Random thoughts of a fiber enthusiast - mostly fiber related, sometimes coherent

Category: Sew Page 4 of 9

Napkins

NapkinsWhile the sewing machine was out, I decided to sew up some double sided napkins.

I had already cut these out and intended to use a rolled hem on them like I did with the handkerchiefs, but they languished in the work pile and gave me dirty looks periodically.

Actually, I started out trying the hemming foot on my sewing machine. I did finally the swing of how to use the darn thing but I couldn’t make clean corners. The starts were always ugly and there wasn’t anywhere for me to hide it.

In any case, I now have a set of 5 napkins in assorted Japanese inspired cotton fabric. Perhaps I can now recycle some of my decades old store bought, and very stained, napkins.

More Mitered Blankets

There’s another baby shower coming up at work. Last time, I was caught flat footed and ended up putting in cash as a solution.

This time, I decided to whip up a quick and easy baby blanket. I had planned to just slap 2 pieces of fabric together and stitch around. But thankfully, Denise, tipped me off to the self binding receiving blanket instructions from Sew Much Ado. It is a quick, easy, and fun project that looked a whole lot more polished!

MiterDetail

And in case you are a visual person, here’s a YouTube video for the same project.

It wasn’t quite the 30 minute project, nor even 60 minutes. It’s possible that I obsessed a bit more than necessary about cutting the squares, measuring and trimming thrice. But while I was at it, I made a spare, just in case. And of course I chose the one imperfect miter for the photo shoot. I didn’t notice it until just now.

BlanketStack

I used quilting cotton for the top (center piece) and a heavy cotton flannel for the backing (and binding). I finished off the blanket with one of the fancy stitches (baseball stitch) on my sewing machine by stitching into the ditch. (Click on the top image for details of the stitch.)

GiftEnvelope

I made an envelope for one of the blankets with the scraps. This will be in lieu of gift wrapping. I hate single use gift wrap paper that ends up in the landfill. The new parents can either use this as a carry case or use it for something else.

Repurposed

I normally leave the refashioning posts to my sister, but I did a little repurposing* of my own this weekend.

CottonBlanket

My favorite 10 year old cheapo Ikea duvet cover had become threadbare and sprouted holes. I love the block prints and I wasn’t ready to dump it.

Last spring, Joann’s was having a sale on cotton quilt batting. I decided to turn the duvet into a cotton blanket.

This project has been sitting in my project basket since spring and I finally got around to it this weekend. I played around with my Bernina’s decorative stitches to break up the lines of straight stitches. A few strategically placed scrap linen from another project covered up the major holes. Not the best sewing machine quilting job I’ve ever done, but it serves its purpose. I get to keep my favorite bed textile around for a while longer.

Last week’s highs of 90F has now turned to night time lows of mid 40s. I think I missed the window where this blanket will be usable.

This has turned out so well that I’m looking at wool batting for the next duvet cover turned blanket project to carry me through fall. But given my track record, I’ll finish in time for the next 90F spell.

* Does this really qualify as a repurposing project? It’s original purpose was a blanket/comforter cover. I just turned it into a permanent blanket. It’s basic function hasn’t changed.

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