Working on Embroidery this week!

This week, I have been concentrating on getting Tea Towels embroidered. As you can see in the pictures, I am working on Thanksgiving and Christmas, because I need to increase my inventory for Fall shows and sales.

I really enjoy machine embroidery very much. I have a Bernina 630 Sewing Computer, and it is my dream machine. I can work at it for hours and not notice the passing of time. I think this must be a sign that I'm doing something that I love when I'm doing this!

I use Dunroven House Homespun Tea Towels and Isacord thread. Also, for stabalizer, I always use Floriani products. I find them to be the best for whatever I am working on.

Have a great Sunday! It is supposed to be 80 degrees here!

Barbara

The Layette is finished with a week to spare!!

Finally, the Baby Layette for my nephew and niece and their upcoming arrival is completed! Here is a picture of the baby booties (I have never done THAT before!), the bonnet-- both finished this weekend and a picture of the entire ensemble.

This was a lot of fun to work on and I'd recommend that if you want to make one for someone, give yourself a lot of time, especially if you are new to it, or if you haven't made one in a while!

Have a great Monday!

Barbara

More From the Expo!

Good Morning!

I am having the time of my life here at the Original Worcester Sewing and Quilt Expo. If you have not heard of it before, you can get informarion from the website at http://www.sewingexpo.com/ . It has the best variety of textile and arts exhibits and classes that I have seen. They also have a large variety of booths and all my classes have been informative and helpful, as well as fun!

I am posting pictures this morning of the class that I took yesterday evening, called "Wonders of Weaving with Yarn." The class was taught by Janet Hampson of The Woolpack in Littleton, MA. Take a look at her website at http://www.woolpackyarn.com/ and you'll see why the pictures of our work showcase some of the prettiest and most original yarn to work with.

I was as pleased as I could be with the result of my labors in the class, and I even decided to buy a weaving loom from her, as I have always wanted to learn this and enjoyed it so thoroughly!

Incidentally, while at the Expo, I have taken courses in embroidery, quilting and applique, trendy techniques in embellishments to garments or quilts, a marketing and design copyright class, in addition to the jewelry class that I showed yesterday.

If you haven't considered it before, think about going to the Expo next April. You'll certainly find me there!

For today,

Barbara

Off to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo!

Good Morning!

Yesterday I started classes at the Expo in Worcester. The Expo gives many fine opportunities to take classes, demos or see stage presentations on a wide variety of textile art. I will take classes in embroidery, stabalizer techniques, trendy notions, yard weaving and jewelry making.

Yesterday, one of my classes was the Sparkling Crystal Spiral Twist class, which produced the lovely bracelet in the picture.

This is a method that I have wanted to learn for some time now, and I am thrilled that I can now do this for bracelets and necklaces. Today I am taking Advanced Embroidery Solutions, Trendy Techniques, Marketing and Weaving with Yarn.

It's going to be a great day!

Barbara

Layette Afghan finished!

Good Morning!

Today I am posting a picture of the Baby Afghan that I have just finished for the Layette. As you know if you are following this blog, the jacket is already done and is pictured below in a previous post. Now I can start working on the bonnet. This pattern is of intermediate level for skill, and I have found that, in working on the afghan, I needed to add more stitches to the edge in order to make it lie perfectly flat. That was the only change to the pattern that I have made.

Once the bonnet is done, I will make an attempt at the booties, something I have not tried before!

Have a great day!

Barbara

Thoughts about what we can do with our stitching

Good Morning!

Today I want to talk about what we can do with our stitching beyond making beautiful items for ourselves, our family and friends. In addition to making things for those we directly know and care about, there are many ways to share what we do with those in need.

I wanted to talk about just a few ideas that take our craft and use it to comfort those in need or sickness, to give babies at risk something to keep them warm and to share what we do simply to make the world a bit more of a comfort zone.

One way to use your knitting and crocheting gifts is to join or create a local Prayer Shawl Group. These individuals make a variety of shawls, for both men and women and also make small afghans. These are used in hospitals, homes, hospices; with people we know and are connected to by our places of worship or community centers, or they can also be people we do not know at all. There are many books with lovely ideas and patterns, or you can use any shawl pattern. Christians sometimes use stitches in groups of 3's, to represent the Trinity and the prayers that they offer while making these shawls for the people who use them. Other faith groups may use other symbolism, but at the root of this offering is that people who knit or crochet these items offer their prayers for the health and well-being of those who receive their shawl or afghan.

Above are two pictures of the blessing of items made by the Prayer Shawl Group of The Cathedral of St. John, Providence, RI.

We also make items for babies at Kent County Hospital. One thing that we do is preemie hats. Another is that we make afghans for babies. Here is a sample of afghans that we have made for Blue Denim Ministries, which is a ministry set up to help young at-risk mothers and their new babies by providing them with items for baby until services are in place to provide necessities for the baby and mother. Above are two pictures of some of them, too.

These are only a few ideas. Why not post some of your own special ideas?

Have a great day,

Barbara

Jacket finished because Opening Day for Baseball is a Rain-out!

Hello!

I did find time to finish the jacket and here it is! It was a lot of fun to work on, and now I'm going to get going on the hat. By the way, I made this big enough so that the baby will be able to wear it when the weather cools off a bit, in early Fall (the baby is due in early July, which is pretty hot here in Rhode Island.)

So, onward to the next piece!

Have a great day!!

Barbara

Good Morning!

Well, as you can see, I have begun to work on the Layette Jacket. I changed course and decided to work on a set called, "Pretty In Pink," from the Leisure Arts Littel Books series, "Layettes" for knit and crochet. This is pattern set #2 and includes the jacket, hat, booties and blanket.

I am using Bernat Baby Coordinates White yarn, which has a thread of a satiny white going through it. It is easy to use and I recommend it. This thread makes an otherwise plain white sparkle.

The pattern is pretty easy to follow, although the yolk is a bit of a challenge. As you can see, the next thing I'll be working on is the sleeves.

Enjoy Palm Sunday. For me and my family, this time of year, among other things means sharing a wondeful Rice Pie from a recipe that has been handed down for generations in our family. If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll post it.

I'll try to get some work done in the upcoming week, but with the many services to do at the Cathedral, it may be after Easter when I can sit down to do more work on it, but we'll see.

Have a great day!

BarbaraMS

Good Morning All!

Well, though I haven't given up on the quest for the popcorn crochet pattern for the Baby Layette, I need to get moving, as this gift has to be completed by April 26! So, I have gathered a good many patterns and have decided to make the "Soft and Sweet Layette", #4, in Leisure Arts Little Books, Baby Layettes and Afghans for crochet.

As I go along, I will post pictures, so you can see how it's going. In the meantime, have a great day and wish me luck!

BarbaraMS