Perfect Stitching Frugal Tip (A DIY)

In case you are newer to this blog,

I am a crazy quilter.

Maybe it's because there is no such thing

as a wrong crazy quilt.

There are a few specifics I like in the design

on some of the crazies though.

One thing is the right color for the accent stitches.

I love the old fashioned wool crazies

with big primitive looking stitches.

Here in-lies the tip:

Use size 30 crochet thread

(often found at thrift stores for a quarter - as long as

it's not stained, discolored, or smelly, and is in good condition.)

Then comes the fun part. 

Dye it the color you want it.
Even if the crochet thread is a color,
I typically just dye them a darker shade.
In the picture above, the peachy color
would go into a pumpkin colored dye, etc.

I often end up dying a piece of wool

a specific color. 

So when that happens,

I throw in some thread.

Here is a vintage yarn winder that I use 
to measure how much I am pulling off the spool/ball.
You could also use a notebook or hardback book,
just so you can slide the thread off of it easily.

Note:

If you have left over dye,

add a little vinegar, label it and save it

until your project is finished.

If you don't, you'll end up needing more of that color.

I know there are some very good quality threads and flosses

out there that are sworn by.

I happen to live in No-where-ville.

We don't have a quilt shop any more.

We do have a newer fabric/craft shop,

but they are a small business trying to make it.

They have many necessities but

not a lot of specialty items.

I don't want that to sound negative in any way as

I am extremely grateful for them.

However, by dying my own,

I end up with a perfect matching/contrasting thread.
(and fingers too as I usually don't wear gloves:)
I like two strands on wool.
One strand on cotton is very dainty looking.
To me, the colors just seem more genuine.
Of course, if you don't like to dye things,
you might just stick to store bought.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Learning More at Dye Day

This last Saturday, I went with Renee

and her mom to a natural Dye Day

in Lone Rock, OR.

It's pretty much a left over

Boom Town

that now has only a hand full

of permanent residents.

It was absolutely wonderful!

It's in the middle of nowhere

on a dirt road.

 

We used natural dyes including:

madder, log-wood, hollyhock, cochanai, and Osage orange.

There was a little mix up and log wood got mixed

with some used madder, 

but it turned into this deep, rich, brown color.

I forgot to get a picture of all the skeins

hanging to dry.

After lunch,

we each brought something to work on.

Marie and Renee brought knitting,

and Renee brought a wheel for me to try out.

It was my first time ever using a wheel.

I am hooked:)

I have a tenancy to over spin the wool.

I need to get on you tube and watch someone's hands

while they are drafting/spinning.

I haven't watched before, 

and there's a lot to just seeing it done. 

So my yarn (1 ply at the moment) is 

both lumpy and over spun.

I guess that's what it takes to learn.

This day had more to offer,

but I will save that for the next post.

And I will introduce you to our amazing hostess.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Fabric Morsels

Would you like to guess?  Or should I just tell you?

I made this a few years ago before the rotten scoundrel of a mink killed my chickens.  Did you know that mink are vampires?  No really, they suck the blood from the bird and leave it.  I had to 'finish the job.'  I grew up on a ranch so butchering and such doesn't bother me much, but I don't like to see critters suffer.  And I definitely don't like to go out in the morning to find such a site.  The chicken coop at that time was old, a bit of an eye-sore, and in an inconvenient place.  So at that point, I tore it down and will be building a new one in a better spot and will be making it critter-proof.  I use 'critter,' because we have other things like raccoons, vermin, owls (yes, owls will kill chickens,) as well as the normal dogs and cats lurking about. 

Okay, have I kept you in suspense long enough?

It's the liner to my egg basket.  This basket was given to me a long time ago, and it was just the right size, but the wires were a little too far apart.  As a quilter, I thought, "No, problem."  I had these little morsels of fabric that weren't really big enough for a 'real' project.  I sewed this little darling right up.

   Uuuuuh, neglecting to first make sure that the fabrics were colorfast.  You can see the result.  I am glad it happened on this and not on a precious bed quilt given as a gift.  I would have been heart broken.  (Lesson learned!)  With this, it is not a big deal.  I still like it well enough, and it still serves the purpose it was meant for.  I have a larger basket that is similar that I would like to make a liner for.  You can make them for wicker baskets as well.  It isn't difficult: just measure the bottom, draw out a simple sketch if you like, then measure how deep the sides and ends are.  Add those to the four sides of your bottom sketch and make your blocks to fit.  For this one, I made my center block then filled the remaining space.  It didn't matter to me that you don't get the whole view of the bottom.  I viewed it as an opportunity to have a little fun, & it was perfectly okay if it wasn't perfect.  I could just as easily have thrown an old hand towel in there.  We need those silly things in our life.  Don't you think so? Go ahead, have a little fun and do something silly.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches