Fall Projects

I have been knitting washcloths or dishcloths.  I have placed one to three decorative buttons on the top under a loop.  At least one button is vintage.  I thought this would be a great gift with a handmade bar of soap.  This washcloth is made with a cotton-linen fiber.  The pattern is one of those easy learning patterns, but I used thinner thread and a smaller needle.  I bought this thread some time ago, but it has been in a plastic container waiting me to get around to making something.  The thread is 4 ply with 4 different colors.  It contains the colors of off white, linen, hot pink, and dark coral.  I have made other washcloths or dishcloths with varied colors also.  This is one of those projects you can do while doing other things and not worry where you are in the pattern if you take a break and go back to it.  I will eventually place these for sale with a matching bar of hand made soap.  What fall projects have you been working on?  I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather.  We sure are.

Please view my web store at:

http://www.custercottage.com

And visit my Etsy shop at:

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

 

 

New Canning Jar Decoration Ideas

I wanted to decorate canning jars a little differently.  Every year I try something a little different.  Obviously canning jars are not just for canning.  Many gifts can be placed into canning jars.  Gift ideas include, but are not limited to:  canned food, aprons, pot holders, dry spiced tea mix, hot chocolate mix, and cake/cookie/brownie mix.  When you give a gift in a jar, you want the jar presentation to look nice, but fresh and have a little oomph.  This time, I am concentrating on the lids.  I purchased jar lids and rings.  On the lids, I cut out fabric rings and glued them on.  I also cut larger fabric rings and used a yo-yo method and wrapped the fabric over the lids and sewed them along the edges.  I got a little carried away and made lids with lace on top of fabric.  I used antique linen fabric for more.  I centered items on the fabric before attaching them to the lids.  If you hadn't noticed, I centered a cottage, a rabbit face and food, a toile scene, and a tea cup of flowers.  I found that the best glue for this project is rubber cement.  Other glue bubbled on me, or turned colors.  If you are going for vintage, the discoloration is not necessarily a problem, but it you want it to look sleek and modern, it would be an issue.  When using the yo-yo method, it may be a little tighter fitting if it is placed directly on top of canned food with a sealed lid, but it should fit fine.  I have some other ideas and I plan to try those in the next few weeks.  I will share the results with you.

lace on top of fabric the yo-yo method

antique linen

centered decorations

I turned over one made the yo-yo way so you could see the back side.

Since I am from Kansas and our state flower is a sunflower, I like to decorate with them here and there.  I found a lady at the 4th of July craft fair, who made sunflower doilies.  This is her pattern.  She made many doilies with this same pattern.  I had to share this with you.

Have a great evening!  Dawnie

You are able to view my web store at: http://www.custercottage.com 

And my Etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage