Erica's Stitches

I found this lace at a thrift store?  What is it? I recognize some techniques but others I don't.  I found a Needle Lace book at the library and found more of the techniques but nothing put together like this. The blue background is synthetic fabric so it's not very old.  It reminds me of fabric from a bad bridesmaid dress. The thread that made the lace on the outside is the same thread that made the inside lace. There's a spiderweb in the very center of the flower and dove's eyes surrounding the flower.  The bars in the flower are needle woven.  But, the rest of the flower?  I haven't seen anything like it before. What I like the best are the flowers around the edges.  That is something else I've never seen before.  I'm going to have to try to duplicate one.

It was time to come up with a new design and I didn't have any ideas.  So, I asked a friend for an idea.  Her response was "something patriotic". I started thinking of fireworks, picnics and parades.  But, nothing I could see in a sampler.  So, I went with my favorite subject, flowers; stitching them in red, white and blue. I have a hanging basket on the patio overflowing with red, white and blue flowers and the combination looks great together.  At the greenhouse, there were many to choose from.  Red geraniums or salvia.  Blue petunias or lobelia.  White petunias and verbena.  All were beautiful. My sampler uses imaginary flowers. Now, I'm thinking of making more bouquets for different seasons.  Maybe a Harvest Bouquet or a Spring Bouquet.  Hmmm, I'll see what happens ... This pattern is for sale on patternsonline.com .

It's finally finished - my "make do" quilt. 20 old polka dot nine patches. 3 old Dresden plate blocks cut up into Dresden fans. And 4 new butterfly blocks to complete the quilts. One pieced backing of leftover fabric. I had to buy the batting.  I should have used 30's fabric scraps for the binding but I wanted a black binding so I ended up buying that too. I think the result was worth it. Usually, this is when I toss the quilt into the washer.  However, the polka dot nine patches are so delicate that I'm afraid to. I'm ready to start on my next quilt now.

The current Piecework Magazine has an article on Depression Lace - something I'd never seen before. The project is an apron that didn't appeal to me but I still wanted to try the technique. Depression lace is normally stitched on gingham using the grid as part of the pattern.  I stopped at the local quilt store and they didn't have gingham.  I looked through every bolt to find one with a suitable grid and ended up with this red fabric.  It's not traditional but it worked. I've stitched two so far.  Each with very different thread colors.  You can't tell, but the main thread above is a silver metallic. I think I'll be making these into ornaments. I'm going to be looking for more gridded fabrics and trying lots of color combinations. Here are some other instructions .  The stitches are different but the effects are similar.  I incorporated the running stitch into my second try, which wasn't used in the Piecework...

This project has been on hold for a while.  I last blogged about it in fall while preparing the border nine patches. I got the quilt all sewn together and basted over Christmas break and it's sat ever since.  Traditionally there is a waiting period between basting and quilting that depends on the quilt size.  A very small quilt I'll baste and quilt the same day.  A rather large quilt is allowed to sit for up to a year.  It can sometimes take that much time to get up the nerve to start quilting. This quilt is about 48 x 48 inches so 5 - 6 months was the perfect amount of time.  And, there's nothing like a long weekend to make me want to tackle something. While working on the quilt I decided it needed a black binding.  This was going to be my "make do" quilt done with supplies on hand.  So, I rummaged for black and white fabric that I knew I had.  When I found it I  discovered I didn't have as much as I tho...

Otherwise known and Mint: 0 and Wild Rose: 4 The saga continues... I've been fighting an ongoing battle in a large planter with a wild rose.  Finally it got too big and last year I ripped it out .  I had to remove all the soil from the planter to get all the roots. In it's place I planted a spearmint plant which totally took over crowding everything else out.  Well almost. This year there is no sign of the mint and there are 4 wild roses coming in. For now, I'll let them be. The chives are still going strong and I planted some oregano. There's room for a few more herbs (basil and something else).  My mini rabbit is still hiding in the chives.  It will be interesting to see what develops in the planter this summer.

And now ... the rest of the finishing instructions ... Measure the top of the pincushion and cut squares of quilt patting about the same size or a little smaller. Place the squares in the pincushion and mush them down until they just fit.  You want them to fit tightly, but not too tight. Fold in opposite sides and lace together. Be careful of the tension.  If you pull too tight or not tight enough you will distort the box shape. Repeat with the other two sides making sure that the edges are tucked in.  If you want to add a bead or button to the center, now is the time.  It helps to have a really long needle.  Go up from the bottom and come out of the top center.  Pick up the bead or button and go back down through the center and out the bottom.  Tie the ends together tightly and cut off.  I finish with a drop of nail polish.  (Somehow I missed getting a picture of this step) Next, cut a f...