A funny thing happened . . .

at school on Thursday. It was the last class day for students and an early dismissal day as well. I had been contacted by the computer to sub from 8 AM to 10 AM. I thought that was a bit odd so I went ahead and showed up at 7:30 AM as I normally would for this school. When I got there I found out there would only be two class periods -- 2nd and 5th -- and 5th period started at 9:55 AM (5 minutes before I was scheduled to leave). On top of that, the teacher I would be subbing for didn't even have a 2nd period class. I ended up spending two hours in the teachers' lounge doing redwork before I was asked to go on ahead to the classroom and stay for the 5th period class! I was able to get quite a lot accomplished on this Jacobean-style redwork flower. (I actually was in the classroom about 15 minutes before the teacher arrived and relieved me. )

Anyway, I worked on this piece off and on during the rest of the day at home and finally finished it late at night. It's amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it (and have a little "down time" in which to work)!

More redwork completed

I started this redwork heart a couple of days ago and finally got it finished yesterday. I wasn't really paying to much attention to the fabric -- just wanted to get something embroidered and completed -- and found that a cat had previously wet on the fabric. I've hand washed it several times now but think I'm going to have to soak it overnight to get the stain out. At least it doesn't smell.

Oh, the joys of the internet!

I've spent the last couple of days viewing, downloading, and printing free redwork patterns from the internet. (Don't tell hubby!) In fact, I've printed out so many that I had to start a new 3" binder to keep my patterns. I did trace off several of the new ones onto white muslin so I could start work on them in between schoolwork and housework. I've just about finished another large piece. Will have to wash and iron it before photographing and posting to this blog.

And yet another tidbit

From the mixed up files of Mrs., um, well, anyway. It's just the right size to go on a pocket. That is, if you like cream colored crocheted tidbits.

A number of years ago I heard about pattern books that held snips and tidbits of crochet in them. The books were made of cotton fabric and the tidbits were then attached to the pages with sewing thread. I guess fabric was more plentiful than paper at that time and wouldn't leave marks on the tidbits. I keep thinking I'd like to create one of those pattern books for myself -- that's probably one reason why I've kept my snips and tidbits all these years.

The other reason is I want to get back into crazy quilting and you need lots of things to embellish a crazy quilt. I've been collecting photos from the internet of various crazy quilts to use as inspiration for my needlework. Hopefully this summer I'll be able to get more needlework done than during the school year.

It's really just a pineapple tidbit

but it does look somewhat like a butterfly in J. & P. Coats' Lilac Knit-Cro-Sheen thread. I was playing around with Josie Raber's Pineapple Persuasion pattern (#6 in the July 1989 issue of Crochet Fantasy magazine). The pattern is actually for a wearable shell but since I don't like to crochet clothing I thought it might work for a tidbit or maybe even a bookmark (if I repeated the pattern a couple of times).

Here's another piece of redwork

This time it's a kitty in a watering pail -- another one of my finds on the internet. I just love how she's leaning on her arm and sticking her tongue out. I can't decide whether she's taking a bath or making a comment on being stuck in the watering pail.

I needed another bookmark . . .

so I stitched up this one from leftover #10 white cotton thread and edged it with J&P Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen cotton in Lilac. In the mess that is currently my study I've managed to misplace my ruler but I think it's about 7" long by 1.5" wide. A little bit of filet crochet, it's just lots of white dcs and alternating dcs & chs, with scs all around in lilac.

I liked this design . . .

of a kitty in a shoe but I'm still having problems with the eyes. I wasn't particularly fond of what I saw in the pattern and haven't come up with a solution as of yet. Anyway, this is redwork from Vogart's pattern #626. I found a copy of it on Floresita's blog. I think the URL is http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/367502140_9b4097f66e.jpg?v=0.

Gauge is very important . . .

. . . when you are doing filet crochet. At times I'm right on with it and at other times, well, I miss the mark. This was one of those times. This coaster measures 4.5" x 5" when blocked and should have been either 4.5" x 4.5" or 5" x 5" square. So, back to the various bags and boxes that I keep my crochet hooks in to find another hook in a slightly different size. Maybe it will turn out properly next time I crochet this coaster. (It's my own design!)

The redwork is coming along nicely. I've finished a couple of pieces, traced a few more on fabric, and will post pictures in the next couple of days. Until then . , ,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star . . .

well, maybe not this little star. It's another tidbit from my box. It measures 2.25" from point to point, crocheted in 100% cotton thread (size 10).

This is just filling in while I embroider some really cute kitties in redwork. I spent a couple of very enjoyable hours last night downloading free patterns from the internet. This afternoon I traced several of them onto white cotton muslin and have already started embroidering them! Hopefully, I'll have something to photograph and post in the next couple of days -- maybe even tomorrow! (I always was pretty fast with my needlework. Used to drive my hand quilting/embroidery instructor, Alice, crazy.)

I found this doily stashed . . .

. . . in a box of tidbits I had completed a while back. It's in #10 cotton thread and measures 9" from point to point. Other than that, what can I say? It's a crocheted doily!

I'm still washing, blocking, and photographing needlework on top of all my other life duties but I think I'm going to do a little redwork embroidery for a while.

I love to read . . .

. . . and I usually have several books going at the same time. Therefore, bookmarks like this one are at a premium in my household. I used to use paper bookmarks but I just kept losing (er, donating) them when I sold my books back. I'm a little less likely to lose a crocheted bookmark even if, like this one, it doesn't have ribbons or a chain hanging off of it. (I guess I do need to finish that righthand side a little better!)

This one is 1.5" x 9" and crocheted from Aunt Lydia's yellow 100% cotton thread in size 10.

I love coasters . . .

. . . because they're quick and generally easy to make. They don't take much thread or yarn either. So, here's another 4" quick coaster in #10 white 100% cotton thread. I'm still looking for the pattern again so I can make some more as gifts.

Is it watermelon time yet?

'Cause I'm ready with this nifty watermelon hot pad. OK, I know it looks like it's a potholder but it's really a hot pad. Remember all those old CDs (AOL, etc.) you didn't know what to do with? Well, there's one stuck in between the two layers of watermelon! It's a great way to recycle those CDs.

Oh yeah. Heavy cotton in black, pink, cream, and light green. 7" in diameter. Can't remember who wrote the pattern but I'm sure it was someone on the internet.

Back to the needlework

Tip for surviving final exams: Do needlework! It helps to greatly lower your stress level.

Having done that (and received an "A" in the course - YAY ME!), here is what I crocheted during that time period. This is "Cookie Corner," item #6 from Magic Crochet, June 1997, Issue #108. It's deep rose colored in Aunt Lydia's Puritan Heirloom Crochet Cotton (size #10) and measured 8.5" in diameter.