Lavender Pouches

For years I have made lavender sachets.  They are great inside a drawer or closet.  I recall someone placing lavender inside netting and lace and placed on a fancy clothes hanger.  When my son was younger we placed lavender essential oil on his inside wrist.  At times he would be so hyper and smelling lavender seemed to help him calm down some.  The essential oil was mixed with a carrier oil so it wouldn't be too strong and possibly burn his skin.  A lightbulb went off in my head today.   I thought it may help my granddaughters sleep better.  At this time, only one of them has issues with sleeping.  Part of this is due to poor sleep hygiene practiced in her home.  (Inconsistent bedtimes is actually called poor sleep hygiene.  LOL ) I should state that all of us in my family are very sensory and we smell and touch most everything.  That may explain my fiber obsession.  Rather than giving my granddaughters a pouch of lavender buds, I decided to hang one over their heads while they sleep; attaching it to the headboards.  It could also be placed inside the pillowcases.  To make the pouch, I used a 5 inch square from my charm packs and cut it down the center.   With the wrong sides together and the right sides on the outside.  I sewed 3 sides of the pouch and left the 4th side open to fill with lavender buds.  A charm pack is a package of 5-inch fabric squares used for quilting.  After filling these pouches, I sewed the last side and pinked around all edges.  I used about a quarter-inch seam allowance and I used pinking shears to pink close to the outside stitching.  To tie the pouch to the headboard, I sewed a 12 -14-inch long ribbon across the top of the pouch.  These are portable and can go into pockets and used when needed for adults or children.  The 4th side could be left open and tied shut with a nice ribbon bow, however; kids will open the pouches and get the lavender buds all over.  I also thought that a banner or bunting made with hearts would look lovely draped across a girls headboard and it would give off more lavender aroma since there would be several heart pouches.  

  

Let me know if you give this a try and how it worked for you.   Dawnie

Directions for making a double sided egg basket liner

Directions for making a doubled sided egg basket liner.  In other words, a lined liner.

I used white thread so you could see the seams.

For directional fabric cut, 2 pieces of fabric 9 inches by 39 inches.  If you do not have a directional fabric, cut 1 piece 17 inches by 39 inches.





Fold right sides together,
Sew 39 inches with  1/2 inch seam.  Make sure pictures on the fabric are going the same way,  Press open.  If not using directional fabric, skip this step.







Now you will want to sew the side seam.  Skip 1/2 inch of sewing on one side of the center of this seam.  It doesn't matter which side of the seam.  This is for stringing the elastic through and gathering the bottom at a later time.  Press side seams open. 





Fold the lining in the center along the seam.  Approx. 3/4 inch from this fold, sew all the way around the bottom.  String elastic through this tube you just made, going through the opening just made by the skipped  3/4  inch, as shown above.  Tighten elastic and make this bottom as tight as possible, giving the bottom of the basket cushioning for the eggs.

Cut the top ruffle. 2 pieces 19.25 inches by 6 inches using cotton quilting fabric.  Measure the liner and it should be approx 38 inches at the top.  Fold under 1/4 inch on each short side of both pieces.  Fold each piece in the center.  Pin on one side of the top raw edges, meeting the folded seams at the side seam and also at the center of the top on the other side.  Press this seam.  The other side of the liner should be folded down approx 1/2 inch and hand-sewn or sewn on the other side as top stitching.

Cut the top ruffle. 2 pieces 19.25 inches by 6 inches.  Measure the liner and it should be approx 38 inches at the top.  Fold under 1/4 inch on each short side of both pieces.  Fold each piece in the center.  Pin on one side of the top, meeting the folded seams at the seam and also at the center of the top on the other side.  Press this seam.  The other side of the liner should be folded down approx 1/2 inch and hand-sewn or sewn on the other side as top stitching.

Sew 1.5-inches from the top fold.  String in the elastic through the top between the top stitching and the 1.5-inch stitching seam.  Go through the side seam area and through both ruffle pieces.  You want to cut a piece the length of the circumference of the basket by 2 (all the way around the top of the basket twice).  Temporarily tie the elastic on one side.  On the other side, with pliers, open the handle wire and place the elastic under the handle.  Place the handle back to where it belongs.  Now you can untie the temporary elastic and tie it so the ruffle sticks out and the liner fits well around the basket. 

The basket is lined,  The prototype was not lined and the wrong side of the fabric showed through the sides.  In the prototype, I placed a small circular cushion in the bottom for extra egg cushioning.  I don't think it is necessary with the doubled fabric in this lining. 

I tied some ric rac with the ribbon onto the side of the handle.  I purchased the egg baskets from Atwoods.  Kindly let me know if this is not understandable.

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

Pumpkins

It isn't quite autumn, but it is coming fast.  I have been quilting a little.  I made a pumpkin table runner using Lori Holt's pumpkin pattern from her Farm Girl Vintage book.  https://www.amazon.com/Its-Sew-Emma-ISE906-Vintage/dp/0988174979/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=farm+girl+vintage+quilting+book&pd_rd_r=ffe0512e-a87f-4622-a0b9-79369750c373&pd_rd_w=tk4Wy&pd_rd_wg=HKHLV&pf_rd_p=67c9d84c-d98a-4415-a549-dd3360e9d207&pf_rd_r=K9E1141M9M3YRR8SDAGX&qid=1568591589&s=gateway&sr=8-1                                                                                                         
                                                  

The edging is bright sparkling orange.  The background also sparkles.

Do you see the chicken in the background?

I want to do this canning jar table topper next.https://www.etsy.com/listing/663276057/in-stock-lori-holt-yes-you-can-canning?ref=yr_purchases

The place I worked has been sold and they brought in most of their crew, so I am unemployed.  I worked there for 13 years. You would think I have had a lot of time on my hands and I would get a lot of things done.  Wrong.  I have caught up on my sleep.  I have also caught up on TV and movie binge-watching.  What are you up to?

The girls love the silkie chicks!

I hope you are doing well.  Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

Egg Basket Liner

I made a prototype egg basket liner.  I picked up 2 small green baskets at Atwood's yesterday.   One of the newer chicks laid her first egg!  How did I know?  It was brown and the older hen lays white eggs.
     

The basket on the right is the prototype egg basket liner.  The one on the left is a tea towel and doily in a taller basket.

 The smiles are from Dakota.  I will publish directions soon.  

We have a couple new Silkie chicks in the brooder, so the new babies get a lot of hugs and kisses from the grandbabies.

Dawnie

Spinning, Knitting, Ravelry

I did a little spinning on the back patio.

This is Icelandic wool.

I completed a small shawl.  I started knitting the Souvineer Shawl, but I put a shell stitch edge on the bottom in crochet.  I didn't have enough yarn to make the [pattern as it is shown. The fiber is hand dyed by me on 100 percent Merino Superwash wool.  I love the color, but it makes it hard to see the design since the yarn is so busy.    https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/souvenir-shawl-2

How was your weekend?

Has anyone heard about Ravelry banning any speech, designs, or any talk or support for President Trump???  They did not ban political comments, just Trump since they felt he is a white supremacist.  He may be, but he was elected by the people and support for our country does not make me a white supremacist.  I am not much of a Trump fan, but what they decided to do was just wrong.  I know Ravelry is individually owned and they can make changes as they see fit.  I personally feel that all religion, politics, race, and gender discussions should not go on in a format like Ravelry.  I just want to view other completed works and purchase a pattern or two.  I don't need to know about the person's race, creed, religion, etc....  Many people have canceled memberships with Ravelry.

Didn't your grandma tell you not to talk about religion and politics at the table?  This is the same thing.

This grandma tells you not to talk about religion, politics, abortion, gender, and anything else that can get people in a heated discussion.  Don't ask, don't tell!

Dawnie

Chickens and kids

She is taking after her big sister.  

Cowl

I just finished a new cowl.  It is called the Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset Cowl.  It is designed by Laura Concert.  I used Yarn Rehab/Meadowcroft Dyeworks

Moon Lorn in m-232 - Dawson  

Superwash Merino Fingering Weight

I made a couple changes from the pattern.  I guess when you make a mistake, you call it a design element now.  LOL  For some reason I must have been one off on the center row of the first lace rows.  I didn't notice it until the second lace rows.   I decided to leave it that way and try to duplicate it on the last lace rows.  Hence, the design element.   I also eliminated the last repeat between the ribbing and the last lace stitches.  I wanted the top and the bottom to match.    I blocked the cowl, but not too much.  I like the purl stitches between the lace stitches to pop up somewhat.  The yarn was OK, but the ball fell apart because of my poor yarn winder tool.  I misplaced the good winder.  I think I spent as much time untangling the yarn as knitting with the yarn.

What have you made lately?  I hope you had a great weekend.  Thank you for viewing!

Dawnie

You can view my Etsy listing at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage