using scraps

Enough!

by Chela's Colchas y Mas

As of today, I am done with anything ending with -inchie. I had two piles of scraps on my table this morning. One was a pile of the tiniest left overs from the Inchies and Twinchies I made. The other pile was the remnants from cutting the straps on the fabric strip bag project. I read that a Rinchie is a one inch circle, so they can fit into bottle caps or pendants. I chose to make mine two inches. After finishing these Rinchies, I unceremoniously threw away the scraps that were left.

It was fun, but now…enough with the inchies.

Handy Sewing Pouch

by Chela's Colchas y Mas

One of my goals for 2019 is to learn more and improve my embroidery stitching skills. For my 365 day project, I chose to make a Button and Stitches project, an idea from Ashley Hackshaw.  I have all of my thread, needles, beads, etc. that I use for small projects in a jewelry box that was gifted to me by my youngest son MANY years ago. The plastic box is like a tool box that has a top shelf as you open the lid. This works out great for my at home projects. But, I am on the road a bit at the moment, so I decided to make a traveling fabric book/pouch for my hand sewing notions. My friend, Francine, at Las Colchas, showed me one that she had made and I really liked the idea. I decided to use scraps and stitch the cover out of pieces, just like Francine did. The inside of the book was personalized to suit what I needed to take along with me and have on hand.
Have Sewing Pouch
Will Travel

 

Small Quilt Blocks

by Chela's Colchas y Mas

In between working on some family projects, I have been making small quilt blocks. It is my attempt at some sort of textile art. As mentioned before, I tend to save every scrap of fabric. My sister, Emma, asked if I could send her some of my fabric remnants. She received them today. I am looking forward to seeing what she creates with them.
I chose to make 5.5″ blocks. I begin with a muslin square and then just layer fabric. I do not spend time looking through fabric, since I want it to be quick and random. I just pull out and sometimes just dump them on the muslin. I start sorting and pitching as I try to make a scene with the scraps. Machine stitching is used to hold the fabric. Then, I add hand stitching to add texture.

This was the first one I made.

I made this one today. I used thread scraps to make the bird nest.

Pumpkin Mug Rugs

by Chela's Colchas y Mas

What did one pumpkin say to another pumpkin?
“I’ll love you until the end of vine.”
happyface

I love all things pumpkin!
Even corny jokes!

My nephew is a great baker, and he keeps posting these great pumpkin recipes.
I will have to bribe him to bake me something delicious!

In the meantime, I used up most of the remaining orange scraps by making pumpkin mug rugs.
I decided to make them wonky, just for fun.
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Piece scraps

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Wonky cut

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Back both front and back pieces with fusible batting.
Sew Right sides together.
Cut edges of all four corners.
Leave a few inches at the bottom to pull right side through.
Top stitch all four sides.
Quilt.

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If We Feel it, Fall Will Come!

by Chela's Colchas y Mas

According to the Weather Channel, it is 88 degrees,but feels like 90 degrees…
…at 7:26 PM.
I am determined to bring fall on, so I snacked on some pumpkin empanadas.
Then, I pulled out the fall fabric scraps that I had left over from the pumpkin place mats I recently made.
The end result is a set of four pumpkin mug rugs.

I have been practicing stippling.
I am finding it easier to do, however, I must have something wrong in the settings for stitching.
The stippling comes out great in front, but the back stitches have knots.
Tomorrow is Craft Day with my group of  three crazy friends, so I will consult with them.
I will be passing Jo Ann’s on the way home, so I will consult with the people there if my friends can’t help me figure this out.

In the meantime, I will continue to just stitch in the ditch.
The ditch stitch suits the mug rugs, although stippling would make them look cuter.

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Cut 3.5 inch squares and make a 4 patch
Cut the backing to fit the 4 patch

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Iron fusible batting to the back of the 4 patch and the backing.
This extra batting will provide more heat resistance and make the mug rug usable as a hot pad.

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Cut two fabric pieces for the stem and place right sides together with batting on the bottom.
Sew three sides.
I had a small piece of green fabric and some brown fabric for the stem.

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Sew the raw edge of the stem to the top of the 4 patch.

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Cut the corners on all four sides.

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Sew 1/4 inch on all four sides.
Leave an opening at the bottom.
Trim all 4 sides to 1/8 inch.

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Pull the front through the bottom opening.
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Top stitch and quilt as desired.

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