FREE and EASY Crochet Dish Scrubby Cloth Pattern

When it comes to dish washing, I am very happy to say that I own & use a dishwasher...however, there are times when I need to hand wash something and need a smaller cloth to get into all of the tiny places...such as a canning jar or drinking glass and full-size dishcloths are too big or too thick.

I solve that problem by crocheting myself a few small dish scrubbies out of cotton yarn. Here is how you can make one using a simple single crochet stitch.

Scraps of cotton yarn (I use Sugar and Cream cotton yarns)
Size D or F crochet hook
Scissors

Chain 2 and then SC (single crochet) in second chain from your hook and in each chain across. Once you reach the end, chain 1 and turn. You will want to SC (single crochet) across the entire row, chain 1 and turn again. Repeat this until you have 10 rows. Fasten Off, weave in your ends.

This little cotton scrubby is the perfect size for when you need to hand wash drinking glasses, canning jars or just to get into tight little spaces to get all of your food particles out of them. They are machine wash & dry.

Enjoy!

FREE Country Ruffles Crochet Coaster Pattern!

If you love to crochet and are looking for a FREE and EASY coaster pattern that works up super quick then check out this free pattern over on the Around The Crochet Table Web Site!

You can crochet the coaster all in one color like she did, or you can do what I did. I used 2 different colors on one (to use up some of my yarn scraps) and on the other one, I used a vibrant rainbow yarn which I really loved that effect. The coasters will measure about 4 3/4" in size when completed. If you want them a little bigger, go up 1 size on your crochet hook, the pattern is done with a size F hook.

For best results, use a cotton yarn as they are super absorbent...if you are not worried about absorbency, go ahead and use some acrylic yarn. For one of mine, I used cotton and for the other one I used acrylic.

I love to send little handmade items in greeting cards that I mail out to friends and family and these fit right inside and make a little gift. I just add an extra first class stamp on my envelope and its just fine.



You can print out the coaster pattern ---> Around The Crochet Table

You can find additional FREE crochet patterns & ideas right here on my blog by checking out my Crochet Projects Category.

Free Crochet Shell Stitch Dish Cloth Pattern

I love to crochet and have been crocheting for 30 years now. One of my favorite crochet patterns/stitches in the shell stitch...it's super easy and makes really nice afghan patterns or dish cloth patterns ( dishcloth pattern ). When I make homemade crochet dish cloths, I always use 100% cotton yarn and I really like the Sugar and Cream brand of cotton yarns. You never want to use acrylic yarns!!!

Before I get started with directions on how I made the dishcloth, I want to explain how to do a shell stitch pattern.

How to do a shell stitch - Crochet

You always want to make a foundation chain in multiple of 6 stitches plus 1. For my dish cloth, I chained a foundation row of 37.

To begin a row of shell stitches on a foundation chain, thread over and insert hook in the 4th chain from your hook. Complete a DC (double crochet) and make another DC in this same stitch. This will make a half shell, the first step in a shell stitch row.

The correct order for a shell stitch row is as follows:

Beginning of row: Half shell (the turning chain 3 and 2 DC in the 4th stitch from your hook).

Repeat as often as desired: Skin 2 stitches, 1 SC in next stitch, skip 2 stitches, 1 shell (which is 5 DC in next stitch).

End of the row: Skip 2 stitches, 1 SC in next stitch.

When turning, you always want to chain 3.

Here is how I made my crochet dish cloth using cotton yarn and the shell stitch. The approximate finished size will be 8 1/4" by 7 1/4".

To make the dish cloth, I used a size 4 crochet hook. I made a foundation chain row consisting of 37 stitches. I then DC in the 4th chain from my hook and made another DC in that same stitch. I then skipped the next 2 stitches and made a SC in the next stitch, skipped the next 2 stitches and made a shell which is 5 DC in the next stitch. I did this across my row...ending with a SC in the last stitch. I then chained 3 and turned and went across again. I did this for 13 rows, not including the foundation row. You can make as many rows as desired. Once done, fasten off and weave in your ends.

You can find additional free crochet patterns here on my blog by looking under my crochet category...including additional dish cloth patterns! Please follow my blog (right hand column) so that you can see when I post new craft patterns!

FREE Crochet Hearts Doily Pattern!

If you love quick and easy crochet projects, I think you will love this Hearts Around Doily Pattern designed by Terri Kroupa.

You can find the FREE printable pattern on the Around The Crochet Table Site.

I decided to make one for my auntie as she loves to decorate during each and every holiday so I made mine in red and white so she could put it out during Valentine's Day but you can make it any color combination that you desire. The original designer made hers in rose and white colored sport weight yarn.

I was able to quickly make it, less than 40 minutes from start to finish and I think its cute...now I need to make one for myself in blue :)

So head on over to the Around The Crochet Table Site and print out the instructions so that you can crochet one too!


Happy Crocheting!

Free and Easy - Crochet Dish Cloth Pattern

Years ago one of the very first things I learnt to crochet were homemade dishcloths (dish cloths) in a variety of easy patterns. When I crochet dish cloths, I always use Sugar and Cream cotton yarn and I prefer to use their varigated color patterns as its just...well....easier than to select solid colors. When it comes to dish cloths, you always want to use cotton yarns and not acrylics.

This pattern I came up with years ago and its super easy because it only uses 2 different stitches...the SC (single crochet) and the DC (double crochet). The approximate finished size is 7 3/4" by 7" in width.

Supplies:

Crochet Hook Size 4
Cotton Yarn (1 ball of Sugar & Cream makes 2 dish cloths)
Scissors

Using your size 4 crochet hook, chain 34 which is your foundation row.

Row 1: DC in the 4th chain from your hook, chain 1, skip next stitch, DC in next stitch, chain 1, skip next stitch and DC in next. Repeat across. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2: SC (single crochet) in each stitch across for a total of 32 SC stitches. Chain 1 and turn.

I repeated row 2 for a total of 19 rows...you can do this row however many times you wish to obtain the size that you desire. After completing row 19, I chained 3 and turned.

Row 20: Repeat row 1 which is the double crochet, chain 1, skip next stitch and double crochet in next pattern. At the end of this row, I fastened off and weaved in my ends.

How To Crochet A Granny Square Afghan FREE Pattern!

There are numerous free patterns online on how to crochet a granny square so I won't bother typing in instructions. One of the best tutorials on how to crochet granny squares is located on the Crochet Cabana Web Site ---> HERE

Several weeks ago I decided to make an afghan using a granny square pattern that I learnt as a small child. I decided to make one that would use up a slew of my yarn scraps from my scrap basket so I used over 20 different colors in my afghan. The only yarn I had to go out and buy was the black acrylic yarn and I used Red Heart (tm) yarn for that.

You will want to make your granny square and then trim your granny square in black (the final outside row of your square). Once you have made a ton of granny squares, it will be time to assemble your afghan.

A quick way of doing it is to simply single crochet your squares together. I made my horizontal rows first and then finished up with the vertical rows. I then ended up single crocheting around the entire circumference of my afghan using a single crochet stitch and 3-4 rows to give it a nice black border.



Making a granny square afghan is a great way to use up all of your yarn scraps!

Happy Crocheting!

FREE Gorgeous Crochet Round Doily Pattern

Several years ago I came across a vintage handwritten crochet doily pattern in a box of patterns I purchased from the local thrift store. Once I looked over the pattern, I altered it to suit my modern day needs. I don't know who originally made up the pattern since it was handwritten, but the piece of paper it was on was dated from the late 1960's.

You can make this doily all in one color or you can alternate colors like I did for two of them in my above photo.

You will need a size 10 or 11 crochet hook and some cotton mercerized crochet thread. I used ecru for one doily and white and country blue for the others. The finished size will be around 7 3/4" in diameter. You will start in the center of the doily and work your way outwards....you can make it bigger by just adding on more of the last row if desired.

Chain 8 and join with a sl st to the first chain to make your starting ring.

Round 1: Ch 1, make 16 SC in ring, join with sl st to first SC.
Round 2: Ch 1, SC in same place as sl st was made. (ch 5, skip next SC, SC in next SC) repeat 7 times. (7 loops should of been made), now to form the last loop, Ch 2, skip last SC, DC in first SC (8 loops made).
Round 3: Ch 1, SC in loop just formed, chain 4, (SC in next loop, chain 4) repeat 6 more times. Join last chain 4 with sl st to first SC (8 loops on round).
Round 4: Ch 2, (make 5 HDC in next loop, HDC in next SC) 7 times, make 5 HDC in last loop. Join with sl st in top of starting chain (48 HDC on round).
Round 5: Ch 1, SC in same place as sl st in joining, (Ch 5, skip next 2 HDC, until 15 loops have been completed, to form the last loop Ch 2, skip next 2 HDC, DC in first SC (16 loops on round).
Round 6: Ch 1, SC in loop just formed, (Ch 4, SC in next loop), repeat around eneding with Ch 4. Join with sl st to first SC (16 loops).
Round 7: Ch 3, (make 4 DC in next loop, DC in next SC), repeat around, ending with 4 DC in last loop. Join with sl st to top of chain 3. (80 DC on round).
Round 8: Ch 1, SC in joining, (Ch 5, skip next DC, SC in next DC), repeat around ending with Ch 2, skip last DC, DC in first SC to form last loop. (40 loops on round)
Round 9: Ch 1, SC in loop just formed, (Ch 5, SC in next loop), repeat around, ending with Ch 2, DC in first SC to form last loop. (40 loops on round).
Round 10: Ch 1, SC in loop just formed, chain 3, (SC in next loop, Ch 3), repeat around. Join last chain 3 with sl st to first SC (40 loops on round).
Round 11: Ch 4, (make 2 TR *treble crochet* in next loop, TR in next SC) repeat around ending with 2 TR in last loop. Join with sl st in top of chain 4. (120 TR on round).
Round 12: Ch 1, SC in joining, (ch 5, skip next 2 TR, SC in next TR), repeat around, ending with chain 2, DC in first SC. (40 loops on round).
Round 13 and 14: Ch 1, SC in loop (chain 6, SC in next loop), repeat around, ending with chain 3, DC in first SC to form last loop. (40 loops).
Round 15: Ch 1, SC in loop, (chain 7, SC in next loop) repeat around, ending with chain 3, TR in first SC to form last loop. (40 loops on round). Fasten Off.

Hide your strings to finish up your doily.



You can use these doily's to sit figurines on or as candle mats.

Easy Crochet Afghan Blanket Pattern | Great For Beginners

This is a guest blog post by a friend I used to know. This is a great beginner's project for those who are just learning how to crochet and it works up quickly and easily. A great easy pattern for young girls who are learning to crochet or adults who want an easy pattern to learn with.

She worked with a beautiful neutral color variegated acrylic yarn.

Start out my crocheting your chain to 180 chains. You will then single crochet for 4 rows and then double crochet for 4 more rows. You will repeat again with 4 rows of single crochet and then 4 more rows of double crochet. Continue this pattern until you reach the size that you desire.

For the edge, crochet chain of 3 and single crochet it into the first hole and then repeat until the side(s) are done. You can do just the two ends or you can add the edging to all four sides.

You can use all variegated yarn like she did or alternate the rows with solid colors. Perhaps even make a rainbow colored afghan which would be really pretty for a young girl's bedroom.

Thanks for sharing your instructions with us!

How To Make A Kitchen Towel Fabric Topper

If you are looking to make some fabric toppers for some of your kitchen hand towels, I think you will be pleased with this easy to make project. You can find inexpensive nice kitchen towels at your local dollar type of store.

Here is what you will need to make this project:

1 cotton kitchen hand towel
2 pieces of 6" square cotton fabric
5" square of cotton batting
large 1" diameter button
8" piece of cording or twine
Sewing Machine & Basic Sewing Supplies
Scissors

Place your two 6" fabric squares right sides together with the 5" piece of cotton batting sandwiched in between them. Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew around 3 1/2 of the sides. Turn the square right side out and hand sew the turning hole shut with a needle and thread. Set aside.

Find the center of your kitchen towel and mark the center with a straight pin. Using your sewing machine, run a gathering stitch down the center width of your towel. Pull the threads up so that your gathered towel will fit the width of your fabric square. Pin your fabric square onto the gathered edge (center edge) of your towel and pin into place. NOTE: Your square should be diagonal on the fabric and not placed up and down (diamond shape). Use your sewing machine and run a straight stitch down the center of your diagonal from corner to corner. Make sure you back stitch to ensure its attachment.



Finish your towel by hand sewing on a 1" diameter button onto one corner of the fabric square and by sewing on hanging loop on the back corner.

~ Shelly ~

Country Homespun Snowman Applique Kitchen Towel

During the winter season, I love decorating my home in a snowman theme...I leave my snowmen out until the middle of February before I finally put them away for the season.

A few weeks ago, I saw some cute homespun towels out in a retail store that had snowman appliques on them...however, they were blue towels and my country kitchen is in red. I decided to not purchase them and to go home and make my own...that way, they would match my red kitchen.

Here is how I made my own snowman applique kitchen towels:

17" by 26" piece of homespun cotton fabric
Sewing machine with coordinating thread

I ironed my homespun to remove wrinkles. I then ironed a 1/4" back around all four of my edges (to the wrong side of fabric) and then folded it over again by a 1/4" so that it will hide the raw edges of my fabric. I then used a 1/4" seam allowance and sewed around all four edges of my fabric using a straight stitch.

Snowman Applique

You can find free printable snowman designs online by doing a search for free coloring pages or head to your local dollar store and purchase a holiday coloring book. Cut out the design. Scan the design into your computer and print off a few copies. I then cut apart my copies...one piece for the body, one for each piece of his clothing and so forth...until I have a pattern piece for each piece that I will need to make my snowman applique.

You will then trace each piece onto your desired color of wool felt with a disappearing ink pen. Cut out your felt shapes. Start building your snowman by hand sewing on his clothing and accents. I chose to use tiny little stitches for attaching all of his pieces to his felt body. Once I had him completed, I attached him to my towel by doing a blanket stitch around him. I used two strands of black embroidery floss for my blanket stitching.

It sounds a lot harder than what it really is...fun and relaxing. I like to sew up my towels one day...then during the evening while I am watching TV, I will hand sew up my appliques.

~ Happy Crafting ~

How To Make A Rag Quilt Throw Blanket

When it comes to quilting, one of the easiest quilts to make is a Rag-Style Cotton Quilt. Unlike traditional quilting, these type of quilts are quilted as you make them and they have exposed outer seams which you snip after you are done sewing them to make it fringe. After laundering, it rags which leads to your quilts country charm.

For this particular quilt, I chose to work in the purple and green color scheme and I used solid and print fabrics. All of the fabrics used are cotton as they rag and fray the best. You don't want to use polyester or nylon-blend type of fabrics in these type of quilts.

These type of quilts are reversible...one side will be raggedy like shown in the photo below:


The other side of your quilt will look like a traditional quilt, like shown in the photo below:


Supplies Needed:

Approximately 8 Yards of Cotton Fabrics
2 Packages Warm and Natural Cotton Batting
Scissors
Fiskars (tm) Rag Quilt Snipping Scissors
Sewing Machine and Basic Sewing Supplies
Rotary Cutter, Mat and Ruler


Picture of Rotary Cutter, Mat and Ruler That You Will Need.

Seam Allowances: I used a 3/4" seam allowance while making this rag quilt.

Finished Throw Quilt Size: 15 rows by 19 rows. (In other words, I have 15 squares in my horizontal rows and 19 squares in my longitude rows).

Fabric Preparation: Wash and dry your fabrics before starting. If necessary, iron them if they become wrinkled.

Cutting Fabric: I cut my fabric down to 4" sized squares using my rotary cutter. Try to make the squares an accurate 4" in size. You will need a total of 570 squares which will make 285 blocks. (2 fabric squares make up 1 block).

Cutting The Cotton Batting: You need your batting squares to be smaller than your fabric squares, mine measure 3" square. You will need one batting square for each fabric square so you need a total of 285 cotton batting squares.


Step 1: You need to make your fabric squares by layering a piece of cotton batting between to fabric squares. The right side of your fabric will be facing out and the batting will be inside. Use your sewing machine and sew an X through each square. You do this by going from the top left corner and down to the bottom right corner. Then flip your square and do the other side. It should resemble an X pattern on the center of your square. I leave 3/4" of an inch un-sewn at each corner. You will do this for all 285 squares.

Step 2: Clear off a large table or use a clean floor. Lay out all of your sewn fabric squares in a pattern or design that you like.

Step 3: Using a 3/4" seam allowance, so your squares together in horizontal rows to make long strips consisting of your squares.


Step 4: Using a 3/4" seam allowance, sew all of your horizontal rows together. As your quilt increases in size, it becomes a little bit difficult to hold and pull through your sewing machine...if needed, work it in 3 sections and then sew the 3 sections together to make it more manageable.

Step 5: Once you have all your rows together, you will have a rectangular throw quilt. You need to load it back into your sewing machine and go around all 4 sides with a 3/4" seam allowance. Finally...all your sewing is completed.

Finishing Your Throw Quilt: To finish your rag-style throw quilt, you need to snip all of your seams...you need to be VERY careful to not snip through any of your sewn lines/seams. If you don't own a pair of the Fiskars (tm) rag quilt snippers, I highly recommend that you get a pair as they are easier on your hands than scissors. (however, you can use regular sharp fabric scissors too). This next snipping step for will take a long time, so sit down with a cup of coffee and put a movie on. Using snippers or scissors, you need to snip/clip all of your seams to make the fringe. I like to clip mine every 1/4" and the closer together you clip them, the more your quilt will fray and rag when you launder it. You will do this on all of the seams and around the outer edges of your quilt.

Washing The Quilt: Now its time to make it all raggedy. I wash and dry mine 2 complete cycles. Put your quilt into the washer with a little laundry detergent and some fabric softener and wash it on the normal cycle. Once it is done, dry it in the dryer and then repeat the washing and drying again.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your quilts will shed a ton of threads and lint during the washing and drying process for the first few cycles. You need to clean your lint traps frequently, especially while drying them. I set a timer and check my dryer lint trap every 10 minutes as I don't want to catch anything on fire. After they have been laundered a few times, the shedding will stop.

The more you wash and dry your raggedy quilts, the softer they will become.

If you don't have time to make your own raggedy-style country throw quilt, you can contact me about custom ordering one from me. I make them in any color combination and can make them in just about any size that you desire. You can email me at Ravish30(at)aol(dot)com


Enjoy your new quilt!

How To Make A No-Sew Fleece Dog Blanket

Today I am featuring a guest blogger post by my friend Felissa who shares with us her instructions on how to make a no-sew fleece doggie blanket for your favorite pooch!

No Sew Dog Blanket

For those of you who want to make something special for your four legged family members but cannot sew this is the perfect solution. Your dogs and cats will love it because it is super soft and very warm.

Supplies Needed:

Fleece Fabric
Scissors

You can use left over fleece from other projects or find fabric that matches your dogs personality. I happened to have found this piece of fabric in a place that had no other fleece available and the dogs were cold so I used what I could find. You can choose any pattern you want to use even better if it is on sale.

If you have a square piece of fabric you can make fringes around the entire blanket, If you start with a rectangle piece of fabric you will only want to fringe the two ends so you don’t loose width just a tiny bit of length.

With your scissors cut at intervals of One inch up the fabric the length of your pinky finger. You can use a ruler if you want a mark or you can do it free hand like I do. For bigger dogs you can do longer cuts the length of your middle finger.

You can either make all the cuts before you start tying or you can make a few fringes and tie as you go. Just make a simple knot as close to the top of your strip as possible. Continue until you have finished with both sides or all 4 sides depending on your fabric.

That’s it you made your very own dog blanket. No sewing, no sweating just a little cutting and knotting. You can even do this while watching TV with your dog or cat asleep on your lap. The blanket is completely washable and should not shrink or bleed colors. If you wash your dog blankets often do not use fabric softener. Over time it ruins the fleece fabric.

Have fun.

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Felissa Elfenbein is a Stella & Dot Independent Jewelry Stylist based in Miami, Florida. Felissa facilitates Stella & Dot Trunk Shows and Jewelry viewings all over South Florida. You can visit her website http://www.stelladot.com/felissahadas or check out her blog http://www.felissahadas.blogspot.com

Crochet | Odds and Ends Scrap Afghan Pattern Great For Scrap Yarn!

Today is another great guest blogger craft project by my friend Sharon. She is sharing with us today her crochet afghan pattern that uses up a lot of your left-over yarn...a great way to use up your scrap stash!

Sharon's Odds and Ends Crochet Afghan

"I’ve been working on this for more than a dozen years, so the pattern is a tad hazy. Its actually one my mom taught me, and I don’t know where she got it from".

Chain on your stitches * must do in multiples of 5.

Row 1 and 2: Double Stitch, chain 3, turn and repeat

Row 3: Double stitch 5, create a chain, and loop around the stitch 2 rows below. Double stitch 5, create a chain, and loop around. Repeat. When you get to the end of the row, you will either have 5 or 10 double stitches to the end. Chain 3, turn and repeat

Continue until afghan is the size that you desire.

With mine, I change colors every 2 rows, but you can do it more often or less often. If you aren’t using scraps, you can create a pattern with them. This is a very versatile pattern.

Sharon Katzman is a Manager with Gold Canyon Candles. Through her business, she is able to help women to make an income and feel empowered.

Quilting - How To Make A Rag Style Quilted Table Runner

I just love to spend time in my sewing room and one of the things I enjoy making are rag style quilts, table runners, dresser scarves, pillows and wall-hangings. I love the 'country-style' feel with rag quilts! If you are a beginner quilter or someone who is just learning to sew, this is certainly a great beginners project. Before you get started, please read through all of the steps/directions involved.

Supplies Needed:

1 yd. Cotton Fabric - Primary Color
1 yd Cotton Fabric - Secondary Color or Print
1 pkg. Warm and Natural Cotton Batting
Rotary Cutter, Ruler and Cutting Mat
Scissors
Sewing Machine and Basic Sewing Supplies
(optional) Fiskars Rag Quilt Snippers (like scissors but use for cutting the fringe)


Cutting The Fabric: I pre-washed my fabrics to remove sizing. I then ironed them to remove wrinkles. Using my rotary cutter and cutting mat, I cut 22 (6") fabric squares from my Primary Color of fabric. From my secondary color (print fabric) I cut 20 (6") fabric squares. You will need 2 squares of fabric per quilt block. From my Warm and Natural Cotton Batting, I cut 21 (5") batting squares. Note: Your cotton batting squares need to be a minimum of 1" smaller in size than your fabric squares.

Sewing Your Quilt Squares: You will make fabric block sandwiches by layering a piece of cotton batting between two of your fabric squares. Place a straight pin in the center to hold your 'sandwiches' together. Once your sandwiches are together, its time to sew your blocks (right sides of fabric facing out). Start in one corner and sew a straight stitch to the other corner. I leave a 1" space at each corner. You will then do this from corner to corner on the other side until you have sewn an X in the center of your sandwich fabric square. Do all of your squares in this manner until they are done.


Table Runner Assembly - Lay out your quilt blocks in your desired pattern. I decided to do 3 rows by 7 rows (see photo). Using 5/8" seam allowances (some people use 1" seam allowances) Place 2 quilt blocks right-sides together and straight stitch them together. I chose to do my horizontal rows first which consisted of 3 quilt blocks each. Once I had my horizontal rows together, I then I connected them all together by sewing my vertical rows. You now have a rectangle and all blocks are together. Finish up your sewing by sewing around the entire table runner using a 5/8" or 1" seam allowance.

Note: While attaching my rows to one another, I like to press open my seams using an iron...that is up to you if you want to do that step or not. I think it makes your sewing easier and your quilt will look nicer.


Fringing - I found the best tool for cutting all those seams to make the fringe. It is made by Fiskars (tm) and is called a rag quilt snipper...it is a lot easier on your hands compared to scissors. You will want to snip all of your seam allowances without snipping into your sewing line. I like to snip/cut every 1/8" of an inch because the smaller your snips/fringe...the better your fraying will be.

Washing and Drying - Once your table runner is finished, wash and dry it twice using laundry detergent and fabric softener. The fabric softener will help it to fray even more and make it softer.

Warning: The first few times you wash your rag quilt table runner, you will need to clean your washer and dryer lint traps every few minutes to keep them from getting clogged. I set a little timer for 10 minute intervals so that I am constantly checking on them and cleaning the traps. You don't want any fires! After the first 2-3 washings, your quilted table runner will quit shedding and you can wash and dry it normally.

Free Rag Quilting Table Runner Pattern

A few years ago I learnt how to do rag quilting and I have been doing it ever since. I have rag quilts, throws, pillows, table runners and even a ragged denim rug that decorate different areas of my home.

Rag quilting is a great way for beginners to try their hand at quilting. This method of quilting is rather easy and your projects work up quickly. I was able to make a table runner in 2 days.

You can find free patterns and instructions on how to do rag quilting and rag quilted table runners by visiting the Love To Sew Web Site.

I made my table runner (shown in the photos) by following their Raggedy Quilt Table Runner Pattern. I chose to use all green, dark teal, dark red and red patterned fabrics in my table runner and all of the fabrics I used are cotton calicos...as they fray and fringe easily. I used Warm & Natural cotton batting as my quilt 'filler'.

There is no right or wrong side to a rag quilt. One side will show your exposed frayed rag seams and the other side looks like a traditional quilt. This is why I love rag quilts...you can reverse them and they still look beautiful.

The photo below shows the 'raggedy' side with exposed frayed seams.


The last photo below shows the traditional quilted side of my table runner.


I made up a dozen of these to use around my house and I also gave several of them away as holiday gifts. I am going to make up several more and use some holiday print fabrics and colors and then use those runners around the various other holidays throughout the year. Example: Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, Patriotic, Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Easy Sewing Project - Fabric Kitchen Towel Hanging Strap

I love to hang my kitchen towels off the door handles of my refrigerator and upright freezer. However, I wanted to be able to hang one off my oven door handle too.

I decided to make my own towel hanger out of fabric. This one has a velcro closure so that you can easily grab your towel from it when needed. The button is just there for decoration.

Supplies Needed:

Piece of Calico Print Fabric Measuring 17 1/2" long by 1 1/4" wide
1" Round Diameter Button
1" Square of Velcro (Hook and Loop Closure)
Sewing Machine and Basic Sewing Supplies
Scissors and Measuring Tape

The first thing that you want to do is to cut your fabric strip down to size (see measurements above). Fold your strip in half lengthwise, right sides together and pin. Using your sewing machine, straight stitch around two of the long sides and one of the short sides. Turn the strip inside out (now the right side of the fabric is facing out) and hand sew the remaining short edge shut with a small whip stitch.

Hand sew your button on one end of the strip, about 1" in from the edge. On the other side of the fabric strip (behind the button) sew on a piece of the velcro.

On the other edge of your fabric strip, machine sew on the other velcro piece. (note: this piece should be facing up aka. on the same side of the fabric as the button).

Your fabric strip is now completed. You can loop this strip around your refrigerator, freezer or oven door handle. Just thread your kitchen towel through it and its readily available when you need it.

Easy Sewing Project - Adding Decorative Fabric Trim To Hand Towels

I needed some new hand towels for my master bathroom but I didn't want to spend a fortune for them. All of the ones I spotted at the local bath store were expensive or too gaudy in design for my liking. I wanted simple cotton white hand towels with just a little something extra to them.

I ended up purchasing some inexpensive but nice quality plain cotton bath hand towels and decided to spruce them up a little bit myself. I went to the fabric store and purchased some cotton fabric.

Here is how I added a little extra touch to my inexpensive towels.

Supplies Needed:

4 Bath Hand Towels
1/4" Yard Cotton Fabric (I went with a tiny floral calico print)
Sewing Machine Plus Basic Sewing Supplies
Measuring Tape
Iron and Ironing Board
Scissors

Tip: Your top thread (spool) color should match your fabric strip and your bottom thread color (bobbin) should match your towel color. In my case, my spool thread was baby blue and my bobbin thread was white. You want to make sure your bobbin thread matches the towel color so that your stitches are not seen on the reverse side.

The first thing you need to do is measure the width of your hand towels. Once you get the measurement, add on 1/2" an inch. Next, decide how wide (thick) you want your band to be. I wanted mine to be 1 1/4" wide, you will then add on a 1/2" inch to that measurement. In my case, I needed a fabric strip that measured 17" by 1 3/4" in size. You will need to cut out eight strips to make four towels, one strip for each end of your towel.

Once you have the strips cut out, you need to iron them. You need to press under 1/4" on all four sides (both short ends and both long ends). Do this step for all eight strips.


Using straight pins, pin down your fabric strip onto your hand towel in the position where you would like it. Mine are approximately 4 1/2" from the end. As you are pinning down the strip, make sure your ironed edges are under the fabric.

Using a straight stitch on your sewing machine, sew about 1/8" in from your fabric edge the entire way around your fabric strip, removing your pins as you go along. Continue this process until you are completely done.

Pretty easy and adds a nice little touch to your plain cotton hand towels. You can buy holiday printed fabric and quickly make yourself an inexpensive set of holiday bathroom and kitchen towels to decorate your home with or to give away as holiday gifts.

Pattern and Project Idea is Copyright Shelly Hill, 2009, All Rights Reserved.

Sewing - Simplicity Pattern Adult and Child Aprons

I have been busy in my sewing room for the past 6 weeks sewing up these adoreable bib-style aprons for little girls and adult misses. The pattern I have been using is made by Simplicity (tm) and its pattern #2824 Sewing Patterns For Dummies Series so it is really easy to use and great for beginners.

The pattern includes Adult sizes Small thru Large and Child sizes Small thru Large.

You can visit the Simplicity web site ----> HERE

I think I have made around 30 of the adult aprons and 20 of the little girls and I am still busy making more!

The one pictured up above is one I made in a christmas tree patterned fabric. The ones below are little girl size medium ones that I made a few weeks ago. Aren't they just too cute? LOL


This is a great pattern for beginners and experienced seamstresses and these aprons would make great year around gifts. The pattern is easy to use, understand and to construct.

Note: I was not compensated in any way for this post. I personally purchased the pattern at my local fabric store and used it.
~Shelly~