Project Bags

It was time to make some more project bags to corral my UFOs.  As much as I admire the bags often seen in blogland made with a zipped clear plastic front, these bags look a little too difficult for me to make.  My bags are simple draw string bags, made with netting, and finished with patchwork fabric and cord.  Much easier to achieve, and work just as well to house my projects.  After all, who wants to store their precious sewing in plastic bags?  Not me.

I used up some more of the seemingly never ending supply of four patches on the base of one bag, in reds and purples.  And for the first time I added pretty blocks to the front of two others, I don’t usually bother with this step.  But I found two pretty pieces amongst the boxes of fabrics I received from my next door neighbour when she went into care, so there they are, put to a good use and out of my stash.  Although rather stiff to sew, the netting softens with use.  And for those of us over a certain age, who can remember wearing net petticoats under our full skirted rock’n’roll dresses?

Still Knitting Socks

My sock knitting is coming along well.  I’m half way through a second pair of burgundy socks, having now done those tricky heels.  I need to sit quietly with my pattern and mark off each row when I do the heels – its a good idea to sit outside on the patio by myself while I’m concentrating, I find.  The first pair was finished a while ago and didn't get the side seams sewn up while I was busy knitting those three pair of secret socks for Christmas.  I’m doing one pair for myself and the other pair to gift.  I love the colours in this wool, they will be nice and cozy for winter.

Burgundy socks

Another pair of socks finished earlier and only just sewn up is this pair of Franken-socks – made from left over yarn from my earlier sock making efforts.  The grey was left over from a pair of mine, the shaded purply-blue on the tops was from my granddaughter Emma’s Christmas socks, and the navy stripes and toes in the feet was left over from my daughter’s Christmas socks.  The three yarns all came together nicely to  make another nice warm pair to tuck away in my sock drawer.

Franken-socks

My grand-daughters were thrilled with their Christmas socks and commented that they were the first pair of hand knitted socks they ever had.  Since they appreciated them so much I decided I would knit them another pair each.  Last time we visited them we spent a little time together on the wool website and they chose their own yarn for their new socks.  Emma chose “Flower Garden” and Megan’s choice was “Lilac Scent”.  When I complete my current socks I’ll start on these two, no hurry as they will get them later in the year, birthdays or maybe Christmas.

More socks to come

Yellow Four Patches

Today I've been concentrating on yellow four patches for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge sewing.  This project has been carried over from last year, when I discovered a bag of four patch units I had stitched up for another project, whatever that was.  And I had an awful lot yellow ones to play with this month.  So I stitched some into the blocks at the top, not sure of the name, but I know  I saw the idea on RSC some time ago.  Then two more four patch blocks were framed, so that’s two projects I’m working on with these four patch blocks.  

Four patch blocks in yellow

But I still had some left over.  So I stitched four together to make the front of a little draw string donation bag for Foster Hope.

Little bag

I must admit I’m just about over all these four patches now.  But I’ll still need to stitch a few more blocks for both projects to have enough for two quilts for donation.  As for Gemma, she couldn’t care less.  She just snoozes the day away, but makes sure she is up and about at dinner time.  Here she is curled up on the base of her scratching post, with her colourful “Snakey” toy on the carpet behind her.

Gemma is happy and content

This and that

I’m making the most of these lovely warm 25deg temperatures and spending some time outside on the patio under the Archgola.  Mornings and late afternoons are best, as the sun comes beating down in the middle of the day.  I like to take knitting or stitching outside and enjoy the pleasant warmth.  It’s so nice and warm I’ve even got my shorts on, that’s how nice it is!

A little knitting in the morning

With all the terrible happenings in Ukraine lately I’ve noticed some blue and yellow, the colour of Ukraine’s flag,  patchwork blocks appearing on blogland.  I remembered I had something started in blue and yellow too from some time ago, so went on a hunt through a crate or two.  Yes, I found some nine patch blocks,  plus some pretty pastel pink and blue ones too.  I’ll leave these out to ponder, and think what I should make.  Another find was a pussy cat cot quilt, all pinned up and ready to quilt.  I did wonder where that had got to, so now it’s been found, that’s another job to do.

Look what I found tucked away

I really want to finish quilting my boat quilt, but had put it away while we were on our various caravan travels.  It’s now been resurrected, and I’m slowly machine quilting the borders, can only do a little at a time as it pulls on my back if I sit at the machine too long.

Working on this one again

I had to wait a wee while today till I could start writing this blog.  Why?  Because Gemma was so comfy snoozing on the seat by the lap top that I didn’t have the heart to disturb her!

So comfy

Place Mats finished

I’m pleased to say that my set of placemats for the caravan are now finished.  The stitchery portion had been completed a while ago.   After machine quilting, the final job was to hand stitch the binding down.  I always enjoy this last part, and stitched away sitting outside on the patio in the warm Autumn sunshine.  These place mats will be used on our table during our next caravan trip away.

Place mats all done

This great outdoorsy design is from Stitcher’s Revolution Camping Adventures, and I thought it was just right to use in the caravan.   Now I’m deciding which transfer to use on an apron for the caravan, there are several to choose from.

Teal Bags and Yellow Butterflies

I finished the last of my February teal/aqua Rainbow Scrap Challenge sewing before we went away last week, but didn’t have time to  blog about it.  So here they are  – two teal drawstring bags for donation to Foster Hope children.  I’ll add these to the others I had made prior to Christmas, so will need to make a drop off shortly.

Two more bags for Foster Hope

Angela from RSC chose the colours yellow/gold for March, so I was all ready to get stitching, starting with my butterfly fabrics.  First up were some little four patch/cross blocks using my multi-coloured butterflies on white background fabric.  And yes, there were some butterflies with touches of yellow in these fabrics.

Two yellow blocks

Made so far

I’m also stitching “Puss in the Corner”, nice simple blocks, and found four yellow/gold pieces in the big bag of butterfly fabric I was gifted.

Butterflies galore

I’ve several other RSC projects on the go, and hopefully will start on more blocks next week.

Home Again

We are home again after our recent trip to Hawkes Bay to attend my sister’s Kathleen’s Memorial Service.  Here are a few highlights of our time away.  What could be better than fish and chips for our evening meal the day we arrived?  The Filter Room was close by and consists of a cidery, restaurant, and also does take away fish and chips.  Just what we wanted.  We may have to go back next time and do a cider tasting, I think.  As we were waiting for our order to be cooked, Robin sat in front of a wall covered with cans.  Just look at them all, he’s saying.

That’s a lot of cans!

On Monday we retraced our route back south, going up and over the Saddle Road again, but instead of going straight back home decided to stop at a new-to-us Pop (Park over Property) in Palmerston North.  The owners  has about 12 acres and runs a few sheep on his property, as well as having several beehives.  He made a point to ask us if we were allergic to bee stings, just in case.  The weather was lovely and warm and I sat outside for an hour or so in the late afternoon, working away on my stitchery.  From here, it was only an hour’s drive back home.

Staying overnight on a small farm

Gemma was rather excited to be outside, there must have been so many marvelous smells around the sheep pens close to where we were parked.  She sniffed everywhere, she climbed up high, she climbed through the fence, no doubt wishing those mean owners of hers would take that dratted lead off her harness so that she could go wherever she wanted.  Not a chance, Gemma.  Just as well there were no sheep in the pen, that might have been a bit much for her to take, but she certainly enjoyed the odours left behind.  I’m sure she thinks she could be a country cat if we lived here.

So many interesting smells out here!

When she was inside the caravan Gemma helped me with blogging duties, as she often does.  She is very good at holding the lap top bag down so it doesn't escape.

She’s a big help when I’m blogging

And, I’ve got a finish to show you.  To be honest, these were stitched before we went away, but I never got around to blogging about them.  I had cut out several more masks, and then we were told that the preferred masks to use were the N95 type.  If we wanted to make and wear cloth masks, they should have three layers.  My two layer masks were pinned up ready to stitch, so I had to quickly cut an extra inside layer for them.  Here they are, all done.

New masks to wear when out and about