Carla's project instructions were as follows...
Create something inspired by the kitchen.
It can be pot holders, tea towels, coasters, placemats, table runners, mug rugs, or even a toaster cover.
It's your interpretation of a kitchen project.
Maybe a quilt with kitchen gadgets or a color in your kitchen that inspires you.
Anything kitchen. You decide.
Right away I had two ideas about what to make. Let's see which one of them won out...
The easy route? That would be a Quilted Instant Pot Cozy.
The challenging project? A long overdue exchange gift for my friend Belindybe. She has a habit of requesting projects which stretch my comfort zone in one way or another. Our exchange for 2020 hasn't been forgotten, but it also still hasn't been made. :o((
I got a wake up call from Carla one week ahead of the Blog Hop. Had I started my project? NO!!! Time to get busy...
SEW...
Finally, I faced the challenge of turning these bits...
... Into flower petals:
It took some time to arrange them...
... And rearrange them with a couple new petals:
Eventually, I hit on a pleasing design...
... Then I removed the petals to assemble the background and replace the flower for stitching:
The backing was also chosen at this stage of the game:
Layering with batting came next...
... Which was followed by quilting...
... Quilting...
... And MORE quilting:
Side one is complete, but I forgot to take a progress photo:
What about the HOT part, Joyful???
Here's the condensed version. The quilting...
... And the finishing:
Before sewing around the perimeter of the hot pad and turning it right side out, I added a THIRD layer of cotton batting just to be sure surfaces were protected from hot pots and/or pans. I have a yard of Insul-Bright lost somewhere in my studio. I guess I will need to make more hot pads (or some bowl cozies) when I finally locate it! Sigh...
At long last, this gift was complete...
Why I let this project grow to be such a scary thing is beyond me! It's embarrassing that I allowed it to paralyze me for such a long time, when the reality was not terrible, at all. Many apologies to dear, sweet Belinda, who was SEW patient with me (and probably gave up all hope of EVER getting her swap gift!)
What about the prize giveaway, Joyful???
Yep! I haven't forgotten. For those of you who are new here, it is my habit to make something to share with one lucky winner when I participate in a Blog Hop. This time is no different.
What do we get? What do we get???
This time, I'm offering a custom made Mug Rug or Quilted Thread Catcher to the winner. Your choice of color with my choice of design. To enter the prize drawing just leave me a comment telling me about your favorite recipe. It can be any category: appetizer, main dish, side dish, drinks, or desserts! I'll choose the recipe that sounds the most interesting to me from the comments left prior to 9:00 PM on Tuesday, April 27th.
The drawing is CLOSED!!!
You MUST leave your email address, if it's not included on your Blogger account, as I will contact the winner via email.
This post would not be complete without...
Sending out a BIG thank you to Needleb for her design advice along the way to a completed project. Thanks, B!! I appreciate the suggestions you made when my machine was acting up on Day Three and the fact that you didn't laugh too hard at this blooper moment late in the evening of Day Two of the construction process:
REMINDER: Who could believe it's already the LAST weekend of the month??? The April 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge is THIS WEEKEND!!! Anyone with a runner, topper, mug rug, etc. is invited to join in the Link Party.
Sharing with Kelly
for
and
Whooping it up with Sarah
at
Until next time...
Do some Kitchen Stitchin'!!!
