Cloth Napkins

Here are some cloth napkins I made for a friend's wedding gift. I picked a main fabric that went well with the hand towels she registered for so I hope she likes them. I made them 2-ply from 100% cotton fabric based on this tutorial from the Purl Bee. To make them 2-ply (2 layers thick) but still easy to work with and durable, I stitched my two squares together (right sides together) leaving a hole for turning, turned them right side out, then used a zig-zag stitch around the edge (the same way I made my cloth wipes). Additionally, after I made the bias tape, I folded it in half lengthwise and pressed it down (to create double-fold bias tape) before pinning it on the squares - I didn't do that on the first napkin and I had to go back and redo a few spots where one side of the bias tape didn't catch.

Just an FYI - If you are going to purchase a bias tape maker, get the Clover brand. I couldn't find the right size when I was at JoAnn so I just bought the cheaper Dritz brand one. It was awful. I couldn't get it to work right at all. I tracked down the clover one and it worked beautifully. I love my bias tape maker!

Abra's Garden Apron

I did a fun post on another one of my blogs (Did you know I have 4 blogs? I have one dedicated to my family - you have to actually know us to read it {if you do know us but haven't been invited to read our blog, feel free to email me}, one dedicated to food, wonderful delicious food; this one dedicated to crafting; and my newest which is all about Thrift and Industry {i.e. saving money and being more self-reliant}. You should check them out!). Anyhow, back to my fun post. It was that the first 5 people who commented would get something homemade by me especially for them. So, for my friend Abra, who loves to garden, I made a Garden Apron. I have always wanted a garden apron so I thought that perhaps Abra would want one too. She loved it! (or so she said) I made 3 pockets for holding things like a trowel and pruners and a little pocket for a key or small iPod. I embellished it with crocheted flowers and old buttons. I can't wait to see it in use!

Summer Hats

As I was looking at some of the blogs I follow I noticed a very cute military-style hat on Design Mom (this post). I decided to try to make it for my boys. My first attempt turned out too small for either boy but my second attempt worked out quite well and fits my 5-year old. He loves it so much that he wears it every day.


For my youngest I crocheted him a brim hat.