Swan Kitchen Towels

 

 

I'm a little ahead of the game on these.  They are kitchen towels that I plan to give to my mother for Mother's Day.  I noticed that my mother has started collecting swan-themed items, so I decided to make her some swan themed kitchen towels.  The quilted part that wraps around the oven door handle is made with swan fabric.

The quilted part was done using my long-arm quilter in a swirl pattern.  I quilted a piece of fabric that was about 7 inches by the width of the fabric then cut it down into 6-1/2 inch squares.  I rounded off the corners of the squares and then attached bias binding to make the equivalent of a potholder.  I then sewed the "potholder"  to the center of the kitchen towel, gathering in the towel to make it match the width of the potholder.  I then attached a button to the side opposite the loop and use the loop as a button hole.

The bias binding was cut at 1-1/4 inches wide, but I think I will try 1-1/2 inches next time.  I think that would be a little easier to work with.

2025 Recap

At the beginning of the year last year I set out some goals for myself.  I reached most, but not all, of them. Here is the end of the year summary:

1. Finish UFOs = 4 of 4 (completed)
2. Use pre-cuts = 3 of 3 (completed)
3. Do window paintings = 2 of 2 (completed)
4. Do non-window painting = 1 of 1 (completed)
5. Sew sets of coasters = 5 of 5 (completed)
6. Sew small bags = 0 of 2
7. Sew tote bags= 1 of 2 

I couldn't decide if making the small bags was a good idea or not.  I think they are cute, but I'm not sure about the overall appeal or functionality.  I'm especially concerned about the closure.  Is a small Velcro closure enough?  Should they zip?  Have pockets?  I don't know.  I asked my 8 year old granddaughter what she liked best, and she said bigger with pockets.  I plan to take that under advisement.

The other tote bag, I just never got around to it. Somehow time just got away from me once we got back from visiting family in Washington last summer.  As you can see, there are no posts from July, August, or September.  We were gone during the month of July, but after we got back home I just couldn't back into the creative mindset.

And I thought I should note that I actually did a lot more than just one painting on paper.  I did several zen tangles, 5 mini-watercolors, and some full page watercolors. 

In total, I finished 8 quilts, 2 bags (one was for me so I didn't count it in my goals list), and 5 coaster sets.  I didn't create any new quilt tops without finishing them, so no new UFOs.  Not a bad year.