Still Sewing Red

I’ve often read that other quilters don't do mending – that’s not true in my case.  I’ve recently stitched a few buttons on here, fixed a neckline or two there, mended one of Robin’s polo shirts, and shortened a pair of three quarter pants into a pair of shorts.   It certainly is true, a stitch in time saves nine, and I can feel virtuous at the end of it.

After that mending stint, I did some more red sewing for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  And yes, there is a new project or two.  I’ve long wanted to make some scotty dogs, and decided to use some small pieces of tartan fabrics found in the bottom of the box I received from my neighbour Dorothy.  Just right for scotty dogs, I thought.  The applique  pattern is an old one I’ve had tucked away for years.  And here they are, five red Scotties, edged in black.  I don't have the whole rainbow spectrum in my little pile of tartan,  so will work with what I have.

Five scotty dogs

The other new project added to the list could probably be whipped up in no time at all, but I decided to stitch it month by month as the colours are selected.  Also included in Dorothy’s cartons of “stuff” was a multitude of 5in squares.  I picked out some to make a boy’s donation quilt, starting with this month’s colours of red, and added a border around each square.  It doesn't really matter, I decided, if it was the square or the border which will be in the colour of the month.  As I’m not in a hurry for this quilt, it will be interesting choosing blocks to suit each month from my selection.

Three framed blocks

I’ve been on a bit of a roll with red, and have to say it’s not my favourite colour.  (I often think of red as the colour of violence, probably because of all the serial killer books I read).  The final red thing I stitched was a draw string bag for Foster Hope, the charity I support, using a four patch block from another RSC project.  I had made three red blocks and decided two would be sufficient for the quilt, so recycled the extra one into a bag.  This is now put away with several other bags I made before Christmas, and will get donated when I have a reasonable amount of items to give away.

Drawstring bag

So that’s my stitching for the week.  We are currently making the most of the hot sunny summer weather.  It’s been really pleasant sitting outside after dinner when the heat of the sun has gone, and it is still pleasantly warm.