A milestone I believe….a year of blogging and 500 likes within the same few days. Amazing the world you reach when you just start typing. I’m grateful for the connections over the last year! I am amazed at who reads my blog; surprised that there are bloggers with thousands of followers who took the time to pop in and comment, and inspired by all the blogs I read. Thank goodness for the READER function on WordPress and for BLOGLOVIN. Both give me a way to keep up.
I got to meet, in person, at IQF – Houston – one of the bloggers who I follow – Maria Shell . She was in the CRAFTSY booth, giving lessons. Her blog today talks about what she was sharing at Houston! http://talesofastitcher.com/2013/12/05/ruler-made-stripes/comment-page-1/#comment-1933
Just the other day, I received a pattern in the mail from Maria. She offered a pattern on her 100th post and I got one!!! What great effort she made sharing a gift with 100 people who commented on her post. The pattern is highlighted here: http://talesofastitcher.com/2013/11/10/artful-oven-mitts/
I was “between projects” and have baskets of scraps, so I thought I would give her pattern a try. I picked up some Insul Bright batting (1 yard) on Monday after my quilt guild meeting; and have “made” some fabric!! The Insul Bright batting was available at MARES BEARS Quilt Shop in Lewes DE by the yard. I bought 1 yard to see how this worked out. I have 4 Artful Oven Mitts in progress! I almost emptied one of my scrap baskets! It was fun putting together the odd bits & pieces to “make” a large piece of fabric.
I have a dozen bolts of decorator fabric that is quite heavy, so used it for the “inside”. I also added an extra layer of cotton batting (from the batting scrap box). My “fabric sandwich” consists of the patchwork pieces I put together – about 20″ x 50″; a layer of Insul Bright, a layerof cotton batting; and a piece of decorator cotton fabric. In the photo above, I have it all layered and pinned together and have started quilting it. (Before this photo, I did one Artful Oven Mitt as a test project). I was able to cut 3 mitts (6 pieces) from this larger 20 x 50 piece that I quilted. (Note to self – wind a few bobbins before starting!) I had so much fun picking scraps from my baskets; making small groups and then squaring and joining with other small groups. It is really wonky and fun. I actually took my ruler and SLASHED through some of the small group pieces that had bigger pieces, so I could “rearrange” in a way that suited me. I wish now I had taken LOTS of pictures. My mitts are nearly complete; just need to stitched the binding down on 3 of them; and will do did that this morning; and then finish this blog post with all 4 MITTS standing tall!
I think thought this afternoon, I might just run back to the quilt store – Serendipity in Dagsboro DE to pick up some more INSUL BRIGHT. I see myself making quite a few of these, and really emptying out the baskets. Changed my mind and “made” some more fabric. Had enough INSUL BRIGHT left to do 1 more MITT. Will be moving out of the pastels to the reds blues and greens next! (My hubby said these ones I made are nice for ladies, but what about the men who cook!) Wishing I had Maria’s long arm to do the quilting, but did have some fun with FREE MOTION quilting. (Again – note to self; put on the quilt gloves when FMQ!) Another yard of batting will get me 4 more mitts…and that is an easy goal for a one day project. I have a few friends to give a Christmas gift to, that I think these will do nicely! My thanks to MARIA SHELL for her pattern and inspiring blog.
Speaking of Long Arms – have you entered APQS Great Longarm Giveaway? http://apqs.com/longarm-giveaway/ I have tried to enter every day (missed a few) since August. Contest ends next week!
On another note; I have a project to begin soon. Anybody doing Bonnie Hunter – Quiltville Mystery Challenge – Celtic Solstice ??
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/celtic-solstice-mystery.html
I have my paint swatches; and some of my fabric in neat little piles all over the place; just waiting on my “TRI-REC” rulers to come in the mail TODAY (hoping for tomorrow)!!! Clue 1 came out last Friday; and Clue 2 came out today! I think I am going to do the “small” version! I won’t start unil later in the month; after Clue 3 comes out. I have a little trip to take next week, and can’t take it with me. I plan to do some starching of fabric before I begin anyway, so even without the rulers, I can get ready. Love to hear if you are participating in the mystery.
Off to sew and take some pictures. Happy stitching.
Oh, these are right down my little narrow alley! I love scrappy projects, and these are really pretty!!
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Thanks; they were so fun to make. I liked “making” the fabric the best! Maria messaged me and has more patterns to give away if you comment on her blog about her mitts.
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ooh! I’ll have to go check it out – thanks!
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The oven mitts look like fun! I keep needing to make some to replace our burnt and dirty ones, but there always seems to be something more fun to work on instead 😀
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Got a message from Maria – go comment on her post about her MITTS and she will send you the pattern!
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Mary-
Your mitts are fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing. Tell your friends that I’m still giving out mitt pattterns.
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I certainly will!! I “made” more fabric yesterday and hope to get to a store this weekend to get the insul-bright! Cleared up LOTS of scraps.
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