Miss Loreen's Schoolhouse

Day Eleven - April Insanity List

Project 11 – Annie’s Crochet Strip Afghan

This is the first time I have purchased a monthly crochet kit but I took the plunge!  It wasn’t really expensive and if you are interested in this kit, here is the link to purchase it.  It also comes as a knitting kit if you prefer to knit.

Here is the link to see kit.

I have already done a video opening the first month’s kit and demonstrating a couple of the crochet stitches used in the pattern.  I am not going to show exactly what combination of stitches they used but how to single crochet, double crochet to show that so far this project is pretty easy.  I am not an expert at crocheting and I wanted everyone to know they didn’t have to be very experienced or experienced at all to make this beautiful afghan.

Here is  the video on Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse YouTube channel

 

I have just received the second month’s kit and I’ll make another video when I get ready to open the box.  I do want to make sure I get each month’s kit finished before the next one arrives.  The first section went along pretty quickly and I was done well before the second kit arrive.  I have high hopes for me on this project!

See you soon!
loreen

Day Ten - April Insanity List

Project 10 – Crochet Monkey

Time to put a small project on my list.  I was feeling a bit “quilty” after posting the last two projects.  I got this project on a super sale last Fall from Crafter’s Companion.  I’m not sure if they still carry it.  It is a kit that has everything I need to make this cute monkey including the crochet hook and stuffing….at least that’s what the box says!  No, I haven’t even opened the box yet but when I do, I will share some pictures or a video with you.  It says it even has row counters and needles to sew the sections together.

I’m getting anxious now to open the box, see all the goodies and get started!

See you soon!
loreen

Day Nine - April Insanity List

Project 9 – Wildflowers

 

This is a machine embroidery project that is “in the hoop” applique.  The flowers are fairly simple designs and the embroidery stitching is fairly simple which means the blocks will stitch along pretty quickly.

I have quite a few blocks done which really means, I have had this project hanging around for more than a year or two….or three!  Hopefully, I have all the fabrics I need in the drawer these blocks came out of.  Hard to believe but I really haven’t looked yet.  Sounds odd but I wanted to get my list of projects done before I dive into each project too far.  The important fabric will be the little strips that border each block.  Other than that, finding batiks to finish the quilt should be easy and I have quite a stash of batiks to look through.  I am trying not to have to buy any fabrics for most of these projects since most have the fabrics needed.  That doesn’t count fabric for the back of the bigger projects but I’ll be happy to buy some when each project is finished.  I do have some yardage and will check my “inventory” to see what may work when the time comes.

 

 

Have a great day!

loreen

 

 

Day Eight - April Insanity List

 

Project 8 – Squirrelly Girl

This is one of my bigger projects that I started working on last month.  The blocks are really big which is nice because the applique pieces are bigger as well.  I am using the Squirrelly Girl fabric for this project which has lots of squirrels, acorns, bicycles and more! The blocks are different sizes which gives the quilt a less rows and columns look.

The method of applique for this project is using a fusible interfacing so that the applique pieces look like I have hand appliqued them when I used my sewing machine.  I will do a video tutorial on this method of applique when I get to that part of my next block.

I have the first block fused down and most of my background pieces stitch together.  The reason I needed to stitch the background units was to make sure I had enough bigger pieces of fabric before I started cutting up the fabrics for the applique pieces.

Right now I am working on some units that will become part of several of the block backgrounds.  I will be posting on all of my projects as I work on them with more detailed pictures so you will understand what techniques I may be using that you could apply to your projects.

 

See you soon!

loreen

 

 

 

 

 

Day Seven - April Insanity List

Project 7 – Sashiko

Baby Lock makes a sewing machine that does the Sashiko stitch.  If you have never seen one, it is a sight to watch it stitch.   A Sashiko stitch has a stitch then an equal size space, then a stitch then a space, etc.  A regular sewing machine is not able to make this type of stitch.  The Sashiko only has a bobbin and no thread on top.  It has a special needle that grabs onto the bobbin thread, brings it up to the top of the fabric to make a stitch.  When the needle goes down to the bobbin a second time, it comes back up with no thread.  Doesn’t that sound amazing?  Here is a link to a quick video I did on the Sashiko.  I will be making some videos as I make a project using this great machine.  Something for you to look forward to!!

For a project using the Sashiko, I am going to stitch some squares with different Sashiko stitches and put them together to make a bag or some other small project.

This is one of my favorite projects on my April list and I am looking forward to getting my Sashiko out and stitching with it and making a few videos so you can see how it works.  Even if you don’t own one or want to own one, I think you will find it very interesting to see how it stitches.

See you soon,
loreen

 

 

Day Six of my April Insanity List!

Project 6 – Bee Fabric Quilt

I purchased a Fat Quarter bundle of this bee fabric.  It is from Moda and the collection is called “Bee Grateful”.  It came with a panel which I will use later after this quilt is done and I will use the left over fabrics to put some blocks around the panel.  The panel project will go on the list when the Bee Quilt is done!

The fabric is so pretty and full of cute designs that I didn’t want to cut the fabric up into little pieces to stitch into blocks.  The fabric designs would just disappear.  So I gave it some thought and first came up with the idea to do bigger blocks with bigger pieces but that didn’t seem like it showcased the fabric like I wanted to.

Finally, I decided to use hexagons of the fabrics so the designs would all show nicely.  I really didn’t want to stitch hexagons together with Y seams so I decided to cut half hexagons to eliminate the Y seams but I would still end up with hexagons of each fabric. 

Having the Crafter’s Companion Gemini cutting machine, I can use the half hexagon dies!  That was exciting because I won’t have to cut all the half hexies by hand….with rotary cutter, ruler (60 degree angle) and mat.  Yippee!!

The pattern is my own and I will be sure to share with you exactly how many rows and columns I am going to use to make my quilt.  It is going to hang on the wall so it won’t be a giant size quilt but more in line with, maybe, a lap size quilt.  I really haven’t decided yet.

I already have a bunch of half hexies cut from when I did the video tutorial so I can get some rows done and share pictures with you soon.

See you soon!
loreen

 

Here is a video tutorial I did on my YouTube Channel – Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse – so you can see just how I cut them and started stitching some together.  I will be sure to bring you more videos as I work on this project.  I will do a video tutorial for those of you who would like to stitch some half hexies using a rotary cutter, ruler and mat.  Stay tune for that!

 

 

Day Five - April Insanity List

Project 5 – Main Street Bench Pillow

Today’s project is machine embroidery mixed with some sewing to make a bench pillow.  A bench pillow is like having two pillows side by side!  This project comes from Kimberbell Designs and uses the 5 x 7 hoop. This makes the embroidery go pretty quickly which makes the project go pretty quickly!  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!

This is a new project and I purchased a fabric kit so I won’t have to go scrounging around for just the right fabrics.  Gave myself a break on this one.  There is also an embellishment kit that contains lights that will string across the pillow but from the inside so just the tiny bulbs will show through.  I’ll be sure to take some close up pictures for you to see!

I do have a finishing goal in mind as I would like to have this done before July.

See you soon!
loreen

Day Four - April Insanity List

Project No 4. Year of Crafting from Crafter’s Companion

I am so looking forward to working on this project and have been saving it for my April Insanity List! Since I am a beginner at this paper crafting, it will be a learning experience as I work my way through the workbook of paper crafting projects.  I will be sure to do some videos on this project especially so those other beginners out there can learn and fumble along with me!  The first video will be just showing all of the great goodies in the three drawers and some of the pictured projects just to get us going.  We’ll have to round up some glue, glue tape, scissors, etc to keep with this project.

As you can see in the picture, I am going to use the Crafter’s Companion Midi machine instead of one of the electronic ones.  Going to keep this project basic so, maybe, when the weather gets warmer, I will be able to work on paper craft projects out on the porch!  That’s my dream!!

See you soon!

loreen

 

 

Day Three - April Insanity List

Project No. 3 - Seasonal Silhouettes

Ok, now I told you that you didn’t have to let anyone know how old any of your unfinished projects are but I’ll tell you this one is about two years old…though someone could remind me it has been longer!!  I don’t mind at all!!

This project came as a kit with all the background squares ready to go and all of the applique pieces already fused and laser cut!  I KNOW!! What’s the hold up on this one!!  Time just slips away from us all, doesn’t it.  Projects get put aside for other projects. Since I teach sewing and embroidery classes, sometimes what I would like to work on gets set aside so I can make class projects.  Then out of sight truly is out of mind.

My goal for this project is to get all the applique pieces on each block and fused.  I’m not committing to getting the applique stitching all done. We need to be reasonable here and keep our expectations in control!

I do look forward to working on this project as I can be lounging on the couch, watching some TV show I like with my little pressing station right at hand!

See you soon!

loreen

Day Two - April Insanity List

Project No. 2 Crochet Busket

Since I need some more storage (and who doesn’t), I decided I would like to make a crochet busket (basket) using the T-shirt yarn.  Yes, yarn made from strips of T-shirts.  I guess I could have gone off the deep end and started cutting up some of my old T-shirts but, to be honest, I still like my old T-shirts and am not willing to give them up.  I purchased a couple of cones of T-shirt yarn because I have no clue how much I will need and certainly didn’t want to run out.  If there is left over yarn, I’ll just make a smaller busket to go with the bigger one!

Now about the color I chose.  Yes, I agree, not the prettiest looking color….kind of a cross between mustard and spicy mustard.  To be honest, I needed a change from blues, greens, reds, etc.  It seems like this color busket would look nice on a shelf.

I am not following a pattern for this busket and will be happy to post exactly what stitches and how many rows, etc. as I go along if you’d like to try it out.  I am using a K 6.5 crochet hook and on my practice work, it seemed to be the best choice.

The picture shows part of the round bottom of the busket. I will be doing a video of how to start the bottom and keep it round over the coming weeks.  I'll be sure to post the video here when it is done.

See you soon!
loreen