Crocheted Rug :: Update and Finished

 My crocheted rug experiment was successful!

This is the entire 8 1/3 yards of fabric I cut up and processed to crochet. It finished at 24" by 30". It's surprisingly cushiony and soft. 

I wanted to see how it would wash up so I washed it and dried it in my machines. It's now even softer, still cushiony and measures 22" by 31". I find it interesting that it shrank in one direction but grew in the other!

I'm already planning my next one, but first I need to order myself a nicer crochet hook. The one I got is fine, but I found it hard on my hand due to it just being a hard piece of plastic. I've found one with a cushioned handle that I think will work better for me.

Crocheted Rug

 I bought a large crochet hook years ago with the idea that I would use it and fabric strips to crochet a rug. You can see it in the photo below at the top right of the photo. Fast forward about 10 years, I found the unopened crochet hook! I decided it was time to give this a try. Instead of using scraps I decided to use a fun batik fabric from my shop. I got two yards, ripped it into 1" strips, made the fabric yarn and started crocheting. Well, two yards doesn't go very far!

Sorry for the foot photo, but I needed something for scale. This is about an 8" by 25" piece of rug. Not nearly big enough! So I bought the rest of this fabric and brought it home. This time I cut it into 1" strips (much less messy than tearing) using my awesome Stripology ruler and got started making it into fabric yarn.

Based on how far 2 yards went, I estimated that I would need 10 yards to make the size rug I wanted. I only had 6 1/3 yards of this fabric left so I'm gonna just see how big I can make this rug with 8 1/3 yards of fabric. This is just going in my bathroom so if I have to use two fabrics to get the size I want that will be just fine.

It took me most of Sunday afternoon to turn the 6 1/3 yards worth of 1" strips into a ball of fabric yarn. I started to crochet with it but ran out of steam. It will get done over the course of the next few evenings of TV watching. It's a fun project and would be a great way to use up scraps. I might have to try that next. I certainly have enough scraps!

San Luis Valley Quilt Guild Challenges

 It's challenge time again for the San Luis Valley Quilt Guild. Every year the guild presents a challenge to it's members in January.

Below are the rules for this year.

Challenge quilt entries are due at the April meeting. In July I get to hang the challenge quilts at the shop for you to enjoy and vote for your favorites. So if you get a chance, stop by the shop this month to view them in person and vote. These will be hanging at the shop for the next few weeks. After that they will be in Del Norte at the Rio Grande Museum for a couple weeks while the SLV Quilt Guild Quilt Show is hanging at the museum. The dates of the show in Del Norte at the Rio Grande Museum are August 1 - 14, 2023.

Please note that these are original works of art. There are no patterns available for you to purchase or order for any of these little quilts. If any of them are for sale, you will need to go to the quilt show at the museum in Del Norte to inquire about purchasing. None of them are for sale right now at the shop.

If you would like to vote but can't stop by the shop you can email me your votes. You can vote for up to 3 favorites. Here are the voting categories:

• Best Representation of this year's theme
• Viewer's Choice
• Most Creative

Taking an idea to the next level

 I've been playing with this idea of scraps and hand stitching for a while. So far I've only made small projects, pin cushions to be precise. Now I'm going to try making a larger project, a pillow for my chair. It will finish at 16" by 16".

Above you can see the layout I have chosen using scraps from my scrap basket. I have everything cut to fit and pinned in place. There is batting underneath the fabrics. When I made the pin cushions I just laid the fabrics loosely where I wanted them, took a picture then removed all but the first piece of fabric. For this I decided to be a bit more organized. I'm doing this in front of the TV in the evenings. I didn't want to have to keep getting up to go to my sewing room and find the next piece. This way I have a plan and know everything fits.

Now I just need to stitch it all down. I decided to use just one color of thread. I picked a nice bluish green variegated thread. This should keep me busy for a few nights!

You can see my previous posts on this idea by clicking here.

New Table Runner Shop Sample

 I just love the Easy Striped Table Runner pattern! It's fast, fun and all four of the layout options sew up so nicely. Here is our latest version using the new Nature's Winter collection from In the Beginning Fabrics.

And here is the back.

These are the fabrics in the collection :: Nature's Winter Fabrics

The beauty of the Easy Striped Table Runner pattern is that it really only uses one fabric, a border print. You do need backing and binding fabric too plus a 60 degree ruler to cut your pieces. And it gives you four layout options.

Animal Cracker Quilt :: A Finish

 I have another finish!

I used the blue version of the monkeys print for the back.

I made up several kits for this quilt if you want to make one too. The Animal Crackers Quilt Kit is $59.99 plus applicable tax and shipping. The kits include all of the fabrics for the top plus the binding fabric and the pattern, with my corrections to it as it includes an error as printed. But my kits included the corrected pattern!

If you click the link to view the kit there are other links in the product description to the exact fabric I used on the back AND a link to all of the Animal Crackers fabrics I have left in stock.

Want to join me for a virtual class?

 I will be offering my first virtual class through my shop later this month. Since the class is virtual (gonna use Zoom), you can participate from anywhere. Here is what we will be making:

This is a Canvas Tote Bag. The class fee is $20 and includes a copy of the pattern plus enough canvas fabric to make one bag.

Here is what the pattern looks like, Canvas Tote.

I've got a few kits cut already but I have more canvas to be able to cut quite a few more kits, if necessary.

When you sign up for the class you can request a specific canvas fabric (everything I have in canvas is shown in the photo, but some of them are already sold out). I'll do my best to send you the canvas you request but I can't make any promises as I only have what I have of each one.

One of several tools I will demo during the class is this new Boxed Bag Template.

It's not a must have item, but it sure is nice to have! You can rotary cut out the corners for the pattern instead of having to draw the corner and cut it out with scissors. It also allows you to cut out darts using a rotary cutter. It has a rounded corner for those bags that call for rounding corners. And it has a handy little grid for cutting zipper tabs. It also comes with a free pattern for a simple zippered bag.

If you'd like to sign up for the class, click the following link: Virtual Canvas Tote Bag Class If you would like me to, I can hold your class kit (the pattern and fabric) until after the class ends. Then you can add to your order if you'd like another fabric kit ($9.99) or if you want any of the tools I demo during the class, like the Boxed Bag Template, and save yourself a little shipping.

Again, the class is $20 (plus shipping if required). The class fee includes the class, the pattern and enough canvas fabric to make one bag. The live class will be Tuesday, June 27, 2023 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Mountain Time. But don't worry if you have to miss some or all of the class because it will be recorded. All students will receive a recording of the class (a few days after the class ends) that you can watch as many times as you need to. This style of class is not a sew along style class. You'll watch the class then actually sew the bag later. So you don't need your machine for the actual class. You'll have the recording that you can watch, rewatch and fast-forward/rewind while you are doing the actual sewing. This is a very beginner level class. Even if you've never made a bag before, you can do this one. I will show you EVERY step.