Calling All Houston Area Charity Sewers

I mentioned previously that a local woman has initiated a project to provide the needy in Houston with Cool Ties this summer. I've already made about 40 of these, without the filling, and this pattern is a very quick sew. The pattern is here and if you would like to make these on your own, the tests I have done show that two teaspoons of the water absorbing crystals available from Lowes make a nicely filled tie. After you soak the Cool Tie, put it in a zip lock bag and put it in fridge. It will always be ready for your use when you next mow the grass or weed the garden.

Now to business....

The Elmgrove Comminty Room in Kingwood is available this Saturday, July 18, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM for sewing these ties. You don't even need to bring fabric, just a sewing machine or a serger with your usual supplies. Snacks are always welcome.

The Elmgrove Community room is in Kingwood. If you are traveling here, go North on Highway 59 and exit at North Park Dr. just after the exit for Kingwood Drive. Going right/east on North Park, continue to the lights at Bookdale. Turn left/north onto Brookdale and take the first left onto Sycamore Springs. At the first stop sign take another left onto Clear Ridge and enter the first parking lot on your right at the community pool or park on the street. The Community Room is on the right.

This is a city wide project. You don't need to be a member of any sewing/crafting group. Just come out and meet like-minded people for a few hours of sewing goodness.

Hope to see you there!

If you have any questions or need a number to call when you get lost, please e-mail me at anjoae at msn dot com and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Hot Blossom Tote

The July Tote project from Stitchin' Heaven uses Hot Blossom fabrics by Josephne Kimberling for Robert Kaufman to make a huge , curvy bucket style tote bag. The pattern is free from several sites and includes a pattern for a cute little coin purse.

The pattern is pretty straight forward but that didn't stop me from changing it to meet my individual needs. Here's what I came up with:

The curvy shape is simple delicious. I added ties on the sides to accentuate the curviness and to make the top opening smaller. Without the ties the opening is a 6" x 11" , with the ties tied tightly the opening about 2" x 11". Untied this bag could hold a whole shopping trip of purchases, at least two shoe boxes of goodies, tied it still holds quite a lot, just with a smaller opening. Other adjustments included using fusible fleece on the front and back instead of interfacing, quilting the front and back panels and the addition of Timtex in the bottom and half way up the sides for a firmer bottom. I did add a hanging cell phone pocket and no other pockets are included.

I made the coin purse before I made the bigger bag. That was a good choice on my part as it gave me some time to experiment with the tiny ruffles. The coin case is supposed to be closed with a magnetic catch which seemed odd to me so I use a little zipper as a closure. Its cute but I think I should make another if I ever gave this away.

The magazine included this month was the magazine with its annual top ten quiilt shops. I always enjoy that issue as it is fun to see shops that you can't physically visit. Also, each shop designs a quilt that generally is easy and a neat varation on an old favorite.

I am still enjoying this monthly program and can't wait to see what they come up with each month. I was shopping the other day at Dillard's while carrying the Simply 'Bow'dacious bag from this program. The buyer came up to me and wanted to know where I got the bag and if I had others to sell to her. I am not a production sewer so this opportunity will probably pass but I certainly left with a bounce in my step. When I got home I did look at my stash in a different way.

I hope your week is going well. I am still praying for rain and with any luck tomorrow thunderstorms will bring a few needed inches of rain. Wish I knew a rain dance.

Signs of a Stroke

Okay, I'm not a medical professional but a buddy of mine sent me an e-mail with three tests anyone can perform to determine if someone has had a stroke. All you need to do is remember the first three letters of the word stroke.

Here they are:

S - Ask the person to smile and/or say a simple declaratve sentence like 'It's sunny outside today.'
T - Ask the person to stick out their tongue
R - Ask the person to raise both arms

If the suspected stroke victim is unable to do one or more of these tasks in a normal way... like their tongue twists to one side, or one arm won't move or their smile is off... it could be that they have had a stroke and you need to get them to the hospital ASAP. There can be other reasons for these symptoms but it's best to let the professionals figure it out.

Just thought you'd like to know.

And thanks to Barbara for the information.

Travel

I was watching an old movie the other night and began to yearn for the good old days of air travel. When I first travelled by air, luggage allowances were not even considered, you dressed up for the trip, they gave out chewing gum to help with the air pressure changes and there was a lot of leg and butt room in the seats.

Now you worry about carrying too much stuff, wear your most comfortable clothing, carry on your own food and drinks and hope that the person next to you is very small and that the person in front of you does not want to take a nap.

And let us not forget all the security procedures. Oh, how I long for the days when you showed someone your ticket and walked onto the plane. Now you run a security gauntlet that may have stopped some terrorist attempts but I am not a terrorist so why waste time on screening me when the real bad guys are more clever than most of the TSA staff I have met.

Air travel has become such a chore that I want to avoid it when ever I can. I'd rather drive a couple of thousand miles than subject myself to another tortured flight.

I could make an exception, however, if I had fabulous luggage that would make the TSA and all my fellow travellers green with envy. I found the Saddleback Leather site earlier and I want whatever they are selling. Hop over and see their very basic, simply cafted, all leather luggage and accessories. No fancy logos, no extra comparments, no weird colors... just basic leather luggage.

While everyone else at the check-in desk or at the security screening is having their black cordura nylon bags examined, how cool would it be to put one of these naturally aged pieces on the conveyor belt. Even if you are flying coach you would feel very first class.

In these economic times spending a small fortune on luggage is a bit of an extravagence but I wish I knew about these guys when I was flying almost every week for business. Guaranteed for one hundred years I would have saved a lot on on luggage and other travel items that fell apart after only 20 or 30 trips.

And doesn't it seem that if you are carrying any of Saddleback's items that you would meet a tall, dark, mysterious secret agent in the next seat rather than the fat, sweaty guy who is usually there?

One can dream.

Babies and Bears Sweater

Way back in April, I wrote about my troubles with the Babies and Bears Sweater for Grown-Ups that I had seamed up the back with the upper left neckline attached to the lower right bottom. I finally got all of my Kitchener Stitching undone and re-did the back center seam. It looks even worse now than it did before... like shredded wool mushed together up the back.

BUT

it is now done... buttons were added and it actually fits.. not perfectly but pretty close so I could actually wear it out and about as long as no-one sees the back it should work.

Here it is with the cute little buttons.. sideways for some reason.....

And the back of the sweater with the ugly center back seam... also sideways.

Another UFO off the pile and into the rotation for when ever it turns cool enough here to wear a sweater.

This sweater was a breeze to knit. It is knit in two pieces starting from the cuffs and ending in the center back. You then close up the back seam and add about 10 rows of knitting around the bottom, up the front and around the neck. The sleeves are done in stockinette stitch while the body is done in garter stitch which makes it all very easy.

I used very inexpensive Wool Ease yarn from Lion Brand and it was on sale when I bought it. The only difficulty was getting enough balls of the same dye lot which I solved by going for the two tone look. It washes like a breeze so this may end being a go to jacket in cooler weather.

The only thing I would change next time, is to go for a size or two larger because I think it work better as a slouchy swearer rather than a fitted one.

The pattern was well written and well illustrated. I picked up another one of theirs called Kyler's Kardigan which includes all sizes from a size 2 child to an extra-large adult size. Its also done mostly in garter stitch and looks like a easy knit as well. Twisted Yarns in having a big sale this week so I just may have to go over there and pick up some fancy yarn for this sweater or for another try at the Babies and Bears Sweater for Adults.

If you see Cottage Creations patterns in your local yarn shop, pick up one of their patterns. I think you will enjoy the style and have good results.

Mini Miranda Day Bag

The April (yes, that's right April!) tote bag project from Stitchin' Heaven was the Mini Miranda Day Bag. When it came in the mail I immeadiately took an un-natural dislike to the fabrics sent. I don't know why but I just couldn't see myself working with another Art Decoish, abstract floral in light blue. I went over to one of the local quilt stores (The Quilt Room in Huffman) and, after scouring their clearance bolts, came up with another light blue but this time in a homespun type plaid and striped fabrics.

I decided to make a couple of changes to the pattern. I added iron-on vinyl to the base so that I wouldn't end up soiling the bag when resting it on the floor and added a zipper closure for security. I did add the flap closure but turned it into something purely decorative by adding some buttons I had hanging aorund here to keep it from flapping about when the tote is in use.

I also made a huge mistake in cutting the base fabric. Some how my pea brain did not notice that the grid marked on the paper backing of the iron-on vinyl was marked in centimeters and not inches. I cut the vinyl, the fabric and the fusible fleece (instead of batting and interfacing) based on the markings on the vinyl backing. Needless to say sixteen centimeters does not equal sixteen inches. When I discovered my error I was into the final assembly process, threw up my hands in disgust and chucked it all into the endless UFO pile I have been breeeding here.

Today was the day to get it finished up after getting more fabric for the base. I couldn't seem to find the pattern but I think I made a tolerable Mini Miranda. What do you think?

Here is the zipper closure I added at the last minute. I have seen something like this on a friend's bags and what I like about the process is that you can add a zipper this way even after a bag is made. Essentially you choose a zipper that is a couple of inches longer than the opening, add tabs to both ends, add fabric extensions to each side then sew the extensions onto the interior sides of the bag. In about ten minutes you can add a zipper to an open bag and know that you stuff will not fall out of your bag. Pretty cool idea Pat!

Here's the interior. I did add the pockets as shown in the pattern and did not add a hanging cell phone pocket. Who know my likes and dislikes in a tote bag could change so quickly. Now I don't add pockets and do add a hanging cell phone pocket.

I hope your weekend is going well and that none of your projects end up in the UFO pile.

Stay cool!

Yard Work

Before the June drought, when my area got less than 1/3 of an inch of rain, I spent every day working on my front yard plantings. Not that I am a big gardener but I do enjoy getting my hands dirty once in a while. There is a large 'garden' in my front yard that had turned to weeds and grass over the past couple of years due to a mis-directed clean-up effort of mine that removed all of the pine needle mulch and replaced it with standard bark mulch.

I have now learned my lesson.... pine bark mulch only lets you see the weeds better while pine needle mulch really kills weeds. Besides, pine needle mulch is free when you have a few large pines trees in the yard providing the mulch.

My goal was to weed the front garden, divide the liriope (monkey grass) to fill in any holes plus plant some perennials and a couple of little bushes all topped off with about 800 pounds of rocks over landscape cloth to provide a path to my bird bath.

Some of what I planted did not make it through the lack of rain but most of what I planted seems to be working on gaining a foothold in the planting area.

Here's how overgrown the liriope had grown in the foundation planting area..

and here is what it looked like thinned out
The bird bath was in the backyard but was not getting much use due to the dogs so it is now in the front yard and has been getting quite a work out. I have had this for years and some day I will figure out how to keep the black stuff from coming back without poisioning the birds. The little circular disk is used to prevent mosquito breeding.
The little white flowers below are supposed to be daisies but they don't seem to like the heat. I hope they getting bigger is it would be nice to have some tall flowers in this area.

Here's a little planting near the front door. I didn't do much here except thin the shrimp plants. That big old rock came from a yard of a former home of mine that the movers moved, ever so carefully to this home. You should have seen all the protection that was provided for its transport!


I think I am done digging in the yard until it cools off again. Every few days I venture out early in the morning to pull more weeds and errant grasses. And,yes, I have been watering (even though it kills me to put drinking water on the yard) so I have lost only a little from the lack of rain. The biggest problem seems to be that the squirrels really like the little bushes and have been burying stuff under them. Also, Alex has been providing his own watering and that has caused a couple of losses.

All in all I'm pretty proud of the revamped front garden. Not a designer garden but definitely an improvement.


I wonder what I will do in the Fall to improve on the work from this Spring?

Things I Don't Understand #7,614

I have had a headache for the past two weeks along wih ringing ears and other annoyances. My doctor decided that an MRI was indicated to find the source of the problem. Since drugs are not helping I was all for this test.

Well, it wasn't one test... it was four! They took about an hour strapped on a little table with my head immobilized.

Here comes what I don't understand... why, when the underlying complaint is headache, does that machine have to make so many loud noises? Not just one noise but a whole series of thumps, screams, hoots and warnings coupled with a series of vibrations, jiggles and jolts from the table itself?

I think I came out in worse shape than I went into that machine... and my head still hurts, but worse than before.

I just don't understand...

A Glorious Fourth

The Fourth of July around here is supposed to be a celebration on the founding of the USA. About 400 plus days after the first shots of the American Revolution were fired, the Declaration of Independence was published and the words wring true today. Annually, National Public Radio ( NPR) does a recitation of the complete document and I am always moved by it. ....When in the Course of human events..... always makes my skin tingle. Hear is a link to the reading from this year.

The reading was on Friday, the third and that was it for my traditional observance of the holiday.

Why you ask am I not burning up some meat, watching a parade or viewing fireworks?

Well, it's fricking one hundred degrees in my backyard and the heat index is about one hundred and ten. See>>>>>>>>

Who in their right mind would fire up the grill with it so hot around here?

Parade watching in this weather is only for those with someone in the parade, not sensible middle-aged ladies.

Fireworks? The only fireworks I'll see are the Star Gazer Lillies that just bloomed. They smell heavenly, look great in a big vase and can be enjoyed indoors... in the air conditining.

Another theme that seems to be going on in recognition of the holiday is the overwhelming use of Red, White and Bue on ever surface possible. I didn't even put my patriotic wreath on the front door.

Instead, I turned on the TV, found a reasonably bland movie and started up a pair of patriotic socks.

Cute, right?

I hope the weather was better where you are and that your celebration included something traditional. If not, go listen to that NPR broadcast, it will raise your spirits and remind you about what the holiday is really all about.

Japanese Knitting Patterns

Last weekend I got to spend about two hours with the owner of Habu Textiles learning about Japanese knitting patterns as well as viewing/trying on an extensive trunk show of garments made up from their yarns. I went because I am was extremely curious as to how you could work up some of the Japanese patterns that are very graphical and I wanted to see some of the more unusual yarns from Habu.

Let's start with the yarns.

These people will take anything and make it into yarn. From traditional wool and linen to stainless steel and paper, Habu has it all. I could spend a month trying to explain what they feel like but by trying on several garments I discovered that the more unusual yarns are really, really irritating to wear. Other participants were thirlled with the feel but I just don't want some of these yarns ever touching my skin.

The more traditonal yarns feel like yarns from others with the only difference being that Habu's tend to be a finer gauge. Some people brought works in progress and in every case I saw, the yarns were used at least doubled together.

I already own some of their silk yarn and I am making it up into a skinny summer scarf. Not a Habu/Japanese pattern just something I found on the internet. The yarn is a little sticky feeling but I think it will wash and wear just fine.

If you would like to work with their yarns, do not buy it without actually feeling something made out of it.

Then there were the patterns. All of them are simply fabulous for an old hippy like myself. Very little fitting, unusual shapes and very drapey. The fortunate part is that the patterns are traditional Japanese patterns but modified by Habu to include some English words, a couple of pages of explanations plus a speadsheet to help the knitter work out the row increases and decreases before you start kntting.

What that means is that you have a high probability in getting the pattern worked correctly.

The bad thing is that the skills to work the Habu patterns are not totally transferable to non-Habu Janpanese patterns because the traditional patterns have no English on them.

The main difference betwen Jaanese and American patterns is that the Japanese patterns are graphical while the American patterns tend to be more narrative. Here is a link to Japanese pattern site that translates the graphics to a more American style. Compare those pattern pictures to something like -

Round 1: K all sts on needle, pick up and k 2 sts along edge of work; remove waste yarn from CO and place live sts on a spare needle, k these sts using a second needle, then pick up and k 2 sts along remaining edge of work. 26[30] sts.

Can you see how it would all drive a knitter a little crazy?

The one thing not mentioned at the workshop was that Japanese knitting needles are sized differently than US or Metric needles. To be fair, it was mentioned a zillion times that knitting a test swatch is imperative to get a successful garment. What wasn't mentioned was why.

I will keep buying Habu textiles yarns as I come up with projects for them. I will try a Japanese pattern and use what I learned at the workshop to make a successful garment. What I won't do is buy the weirder yarns for garments.

However, if I ever get the urge to make more scuptural pieces I will definitely use their stainless steel, metallic or paper yarns... just not on my body.

Have a great weekend! And to those to the North,.... Happy Belated Dominion Day while to those of us here... Have a Glorious Fourth!

Back to the Cool Ties!