Crochet Giant Granny Square Throw Progress

At the begining of this new lockdown I started searching my stash of yarns with the aim of creating a new multicolor giant granny square blanket.

I picked up all the colored yarns I found for needles or crochet number 4, keeping the brown, grey and beige for another project. 

Here I used the brand Fonty quality Ambiance 100 % superwash Woll superfine SW.

This is a very simple and pleasant project. It is never boring as you change colors. I love playing with varigated colors when I work on a project, that is quilting or knitting. 

Monette's Shawl with a TUTORIAL

This is the third time I knit a shawl with the pattern I created five years ago. I love this pattern because it is so simple and the shawl turns out to be so comfy and beautiful!

I offered the two previous ones : the brown and The green, but I'll try to keep this one for myself... It is ideal to throw on my shoulders when I go outside to fill my basket with logs for the fireplace. As well I feel so warm and comfortable wrapped up in it, reading or watching tv on the sofa!

If you wish to knit such a shawl, you will find the TUTORIAL here : CLICK

Tea Dyeing Tutorial

To progress with my scrappy Giant hexagon quilt,  I needed more reproduction style fabrics. Instead of ordering new fabrics I thought of dyeing some from my stash with the tea method, in order to give them the appearance of old fabrics. This was my first attempt to dye using this method, and I must say that the result was very satisfying. 

Here is what you need if you want to turn your modern fabric into a vintage one :

For one yard fabric :

1 large saucepan

1 Litre water

2 tablespoons salt

5 black tea bags

Here is the method :

1. Bring the water to boil with the salt,
2. Stop the boiling and put your tea bags into the hot water. Let them infuse for 10 mn,
3. Throw the bags away,
4. Rince your fabric under the tap, press out the excess water,
5. Put your fabric in the saucepan of hot tea and leave it for at least 15mn.

You should move the fabric with the help of a wooden spoon so that it is completely covered by the tea.

The longer you will leave the fabric in the tea the darker the result. 

When your fabric gets the color you wish, take it away from the saucepan, press out the water and put it in a bowl filled with cold water. Add a little vinegar, and leave the fabric to soak for about 10 mn, in order to fix the color.

Press out the excess water from your fabric and let it dry flat, if possible outside.

Liberty Pillow

I was not satisfied with my LIBERTY pillow. Laziness never pays : I had not quilted it and it looked flat.

Neither was I pleased with the back of it, done with a basic cotton instead of a Liberty one. 

As regards the sewing of a zip : for those like me who have difficulties with this step, there is the solution of linking the two parts of the back of the pillow with strings, as shown on the last picture. The result is lovely.

Now my pillow looks perfect! 😃

Two Antique Quilts

Summer in France

Hi everyone! Back to Greece... and to my blog after a long summer in France. I am still busy there restoring my 19th century summer house bought five years ago. I love doing this job and especially  decorating, with the drawback that it keeps me temporarily away from quilting. 

I have sent most of my quilts, the antique ones and those done by me, from Greece to France, with the aim of a future exhibition, but not only : my house is going to be filled with quilts on beds, on couches, hanged on walls...

The above picture shows two antique quilts displayed on the sofa in the living room, bought by one of my sons on ebay in 2014. You can see several pictures of those quilts, with details HERE and HERE.