sewtakeahike

Yarn time

 

I started this little crochet project a few weeks ago (pattern by adikeren and available here on etsy) and although it's coming along a little slower than I would like, I'm super excited about how it's turning out.  I can see many more of these little flowers in my future!

It's a perfect little project to work on while I'm sitting watching 'the voice' with L-man.  I guess my yoyo quilt would be good to work on too (totally smiling here), but you know.  I'm needing a little change for a bit.

This weekend is going to be full of working on Sew-Ichigo patterns and taxes for me.  I just can't wait to have our taxes finito.  For those of you in the US, are you done with yours?

Happy, happy Friday to you all!

~Penny

 

hooked and bound

 

You guys, you guys!!!  You have made me feel over the moon excited! from all your comments on my pop bottle curtain post.  I am super excited about it, but I've learned that that doesn't necessarily mean anyone else will be (and that would have been ok too), but seriously?  Over 100 comments about it?  I just want you to know I read each and every one and each one warmed my heart.  Promise. 

For today, I'm going to be sharing a brief how-to bind a crochet square and make it into a hot pad. 

This idea all started a couple months ago when Rachel at Stitched In Color asked me to do a sort of guest post for her and she asked me to do a crochet project.  I've been a crochet-er for over 20 years and have always loved it.  And I love taking a common crochet project and making it a bit different by adding some sewing to it. 

So let me present to you my "hooked and bound" hot pads.

 

To make your very own hooked and bound hot pads, this is what you'll need.

 

• a crochet square, using 100% cotton yarn (your choice on pattern and size.  I used the pumpkin patch pattern here for the brown/creme one and pattern #30 out of 101 Stitches for Afghans for the red/creme one.)
• 2 3/4" strip of cotton fabric, pressed in half, for binding (the length of the strip will be determined by your size of crochet square.)
• cotton backing fabric, cut about 2" bigger than your crochet square
• insulbrite cut about 2" bigger than your crochet square
• cotton batting cut about 2" bigger than your crochet square
• 2"X6" cotton fabric for loop
• walking foot (this is absolutely necessary)

 

Directions:

1.  Layer your backing (right side down), insulbrite (shiny side down), cotton batting, then your crochet square (right side up), and pin.

 

2.  Using a walking foot, "quilt" the sandwich however you like.  I used matching thread so you can't see the quilting so much on the crochet square, but can see it on the backing fabric.

 

3.  Trim the batting, insulbrite and backing so it is flush with the crochet square.  Make sure you don't trim any of the crochet threads.  As you can tell from my pic, a lot of times the crochet square will not have a perfect square corner, but is kind of rounded.  Trim your batting to a square point anyway and use the binding to cover this discrepancy later on.  (I didn't do this on the red/creme hot pad, but curved the corners around the crochet square and it turned out a little wonky, so I don't recommend doing it that way.)

4.  Using the 2X6" loop fabric, fold both the long ends into the center, then fold that in half (this is how double fold binding is made) and use a straight stitch to sew the edges together.  Pin your loop onto the center of one side on the back.

 

5.  Apply your binding by sewing the binding on the back first, fold the binding around to the front, then sew it down to the front.  I use a machine for putting the binding on, but you can sew it down by hand on the front if you are concerned with the stitching looking perfect on the back.

 

 

And there you have it.  I hope you are able to use this tutorial and make your very own hooked and bound hot pads!

Also, please come on over and join my sewtakeahike patterns and tutorials group on flickr, pretty please?  I have no shame and will beg for friends, lol!

One more thing!  Make sure and check back on Tues, Oct 18 when I'll be doing yet another tutorial.  This one will be for the 12 gifts of Christmas blog hop!

 

Happy Friday!

~Penny

 

Shirley's scrubbie

This giveaway is closed.  Please visit my craftsy shop to purchase the pattern!

 

I know I mentioned this in my last blog post, but my Mother in law, Shirley, makes the best scrubbies.  They're always so fluffy and perfect!  So last weekend when we were down in Arizona, I took advantage of the time with her and wrote down her verbal instructions, modified them slightly and came up with this quick and simple pattern, "Shirley's scrubbie".  

 

 

For those of you who have never used one of these types of scrubbies, I just can't say enough about them.  They clean everything.  I mean everything.  Shirley even uses them to clean her car since they don't scratch the surface you're cleaning. 

I use them for dishes, veggies and the shower.  And I can't forget, I make a smaller ring version for my cat, and he loves it!  He plays with it and it makes a killer cat chew toy.  He likes to bite into it (it makes this crunchy sound) before he eats his food.  I know, kind of wierd, but apparently it keeps his teeth clean, he's 4 and has never had to have them cleaned by the vet.

So get thee to your craft store and pick up some netting, take a few crochet lessons if you need to, and click on this photo to order your pattern (or just click here!).  You won't be sorry!

Happy Thursday!

p.s.  The first 5 people that leave a comment on this post and tell me what you are grateful for this morning will get a free copy of the pdf pattern.  Just make sure I have an email address to send it to!

p.p.s.  Just to say thank you to you for always encouraging me, I'm listing the scrubbie pattern on sale for $2 through the weekend :)  

This giveaway is closed.  Please visit my craftsy shop to purchase the pattern! 

Review

 

Hi, my name is Penny, and it's been 3 weeks since my last blog post. 

OH WAIT!, wrong group.  Pardon me!

(tried to look pretty potholders, free pattern here, on ravelry.  Aren't they lovely???  Just a brief word of caution, this pattern is not for beginners.  Although I was able to make them fairly easily, the pattern does leave out a few basic steps.)

Seriously, how are you all?  I've missed you!  The last three weeks have been action packed here!  Here's a brief list of some of the events:

• we drove from Colorado, to Arizona.  From Arizona to Kansas, then back to Colorado.  All in the name of family.  And how do I love them!
• L-man and I celebrated our 15th anniversary by taking some photos at the place of our marriage, The Old Oxford Flour Mill in Oxford, KS.

 

• L-man and I each sat on a bull in the gate on New Years Eve!

 

• my sewing machine went in for repairs and is sewing like a dream

How about you?  What have you been up to, and what are you excited about for the new year?  I can't wait to hear!

~Penny

from a friend and for a friend

 

Remember this post a while back?  My BFF Glynis was inspired by it, and lookie what she made for me!

 

 

Isn't it the most precious thing ever?  I just looooove the flower petals.  They're perfect!  Part of the note inside was that she "dropped her feeddogs" for me.  Cute!

And then, a friend of mine ( hi Arlene!) recently requested a pincushion and sent me a link to the pattern that was speaking to her.  The dahlia!  She wanted colors similar to the original, so here's my take on it:

 

And just because I can, a couple of random shots of other things I've made recently:

 

 

Sending you wishes for a joyful day!

~Penny