Frugal or Just Cheap?

If you've read my blog for a while, then you know how much I like to make string quilts from scraps, and that I've even been known to take a piece of fabric from the wastebasket to use in a block.  I've discovered, while going through boxes of works in progress, that scraps can be more than fabric.  

From past crocheting projects I've accumulated several balls of soft yarn.  They are much too pretty to throw away!  So they're going to be made into scrappy granny squares, put together as a baby afghan, much the same way I would use strings in a quilt.

However, there are two things I don't like about granny squares: 1)Setting them together, and 2)in this scrappy form there are LOTS of yarn tails on the back of the square to work in which will take a while.  But with the help of a needle threader and a crewel embroidery needle with a large eye, it can be done ~ with patience.  Or, maybe you can tell me an easier way to work them in.

Now, back to my question, am I being frugal, or just cheap?

Think about it,

Charlotte

Am I Too Old to Learn?

In our family, when we learn something new, we say we have a new wrinkle on our brain {whatever that means}.  I still like to learn new things although I am "old".  When we first connected to the Internet, I determined to learn a new word every day, using Wiktionary {just for fun, today's word(s) was salad dodger meaning an overweight person}.

We watch the TV show, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, on Sunday nights, and I've found that the questions I can't answer are learning experiences for me; I'll remember them most of the time.

This is all leading to the question, am I too old to learn to knit?  When I was about ten years old, my grandmother gave me two short pieces of baling wire (I'm assuming they were her knitting needles) and someone taught me two stitches and how to cast the thread onto the "needles"; I made several little purple squares, about the size of a small potholder.  I've looked online and found a simple pattern for a baby blanket to be knit on circular needles.  My daughter brought some needles to me and when I get a chance to buy yarn I'm going to give it a try.  If my brain can't hold another wrinkle, I know that knit things are as easy to unravel as crochet work.  

Charlotte

A Petite Apron

While we're talking about things that would make cute additions to a shower gift, why not whip up a petite apron. Heide at http://apronhistory.blogspot.com has a great tutorial for making an apron, similar to this one, for a dish soap bottle. It adds a little sparkle to the kitchen and the pocket could hold your rings or watch while you have your hands in the water. Check out Heide's blog and have a go at it.

Charlotte

Bibs for Baby

If you enjoy doing cross stitch work, but don't want to commit to a big project, a bib for a baby might be just what you're looking for. My bibs are made from a washcloth with the cross stitched panel attached at the bottom, and backed with a soft, absorbent cotton. Then I encase the entire bib in bias binding. This bib is to be tied; however, I prefer to fasten bibs with Velcro for ease in fastening around a squirming baby. Most layette patterns will have one for bibs, or you could trace around a purchased one to make your own pattern. These are two booklets I have; as you can see, there are lots of designs, simple ones and some more difficult. I haven't tried cross stitching in several years, but if my eyes are still "bright" I may just make one this winter.

Happy stitching, Charlotte