Do you remember sleeping under wool blankets before the days of Doonas/duvets, how cosy they used to be, Well I remember my Grandmother have a few really special blankets and I have always wanted to make a few like that. Everytime I visit an Opshop/Goodwill store that is where I head ... too the blankets. I found this lovely pale green wool blanket, not quite a single size but big enough to make my very first blanket for just $5. And then on the same rack a queen sized gingham doona cover for $8, just what I was looking for, and a whole box full of pale blue bais binding for $2 a roll
This morning I layed out the donna cover, unpicked a seam or two, and the seam on the edge of the blanket and ironed the seam open/flat with the steam iron. Lay the blanket in between the material flattening it and pinning through the 3 layers. Neatly cutting the blanket to a good size knee blanket. Normally I would zig zag the edges but opted to sew the bais binding on at this point. Technically I should have machine quilted the piece first but I am hoping the safety pins will hold the 3 pieces together so I can hand quilt it.
Now Grandma's blanket was made with scraps of material much like a patchwork. Beautiful shades of yellow, orange and browns, But I just opted for the easier method today.
Tomorrow I start teaching sewing, crochet and baking to a lovely bunch of refugee ladies from somewhere near Nepal. 2 weeks sewing and 1 week baking, no I was not looking for a job, just happened to be with my neighbour who already works at the Community center. I am taking over her classes while she recovers from a hip replacement and then got roped in into taking these as well Only 3 hrs lessons but we have a language barrier to deal with. Tomoorw we start with draw string bags to keep their wool and needles in and a square pin cushion for their pins. very basic sewing.
Do you remember sleeping under wool blankets before the days of Doonas/duvets, how cosy they used to be, Well I remember my Grandmother have a few really special blankets and I have always wanted to make a few like that. Everytime I visit an Opshop/Goodwill store that is where I head ... too the blankets. I found this lovely pale green wool blanket, not quite a single size but big enough to make my very first blanket for just $5. And then on the same rack a queen sized gingham doona cover for $8, just what I was looking for, and a whole box full of pale blue bais binding for $2 a roll
This morning I layed out the donna cover, unpicked a seam or two, and the seam on the edge of the blanket and ironed the seam open/flat with the steam iron. Lay the blanket in between the material flattening it and pinning through the 3 layers. Neatly cutting the blanket to a good size knee blanket. Normally I would zig zag the edges but opted to sew the bais binding on at this point. Technically I should have machine quilted the piece first but I am hoping the safety pins will hold the 3 pieces together so I can hand quilt it.
Now Grandma's blanket was made with scraps of material much like a patchwork. Beautiful shades of yellow, orange and browns, But I just opted for the easier method today.
Tomorrow I start teaching sewing, crochet and baking to a lovely bunch of refugee ladies from somewhere near Nepal. 2 weeks sewing and 1 week baking, no I was not looking for a job, just happened to be with my neighbour who already works at the Community center. I am taking over her classes while she recovers from a hip replacement and then got roped in into taking these as well Only 3 hrs lessons but we have a language barrier to deal with. Tomoorw we start with draw string bags to keep their wool and needles in and a square pin cushion for their pins. very basic sewing.
Oh that sounds like a lovely idea to teach some basic sewing classes at the community center. Your quilt will be very warm with the pure wool blanket inside.
ReplyDeleteThey are really willing students, good therapy too.
DeleteI'm sure teaching will be fun. :) Although I was professing accounting, I was asked to teach a crochet class at one of the universities because the dean's secretary saw me wearing my sweaters each day when I came in to pick up my campus mail. I did it and we all had a blast. After about three years of teaching it, I had to stop because I just didn't have the time with other teaching, my business, and, most importantly, three children. I hope you share with us how the classes go. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lois, I will keep record of my lovely ladies, they are such lovely girls. One even came for a hug to say thank you yesterday.
DeleteHello Rina, My daughter still has a couple of my old blankets.. I also like the cotton ones as thats what is used still in hospitals. But Doonas are my favoured because they are so light yet so warm.That is really good to teach the migrant women to sew. Just getting them together to laugh and share is good therapy. I realised hoe lonely it is to be one of them for my first year living in the USA..
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal, I can relate to that as well coming from another country. Many years before that, I tought craft at a womens refuge centre, teaching them to help themselves instead of just going without. , they are all very proud off their items they made. It is good therapy. But then there was no language barrier ...
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