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WIP Wednesday – Just Some Small Stuff

WIP Wednesday – Just Some Small Stuff

My left arm is still giving me a tough time. I can lift it a bit more than I could a week and a half ago and I’m off the pain medication they gave me but it looks like it may be a while before I’ll be back to 100%. I’ve had to set aside all of my larger projects for the time being.

But yesterday, after a week and a half of not even picking up a needle, I worked on a couple of small machine sewing projects.

Pincushion & Needlebook in progress

Back in February when I was making the paper-pieced blocks that ended up becoming my Love Struck Purse, the first block I made didn’t turn out the way I thought it was supposed to, so I set it aside and made two new blocks. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit but that orphan arrow block sat on the end of my sewing machine cabinet waiting for me to do something with it because I couldn’t bring myself to throw it out.

Yesterday afternoon, I quilted it with some stitch in the ditch around the arrow and then some simple straight line quilting along the long edges. The plan was to turn it into a pincushion.

After quilting and trimming it seemed a little long for a pincushion so with a simple fold, I made it shorter and in the process created a small pocket.

Arrow Pincushion in need of stuffing

Now it just needs to be stuffed and the opening stitched closed.

Then when I was cutting up some leftover Moda candy bars into 2 1/2″ squares for leaders and enders, these eight squares look so good together that I decided to make them into a needlebook.

Needlebook in progress

This needs the opening sewn closed, some topstitching and a good pressing.

I’ve had this Red Brolly embroidery on my 2015 Finish A-Long list since the beginning of the year because I couldn’t figure out what to turn it into.

Santa is on his way embroidery

That is until recently when I started seeing advent calendars popping up in my pinterest feed.

I’m going to trim it down, add a square of fabric to each side, a long rectangle of fabric to the bottom and then add pockets with the numbers 1 to 24 stitched or appliqued on them. A bit more embroidery or other embellishments, some simple quilting and a Christmasy binding and it will be ready for the holiday season.

Note: The embroidery was a free pattern from Red Brolly but it no longer seems to be available.

 

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5 Comments

  • Mary Anne
    September 24, 2015 9:38 am

    So happy to hear that you’re able to at least do a little stitching. That does your heart good and makes you forget, at least for a little while, that your arm hurts.

  • Rachel Wright
    September 24, 2015 8:36 am

    Good to know you are beginning to get back to your stitching!

  • Kay chamberlain
    September 24, 2015 6:42 am

    There’s something very satisfying about managing to get back to a bit of stitching , I’m currently nursing a swollen sore thumb joint , it’s nearly there but I can’t crochet yet , hand quilting makes it throb so I’ve resorted to a bit of treadling if only to manage mending a pile of men’s stuff my pet hate but satisfying .

  • Susan
    September 23, 2015 10:42 pm

    What fun all three projects are! I’m glad your arm is allowing you to do at least these small things. You are on a roll!

  • Mary
    September 23, 2015 6:35 pm

    Small projects are good considering what you have been through. I love the cute embroidery, but hate thinking it is approaching so quickly.

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