I've Been Making More Hanging Dishtowels For Holidays

   I made some hanging dishtowels to keep and share for the Thanksgiving holiday.  This is a picture of four the the six that I made.  The other two are gifts and are going to get mailed later next week.

  The towels with the white background have doggies on them and they look like this:

    I'm share these towels with dear daughter and she will get hers tomorrow.

Secret Birthday Sewing and Gifts Revealed.

   I made my dear daughter several things for her birthday.  They included three shopping bags.

   Two made with this fun pineapple fabric with a fun lining on each outside pocket.

  

    One made with this fun blue and white plaid and I gave the outside pocket a wonky look with a fun lining.

 

    I also made her a 16" pillow cover with snowflake fabric in a star pattern.

     front

     back

    Lastly, I made her a 16" pillow cover with the fun snowfolk on it.

   

    I bought her some needle nannies from etsy sellers, some cross stitch needles, a set of steak knives, a book about aprons called "The Apron Book" by EllynAnne Geisel, and I also made her six white wool dryer balls.

    We went out for dinner the day of her birthday and had a lovely meal at a local owned Italian restaurant.

My Favorite Tutorial For Joining My Binding Ends

   I wanted to share my favorite youtube video tutorial for joining my binding ends.  It's really simple and it works every time I use it.

    In case you can't get it to play from my post, here is the link here.

How I Make My Wool Dryer Balls

   I bought three skeins of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes bare bulky yarn to make six wool dryer balls.  I wound two dryer balls from each skein.  After winding the balls I secure them in knee high stockings to felt the balls.  I put three balls in each knee high.  I put one wool ball in and I tie a knot in the knee high, then I put the second wool ball in and tie a knot, then I put the third ball in and tie a knot.  I took a picture of this step but my camera wasn't charged and it didn't take the picture.

    Once the balls are in the knee high, I soak them to get them good and wet.  I wash them in hot water with a towel and detergent.  Once they are washed, I put them in a hot dryer with the towel.  The first go in the dryer didn't felt the balls right away, so I wet the balls two more times with just plain water and wet the towel and ran them in a hot dryer.  After the third dryer cycle the balls had felted very well.  I cut the knee highs off and put the balls in a bowl to let them completely dry.  I made these for my daughter for her birthday.

Happy Birthday Cake

     I made my daughter's birthday cake a little early this year.  I like to get this done on the weekend.  Her birthday is tomorrow, but she got her cake yesterday.  It's a Bacardi Rum Cake, a recipe from the The Cake Mix Doctor book.  It's the only cake I make from that book because it's always so good.  I have been making this for DD's birthday for a few years now.  She loves it.

Halloween Table Runners

Yes, Halloween was yesterday.  I now have two Halloween table runners.  The pumpkin table runner has been done for weeks but I forgot to put a picture here.  I finished the black cat table runner tonight and it will be ready to use next year.