T Shirt Quilts

About eight years ago, I was inspired by a magazine article to try my hand at making a t-shirt quilt. It seemed like the perfect gift for a high school graduate. Since that time, I've made one for every niece and nephew that has graduated high school. That's about seven nieces and nephews. (The oldest nephew did not receive one....but as he is the only one married, let's hope that there will be opportunity for making baby quilts soon....) There are two graduating this year and, next year, the first of mine will graduate. Via word of mouth, I've also had the opportunity to make a quilt for a few friends or relatives. One was for the brother of a boy who died in a tragic accident. The boy was the same age as my son and I felt such sorrow working on that quilt.

Through all these quilts, I've modified the pattern to simplify the design and construction process and to make it the most comfortable for the recipient. It continues to be a fun sewing project and the end result is always different.

This quilt is for a friend who has a daughter graduating this year. She felt she should also have one for her son who graduated a few years ago. She is going to surprise them both with one at the graduation party in July.

Happy Graduation Season!

Dear Knitting Club - 101 Things to Do Now that Club is Over

Now that knitting club has ended for the school year, you don't have to give up knitting. Instead:

1. "Don't knit." As quoted by my lovely daughter Annie.
2. "Keep Knitting!" As quoted by me.
3. Knit something small, like a purse, socks, or hat.
4. Get a jump start on your gift-knitting for Christmas.
5. Knit an Ipod case.
6. Try knitting with cotton. Yes, make another dishcloth, but even a cotton tote bag would be cute.
7. Try a new craft - like crochet.
8. Take a class - learn a new knitting skill at the local yarn or craft store.
9. Try sewing! (Bags, bags, bags....you can never have enough!)
10. Read. Buy a magazine. Check out a book at the library. See the magazines carried by the library. There is inspiration everywhere!
11. Take your knitting to the beach.
12. Keep some knitting in the car for those long vacation rides.
13. It's OK to let a project hibernate. We all get bored with things at times.
14. Try knitting a loose, lacy scarf. Scarves are very in right now. A lightweight scarf would be perfect for spring and summer. (Think thin yarn and bigger needles.)
15. Explore unique yarn shops on all your travels.
16 - 101. Have a fun summer!

Details:

Fabric - Contemporary Cloth's Clearance Fabrics
Pattern - My own
For sale - on my Etsy

Dreadlocks

What does a mom do when her nine year old son asks to grow dreads?

She does research with son. (Check out this web site!) She shows him interesting photos and then lectures him that there is no way he is ever going to be allowed to have hair past his collar in Catholic School.

But, then she realizes, with wool, all things are possible. The night before "Crazy hat and hair day" at school, she grabs 100% wool bought at the thrift shop, cranks out rows of 3-, 4- and 6-stitch stockinette on the knitting machine, throws the strips in the front loader with jeans and a little dawn and creates:

Said mother patiently sews dreads in hat...finishes up about 11:30 PM. Son is thrilled that he finally has dreadlocks.

When son gets off the bus, the dreads are braided. Our research included the incomparable knitting website knitspot. Even if you are not a knitter, you should check out this site, one of my daily reads. Anne Hanson is a fantastic designer who shares not only her creations but her creative process. Her lace creations are extraordinary. Well, her husband has some fantastic dreads which were the inspiration for my son's.

College Road Trip Knitting

Two days, three colleges, three marketing sessions, campus tours, department meetings, bored kids, tired parents,....

TGFK!

Vintage Fabric Tote Bag

Do you have some fabulous fabric that is just sitting on a shelf? Do you have a soft spot for vintage fabrics? (Check out ours, here.) Do you have an hour? Then put that fav fabric to good and practical use by making this cute Vintage Fabric Tote Bag. The pattern is from the Better Homes & Garden website, but any tote pattern would be fine.

Inspired by the many interesting vintage fabrics at Contemporary Cloth, I selected this whimsical fabric and a coordinating print for the inside of the bag.

A simple half yard of each fabric is all that is needed. Two rectangles are cut and sewn around three sides. Press under 1/2" at the top. This is repeated for the lining.

The long edges on the strips are pressed in and then folded together to form the handles.


The strips are edge-stitched.

The bag pieces are placed with wrong sides together and the handles are pinned in between the layers. Top stitch to sew the lining to the bag and encase the handles.

The result? A quick-to-make tote that is functional and cute!

On Being Vintage

When I was exploring the idea of opening an Etsy shop, a place to sell handmade items, I learned that you could also sell vintage items (like vintage fabrics). In order to be considered vintage, the items had to be at least 20 years old. Today, my marriage is vintage.

I'm not going to post photos of that day - my husband does not want his picture all over the internet - and I don't want the reminder that I was thinner then.... Yes, it was a big, beautiful wedding. Even though we were 26 and 27, we seemed so young. We have been blessed with a beautiful family, 20 years in the same (but expanded) home, and the wisdom to appreciate that marriage is not always easy. These 20 years have felt like the blink of an eye.

Inspired by my dear friend Sarah's excellent blog and her posts on vintage parenting, I hope to write periodically about vintage style.

During the past few years my friends have experienced the loss of a parent. Last summer I lost my own father. How we miss them and all their wisdom. I know that they live on in us in so many ways. There is a new book by Alicia Paulsen called "Stitched in Time" in which she presents projects that help preserve memories by sewing practical items that we use every day. This reminded me that I had such an item....and that item is now "vintage."

Many essays could be written about the "old days" at St. Jerome's School and Parish. Growing up there was unique in that you could go outside at any time of day and there would be kids to play with. You ran out the moment you got home from school and didn't come back until your dad was whistling for you. Everyone in the neighborhood new you so if you got in trouble you could be sure your parents would know about it.

Two of my friends from the "old days" are twin sisters. They lost their dear mother Josephine Constantino last year. Mrs. C. was a fabulous seamstress. She could sew anything. A good cook, too, who converted her Italian husband to Slovenian! I still remember the bridesmaid's dresses she sewed for Melissa's wedding. They were in a beautiful pastel rainbow pallette - simple, but elegant. I thought she could sew just about anything, but Melissa tells me that she did not have the confidence to sew the wedding dress.

Well, what does Mrs. C. have to do with my 20th wedding anniversary?

This apron is now vintage. It was sewn by the loving hands of Mrs. Constantino, given to me by her daughters at my personal shower. This apron serves a purpose. If I'm cooking tacos or spaghetti, it will be worn all the way through dinner. You can see that it's quite well worn. But what foresight Mrs. C. had. She selected a nice dark color that won't show all the spatters and even was ahead of her time in the selection of the now trendy colors of turquoise and brown!

Her thoughtfulness even extended to my (at the time) future husband.

Notice how the color has not faded on his apron? Let's just say it has not been used as frequently as mine. Now, in all fairness to my husband, in the years before children, he would often cook dinner. When I stayed home raising the kids, dinner was usually my responsibility. Yes, many of our chores now fall along stereotypical lines. However, I must add that my husband has done, at one time or another, every one of my chores (including cleaning bathrooms and floors while I was pregnant) but I have yet to cut the grass!

For me, a crafter, memories live on in the things we create. That apron holds a part of Mrs. C. that I will cherish forever. Just as I cherish the 20 years of marriage with Mike. Happy Anniversary!

Bandana

Take two to three feet of fun fabric

Fold down corner to form a triangle and cut (makes a square )

Read serger manual to set up for a 3-thread rolled hem

Sew bandana and enjoy!