Wyoming Breezes

hot pads and coaster Last week, Mary H. showed the sewing group her technique in making coasters and bowls using clothesline and fabric strips. I have several of Mary's coasters and have admired the bowls she's made and was thrilled when I heard the September program was learning the technique. I made the light blue table pad the day of the class, and the large hot pad (9 x 13") and a mug coaster (5") when I got home. I haven't tried making a bowl yet, but I will soon. Thank you Mary for a fun class. The coaster technique is explained here  and the bowl technique is explained here .

Hanging Kitchen Towel December 2016 Mary asked that the items for the Sewing Group gift exchange be sewn this year. I considered many projects, but decided to make the hanging kitchen towel. The yellow bandana fabric is a Martha Stewart kitchen towel, and because it was quite long, I cut off about four inches. I found the idea and tutorial  here . The pattern for the top must be created, but she does give the dimensions. Note: I used interfacing for the whole top section and not just where the slit is cut, as I wanted more stability for the edge. I included another item in the gift box, and will share it in another post.

Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to try something new with the Lander Sewing Group. We met at the Lander Art Center to play with color, using InkTense pencils and color blocks . Marty B. gives the group some background on the technique Sheri H. uses a color block on one of the leaves she outlined from a stencil.  We used the InkTense color blocks and colored pencils to draw and fill in the shapes. After the color was added, then water was brushed over the color to set it into the fabric. Katheryn E. adds water to her drawing.  Once the water was brushed on the surface, the fabric was ironed. After that, finer details could be added to the fabric, or shading could be done. Sheri H. adds more detail to her drawing  This woman's free-hand drawing was amazing! my first piece of InkTense drawing and coloring At first I was intimidated with the blank fabric but finally drew some free-hand leaves. The leaves were drawn with an ink pencil and then I...

machine-quilting on table mat September 2016 My  hexagon (hex) project is finished, compete with machine-quilting. I have to admit that the process was fun, but somewhat awkward for my large hands, and my hand-stitching is far from perfect and invisible. I learned something new, and I'm pleased with the result. mat before trimming finished mat different lighting and background to show the quilting Thanks, Ingrid for the instruction and the templates!  You encouraged me to try something new.

English Paper-Piecing September 2016 The last couple of years, hexagons or hexies have created quite a buzz on the internet, and every time I saw a hexie blog post, I'd shake my head and mutter to myself, "I'd never spend my time sewing hexies." Ahem, last week I had to eat those words. The program at the monthly sewing group meeting was English paper-piecing, aka hexies. I selected fabric, took it to the meeting, and went to work after Ingrid explained the procedure. Ingrid showed the group the king-size quilt top she made completely by hand. She hopes to hand-quilt the top as well.   When I got home, I worked on my hexies and had to admit that although it was tedious (I haven't done hand-stitching for years), it was enjoyable. I decided to make a table mat. After I had basted the fabric on the paper templates, the first section went together fairly quickly. A third round was added, and the paper templates were removed from the hexagons...

Connected Flags Quilt of Valor 58 x 75 inches The Lander Sew Sistas adopted Quilt of Valor as an April project again this year: in 2015, they contributed to both  Paintbox and Firecrackers . Because of physical therapy, I was unable to attend the work day, but the group came through with several pieced flags, and Mary H. made some more at home for an even dozen. Thank you, Sew Sistas and Mary for making Connected Flags  ( QOV # 94 ) possible. The pieced flags were 6.5 inches unfinished and needed a pattern that would make them "pop" a bit. When I saw the pattern (link below) on Pinterest, I knew it would be perfect to showcase the flags the Sistas and Mary had made. Pattern :   Connected Stars by Marjorie Busby                written for an Accuquilt Go! but can also be rotary cut Connected Flags was awarded on February 28, 2017. Article about the presentation can be found on County 10 . The gentleman who rece...

Last week was the monthly meeting of the Lander Sew Sistas, and we made scarves from various fabrics. Sheri purchased two fabrics at the local Walmart for our scarves, and I decided to use both fabrics. Sheri and I made mobius scarves (one twist is added when sewing the ends), but some of the other ladies made infinity scarves, which is one loop with no twist) I decided to make some additional scarves for myself and my sisters, so I went to Walmart and searched their fabric department for appropriate fabric. (This area does not have a fabric store, so Walmart and one quilt shop are the only options to purchase fabric for 100+ miles.) The selection of "scarf" fabric was very limited, but I found some that worked. The "jelly bean" fabric was found in the remnant bin. The teal/turquoise and white & black "netting" paired with solid jersey. Leopard-heart fabric was a bit stiff but was soften by the solid black jersey. The scarves made with t...

Scissor cases on display October 2015 Last week, the sewing group that meets at the Lander Library made cases for storing scissors. The cases are made from two 8.5 x 11 inch pieces of coordinating fabric and a piece of fusible interfacing. Each case holds three pair of scissors, two on one side and one on the other. It was a fairly quick and fun project. My case is the fourth from the right, the purple fabric with yarn balls. I didn't follow the directions very well, so mine has a curved pocket on the inside. The tutorial for the cases can be found here .

Firecrackers Quilt of Valor 60 x 73 inches Firecrackers  (QOV #66) was created with the help of my QOV elves  in the Lander Sew Sistas. Thank you Mary H., Nancy L., and Brenda H. for your help. Oops Can you spot the problem in this photo? I had to rip and resew a section. 

Paintbox Quilt of Valor 60 x 68 inches Paintbox was partially created by some Quilt of Valor elves, members of the Lander Sew Sistas ( see this earlier post ) and named for the paintboxes we all had as kids. source Pattern: Disappearing Nine-Patch  - free online pattern and tutorial This is Quilt of Valor #65 - a list of completed QOV can be see here .

Tissue fragments placed on silk scarf and ready to be spritzed with vinegar water. Did you know that silk can be dyed with tissue paper? I didn't, but it can easily be done. Last week, I joined the Lander Sew Sistas at the library for the fun activity. JoAnne brought the materials, and everyone else brought spray bottles, plastic bags, paper plates, vinegar, a take home container, and a creative nature. Tissue paper shapes prepared and place on the silk scarf. JoAnne explained the different techniques that could be used and distributed the supplies to the eager group. Some ladies planned and precisely placed the snippets of tissue paper; others haphazardly arranged the bits of color on the blank 6 x 24 inch silk scarves. Jeni V. and Mary H. placing the tissue on their silk scarves I was in the haphazard group. I added more bits of color to one scarf and less to another, as I wanted to see the difference. Nancy sprays the crumpled scarf in the take home cont...

Oilcloth Humbug bags I was recently invited to sew with a group that meets at the Lander library each month, so last week, I loaded my sewing machine and supplies and drove to Lander. The project for September was Humbug bags . The bag was inspired by an English sweet, called a humbug . I'd seen the bags before, but had never made one. I completed a small bag from the supplies I took to the sew-in as well as bought some kits for larger bags from Mary, the group's coordinator. Some of the bags were made as gifts, and the ones pictured above are my gifts to four lucky readers. The bags are approximately 12 inches long and are constructed with oilcloth. They are a good size for knitting or other crafts as well as a ditty bag for travel. If you want to be included in the drawing for a bag, tell me in your comment which one appeals to you. The winners will be posted on Monday, September 22, 2014, so you have until noon on Sunday to enter the drawing.