

So no Super Bowl Party here.

Rather it's Downton Abbey and Sherlock BBC America TV tonight!  


On the home front I changed out my chalkboard writing from Christmas to Winter theme. 

See how easy it was to make this chalkboard (here). 

It's a warm 53 degrees here today and our snow is slowly melting.  

But, don't worry, 3 to 5 inches of snow is predicted for tomorrow!



I cleaned my stove and oven yesterday.  

I love it when they sparkle. 

Today I cleaned our powder room and tomorrow while Hubby is taking a continuing education course all day I will tackle our master bath and bedroom.

Of course all I really want to do is sew, crochet, watch TV and/or read. 


I have a neighbor, Bunco galpal and friend who is expecting her third child in a few days.  

I found a cute free baby throw pattern called "Leaping Stripes and Blocks Blanket" by Moogly on Pinerest and I think I will try to whip up a quick crocheted baby throw for her.  

The sex of the baby is a secret so I picked some soft neutral pastel colors from my stash in lime, light orangy and white yarns.   

But you will have to wait to see it.  


Speaking of babies...I have to brag.  

Isn't our grandniece, Eva, beautiful?

Friday, January 31, 2014

Sweet Hearts Mug Rug

I finished my two January 2014 Patrick Lose machine embroidery projects.

"Sweet Hearts" Mug Rug Design has stippling too.

The first one, my "Party with Patrick" placemat, "Love Abloom" I blogged about previously (here).  

Bottom of mug rug…I sewed through all layers for this project.

"Love Abloom" turned out so sweet I decided to use the same fabrics to complete my first Patrick Lose Mug Rug Club project.    

Especially since the January "Sweet Hearts" Mug Rug has an appliqué heart design - it matches the "Love Ablooms" placemat perfectly. 

See I make mistakes…bottom fabric edge got folded over
and caught in satin stitching.

Easy fix this time I just cut it out along the satin stitch line.

This happened not once…but twice!

I've been hand sewing my binding hems on the last several project which looks very nice but it's not as quick as machine stitching it down.

Last night I felt lazy.

So lazy I wanted to machine stitch that binding down.  

"Sweet Hearts" Mug Rug for January 2014!

What do you think?  

Is this mug rug cute as a button or what!

I loved all the layers of fabric for the heart.

Matchy, matchy...

Anyways back to my bias binding...I turned over the binding on the mug rug and lightly glued the binding in place and then machine stitched in the ditch on top - first with white thread and then over again with yellow embroidery thread in a triple stitch.
  
Whew….both projects done!

It turned out nice and I'll definitely machine stitch the binding again.   

Practice, practice, practice...!



I've been sewing so much lately that my housework has been neglected.  

My stove and oven need a good cleaning along with our master bedroom and bath so I may have to take a few days off from sewing.  

One of these days I may get maid service again.    



Cleaning is NOT fun like sewing (or crocheting) !