Our Creative Workshop is coming up on November 8th, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm!   Last month we had fun making Heart Pillows and Granny Squares!  Awesome!  This month: for sewers – Finishing your Quilt!   What do you do after the quilt top is done?  Continue reading…

For crocheters – more Granny Squares?!?  Did you know you can also make Granny Squares in the shape of a Triangle, Hexagon and Octagon?  Wow!  Continue reading…

Sewing Lesson: Finishing your Quilt.  OK, you’ve completed your quilt top, now what??  We’ll share some basic instructions, tips & tricks on finishing your quilt.  There are many different options on finishing a quilt: do you want a “Pillowcase” finish, or a traditional quilt sandwich with binding?  How do you want to quilt it?  Tie it by hand or machine?  Stitch-in-the-Ditch?  Outline stitching?  Decorative stitching – this is an opportunity to use some of those fancy stitches on your sewing machine?  Embroidery?  There are many ways to finish a quilt – almost as many as there are quilters!  Please come and share your ideas and your style!

Please bring:
* A completed quilt top
* Coordinating backing fabric measuring at least 2″-3″ larger then your quilt top
* Batting measuring at least 3″-4″ larger then your quilt top

You will have an opportunity to “practice” first!  Please bring some cotton fabric scraps to practice on:
* A square around 6″-8″
* Enough 2″-3″ strips to sew a border around it
* A 12″-14″square of backing fabric
* A 12″-14″square of batting

If you have a Walking foot, or Dual Feed foot that fits your machine, please bring that as well – it makes the quilting so much easier!  Also bring your sewing machine and all necessary materials and supplies.  We do have some sewing machines available for anyone to use.

I know some of you already have experience in quilting!  You have your own way of approaching quilting, your own style, your tips, tricks and strategies!  I would love for you to share too – even bring a handout if you choose!  If anyone has some experience with Free-Motion quilting, that would be awesome!  I certainly don’t know everything there is to know about quilting – I’m constantly learning as well!

Crochet Lesson: More Adventures with Granny “Squares” – Triangle, Hexagon, Octagon

Materials:
2 – 4 colors of worsted weight (group 4) yarn
Size G, H, and I crochet hooks

Granny squares can be made in more shapes than just squares!  We will learn how to make the triangle, hexagon, and octagon.  We will discuss interesting ways to combine the different shapes for various projects.

Bookmarks: These are beautiful!  Come and see!

Bookmarks for the women at Wheeler Mission.  We’re have quite a few of them, thank you for your help!  We’ve had fun, and created some unique and pretty bookmarks!  If you would like to try something very easy and creative with no skill required, this is for you!  Supplies and materials will be provided, just bring your willingness and imagination!

September is around the corner, kids are back in school, the nights (occasionally) are getting cooler!  It’s not long before the Fall colors will be here!  Are you ready?

Well, our Creative Workshop is coming up on September 13th from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, please bring your lunch!  Remember last year we had a wonderful time making all those pillowcases for Wheeler Mission?  We’ll be doing that again this year, and we’re calling it Pillowcase Marathon!  Thank you Cheryl for the name!  We did so well last year that we do have pillowcases left over, so we’re 44 pillowcases ahead!  Plus, some have already made and turned in pillowcases!  Soooo, here we go!

Sewing Lesson: Pillowcase Marathon: Whether you sew or not, you can participate!  Last year we had a wonderful time!  We will need people to help with:
Sewing
Pinning
Pressing
Trimming
‘Birthing’ – OK, this sounds weird, but all it means is turning the pillowcase right side out!

If you get 1 1/4 yards of two fabrics that coordinate, you can make two pillowcases with contrasting bands.  Please use tasteful, non-holiday fabric (per request of Wheeler)   Check out sales for cotton fabric, and make sure to prewash it first!   Please feel free to look through your ‘stash’ of fabric!  I will be going through mine, and will be happy to share!  The pillowcase pattern is available Here.

* Important!!  Please have your Pillowcases cut out prior to our Creative Workshop!  It will help speed up the process of assembling!

Please bring your sewing machine, and all necessary supplies, plus an assortment of thread, although there is minimal top stitching.  We will have an assortment of thread available as well, plus 3 sewing machines!  We also have Tote Bag kits available if you would like to make some more.

Knit / Crochet Lesson: Tips and tricks on sizing hats to fit in both knit and crochet; focus on filling in the gaps for Jireh Sports.  There will be no handouts for this one.  Hat and scarf patterns are available Here.

You need to bring:
– Worsted weight yarn (Group 4) – at least 4 ounces each in 4 or more colors – we have lots of yarn available if you need some
– Size G, H, and I crochet hooks (for those crocheting)
– Size 7, 8, and 9 knitting needles (for those knitting)
– Scissors, yarn sewing needle, tape measure
– Pencil and paper

Bookmarks:Bookmarks for the women at Wheeler Mission.  We’re starting to get quite a few of them, thank you for your help!  We’ve had fun, and created some unique and pretty bookmarks!  If you would like to try something very easy and creative with no skill required, this is for you!  Supplies and materials will be provided, just bring your willingness and imagination!

August is here!  Are you having a great Summer so far?  Starting to think about children going back to school?  Our Creative Workshop will be on August 9th, from 9:30 to 2:00 pm.  Please bring all necessary materials, supplies, your sewing machine, and of course your lunch!

Sewing Lesson: We will be doing Tote Bags assembly-line style (similar to what we did last year for pillowcases).  We were able to make a whole lot in a relatively short amount of time.  We do have some already, so it will be adding to what we already have!   Check out sales for medium to medium-heavy fabric – denim, twill, duck, even upholstery and drapery fabric!  These can be more flexible with fabric content, and do not need to be prewashed!  The totes also look really nice with contrasting pockets and straps, and you can play with solids, prints, appliques, etc!   Check out the Patterns page – both the Tote Bag and Tote Bag Extras patterns have been updated!  The Women at Wheeler have been so appreciative of your efforts!  They are really excited when we come bearing these gifts!

* Important: please have your Tote Bags cut out prior to our Creative Workshop!  It will help speed up the process of assembling!

JoAnn’s had their Duck Canvas on sale earlier this week – I hope you were able to take advantage of it!   Since it is 59″ wide, you would be able to make at least 3 tote bags with 1 yard of fabric.  However, there is a way to make 4: once you cut off the selvage, you should be able to cut 4 Tote Bags 36″ long (so there’s no bottom seam) by 14″ to 14.5″ wide.  I have often adjusted the size some depending on the size of fabric available.  The size range that Wheeler requests is 13″ x 15″, to 15″ x 18″, so if they’re somewhere in that range, it should be fine.

For straps, I’ve been cutting them 4″ wide by 15″ to 18″ long.  Pockets are cut about 8.5″ x 10″.  See the Tote Bag Extras pattern for details on both of these.  It’s been fun using contrasting fabric to make each Tote Bag more unique!

In addition to incorporating contrasting pockets and straps, you may also add whatever other decorations you would like!  We’ve had people adding stencils, applique, quilted motifs, quilted pockets, and having both inside and outside pockets.  The variety has been wonderful! 

So try getting 1 yard of several fabrics, mix and match, be creative!

Knitting Lesson: Building on the Basics in Knitting – how to make a gauge swatch and measure gauge, how to change colors in your work, joining yarns together without knotting, estimating how much yarn you need to finish a row or to make a project, and how to read a yarn label.

You will need to bring:

About 5 ounces each in two different yarn colors of worsted weight (Group 4) yarn

• A variety of knitting needle sizes – for example, 7, 8, and 9
• Yarn needle
• tape measure
• pencil and paper

Bookmarks:Bookmarks for the women at Wheeler Mission.  This has been great, and I think some are also making them on their own!  We’ve had fun, and created some unique and pretty bookmarks!  If you would like to try something very easy, with no skill required, this is for you!  Supplies and materials will be provided, just bring your willingness and imagination!

Reminder!

For September, we will be doing Pillowcases.   Check out sales for cotton fabric, and make sure to prewash it first!  If you get 1 1/4 yards of two fabrics that coordinate, you can make two pillowcases with contrasting bands.

* Please try to have your Pillowcases cut out prior to our Creative Workshop!  It will help speed up the process of assembling!

Please feel free to look through your ‘stash’ of fabric!  I will be going through mine, and will be happy to share!

Did you have fun sorting through your UFO’s last month?  Well, we’re doing it again – except this time with knit and crochet projects!   See below for details!  Just as a reminder, a UFO is an UnFinished Object – a project started but never finished.  You’re also welcome to bring any UFO to any Creative Workshop session!  We’re here to help you!

Our Creative Workshop is July 12th, from 9:30 – 2:00pm, and bring your lunch!  As always, you may participate in one of the Lessons, or bring another project to work on.

July’s Sewing Lesson: is a quilt block called Tilting Windmills!  It was on the wall during our May Gallery Display, and here’s a picture:
It’s a really quick & easy quilt to make, and you can use just a few fabrics, or a variety of fabrics for a scrappy look!  Since it uses 9.5″ squares of fabric, you could also use up odds and ends of fabric leftover from other projects for a really scrappy look!

Please bring an assortment of fabric, with pieces large enough to cut two 9.5″ squares.  You will need a total of 20 to 24 squares, so if you choose, you may use 10 to 12 fat quarters, which will be enough to cut 2 of each fabric.  If you choose to try 12.5″ squares, you will only need 5 or 6 fabrics large enough to cut 2 squares of each fabric, to make a total of 9 or 12 quilt squares.

You will need approx. 1/2 yard extra for borders, and approx. 1 1/3 yards for backing.  This can be one of the fabrics in the quilt top, or something else that coordinates.  Often, I choose the borders and backing fabrics after the quilt top is assembled.

July’s Knit / Crochet Lesson: UFO’s!  Please join us for some fun and creativity as we shake the ‘dust’ off and complete our UFO’s!   There’s times when we start a really great project, but then something happens, we get distracted, then next thing you know, it’s another UFO!   I even found some crochet UFO’s, and it’s been 20+ years since I’ve crocheted!.  Have you done the same thing?  This is the time to pull those UFO’s out and finish them!

Here ‘s some reasons why something may be unfinished:
– not enough hours in the day
– you got stuck and don’t know what to do next
– ran out of yarn, and/or it is not available anymore
– lost the pattern or instructions and don’t remember how to finish
– it was boring (yeah, we all get there sometimes!)
– don’t like the color(s)
– really, really do not like the design, texture, layout, fabric, etc
– completely forgot about it
– don’t have a reason?  don’t have a UFO? …that’s OK, come anyways!

What about you?  Do you have a hat, a scarf, a shawl, a blanket, or something else that’s laying there unfinished?  What about a previous Lesson that you started but didn’t finish?  Let’s get our creative juices flowing, and finish them!

We will have ideas, suggestions, helpful tips, or just simply provide time to work on those projects.  Bring your projects, with any additional yarn you may want to add to it, ideas of what to do next, and maybe an open mind to some new ideas.  If you have something you’re working on, and need a certain color yarn, let us know, and we will take a look at our stash and bring some choices that may go with it.  Let’s work together to create something great!

Bookmarks: Bookmarks for the women at Wheeler Mission.  This has been great, and I think some are also making them on their own!  We’ve had fun, and created some unique and pretty bookmarks!  If you would like to try something very easy, with no skill required, this is for you!  Supplies and materials will be provided, just bring your imagination and willingness to decorate these bookmarks!

Planning ahead!

Let’s plan ahead for August and September!  We will be doing Tote Bags and Pillowcases, both assembly-line style like we did last year.  We were able to make a whole lot in a relatively short amount of time.  We do have some of each, so it will just be adding to what we already have!
– For August, we will be doing Tote Bags.   Check out sales for medium to medium-heavy fabric – denim, twill, duck, even upholstery and drapery fabric!  These can be more flexible with fabric content, and do not need to be prewashed!  The totes also look really nice with contrasting pockets and straps, and you can play with solids, prints, appliques, etc!   We do have some donated fabric that you can mix and match with!
– For September, we will be doing Pillowcases.   Check out sales for cotton fabric, and make sure to prewash it first!    If you get 1 1/4 yards of two fabrics that coordinate, you can make two pillowcases with a contrasting band.

* Please try to have your fabric cut for your Tote Bags and Pillowcases before each Creative Workshop!  It will help speed up the process of assembling!

For both of these, please feel free to look through your ‘stash’ of fabric!  I will be going through mine, and will be happy to share!

Check out the Patterns page for patterns on both of these Projects!  The Women at Wheeler have been so appreciative of your efforts!  They are really excited when we come bearing these gifts!

….without crashing!   A UFO in this case is an UnFinished Object!  A project started but never finished.

Our Creative Workshop is June 14th, from 9:30 – 2:00pm, and bring your lunch!  As always, you may participate in one of the Lessons, or bring another project to work on.

June’s Sewing ‘Lesson’ is UFO’s!  Please join us for some fun and creativity as we shake the ‘dust’ off and complete our UFO’s!   There’s times when we start a really great project, but then something happens, we get distracted, then next thing you know, it’s another UFO!   I have more than I want to think about.  Have you done the same thing?  This is the time to pull those UFO’s out and finish them!

Here ‘s some reasons why something may be unfinished:
– not enough hours in the day
– you got stuck and don’t know what to do next
– ran out of fabric, and/or it is not available anymore
– if it’s a quilt, you don’t have enough squares
– lost the pattern or instructions and don’t remember how to finish
– it was boring (yeah, we all get there sometimes!)
– don’t like the color(s)
– really, really do not like the design, texture, layout, fabric, etc.
– completely forgot about it
– don’t have a reason?  don’t have a UFO?  …that’s OK, come anyways!

A little different, but as I sort through things I’ve done even in just the past year, I found several more UFO’s, and I think it’s about time to finish them!  What about you?  Do you have a quilt, a tote, a hat, a scarf, or something else that’s laying there unfinished?  What about a previous Lesson that you started but didn’t finish?  Let’s get our creative juices flowing, and finish them!

We will have ideas, suggestions, helpful tips, or just simply provide time to work on those projects.  Bring your projects, with any additional fabric you may want to add to it, ideas of what to do next, and maybe an open mind to some new ideas.  If you have something you’re working on, and need a certain color fabric, let me know, and I will take a look at my stash and bring some choices that may go with it.  Let’s work together to create something great!  (BTW, we will have something similar for Crochet and Knitting UFO’s in July!)

Crochet: Yo-yo Scarf: how to make motifs with join-as-you-go for no sewing. This project will also help use up those odds and ends of different yarn colors (those scraps of too much to throw away but not enough to make anything). You will need to bring:

• 7 ounces of a neutral color (black, cream, or white) in worsted weight (Group 4) yarn
• Scraps and the odds and ends of 2 – 10 colors in worsted weight (Group 4) yarn
• Size G/6 and H/8 crochet hooks
• Yarn needle

Bookmarks: Bookmarks for the women at Wheeler Mission.  This was great last month!  We had fun, and created some unique and pretty bookmarks!  If you would like to try something very easy, with no skill required, this is for you!  Supplies and materials will be provided, just bring your imagination and willingness to decorate these bookmarks!

We are displaying an assortment of our creations – including hats, scarves, shawls, blankets, totes, pillowcases! This is a Gallery Display in the Foyer of Hazel Dell Christian Church from May 11th through June 1st.  Our goal is to show what we are making, who we are making it for, and a little more about HD Creative and all we do!

Please bring in anything you have completed!  The items we need more of to display are totes, shawls, and cancer hats, but please do bring in anything you have completed!  You may leave them in the HD Creative Donation tote that is behind the Welcome Desk.  You may also contact me by email or just fill out the Contact Form, as that will send me an email as well.

Thank you for all of your hard work!

May Creative Workshop!

Our next Creative Workshop is on May 17th!    Please note, it is on the 3rd Saturday, since Mother’s Day is on the 2nd Saturday!   We’ll have some new lessons for you!  Please join us from 9:30- to 2:00, and bring your lunch.

Sewing: Totes, Hats & Scarves – totes for Wheeler Mission, hats for Riverview Cancer Center,  and hats & scarves for Jireh Sports.   We will have assorted fabric, and some ready-to-sew kits available.  Do you have new ideas on making these unique and different?  Are you looking for ideas?   Please join us for fun and creativity!   You will need to bring:

• Sewing machine (we have 2 you may use, please let us know if you would like to use one)
• all your fabric, thread, scissors, and supplies you will need

Crochet: Building on the Basics in Crochet – how to make a gauge swatch and measure gauge, how to change colors in your work, joining yarns together without knotting, estimating how much yarn you need to finish a row or to make a project, foundation chain vs. base chain, and how to read a yarn label.   You will need to bring:

About 5 ounces each in two different yarn colors of worsted weight (Group 4) yarn

• A variety of crochet hook sizes – for example, G/6, H/8, I/9, and J/10
• Yarn needle
• tape measure
• pencil and paper

Bookmarks: Bookmarks for the women at Wheeler Mission.  This was great last month!  We had fun, and created some unique and pretty bookmarks!  If you would like to try something very easy, with no skill required, this is for you!  Supplies and materials will be provided, just bring your imagination and willingness to decorate these bookmarks!

Our next Creative Workshop is on April 12th from 9:30 – 2:00!  Please join us for fun, fellowship, and crafting!

For April, we are honoring the kids at Jireh Sports by having lessons on hats!  Fleece hats, and embellishments for crochet hats!

Sewing – Fleece Hats: different styles and ideas.  How can you make a bunch of hats, and still have each one unique and different?   Bring assorted fleece fabric and we will experiment!   We will have assorted colors in solids and prints available for you to use as well.

We’ll also be working on cancer hats for Riverview.   If you have cotton knit fabrics, bring that as well.

Crochet – Fun Hats – how to make a basic beanie, and then embellishments for various animals/creatures

You will need to bring:

• 6 ounces of worsted weight (Group 4) yarn in the hat color
• 1 – 2 ounces of worsted weight (Group 4) yarn in various colors to make eyes, ears, etc.  We will have assorted colors available for you to use as well.
• Size G/6 and H/8 crochet hooks
• Yarn needle
• tape measure

Bookmarks – NEW!   Bookmarks for the women at Wheeler Mission.   If you would like to try something very easy, with no skill required, this is for you!  Supplies and materials will be provided, just bring your imagination and willingness to decorate these bookmarks!

There are several Projects that are ongoing, and you’re welcome to work on any of them.  See the Current Projects and Patterns pages for more information!   Please remember that regardless of the ‘lessons’ at a particular Workshop, please do come and be a part of the social time.   We want you there to enjoy the fellowship!   So, you may work on this month’s lessons, or any other Project you would like.