Key Fob

This is a quick and sweet little key fob I made for my keys.

I have two sets of keys, my regular set and a set for work.  The work set has gotten smaller lately, so I didn't need such a big clunky key ring.  I like having a soft key fob since I usually carry these around in my pocket. They don't clank and clunk as much.

Left key in WDW Grenadine, right key in WDW Hibiscus

This is a tiny little key, so it only takes about 10 minutes to stitch.  I put one on each side of the fob, added a little batting in the middle and sewed it all up with a quick blanket stitch.  Easy peasy!

I used one of my favorite colors (at the moment):  Weeks Dye Works in Grenadine.  A happy color!  Fair warning though, it does bleed a bit.  So if you wet it to get rid of your water soluble marker, just spritz and don't touch!  It's the jostling and fingering that will draw the color onto the fabric.

Pinch bail & key fob; Blanket stitch in GA Harvest Moon

I added a "pinch bail" to the top to be able to add a keyring.  Just add and squeeze shut.  We'll see how durable it is:)

Download the pattern here.

Threads

I don't know many needleworkers that don't love thread...and I'm certainly no exception!

Endlessly fascinating, colorful, textural and inspiring.  

Flickr collage - Threads

1. Embroidery Floss: Tote Project, 2. Linen Embroidery Floss Project, 3. Naturally Dyed Embroidery Floss, 4. Bobbins, 5. 2012 New DMC Color Variations Floss, 6. Hand-dyed Floss, 7. threads 5, 8. Threads, 9. Crochet Thread, 10. Thread, 11. new perle cotton floss, 12. Colors, 13. Thread Collection

I guess everyone has their favorite way of storing their embroidery floss and threads.  I keep my DMC threads in a floss box on bobbins, but my overdyed threads (Gentle Arts and Weeks Dye Works) are kept on their original tag and organized on binder rings by color.  

What's your method for storing your threads?

Once More with Feeling

Another bag...new colors.  Well, actually, the same bag as this pattern.  But different approach.

This one is a little more involved, since I'm strip-piecing the main body front and back pieces, and adding some embroidery and quilting stitches to them.

But, if things turn out like I have it pictured in my mind...I will fall madly in love with this bag.
It's got a whole Sister Golden Hair vibe that I'm loving right now.  And talk about fun to stitch!  I just let myself go wild and free with the embellishments on this bag.  No marking, no measuring, just stitch whatever I want.

The strip-pieced main body pieces, strap pieces , and lining material at the bottom

I'm adding a few more pockets on the outside of the bag, as well as 2 zippered and several divided pockets on the inside.  I just need to get it done before summer is over!

In crochet news, I'm making slow progress on the hexagon blanket.  Slow...but it progresses:

I did keep my promise to myself to sew the motifs together as I go.

What are your summer projects?

Free Mason Jar Embroidery Pattern

I love mason jars, that's no secret.  And I've been enjoying the combination of peach & purple lately.  So I stitched this little jar just for fun.  As you can tell, I haven't even given it a good pressing yet.  It's just been hanging on my design wall making me happy.  It seems to be attracting yo-yos :)

I love using over-dyed flosses for simple things like this:  I used Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in Sweet Pea and Melon Patch for this little jar.

Click HERE to download the pdf file  

Download a copy if you want to stitch it too!  (And I'd love to see your version.)

Simple Stitches

Embroidered flowers are so cheerful.  And this one is no exception.  A bit of brightness and simple stem, satin and backstitch.  I love backstitching...it's like knitting stockinette.  You just go on autopilot and let your mind wander in a million directions.  This is the flower from my logo.

I'm going to trim the outside in brown running stitch.  You can just see the copy of my flower on paper in the photo above.  I outlined it with brown, because, well, I love brown!