Busy little elves: what are you starting the new month with?

Dear users, dear authors,
I can imagine you’re using the holidays Reformation Day / Halloween and All Saints’ Day to make progress on your craft projects? What are you working on right now, or what are you starting November with?

Josefa, I’m picking up where I left off in October—still sewing and knitting items for the Kindertafel, and making myself a new outfit :-)
Because the next drop-off for the Kindertafel is at the end of November, and I still need a few things like hats, etc.

Best wishes, Inge

As for me, I’m continuing work on my blanket this week.

The blanket is now finished—next up is the blocking process.

Petra, do you quilt by hand or with a sewing machine? I’ve done both myself, and I find that hand-quilting is pure relaxation—it’s a wonderful way to unwind.

Best wishes, Inge

I’d like to do both.

For doing it by hand, I’m still deciding which yarn or thread to use. Can I use a piece of yarn? Darning yarn for socks?

I’d like to try different embroidery stitches—that’s the plan.

For now, I’m securing the interfacing with basting thread.

I’ve even quilted with hand-embroidery thread—which I then split—but I’ve also used machine embroidery thread, though I doubled it up. It always depends on the quilt and what kind of patterns you want to quilt.

Best regards, Inge

Just topstitch the side 3 more times, then I’ll continue by hand tonight



I’ve set my sights on a vintage velvet fabric that’s only 1.15m wide—the sewing pattern I chose barely fit, since I made the collar a bit narrower.

Now I just have to decide whether to use hidden snaps or regular buttons.

The pattern also calls for a chest pocket, but I don’t think that would look good with this fabric.

Velvet is quite a unique fabric, I think.
The nap goes in different directions, so everything kept twisting out of shape, and the lint was really extreme!

But so far, I’m very happy with it.









Can you actually iron velvet? Since the fabric is probably from the ’70s or ’80s, I’m not familiar with it. So far, I haven’t dared to try.

Won’t the velvet get flattened when you iron it? You should probably try it on a scrap piece first.

Your jacket looks great. Awesome fabric.

For heaven’s sake, DON’T IRON IT—that’ll ruin the velvet nap and make it look ugly!!! You can get velvet smooth and beautiful by moving a steam iron back and forth about 6–8 cm above the fabric, BUT NEVER directly on the velvet.

Best regards, Inge

Thank you, and I’ll keep the iron at a safe distance.

Did you manage to finish everything?

I’ve finished sewing my blanket.

But now I still have to quilt it. I sewed a few seams with my sewing machine. At lunchtime today, I’d like to buy some quilting thread and needles and then practice quilting by hand. 

Right now, I’m trying to clear out my scrap box a bit, so I’m currently working on some summer decorations. On December 1, I’ll be starting the Lacritza Advent calendar.