Silverware Roll

A friend recently asked that I make a silverware roll for them- apparently they could only find them commercially to hold about 5 pieces of silver, and they wanted one that would hold more, for work purposes. When I said that they looked easy enough, he asked for 2, and for them to hold 10 pieces of silver.

So I created a pattern and made one- only to figure out at the last minute that I hadn't allowed enough fabric in my pattern to create a flap to fold over the tops of the silver. And naturally, I had already cut the fabric for the second one, with the faulty pattern, and sewed the pieces together, and ironed it, and everything except create the slots. AUGH! Good thing I had a LOT of this fabric sitting around the apartment. I updated the pattern, and cut again, determined not to make the same mistake.

The second time around, my pattern worked out perfectly. So about a week later, I went ahead and cut the second one, and put it all together. Had a moment where I thought my 50-year-old iron had finally crapped out, but I just turned the plug around in the outlet and that seemed to work (yikes! I'm going to need to get a new iron someday!).

I finished the second roll, only to realize that it only had slots for 9 pieces of silver, and then remember that I had actually added an inch on to the pattern the first time around, but without marking it on the paper or adding paper to the pattern. Why do I do these things? However, I've decided- oh well. So he gets one with 9, and one with 10. Both still more than 5. There's nothing wrong with the pattern, technically, all the important aspects to make it usable are there- the ribbons, the flap, the silver dividers, the other flap- it just holds one less piece than 10.

Most silverware rolls made commercially are just serged around the edges, but I don't have a serger. To make this work out for me, I cut two pieces of fabric, sewed them together, then turned it right-side out and ironed to make the edges crisp. I topstitched around the edges to keep my ironing job in place through washing and use, since a lot of the fabric in the top flap isn't attached to each other any other way. Slot seams were sewn through all thickness, after the fabric was folded up. They are visible from the outside when rolled up, but I used a navy thread that matches the fabric (and they are visible from the outside on the ones that can be bought commercially, so I don't feel so bad about that).

Scrap Squares

A small child's blanket, made from squares of yarn that I had a little bit left over, but not enough to make a large section with that color. Made primarily with pinks and whites, and a couple other colors that I wanted to get rid of from the piles, and to break up some of the monotony from just pink and white. Another for Project Linus, unless otherwise asked for!

Brown Square Afghan

Another granny-square afghan- this one in brown and variegated gold/peach/brown. I had two skeins of the Lion Brand multicolor yarn, and most of a big 1-lb. skein of brown (there was a project a while back that created some leftovers when I needed just a little bit more). I put them next to each other and it looked nice, so I commenced making as many squares as I could- and oddly, was able to make the exact same number out of both yarns (though, 32 total doesn't divide as nicely as 30, the final blanket is 6 squares by 5 squares). I stitched them together with a gold yarn that my grandma had given me a little of, since there wasn't enough brown left, and then edged the whole thing with the multicolor yarn, since there was enough for that.

Count it as another one for Project Linus!

Quilt, In Blue- Complete

This blanket was made entirely from scraps of fabric I had lying around, all with some hint of blue, whether it was a primary color or part of an image, or just a tone in the plaid. For the back, I used a navy blue flannel sheet that I picked up at a thrift store- keeps the backing pretty simple and very cheap.

To create the top part, I first cut a right triangle out of bristol board (leftover from art school), and cut out nearly 400 triangles- which were then pieced together into squares (being careful to keep right sides up, and not putting together two triangles of the same fabric). Squares were then sewed into strips, again keeping same fabrics from abutting each other. Strips were then sewn into the large rectangle that became the top.

Once the top piece was created, I sandwiched the batting between the flannel sheet and the top, and attached them all together with baby blue yarn ties. I basted the edges and snipped the excess fabric, then used quilt binding to hold it all together. I think my quilt binding skills still leave something to be desired- I'll have to read up on that some more before my next quilt, so that I know better how to keep it from twisting a little as I sew it on.

Quilt In Progress, Post 2

Triangles have been formed into squares, squares have been strung together in strips. This is the correct width (across the couch), but it's only about 6 long now- it will be 15.

Yellow Blankie

I had a pretty large amount of this yellow color, and I couldn't mix it with anything else (100% worsted wool- they don't make it like that anymore), so I decided to use it all and make a smaller blankie. At first I overestimated how much I had, and started working on a super-wide blankie with the basketweave pattern, but ultimately decided to go with something that would allow me more control over the final shape. For the first time, I tried making hexagons instead of squares- mostly successful, I think, except that they definitely curl more than squares; it's a lot harder to get the hexagons to lay flat.

This blankie is a little more than a yard by a yard. If anyone specifically wants this one, I'd greatly appreciate it- if I can give it to someone, I can give them the directions to line dry it (donating requires me to wash and dry it, and for it to be able to be washed and dried, and I'm nervous about just how much this is going to shrink). Please let me know!

Official Blanketeer!

Today I took the first big bag of blankies off the Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, for donation to Project Linus. Fabric and yarn leaves the house, and for good use! Now children spending time in the hospital will be given the blankets that I made, for cuddles and security. This bag includes a couple basketweave baby blankets, a couple granny square blankets, one small quilt, others.

I celebrated my first donation by taking myself out for Caribbean American Bakery. Mmmmm blankies and veggy patties....