Jewelry Roll

A few posts ago I showed some 'fabric' I made by piecing scraps together. I used it to make a jewelry roll from "One Yard Wonders." Honestly, I don't have much in the way of jewelry, but it was fun to make this. Someone might get it as a gift. I think a young teenager would make good use of it, and I actually have a friend's daughter in mind. Frankly, if I were to keep it I'd use it for something else besides jewelry!

Another Hook Holder

This one is knitted. I have to say that sewing on the felt piece was much harder, as the knit piece wanted to stretch in 80 different ways. So this is lopsided, but I don't care because it's only for me to not have to hunt through 10 hooks to find the one I want. I did find out I have 4 "K" hooks, though. Guess I don't have to buy any  more of those, LOL!

This is just a simple rectangle folded in half. The back half is all garter stitched. I did some fancier (but very easy) knitting on the front. It's in stockinette stitch, with some strands carried across the front here and there. Here's the inside:

I do have a "Q" hook that I bought from some mysterious reason which I will probably put in the back pocket.

56 today

Today is my birthday. I'm 56. I have done very, very little housework today (you really can't do NONE or the place would fall apart) and have mostly been enjoying my crafts and messing on the computer. Tonight, we're going to a Japanese restaurant for dinner. Mmmm.

I'm getting a repetitive motion pain in my pointer finger, which holds the crochet hook, so I'm trying to take longer breaks between rows or rounds. One thing I've been doing lately is choosing one project from each of the magazines I have and writing out the instructions in my own words. A little time-consuming, but it makes it so much easier than constantly looking back and forth between the small print on the magazine page (I don't wear reading glasses but it's still annoying). I can see what the 'repeat' of the pattern is and just write it like this: "Repeat is SC, Skip One, Ch 1."

I also 'translated' a cute pattern for a floppy bunny that is originally written in British English. What they call "Double Crochet" we call "Single Crochet." Confusing!

More stash busting

Yarn, this time. Here is a little holder I made for some of my crochet hooks. I'll make another for the larger hooks someday (and probably line up the felt pocket a little better!) I did not sew across the top of the inside felt piece. I think it would be a good place to store a small ruler. Buttons were an option, as well, but since I crochet a lot I figured I'd just do a fold-over. Really, this is no more than a long rectangle that was a great way to get rid of some of the dinky little hanks of yarn that aren't good for much else but scrap projects! (I also got the use the lettering feature on my sewing machine.)

Patches

I'm not a quilter (although I've tried) but I think patching scraps of fabric together is a great way to 'use up and make do.' It's fun, too, like putting a puzzle together.

Here are 3 different pieces I made. I pretty much just cut (or tear) pieces to fit against each other and see what I come up with. The one in the front that is mostly pink actually has a back on it. It will either become a small pillow or I'll make it a placemat. It's hard to see the striped piece, but it has 7 different colored strips and is 24 inches long. 

Hmmm, now that I'm looking at the one that is mostly blue, I think I will try to make it a full yard and use it for a project from my 'One Yard Wonders' book!

A laundry bag

I made this laundry bag based on a design from "One Yard Wonders." It isn't exactly like theirs, since I didn't have a full yard of the blue and white fabric, but I like the denim bottom half. I think it makes it sturdier, anyway. Not that it needs to be sturdy--I have it hanging on the back of the bathroom door and it will hold my socks and underwear. It was another good way to get rid of fabric, as well!

The circular opening is cut using a dinner plate for a template. I used a smaller dish but I still think it is too big. But it does make it easier to throw things inside!

Scrap busting

I have decided I really need to use up some of the infinite amount of scrap fabrics, yarns, buttons, etc. I have. Here are two little purses I've made. The red one is from a pattern (link below) and the blue/brown one is one I did freehand. Both went together pretty easily so I'll be making more of them.

You're supposed to use a snap set on the red wallet, which kind of folds in on itself, but I don't have one so I just made a buttonhole. (I'd use a smaller button for the next one I make, though.) Here is the link:

http://sewtimeless.net/?p=502

Paper Tray

I found a template for a cute paper tray. I printed it out on white cardstock. Then I flipped the paper over and printed on the back with a gingham pattern. I'm going to use this on my sewing table as a place to drop pins as I take them out while sewing. Much better than having them all over the floor!

I really love projects you can start and finish in a matter of minutes!

Here is the link to where you can find the template:

http://scjohnson.com/en/family/family-economics/12-01-03/Printable-Paper-Tray-Template.aspx

As far as the gingham, it came from a kit called Funky Spring that I believe came from this site:

http://saphirasworld.de/scrapdesign/category/freebies/

(Sorry, I downloaded it almost a year ago!)

Scrapbook page

I tried to do this from my desk top, but it was too large of a file. Then I tried to use Photobucket, something I haven't done in a long, long time. This was the best I could do. Sorry it is so blurry. Shadow had decided to take a nap in my bed, and he looked so 'human' lying there I had to take his picture! (Photo at top is directly from my desktop. I used it on a page with the title: "Visions of...dog biscuits?"
The kit here is called "Loco for Cocoa," created by Katie Castillo. Here's her link:
http://justsoscrappy.blogspot.com/
You should check it out if you are a digital scrapper. Her kits are generous, adorable and very, very inexpensive!