A Fail and a Few Finishes

'Home is the place where, when you have to go there,

They have to take you in.'

                                    'I should have called it

Something you somehow haven't to deserve.'

~ The Death of the Hired Man 

by Robert Frost

My mother used to quote the first two lines to us but I didn't know the author although I'd read many of Frost's poems. I'm fortunate to have a large family that gets along. We write; we call; we visit. What a blessing to just belong to this group; people who have known you all your life. {Although I'm now old enough that's it's generally me who has known them all their lives.} In another sense, family encompasses a larger group. We all share this beautiful blue marble, the only home all of us have ever known. That makes us all one family. Please make good choices. Stay the course.

Tree blocks as a possible border for Shadow Stars

The trees were supposed to border the Shadow Stars but they don't have enough weight. Is that because they are on point? Would bluer green leaves make a difference? Would colored setting triangles? {As opposed to the empty whiteness of now.} IDK. The trees don't seem to have a relationship with the stars even though I deliberately made tiny triangles to echo the tiny squares. Now it looks like they should have related more to the star points. {Does that make sense?}

How easy it is to see problems with a digital camera. Disappointing but not a complete loss. They will be useful somewhere else once the "much too dark" trunks are replaced with lighter fabrics.  It's not exactly a fail as they will wait in the Parts Department until becoming a different quilt.

On the other hand, I found a useful way to move several older pieces of fabric along. They were purchased specifically with my grandchildren in mind but never made it into a quilt. All will be moving to larger beds this summer in a musical chair progression. Out of the crib to the trundle bed. {What do you call the crib mattress without the sides? The one that is barely off the ground.} Out of the trundle bed to the toddler bed. Out of the toddler bed to the twin. So these fabrics will become pillowcases to celebrate their growth.

Many people posted pillowcases with enchanting crocheted edging. My grandmother taught me how to do this so I added it, too. Mine look more old-fashioned. Well, not exactly, but they aren't as bohemian chic as the ones I've seen online. But they look adorable to me. For two cents, I'd keep them for myself.

Pillowcases with crochet edging

Other animal prints made nice cases, too, but crochet didn't fit their theme.

Children's pillowcases

Cases can be made with cuffs or a flap - an extra bit of fabric to hide the pillow and keep it inside the case. Mine just have the cuff but I may try the flap later and want to keep the instructions in one place. My {standard} pillows measure 18.5" x 29.5" so my case should finish 20" x 31". Yes, it could be narrower but this will be easier to get on and off. DH's king-size pillows are 20" x 36" and need pillowcases that finish 21" x 40".

1. A pillow with a cuff
• Three-quarters of a yard for the main fabric; a third of a yard for the cuff
• From main fabric, cut a single piece for front and back 41" x 28" each.
• From alternate fabric, cut front cuff 41" x 10".
2. A one fabric pillow with a flap
• Cut one piece 21" x 75.5". 
• Use the other half of the fabric to make a second pillow.
3. A two fabric pillow with a flap 
• Seven-eighths yard for the front; one and one-quarter yard for the back.
• Cut front piece 21" x 32.125" and back piece in another fabric 21" x 43.625".

Shell crochet edging

Crochet edging supplies:

• a thick tapestry needle with a rounded end 
• a steel crochet hook size 2
• Size 8 pearl cotton in any color you choose (one ball edges three cases for me}
• washable marker
• ruler or guide marked 3/8"

Crochet edging:

1. Mark the pillowcase at 3/8" intervals about 1/4" from the edge.
2. Use the tapestry needle to make holes without breaking threads in the woven fabric then
3. Make a single crochet in the hole followed by 3 chain stitches.
4. Repeat around the edge of the pillow.
5. Slip stitch into the beginning.
6. Two chain stitches.
7. Seven double crochet in the first opening {the 3 chain stitches}, 1 chain, 1 single crochet in the next opening, 1 chain. Repeat around the edge.
8. Slip stitch to the beginning of this round. 
9. Tie off and bury threads.

Seven pillowcases finished. Three with cuffs only; four with crochet.

And twenty-five more face masks. No more sheeting or pillowcase ticking and only two yards of batik left. I line them with 100% cotton t-shirts. One good thing is that I'm finally progressing on DH's t-shirt quilt.

Reading

Each of my children grew up with a different books series which I read as they did. They certainly made interesting dinner conversation. For the oldest, it was Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The original book, The Golden Compass {known as The Northern Lights everywhere else in the world} was made into a movie and recently into a television series.

Recently I discovered a prequel trilogy is being published. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage begins shortly after Lyra's birth and concerns how she arrived at Jordan College. I'm ready to reread the original books.

My contributions have been to stay home, make masks, and donate money to my favorite charities.  It's all I can do. Stay safe everyone.

Enjoy the day, Ann