Table Runner with Crocheted Trim

I finished this neutral colored table runner to use for simple everyday meals and it would look great under an easy buffet meal on the kitchen counter. I used my own pattern for the crocheted lace - here is the photo tutorial for the Scalloped Net Edging.

This runner also matches the Granny Round Soup Mats for a fun winter soup party.

Blue Denim Napkins

I love these napkins! DII French Stripe Chambray - set of six. I ordered them online and I'm very pleased that they match the blue and white tablecloth so well. Blue colors can be so variable and I was taking a chance on a match. They will also coordinate with a neutral tan table runner that I am still working on. I'm crocheting a lace trim on both ends, so that may take me another day or two to finish. I ordered these napkins from Zola.com and I am pretty happy with the quality. The weighty fabric has a generous hem and a mitered corner that will hold up well to fancy folds! I washed the napkins and there was very little dye run, so these are now ready for Miss Abigail to use everyday.

Blue Paisley Napkins

This morning I finished these six very simple blue and white paisley cloth napkins. The fabric matches the blue and white tablecloth and the set will look pretty with Miss Abigail's classic white Corel dishes. I just cut the fabric to size (18-inches square) and made a turned hem. The finished size is 15-inches square.

When Money is Scarce

When money is plenty this is a man's world. When money is scarce it is a woman's world. When all else seems to have failed, the woman's instinct comes in. She gets the job. That is the reason why, in spite of all that happens, we continue to have a world. - Ladies Home Journal, Oct 1932

I wonder if you agree with this quote. Of course things have changed enormously since 1932 and I am watching my children as they share responsibilities within their marriages. Each is a partner to the other and their individual contributions are enormous. I do think though that some women have an instinct when it comes to creating a home on a strict budget. It might have been learned however. I wonder if this instinct still survives.

Economists in the news are predicting a new, frugal future for many Americans. In 2008, during the last major recession, many Americans were fearful that economic conditions would linger and a wave of thriftiness made discount chain stores, thrift stores and dollar stores way more popular than they had been previously. This frugality has continued and, in recent years, there is a resurgence in learning homemaking skills including mending, of all things. Craft channels and cooking channels on YouTube flourish. Young women, particularly, have learned how to sew and embroider, cook and make their own cleaning products and entertain more at home.

Teaching Miss Abigail homemaking skills has been a big part of what I have called the "hidden hope chest." When I look at the list of skills I created many years ago (which you can see if you scroll down the sidebar) I'm pleased at how accomplished she has become in all of these topics. She is honestly an amazing young woman. Yes, I admit to being completely biased. We worked at this for so long and some skills have necessarily been put aside when she left home to focus on other priorities. But I can see that she continues to learn new things that will bless her family in the years to come. For instance, this semester she enrolled in both a musical conducting course and an emergency first aid course and was chatting to me recently about what she was learning. Sadly, she won't receive credit for the first aid course as the hands-on aspect could not continue when the classes shut down, but much of the knowledge is in her hands now. I'm grateful for that.

The current pandemic has already revealed both the weaknesses in our personal preparation for at home stability and the strength of our ability to be creative and frugal. Let's hope we all have the traditional instinct to create a comforting home in spite of loss and struggle.

Using Cloth Napkins - my thoughts

Cloth napkins are one of life's little luxuries, like a pretty placemat or a tablecloth on a bare table. I want Miss Abigail to have at least a few cloth napkins in her hope chest. Many people don't take the trouble to dress the table for everyday. Holidays, birthdays and recognizing special milestones are usually an occasion for setting a special table, but everyday meals are overlooked most of the time. But I would like to argue that even the most humble of dinners can be made a little more special by using a pretty cloth napkin.

Cloth napkins were used regularly until the middle of the last century when paper napkins, which require no washing or ironing, became more popular. It was and is an affordable convenience and, like so many other things, it saved time. Most people now don't own cloth napkins, though some are using cloth napkins as a more ecological choice. But many people don't use any napkins at all. Many eat on the go or at the kitchen counter, and it's just too easy to reach for the paper towels if a napkin is necessary.

It's actually pretty easy to collect and use cloth napkins, especially if you liberate yourself from the traditional fussiness of using them. The notion that they belong at a fancy dinner party or that your grandmother would be shocked at the stains or wrinkles honestly need not apply in our day and time. Bright patterns or dark colors can hide the stains and ironing just reinforces the fussiness belief. Choose an soft, aged fabric and leave them rumpled. This has a casual appeal that is just right for an everyday meal. Have enough that you can just add them to your regular laundry. You can sew them yourself or buy them secondhand at antique stores or thrift stores.

I would like to assert that when we come together for a meal, a cloth napkin can elevate that time and make it more special. It doesn't have to seem fancy or be uncomfortable. It's just a little thing that can create a bigger moment and make life a little more beautiful.

A Musical Table Centerpiece

Miss Abigail and I were talking not too long ago about what types of table linens she might want from her hope chest. She thought a table runner to lay on the kitchen counter under trays for snacks would be helpful. So I made this easy self-faced table centerpiece this morning. I didn't have enough fabric length for a runner, so this is a little wider and a bit shorter - more of a centerpiece than a runner. It is still roomy for the purpose. It measures 19 x 27 - inches.

Abigail and Jacob are both very musical, so the fabric should reflect their interests and the black and white colors make it easy to coordinate dishes and other decorations at a casual get-together.

There are many directions and tutorials for creating a self-faced, mitered corner placemat or baby blankets or quilt. I find the directions for a baby blanket from the Utah State Cooperative Extension the easiest to understand and complete. I used that PDF to make this centerpiece, just changing the measurements to fit well on a kitchen counter. If you have another great pattern, please share the link in a comment!

Tutorial - Crocheted Granny Round Soup Mats

Size:  10-inch diameter
Materials: Worsted weight cotton yarn, size G crochet hook

Row 1: Make a magic circle to form ring. Ch 2 (counts as first sc). Make 13 sc in ring. Join with sl st to top of chain 2. (14 sc)

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as first dc + ch 1). Dc in next sc. Ch 1. (Dc, ch 1) in each sc stitch around. Join with sl st in third chain of beginning stitch. 14 dc.

Row 3: Ch 3. Dc in space below. Ch 1. (2 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in the ch 1 space. 14 pairs of dc.

Row 4:  Ch 3. 2 dc in space right below and to the right of the chain 3. Ch 1. Put (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. You can see the completed row in the picture for beginning row 5.

Row 5: Ch 3. Dc in next 2 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space. *Dc in next 3 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3. 56 dc.

Row 6: Ch 3. Dc in same stitch as joining. Ch 1. Make 2 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch 2. *skip next 2 stitches. 1 dc in next stitch. Ch 2. 2 dc in next space. Ch 2.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in space.

Row 7: Ch 3. 2 dc in space below. Ch 1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 2 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Row 8: Ch 4. 3 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around to the last space. Put 2 dc in last space and join with a sl st in the 3 chain of the beginning chain 4.

Row 9: Sl st in next stitch. *5 dc in ch 1 space. Skip next dc. Sl stitch in next dc.* Repeat between ** around. Join with a sl st in beginning sl st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

"Granny Round" Soup Mats

Miss Abigail loves a party! She has always loved socializing with people and that often involves food.  I know she will want to host casual get-togethers with friends and have another couple over for dinner occasionally. So I've been thinking about what she might need in her linen closet to plan for a special occasion. I've been thinking about a game night or a movie night or a casual picnic at the trail head - even snacks for finals week.

I mentioned before that I had not created many table linens for the hope chest because we didn't know very early in this process what her dishes would look like. But now we do, so the gap in table linens looms large in the unfinished projects category.

I thought these small place mats might work for an easy winter soup party or a summer pasta party, a mini salad bar potluck or snacks for a game night. They don't take up much room at the table, but they still give a bit of a finished look. I made four, thinking she might be hosting a second couple for dinner or a couple of girlfriends in a study group. A tablecloth would be an easier choice if there is a larger crowd around the table.

I began with my pattern for the simple granny round dishcloth, but changed the pattern to make it larger with an additional row. Here is the new pattern if you want to make these mats for yourself. I will post a photo tutorial tomorrow for those who might need some visual help. I will remind everyone of the copyright notice in the sidebar and ask that you don't sell or steal this pattern. Thanks!

Granny Round Soup Mat

Size: 10-inch diameter

Materials: Worsted weight cotton yarn, Size G crochet hook

Row 1: Make a magic circle to form ring. Ch 2 (counts as first sc). Make 13 sc in ring. Join with sl st to top of chain 2. (14 sc)

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as first dc + ch 1). Dc in next sc. Ch 1. (Dc, ch 1) in each sc stitch around. Join with sl st in third chain of beginning stitch. 14 dc.

Row 3: Ch 3. Dc in space below. Ch 1. (2 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in the ch 1 space. 14 pairs of dc.

Row 4:  Ch 3. 2 dc in space right below and to the right of the chain 3. Ch 1. Put (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Row 5: Ch 3. Dc in next 2 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space. *Dc in next 3 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3. 56 dc.

Row 6: Ch 3. Dc in same stitch as joining. Ch 1. Make 2 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch 2. *skip next 2 stitches. 1 dc in next stitch. Ch 2. 2 dc in next space. Ch 2.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in space.

Row 7: Ch 3. 2 dc in space below. Ch 1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 2 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Row 8: Ch 4. 3 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around to the last space. Put 2 dc in last space and join with a sl st in the 3 chain of the beg chain 4.

Row 9: Sl st in next stitch. *5 dc in ch 1 space. Skip next dc. Sl stitch in next dc.* Repeat between ** around. Join with a sl st in beginning sl st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

A Peek Inside - A Linen Table Runner Gift

When Miss Abigail graduated from homeschool and began college my sweet sister sent her a gift for the hope chest, this pretty embroidered linen table runner. I honestly love that Abby has so many gifts in her hope chest.

While I don't have all her gifts photographed yet, I decided to create a label to organize these "gifts to Abby", so that we both can remember the many women who have contributed lovely things for her future home.

A Peek Inside - More Embroidered Pillowcases

I love hand embroidery. It's very relaxing to me! The tips of my fingers do suffer from the pricks of the needle, however. I guess you just have to put up with that in order to produce such a lovely result.

A Peek Inside - Another Set of Pillowcases

This set of pillowcases in the hope chest is recycled! Some years ago, my father-in-law gave me several pillowcases that were cleaned out of an old warehouse where he worked. They are made from beautiful, tight cotton percale and the fabric is lovely. But, these original pillowcases had a large black logo stamp on the cuff - not so lovely. So, I cut the whole hem off to get rid of that logo. Because that made the pillowcases too short for even a standard pillow, I made a new cuff with this pretty blue print cotton fabric. I used the easy "magic" or "burrito" method to enclose the seams in the cuff. Then I embroidered a design to dress them up a bit. No cost upcyling - just scraps.

A Peek Inside - A Simple Printed Tablecloth

I haven't made a lot of table linens for the hope chest, but this is a small everyday tablecloth that matches Abby's pretty white dishes. The fabric was purchased in the home decor section of our local fabric store and then just hemmed around the edges. Very simple sewing.

The Green and Blue Kitchen Set - Finished

The green and blue kitchen set is now finished!

A couple of other items in here that I haven't shown before...more towels and some crocheted dishcloths.

Miss Abigail has grown up on a sheep farm, so I am happy to include these two "sheepy" tea towels. The green one was brought back from Scotland by Miss Isobel, one of our dear club ladies. You might remember the embroidered daisy towels from the running-stitch daisy dishtowels post. You can also see the other items in this set, including Abigail's apron, Jacob's apron, a simple hand towel, rick rack hand towels, and the fabric collage towels.