Category Archives: Craft Therapy

Personal Quilt Records

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Why didn’t I think of documenting who and where my quilts went 30+ years ago when I started quilting?  My answer is that I didn’t think of it back in the days of my early quilts.

After a few years, I did start to take photos of the quilts and afghans I made.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get name the photos so I could remember just who the gift went to.  So I have a stack of photos as a reminder, but I am not sure I could tell anyone who the items were given to.

After I was diagnosed with MS and we realized the extent of the loss of my short- and long-term memory problems, I started asking the recipients of my quilts to take a digital photo and send it to me, so I could refer back to it and know who my quilts went to.  Unfortunately, my request hasn’t always been honored.

There’s also a reason to document your quilts if you ever need to show your work to someone who is interested in purchasing or commissioning a quilt from you.  The stack of photos I have has been passed along to others many times and many quilts have been made based on quilts I had made in the past via those photos.

But, here are a few suggestions for documenting quilts (or any type of handmade gift) that you make and give or gift away:

  1. Photo album:  A photo of the finished quilt before it is sent to its new home, plus a photo of the recipient (if possible) with their new quilt.  But take this one step further and write or type a little note, adding the information on where the quilt went and who it went to.  A date would be great, too.  If nothing else, take a photo of the tag on the quilt, then you could eliminate any further need to write anything.
  2. Write out information about your quilts.  This is a pretty thorough list items to help you:  https://www.reddawn.net/quilt/documnt.htm.  This is even a more thorough form you can print and use:  https://oregonquiltproject.blogspot.com/
  3. “Personal Quilt Registry“, a book written by Lynne Fritz, offers a seemingly excellent opportunity to keep a record of your quilts – not just what you’ve gifted away but also those you have kept.
  4. Make a quilt journal:  https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/05/how-to-make-a-quilt-journal/.
  5. There’s also software you can purchase and use on your computer to document your quilts:  https://softexpressions.com/software/organ/index.html#Quilters.

There are many options for you to choose from to help you keep a record of your quilts.  What’s your favorite way?


Tutorial Tuesday: Repurposing Washcloths

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Last week, I opened one of our linen cabinets in search of an old towel and everything came tumbling out.  Once I had what I was looking for, the guilt of just shoving everything back and closing the doors to hide the ugly mess hit me.  I opened the doors back up and took matters into my own hands – reorganizing.  After all was said and done, I realized that we had a disproportionate number of washcloths to towels.  Even a family of six doesn’t need three times more washcloths than towels!

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Time for a washcloth intervention!

After pulling out some of the washcloths, I decided to make ditty bags out of them for camping adventures.  Last week I had two kids off at camp, this week two kids at camp, next week two kids again…and so on.  Summer is for camping and all four of my kids love to camp!

I began by matching up plain colored washcloths with washcloths that had a pattern on them.

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Then I trimmed up three sides so they were both even, pinning them, right sides together, as I went along.  I did not trim the top of the washcloths – they were already finished out and I didn’t see the need to trim them and then hem them.  I was repurposing, not reinventing!

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Using a wide zig-zag stitch with a medium stitch length, I sewed the washcloths with a 1/4″ seam allowance on the two sides and then sewed across the bottom.

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This is a photo of the inside-out washcloths after they were sewn together.

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Then I turned the bag right-side out and used my handy-dandy corner tool to push the two corners out.

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This is the ditty bag, ready for the next step.

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Using about 16″ of 100% cotton, 1/4″ diameter cording, thread a wide-eyed needle.  This will become the drawstring for the ditty bag.

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Using large stitches, begin at the corner of the top of the ditty bag and sew all the way around the opening, tying off the cording with a knot.  A camper can not only but a bar of soap in it and use it as-is in the shower, they can also store all of their personal items inside it (in a plastic bag) to make it easy to carry their toiletries at once!


Tutorial Tuesday: Paint Palette Pincushion

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PaintPalettePincushion

Items Needed:

  1. Plastic paint palette holder
  2. 4″ in diameter circle template
  3. Nine (9) fabrics (or however many are needed for the paint palette you choose)
  4. Needle and thread
  5. Fluffy stuffing (fiberfill)
  6. Hot glue gun and glue

Instructions:

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There are nine (9) outer circular spaces in my paint palette so I chose nine (9) fabrics.  In this instance, charm 5″ squares were perfect!

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My 4″ in diameter circle template was this plastic cup.  Trace around your template on the BACK side of each fabric.

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Circles traced.

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Cut each circle out of your fabrics.

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Circles cut.

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With the right side of the fabric facing you, take your needle and thread and begin sewing 1/4″ stitches about 1/4″ from the edge of each circle (like a basting stitch).  I chose to double the thread for strength.  Be sure to leave a 2″ or longer length of thread at the beginning and ending of your sewing so you have enough to tie together.

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Circles sewn.

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After your circles are all stitched, pull out nine small but equal handfuls of your fluffy stuffing.  You want each of your pincushions to be roughly the same size so it works best to pull all of the little piles at one time.

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Stuff your nine circles and close them with the craft knot (tutorial shown here).  Just for added strength, I tied off my threads with two craft knots and then a granny square knot.  After all of your little bundles are tied, manipulate the fluffy stuffing so each one is uniform in shape.

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Finally, using your hot glue and hot glue gun, adhere your little fluffy stuffed fabric circles to the outside perimeter individual paint circles of your paint palette!  The center of the paint palette is for needles or buttons or whatever small sewing items you want to place in that storage area!


Tutorial Tuesday: Tying a Craft Knot

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Many years ago, I read something somewhere about how to tie a craft knot and I have been tying my craft knots the same way since then.  But, when I am around others and tie a craft knot, I have found that nearly all of them have no idea what I am doing or how it is done.  So, let me explain the mystery and show you the way to tie a craft knot.

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Take the two ends of your yarn (or thread), one in each hand.

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Cross your yarn (or thread) over each other.

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Pull your yarn (or thread) under and through the circle, just as you do for tying a regular knot.

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Now, instead of stopping and pulling your yarn (or thread) tight to form a knot, do another pass through your circle, the same as above – making a second pass through your loop.

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This is what a craft knot looks like before it’s pulled tight.

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The little knot you see in the center of this photograph is a craft knot.  Under most conditions, a craft knot stays tight and will not slip when you use it.  If using it on something that is filled tight with fiberfill, tie two craft knots (one after the other).  The first knot will probably slip because it is trying to hold so much together…but the second knot gives it added stability and usually does not slip.  I add a granny square knot on top of my craft knots most of the time, just for additional strength.


Swedish Weaving Afghans

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My mother-in-law has really embraced Swedish weaving.  She can enjoy a day or evening of watching television shows while she weaves her beautiful afghans.  She occasionally quilts, occasionally sews or repairs clothes…but always seems to have an afghan going whenever she wants to take a break.

This past year, all four of our children were blessed with her Swedish weaving afghans.  They are pretty lucky to have a mom who has made all of them a quilt or two and a grandma who has made them all personalized pillows (last year) and then Swedish woven afghans this year.

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