Tag Archives: stashbuster

Pillowcases and Trivets

Since the fire/smoke season hit (it used to be called summer), I lost my sewing mojo.

Who wants to sew when it is 100 degrees in the sewing room? Who wants to turn on the iron? And if you do turn on the iron, you have to turn off the window air conditioner (the only one in the house, and it is upstairs), because the iron and the air conditioner do not play together.

And the smoke is so thick that one cannot open windows at night and early morning to cool off the place!

Enough of that whining. Things could be worse.

Ever since summer became fire season a few years ago (this is our 4th year of drought), we pack our Go Bags and try to be ready for evacuation, should there be a need. It has come close a few times.

But we are so blessed.

This year, it was my oldest sister who had to evacuate. This was so unexpected! She lives in the big city. Spokane. All of my sisters (and myself) were born in Spokane. And thankfully, another one still lives there and took in our evacuated Big Sis.

Eight long days.

And then she received word. Her home is still standing, and she can go back.

So blessed!

I live 2 hours north of Spokane. The air had cleared and the blue sky was fabulous! For a brief respite, all the windows were opened.

But fire season isn’t over. The smoke is back.

I adjust, like we all must to our circumstances.

I really like making pillowcases because they are so quick, easy, and make great gifts!

If you would like to see more pillowcases, you can click here. I have made quite a few.

And sewing something, anything, brings back the sew mojo.

Pillowcases

I have also done some scrap sewing.

More trivets (potholders or hotpads).

Trivets/Potholders

These are also quick and easy and make great gifts!

Click here, and you can see how I make them. However, I don’t make a circle template anymore. I just draw around a plate. Faster and easier.

Trivets/Potholders

Have fun and carry on!

Trivets/Potholders

I shared what was on the design board in this post: January Chookshed Challenge #6.

Trivets/Potholders

Since then, I have made lots more scrap blocks made from the 1.5″ strip drawer.

Trivets/Potholders

Trivets/Potholders

Trivets/Potholders

Trivets/Potholders

I have scrappy blocks, batting, Insul-Brite, a freezer paper template, and backing all ready to go.

The template is a 10.25″ circle.

Trivets/Potholders

I quilted each block, with batting and Insul-Brite (not the backing).

Then I ironed the template to the fabric pieces (one by one, since I only made one template), traced around it, and cut circles from every block and backing piece.

Trivets/Potholders

No photo, but I sewed the backing and the quilt sandwich right sides together, leaving an opening for turning.

Turn, press, and topstitch.

Ta da!

Trivets/Potholders

Trivets/Potholders

Making potholders has been on my to-do list a long time. I really needed some new ones!

Trivets/Potholders

Trivets/Potholders

One can quilt through all layers, including the backing, and add binding instead of turning and topstitching. A pocket for the hand can also be added. Any size can be made.

One can also add hanging loops.

Trivets/Potholders

I don’t hang my potholders, and I don’t concern myself too much with appearance. These are made to be used. They will be stained and burned.

Having said that, there are a whole lot of fun and pretty potholder ideas to be found on the internet!

The best part…these are made from scraps! Although, I don’t think my scraps went down all that much.

Trivets/Potholders

I’ll be placing a couple of these in my kitchen drawer. The rest will go into the gift box.

Trivets/Potholders

Have fun and carry on!