pastormom

This is soooo sweet. I just found it, way after Christmas, but just in time for Valentine's Day. I've been crocheting little hearts with no ummm...ultimate purpose. But now I've found a purpose! I can just chain them together and maybe weave them up the banister on the staircase, or drape them around a doorway (we just took down the fir garland around the doorway and it looks so empty!).
Thanks for such a simple, sweet idea!

This is so sweet! I am your basic scarf crocheter. Have attempted nothing else, yet. However, my daughter will marry next year, and maybe I'll try my hand at this. She is talking about making origami flowers for decorations for the wedding, and perhaps some crocheted flowers would be lovely as well. We are on a limited budget, and I have quite a stash of yarn. I do wonder, does it matter the size of the yarn/hook?

I've always been frustrated by how quickly coffee cools. This is a very practical answer to that dilemma. Also, in addition to making one here at home, this is a great gift I can make for a friend of mine who lives in an off-the-grid home.

I love Janome (and my old Singer).

Last week I was the volunteer leader of a beginner sewing camp for girls in grades 5-8 at a United Methodist camp here in Maine. This is our fourth year offering the sewing camp. I received donations from churches and community businesses to purchase twelve Janome machines for this camp, and they are terrific for beginners. The girls learn how to operate the machines and how to clean them. They learn how to experiment with different stitches and lengths. When something goes wrong, a volunteer is always nearby to assess machine issues and address them (usually very simple, such as incorrect threading or bobbin issues).

I have a Janome Sewist 625E, very simple, but I love it. I gave my 20 year old daughter my old Singer (circa 1984, so not THAT old), which she used a few years ago to make her senior prom dress, at a cost of $75 for materials, which would have probably retailed for $200. She modeled it last week for the camp sewers, and they were thrilled to think that some day they could graduate from sewing pillowcases to sewing prom dresses (and save money too).

Our focus at the camp is to sew items for missions, such as pillowcases for homeless shelters, schoolbags for children, potholders for soup kitchens, aprons for soup kitchens, and quilts for the LINUS project. They also take home one of each project, to show to family and friends. Some of the children have machines at home, and they continue to sew. Some do not have machines, but then go home to earn money to buy one, or they may ask for one as a gift.

Give a person a quilt,a schoolbag,or a potholder, and they have it for as long as the threads hold. Give a person a lesson in sewing, and they can sew quilts, schoolbags and potholders for their entire lives. How cool is that?!

My oldest is in college now, but I have fond memories of the days of play kitchens. I've sewn many a "felt-food." I love the craft, I just wonder about the snaps in this project. While snaps are an important fine motor skill activity, I find it much simpler to sew velcro for attachment. Also, where are the veggies? Kids need fun veggies!
Thanks for the idea. No grandkids to sew for yet, but I'll keep this in mind...