Quarantine Clothes Hangers

I guess we all have some time on our hands, with this Coronavirus quarantine going on.  One of the things I do when I have some spare time is browse through my Pinterest files.  In my "For The Home" category, I have this item as a way to use up fabric scraps.  The directions are here.  Very simple, really.

I used some of the (boxes full of) trimmed selvage strips that I have kept.  (I did throw away some, though.  I mean, why did I even bother to save a strip that is about 1/4 in wide?!?)

Corrie's directions (in the link) said to use plastic hangers without hooks on them.  All of my plastic hangers have hooks on them.  So I just kind of worked my way around the hooks.  Yes, they don't look quite as nice as the hangers without hooks, but they're ok with me.

I decided to try it with wire hangers, too.  The only difference is that since it's a smaller diameter, I needed to wrap more times around.  But I have lots and lots of selvage strips, so I don't see myself running out any time soon!

Corrie said to tie a bow when you get back to the top, so I started leaving a good size tail at the beginning, too.  She also said to secure the fabric at the beginning, and at the joins with either masking tape or a hot glue gun.  I started out using masking tape, but the second day I used the hot glue gun, as I thought that would make it "cleaner."  Wish I had my low temperature glue gun, as I got quite a bit of it on my fingers!  No bad burns, though.

Do you ever do this with your wire hangers?  I sometimes bend the "arms" down for a particular blouse or top.  That way I don't get "dimples" on the shoulders.

I got quite a few of them finished.  With this quarantine, the whole house may become wrapped in fabric strips!  Maybe even the wooden hangers?!?

Did I mention that this makes a good activity to do while watching a favorite movie?

When Your Christmas Presents Need Explaining

For Christmas, SonStitches and Daughter-in-lawStitches gave me a few things that were on my wish list.  However, they had no idea what they were!!  So I had some "splaining" to do.

These cute little curley-cues are actually to control thread ends on spools that don't catch the thread.

Voila!

And I actually made some bias tape while they were here to demonstrate these bias tape makers.

Awesome Christmas presents!  Thanks, guys!!

Alphabet Embroidery

 A blogging friend of mine, Jenny of Elefantz, designed an embroidered alphabet set last year, and gave away the instructions on her website/blog.  (I think they are still available in her shop to buy.)  They are so cute, and I've now finished all 26 of them.  Jenny had designed them with the idea of making them into pin cushions.  I thought about that.  You can see in the photo below that I sewed two extra pieces of fabric onto the letter "b" in anticipation making a pin cushion

But I wasn't sure I wanted to make that many pin cushions!  My plan now is to maybe make them into Christmas tree ornaments, but I haven't made up my mind for sure.  Maybe I'll use them as little blocks in an alphabet baby quilt.

You can see some of the cute details in the following pictures.  

The little heart hanging from the letter "c," 

the flower on the letter "e,"

and the cute orange flower on the letter "f."

MisterStitches and I were talking about the letters.  I had just showed them all pinned up on my design wall.  He suggested that I make a decorative alphabet of my own.  I think I might just do that!

I'll keep you posted on any design ideas!

An Apron For BabyStitches

BabyStitches turned three in December!!  Boy, is she growing fast!!  In addition to her "Number 3" shirts, (which I'll hopefully get posted here one of these days!) I made her a little apron.  I was talking to SonStitches on the phone and asked what the little one might like for her birthday. He replied that she'd really like an apron to wear when she's helping them in the kitchen.

And here is the result.  

I used a wavy green print for one side of the apron.

The other side is a cute cat print.  

I think it's obvious which fabric BabyStitches likes best.

And when baking is over, another type of apron is needed!

The end result.