Crocheted Cross Bookmarks

Hi, all! It’s been a while since my last post but I am here with a quick little something to share. A while ago I was telling my awesome Lymphatic Drainage Guru about my mission trips and I inspired her. She is planning to go on one this year. What a rush! I love inspiring others. Well, as we were talking she said she wanted to bring something she could hand out; something the people could put in their Bibles….A bookmark, of course, so I volunteered to make them….30 of them.

Handmade crochet bookmark by GoofingOff Sewing

Well I looked around for patterns but none suited me so I reworked a bracelet pattern I found.

Her pattern, for a cross-wise bracelet is HERE

I loved the stitches so here is my pattern for a crocheted cross bookmark 4 inches long and 2 inches across:

Steel crochet hook size 2/2.25mm

Crochet Cotton thread size 3 (Aunt Lydia’s or Bernat)

Skill level: Beginner

Ch3, hdc 3rd ch from hook, ch1, 2 hdc ( all in the same space)
Every other one***
*turn, slip stitch until you and in the ch1 space, ch2,1hdc,ch1,2hdc* repeat until you have the length desired (approximately 15 rows).

attach the yarn to the space between the 5 and 6 shells.  *ch2,hdc,ch1, 2hdc, turn sl stitch to ch1 space* repeat 3 times (3 shells).
repeat the step above on the other side of the cross.

Weave in the ends. Starch and let the dry.

That’s it. The cross takes less than 1 hour to crochet and very little cotton thread.

A nice little gift that’s easy to make.

Thank you to Crochet Chiq for her inspirational blog post. Her work is amazing. Please check it out.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing

 

 

Lavender and Lace Revisited

The other day I stopped by my favorite stitching shop, Suwannee Valley Cross Stitch in Trenton, Florida. The place is literally a feast for the eyes. Pin cushions of every shape and size, wonderful threads, yarn, antiques, and so many gorgeous pictures. While soaking in the beautiful surroundings I noticed a few pictures that looked like Lavender and Lace or Butternut Road. When I checked with Miss Sally she confirmed my thoughts. So here’s a few of the delights in her shop.

I think I listed the chart for one or two of these beauties in PatternHaus.

Aren’t they wonderful?

Happy Stitching!

 

Post by Eileen Patterson

Lavender and Lace Cross Stitch

Lavender and Lace. Just the three words bring to mind elegantly dressed ladies, plush upholstered furniture, and high tea….love my tea. Well, Lavender and Lace also refers to beautiful cross stitch patterns designed by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum.

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum was an American cross stitch designer known for her Victorian angel designs. Her designs are beautiful. She published the designs under the business name “Told in a Garden”.

Two completed works hang on the wall at the Suwannee Valley Cross Stitch shop where I play, er, stitch. Truly a feast for the eyes.

Well, as luck would have it, I had the good fortune to acquire several of the Lavender & Lace and Butternut Road patterns, or charts. Here’s what is new to the PatternHaus shop.

Angel of Mercy

The Quiltmaker

Angel of Winter

Angel of Summer

Once Upon A Time, Butternut Road

Celtic Christmas

Angel of Autumn, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum designer.

Angel of Light, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum, designer. Lavender & Lace

Angel of Spring designed by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

Ice Angel by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum, Lavender & Lace

 

 

Post by Eileen Patterson

 

Getting Back to Stitching

For me to say “I’ve been away for a bit” is a huge understatement. Like most folks, I’ve had quite a year, and this has nothing to do with politics. Over the last year I have 1) retired from my away-from-the-house job, 2) took part in a medical mission, 3) found out and was treated for breast cancer, 4) helped care for my uncle before his death, 5) cared for my dog after his stroke then buried the little guy six months later. Needless to say I’ve been preoccupied. Each of those things can be life-changing but when put one on top of the other, all I can say is “Phew! Break time! I’m ready to do some stitching.”

For me, retirement was like changing jobs. I still have three shops on Etsy, GoofingOff Sewing, Miss Eileen Vintage, and Pattern Haus, so I never stopped working, nor did I intend to. Retirement allowed me to focus on one less thing and do that from home.

I did two sewing related things after retirement.  I joined the Springhouse Quilters Guild in Trenton, Florida (yes, Florida, not New Jersey), and the stitching group that meets on Wednesdays at the Suwannee Valley Cross Stitch, also in Trenton.

I haven’t done much quilting yet….I talk more at the meetings than I stitch but I try new things. One step at a time. As for the stitching group, I found I like to embroider. Stitching ornaments got me through radiation fatigue and helped raise money for the medical mission.

Well, that’s all for now but there’s more to come.

For now….

Eileen

 

 

Three Needle Art Kits to Satisfy the Needle Artist

I love to keep busy, not crazy busy, but busy, as in Something-to-do. I like to crochet, needlepoint, sew, whatever it takes to keep me out of trouble and make something beautiful. I have lots of ideas in my head but the process of getting the idea into reality is sometimes a long, difficult path so a kit is just right. Not quite my design but close and it’s good to have someone else pick out the yarn.

Recently I found three awesome kits for crewel and needlepoint. All three have been in someone’s stash waiting for the right person to give them life.

Columbia-Minerva Crewel Embroidery Kit “Pansies” Designed by Erica Wilson                                                                      

Pansies have a vintage, elegant look. Good to make into a pillow or picture.

Boucle Plastic Canvas Ornament kit

The ornaments are worked on plastic canvas. The colors are retro 80’s. Great for tree ornaments, gift tags, or make them into bookmarks.

Coats’ & Clarks’ Crewel Embroidery Clown

The Clown would look great in a nursery or child’s room…..or good for a clown collector.

The kits are in the PatternHaus shop. There are other kits there as well and patterns for embroidery and cross stitch.

Well, that’s all for now. Putting lots of “new” patterns in the GoofingOff Sewing shop so make sure to take a look. The Costume Sewing Pattern Sale is still going on. Lots of patterns are gone but there are still a lot of great ones left.

And stop by the Miss Eileen Vintage shop for amazing vintage clothes, hand bags, and collectibles.

Post by Eileen of GoofingOff Sewing….Make magic with every stitch.