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

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod Crazy

It's almost quilt show season:)

I just registered my Wynken, Blynken, & Nod quilt

in the Krazy Horse Quilt Show.

The show is May 4-5, 2013

In Pendleton, Oregon.

I finished this up last summer (since last years show.)

It is not a judged show & I've only put

a quilt in it once or twice, but I like to support the local show -

(I like judged shows.) 

This quilt is made from a Pendleton Wool suit (pink,)

a pair of wool pants & skirt (ivory,)

and the beige is from a WWII military blanket.

It was a little thicker than the other fabrics, 

but it was the perfect color.

Finding quality fabric for joining the blocks was

the biggest challenge - 

which made piecing them difficult as 

the new fabric was 'wobbly' by comparison.

I just love the old E. Fields poem

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

so did a center scene of the poem

and the actual poem which happens to be

4 stanzas long, one stanza in each corner.

On the crazy quilt part, I did all one stitch.

That was a first for me - I usually like to mix it up.

If you've never read the poem:

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

by Eugene Fields

 Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night

Sailed off in a wooden shoe,-

Sailed on a river of crystal light

Into a sea of dew.

“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”

The old moon asked the three.

“We have come to fish for the herring-fish

That live in this beautiful sea;

Nets of silver and gold have we,”

Said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,

As they rocked in the wooden shoe;

And the wind that sped them all night long

Ruffled the waves of dew;

The little stars were the herring-fish

That lived in the beautiful sea.

“Now cast your nets wherever you wish,-

Never afraid are we!”

So cried the stars to the fishermen three,

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw

To the stars in the twinkling foam,-

Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,

‘Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed

As if it could not be;

And some folk thought ’twas a dream they’d dreamed

Of sailing that beautiful sea;

But I shall name you the fishermen three:

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,

And Nod is a little head,

And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies

Is a wee one’s trundle-bed;

So shut your eyes while Mother sings

Of wonderful sights that be,

And you shall see the beautiful things

As you rock in the misty sea

Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:-

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. 

My children are teenagers,

so maybe this will be for a grand-daughter someday - 

I can wait:)

It just all seemed to work, and

other than the quality of the new wool

I am pleased with how it turned out.

Oh, yea, It weighs just about 7 pounds!

It oughta be warm.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

(PS, waited a couple days to try to have nice enough weather to photograph the entire thing - Mother Nature doesn't want me to:)