Just returned from another jaunt to Louisiana. Brother Jim and I spent 3 days and 2 nights enjoying casino slots play and delicious food. This time, we decided to try new restaurants and ended up eating ‘American’ foods, like chicken fried steak and prime rib. We found super bargains on all meals with very generous portions and delicious items. The prime rib was on ‘special’….all you can eat for $20 including big baked potato and salad. I can’t say I’ve tasted better even for 3 times the price. As always, we had a great time throughout the entire trip and are already discussing our next one possibly early in 2014.
As my feet learn to operate correctly on a treadle, I’ve sewn scrap fabric to paper foundations (see previous post). I had no idea how I would use these bold, bright creations but it offered perfect practice for learning a new skill without harming new fabric. My feet feel sassy-smart now! Diva toes?!
I’ve now become somewhat addicted to sewing bits and crumbs of fabric to paper foundations – and hey, the small scraps bin is not so full. I’m even using scrap thread – those spool ends not big enough to make a ‘real’ project. I love clearing out the last of bits and pieces! More room for new stuff!
As I pondered how I would use these foundation paper-pieced strips, I noticed my oven mitts and potholders are in deplorable condition and wouldn’t survive another washing. After checking on the Net, I discovered the required supplies are already in my stash to make new ones. BONUS!
Following a pattern I found on the Net, I sewed the paper-pieced strips together until I had a large enough pallet for making both sides of an oven mitt. I cut ‘ugly’ fabric to back these pallets and sandwiched them with thermal batting already on hand. Not trusting I would be able to successfully free-motion quilt, I marked a grid to follow for machine quilting. I quilted both pieces, traced the oven mitt pattern onto the backing fabric and sewed the front and back together creating the mitt shape. I turned it right side out and bound the bottom edge with binding left from another project. VOILA! A new oven mitt with no ‘real’ investment (except time) and it fits right in with my eclectic kitchen decor!
A similar process was used to make mug rugs but without thermal batting. Cotton batting was enough to make nice little desk ‘quilts’. I made 4 to replace the ugly, always dirty, stained saucer I use under my coffee mug. I’ll certainly enjoy using them.
I still have enough paper-pieced strips to make 3 hot pads/potholders. I’ve already cut the thermal batting and will attempt free-motion quilting later today. Even if they turn out badly, they will still be functional so as I’m attempting to learn new skills, I’m producing useable items. Win/win!
Shirl
