Last night, I finished embroidering the labels for my sewing needle case. I looked through my needles and the resources from this post and narrowed it down to sharps, betweens (quilting), embroidery (crewel), tapestry, and cross-stitch needles. (The cross-stitch needles are technically tapestry, but my head was starting to spin by this point so I decided to keep them separate.)
The embroidery was very simple to do. I wrote out the words first on white grosgrain ribbon with a very fine Pigma Micron 005 pen. I stretched the ribbon through my embroidery hoop and then back-stitched the letters with double strands of teal floss. I was going for a subtle gradient effect, so I used three different shades of thread.
I found these metal card catalog labels in my stash and am thinking about blanket-stitching them into place. However, it may make the whole thing feel sort of heavy. I don’t know. What do you think?
Next week: the full reveal. I know this isn’t the most glamorous of projects, but I think it’s going to be so useful. We’ll see…
Hope you have a great weekend!
Filed under Fabric & Sewing, I Made This.
Tagged with Drawing Room fabric, hand sewing needles, sewing needle case.
Yesterday, I gathered up some fabrics for a little project — an organizer for my sewing needles. Today, I rounded up all the stuff I wanted to store so I can get the measurements right, and I started to realize just how much organization I actually need.
I don’t know if I’m the only one, but I always feel like I’ve grabbed the wrong needle for my project (if I can actually find one). When it comes to machine sewing, I have my notions in order. I like to take the time to select the right needle for my fabrics, the best threads, the right presser foot. However, my hand sewing stuff is a jumbled up mess. Nothing is more frustrating than getting started only to realize that a smaller, shorter, longer, bigger, different needle would have worked better.
So I’m thinking I may do some homework first and embroider some labels for the different types of needles I have. I found a list on wikipedia and this post at Craftystylish. I’d like to find some way to include the information about what each needle type is used for, but I haven’t figured out quite how to include that without embroidering a whole paragraph. I’d like to take the time to do this right, but not quite that much time. This was supposed to be my quick little sewing reward this week.
If you know of any other resources out there, please share! Any tips for organizing your sewing supplies?
Filed under Fabric & Sewing.
Lately it seems like everything I am working on is “behind-the-scenes,” and this month, a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff is on the computer. I am desperately in need of a little bit of instant gratification sewing. Something I can share.
I took a break this morning to round up some of my favorite scraps, and I’ve promised myself that if I work really, really hard I can take off an hour or two to sew something this week. I always feel more motivated on Tuesdays anyway, because I want to be able to watch Lost guilt-free.
Although these scraps are all about me, I’m thinking my husband may like this sewing project too since it just might help me keep my needles out of the couch. I’m afraid it won’t do anything about the straight pins in the carpet though. (Sorry dear!)
In the meantime, have you seen this tutorial over at Sew Mama Sew from Jcasa? Cute-cute. When I get some more time… I hope.
Filed under Fabric & Sewing.
Tagged with needle case.
Welcome, week. Here we go again. Time to make the bed.
All weeks begin here. Coffee time + a nice, solid to do list.
The best Mondays start with some good old-fashioned scrubbing. Gets the blood flowing, and makes everything else on the to do list seem easier. Plus housework is supposed to keep you honest,* right?
Yours truly,*
Filed under House & Home.
I’m not sure if it was all that birthday pie, but my sweet tooth is acting up lately. I am trying to get motivated to go to the grocery store today, and I think the lure of some baking supplies might just get me there.
This is my favorite cookbook of all time. Technically, it’s my mom’s. She got it when I was probably 10 or 11, and I would spend hours pouring over the recipes, begging her to let us make things like “Choco-Orange Fluff” and “Fruit-Filled Chocolate Dreams.” I can really only vouch for the recipes that sounded funny and appealing to me when I was 11. That’s why I am an expert at making “Chippy Chewy Bars” (see below). When I moved out, my mom let me take the cookbook with me. Ok, to tell you the truth, I’m not even sure I asked. Mom, I really needed it. I’m sorry.
Ok, here’s the recipe for Chippy Chewy Bars. This is one of those recipes that is simple and gooey and completely unpretentious. You make the whole thing in about 20 minutes just dumping ingredients into the pan.
Chippy Chewy Bars
The Hershey’s site has the list of ingredients right here.
My notes on the instructions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Place butter in 13 x 9 pan and set in oven until melted. Remove pan from oven; sprinkle crumbs evenly over butter and press down with fork. Layer 1 cup peanut butter chips, coconut, and then remaining 2/3 cup peanut butter chips over crust. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the top. Bake 20 minutes or until coconut is lightly browned. Remove from oven. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chip and shortening in the microwave at High for approximately 1 1/2 minutes (or until chips are melted when stirred). You could easily substitute other melted chocolate if you don’t want to use the shortening/chocolate chips. Cool completely and cut into bars. Enjoy!
Filed under In the Kitchen.
