Art, Craft and Needlework, March, 2025

[Nancy]

I love that project KittyKatt!

I have done my sewing project quota for today.
Got two more bags done.
I have all but one set done of the crochet hot pads and knit dish cloths complete b/c dd requested one so...
I've started one more dish cloth with some red yarn I had left from when I did up those sets.
I might need more white to go with these.

Feels great to get this project going well yea!

8 bags done
5 more to do up... got them ready for the top casing!

[Lauralind]

Can I join you here? Are you quilting those hotpads? And bags? Crafting is so good for us.

I used to sew all the time when the kids were small. Some knitting and such. But back then my knitting projects didn't go so well. Made a whole sweater with a different kind of yarn than it called for and it was waytoo small. I did some cross stitch too. Then I started working and the kids got too big to wear stuff mom made lol .

Years later i made a few things. Mostly crochet. Now I'm trying again. I completed a granny square baby blanket for my dgs a few weeks ago. Before Christmas I started a blanket for my living room in red and taupe and cream. Stopped for a bit to do the baby blanket. Now I'm back at it. A little at a time.

Cute thing is watching mom. I might have to make her one just cause. And start something for her. She used to crochet a lot. Now she can barely remember how to do some basic day to day things. If I leave it beside her she'll pick it up and still know how to stitch.

I love that little bits at a time. A few stitches or seven rows it will get done.

[Harriet]

That is a lovely project, Kittykatt. You have brought history into creativity and your photos are very good. It must be fun, plus really interesting.

Nice to meet you, Lauralind. That's such fun to hear that you recently did a Granny Square baby blanket - Granny Squares are so pretty. Several here are helping mothers enjoy their days - blessedw2 chats often about her dear mother, who is in her home.

Nancy both knits and crochets lots of projects and she spins her own yarn. She sews, yes, for instance right now the bags. Plenty of other creativity - I can't even do it all justice, lol.

Speaking of cross-stitch, Cathy is our cross-stitcher and attends creative groups.

Twins' Mom is a card-maker, and creative in papercrafting. She's been working on her creative space.

I am mostly a quiltmaker, although I do sew other projects and like mini-quilts or quilted tiny things. Because I made my youngest dd a wedding quilt that was a huge endeavor for June, and did even get that photo posted here, I have now gone over to my smaller UFOs to work on them and maybe even finish a few. I made everyone here put up with a lot of nervousness as I spent 8 months getting that quilt done! Happily, June was enough time.

[Lauralind]

That's a nice rounded intro. Thank you. So nice getting to know new people.

I.was quite happy with the baby blanket. Using different colors than the standard baby blue. It was grey and cream and aqua and grass green. Bright and cheerful. Was going to be a light sage green instead but that's what you get when you buy yarn online. Grey and cream were softee baby. The green was softee cotton. Too different. So I found a different site for the colors. That cotton yarn is so pretty. But what to make with it.

[Nancy]

Laurlind Welcome.

I am crocheting the hot pads, bags are not quilted fabric bags with ribbon draw strings.
5 more completed.

I do not quilt much these days unless it is to mend one.
I have a cutter quilt I"m trying to decide what to do with. . .

[Kittykatt]

Laura, the baby blanket sounds beautiful, and just right for your new Dgrandson.

Nancy, you've been very productive - do you use every thing you make, or give them as gifts, or sell them?

Harriet, the quilt sounds amazing! Years ago I made a patchwork cushion cover, that was a lot of work, so I'm very impressed with anyone who actually makes a complete quilt!

Thank you all for your kind comments on my dolls house project. I wanted to restore it so it looks reasonably authentic, (although I am using some new items, especially much of the soft furnishings) and when I got the idea of posting my progress online, I realised that just saying "this is a chair, this is a bed ... " is rather repetitive and also not very interesting, and it would be more fun to find out about each particular piece. And then I started finding out about the various manufacturers, and the project just grew...

Anyway, I've updated my blog with the next room for anyone who would like a look:
Kittykatt's Dolls House Project

[Bama]

Adorable dollhouse, kittykatt, and nice to chat with you again. Where do you go about finding vintage dollhouse furniture… I’m guessing eBay, Etsy… I adore the colored utilities. We recently bought an older home (70s) with the original green bathtub and sink intact. Love it and am going to finish the room around it to match. There is a piece of wallpaper behind the sink with a lovely repeating scene but it’s too far gone to salvage.

I’ll read up on this thread as I have a lot of time on my hands and am trying to learn new hobbies. Right now I’m putting Lego floral arrangements together. Something simple with fast results that uses the creative side of my brain a little bit. It can be hard on the thumbs though.

[Nancy]

Kitty Katt I am making up hot pads and dish cloths for the food baskets the church gives out in Nov.
others I give to family.

I am working on one set for me it's done except for one last hot pads it was time for new ones here at home.
Now the kids friends are asking for them. So I have one with out a match half done for that.
Got a cone of yarn today needed it for the odds and ends ones and striped ones as well.

[Kittykatt]

Nancy, that a lovely thoughtful idea - I'm sure the recipients are thrilled.

Bama, thank you! You're right, and eBay and Etsy are great treasure troves. I'm having great fun, and learning a lot on the way. (One little challenge I have is that although this dolls house is technically at 1/16 scale, the rooms are actually slightly smaller than standard.) It's a great contrast from when I was renovating my childhood dolls house 20 years ago, when there were still "real" shops locally where you could browse and learn a lot from the very knowledgeable and helpful staff.

[Nancy]

Had to get sewing machine needles today.

I have finished another dish cloth green ombre .