November's Simple Sewing: Thanksgiving Napkins

Sometimes you just need a really simple project with big impact. A project that doesn't require a ton of measurements or fiddly seams or checking directions 100 times. These napkins are it for this month. I'm not going to say they're quick because I made a dozen and that took awhile, but they are simple-- and 4 wouldn't take long to make at all!

So why did I need this simple project? I get to host Friendsgiving this year!! See my happy dance?? For the past few years Sara has hosted a Thanksgiving feast for our friends-- and when I say host, I mean HOST. She cooks the entire meal and I sneak in a cheesecake at the end. Due to scheduling issues this year I get to take over and I'm psyched and obviously needed new napkins.

12 napkins required a yard of 6 different fabrics. These are about 16" square. I went to my favorite discount fabric store, Affordable Fabrics in Rocky Hill (only $2.99 a yard!), to stock up. They still had some of these great shot cottons in stocks and a nice selection of looser weave plaids so I picked up 3 colors of the plaid and 3 colors of the shot. Plaids aren't usually  my thing but they kind of screamed "Thanksgiving" so they had to come home with me.

I won't provide a tutorial, because Purl Soho, per usual, has created a wonderful one with their Running Stitch Napkins. The only thing I did differently was to serge the two sides together. The loose weave of both of these fabrics means a lot of fraying in the wash so this should help a little.

 

My original plan was to do a running stitch with gold embroidery thread, but time is running out so I settled with a copper metallic thread in my machine. It's not the same impact, but makes the napkin a little fancy.

 

Now to start defrosting that 20lb turkey... (the salted caramel cheesecake with smoked almond crust is already done!)

 

Quilted Leaves-- "Quick" Fall Decor

After dropping my son off at preschool yesterday I stopped off to get a Chai Latte at Sarah's Coffee House in Hartford. I was longingly checking out the empty storefronts I passed on the way home dreaming about the day when Hartford Stitch has a brick and mortar and I can decorate a window with fabric-y goodness.

At home I popped on Facebook to check out some messages and realized we had a Cover Photo that was in need of some updating and I realized that could be my mini-storefront for the time being!

So I looked at the stack of projects I needed to work on: a dress to finish for a wedding this weekend, another for the following weekend, a couple of sample projects to photograph and of course the holiday gifts I haven't even started-- and decided it made total sense to push all those aside to work on something new (sometimes you just have to give in to a Creative Calling)!

Thanks to Pinterest I found the pattern and tutorial by BuzzinBumble on Quilting Board to make some quilted foliage. She provided excellent step-by-step drawings and I had everything on hand so I was patting myself on my back for such a simple project choice.

I made 8 leaves in a little over an hour. Then I got to the turning the bottom part under. Had I thought this through I would have left more of a seam allowance for turning, but of course I didn't and I really despise turning under small seam allowances.

I spied a piece of leather on my cutting mat leftover from another project, grabbed a leather needle and leather thread and went to work. And my machine jammed. Repeatedly. Then my other machine jammed. Repeatedly. I was trying to sew through 2 layers of leather, two layers of cotton, batting and quilting. I was so confused since I've sewn leather on to bags before so I tried again. Another jam. Then I remembered I've always used "vegan leather" which of course sews like a fabric. Whoops.

So my "I have everything for this project-- go me!" attitude turned into dragging the kids to the craft store to buy a sewing awl. And then figuring how to use it. Then hand punching all the holes for the leaves and sewing them. A bit more complicated than intended.

 

I love the look of the leather with the quilting though! If I were to do it again I wouldn't cut the half moon out of the bottom so that I could do a more narrow stem like on the red (Kaffee Fassett leaf). The other stems are bigger to cover that cut out.

It may have taken my free time that should have been used for something on my Must-Do list, but I love these little leaves and they brightened up our facebook page and my home!! Though I have to say, right now I'm thankful I don't have to make enough to fill an entire storefront!

Infinite fall fun and a scarf to boot!

Is there anything better than autumn? Between the amazing scent of 'fall' in the air, the crunching of leaves beneath your feet, hot cider with extra cinnamon sticks, and pumpkin/apple baked goods... what's not to love? I could go on and on about this time of the year (don't even get me started on the fact that it's catalog season!) forever, but we at Hartford Stitch like to talk the talk AND walk the walk!
(And yes, in this case 'the walk' is sewing up a cozy infinity scarf to welcome the autumnal chill in the air.)

Check out that fall-themed manicure! 

Last week, Laura and I had the privilege of spending an evening with 6 wonderful ladies at the Imagine Studio in West Hartford to sew up some gorgeous infinity scarves. Each sewist selected her own 4 coordinating prints from our Art Gallery Fabrics and although no two were the same combination, every scarf came out beautifully.

Here are some pictures we snapped during the festivities - between the hum of the machines, the pumpkin bread, and laughs shared by all - I think it's safe to say this party was a success!

Our sewists ranged from novice (second time ever sewing!) to experienced quilter - our parties are for everyone into 'making' fun!   

All hands on deck - Laura giving Kelly a quick pointer at the machine. 

Not only did Jessica pick a gorgeous fabric combination, she even wore an outfit to match her scarf... our kind of maker, for sure! 

Everyone did a marvelous job - we had such a blast sewing with all of you! 

Thank you 'sew' much to everyone who joined us last week, we hope to see you again at our next party! Until then... keep on stitching your hart out! xx S