Not a Seamstress

Well, I thought I'd take a break from the craziness of this week and update my blog. I do have some crafting news to report, and this time it's not all in the knitting realm (this is both good and bad). I decided this year to make cloth gift bags that can be reused instead of wrapping paper, so on Tuesday I got started on them. I am by no means a seamstress, but I found the endless cutting, pinning, and ironing of little squares and rectangles strangely therapeutic. While working on my second bag I started to really enjoy the almost-instant gratification on having a finished object that I rarely get from knitting (the instant part). Then, my sewing machine started acting up. Again and again and again. The thread would clump, or come out of the needle, or do something that I wouldn't know how to fix. After much cursing and ripping of seams I decided the put the sewing machine away...or I was seriously going to throw it off of the canyon across the street. Luckily things went much more smoothly the next day, and I now have eighteen cute Christmas gift bags. I don't know how i fixed the problem, but at least the sewing machine was working better--and I was working better--the next day.

Matthew's stocking is also just about finished. All I have to do is the last "T" (for MATT) in duplicate stitch. It's red with a white snow flake that was completed intarsia-style. I also want to put in a lining, but if that doesn't happen before Christmas then that's ok. Sadly, I really don't think that Pat's sweater will be finished before Christmas. I hope he still loves me...

I hope that you all have a fabulous Christmas! This pic graced our Christmas cards this year: