Is it nice where you are? It is pretty nice here, but the weather has turned a bit cooler. 70° one day and 30° the next. Well, 70° was the high one day and the low the next was in the 30°s. So, I am exaggerating a bit. But let's crack on with the projects, shall we?

First off, some of you will know I am making a memorial for all the aborted babies. I will make another section of the website for that soon. At least, most of my little felt hexies are dedicated to aborted babies. This one is dedicated to a little girl that didn't have very much time with her family, a matter of hours or days, but they were very grateful for the time that they had and she was loved from the time she was born until she left them. So this hexie is for her. I don't know if I'm going to make it part of the same project or make a separate project.

Next, more about the Hanky Bonnets! (sometimes referred to as "Hankie Bonnets")
I am going to make a little mess of these. One turned out premie size because I just had a little piece of fabric and it kind of turned out small when I squared it up. No matter, these are mostly for heirloom purposes anyway.
They are so cute! And pretty easy to make. The bullion stitch roses are actually the hardest part of the whole process.
I am going to make a little mess of these. One turned out premie size because I just had a little piece of fabric and it kind of turned out small when I squared it up. No matter, these are mostly for heirloom purposes anyway.
They are so cute! And pretty easy to make. The bullion stitch roses are actually the hardest part of the whole process.
Actually, thought that the hardest part was going to be NOT chewing up the corners of the delicate lace with my OP Juki. But I decided to sew the corners along with some water soluble stabilizer. This was kind of less expensive lace so the corners did not match up the way I thought they would. But, it will be fine.

See? Fine. After this you just soak it in some cold water and the stabilizer just disintegrates. Then it's all pretty and the stabilizer caught up in the stitches stays and makes the stitching on the corners nice and strong. I hope.
Then all you do is put on the embroidery, put in a few little stitches to form the bonnet, and put the ribbon in. I got some pretty nice double-sided 1/4" ribbon to use to draw up the back of the bonnet and make the ties.
YAY!
Then all you do is put on the embroidery, put in a few little stitches to form the bonnet, and put the ribbon in. I got some pretty nice double-sided 1/4" ribbon to use to draw up the back of the bonnet and make the ties.
YAY!

Now, bragging time. I've been practicing my satin stitch. I've never been particularly good at satin stitch. But I'm getting better!!!! This heart is about the best I've ever done. I like to stem stitch around the outside after I'm done with the satin stitching.
Where did the big improvement come from?
Backstitching around the outline of the shape before doing any satin stitching. This is actually padded satin stitch with two layers. I know that Mary Corbett at Needle 'N Thread recommends split stitching around the outline (I think) but I prefer back stitching. Works like a charm! I've started outlining my shapes for fishbone stitch as well.
I also am thinking of either purchasing or making my own laying tool. That would probably help as well.
Where did the big improvement come from?
Backstitching around the outline of the shape before doing any satin stitching. This is actually padded satin stitch with two layers. I know that Mary Corbett at Needle 'N Thread recommends split stitching around the outline (I think) but I prefer back stitching. Works like a charm! I've started outlining my shapes for fishbone stitch as well.
I also am thinking of either purchasing or making my own laying tool. That would probably help as well.
Last thing: this is what Prym thinks is a "pin cushion." LOL. A piece of crappy red sponge. It's kind of spongy, anyway. I don't think it actually absorbs. It basically is just a piece of something to keep the items in the sewing kit from bouncing around too much in transit. But it took up space in the kit, so I guess they felt they had to give it a sewing-type job. I don't fault them, really, it was just a cheap tiny sewing kit. But I thought it was kind of funny. When I first got these sewing kits, I thought I had been stiffed a pin cushion! Then I realized that the little red thing WAS the pincushion. How clever of you, Prym!
That will wrap things up for now. I'm working on some old projects trying to get them finished up, someday soon I will finish the Ugly Christmas Quilt 2020 and put some pics up of that. TTFN!
That will wrap things up for now. I'm working on some old projects trying to get them finished up, someday soon I will finish the Ugly Christmas Quilt 2020 and put some pics up of that. TTFN!