Meeting Needs

One of my goals for 2012 is to make more of the items we need.  I'm slowly breaking the habit of heading to the store when we need something - instead, I'm heading downstairs to the sewing table to try to create something to serve the purpose - like Grandma used to do :)

I created this tea cozy by loosely following a Christmas patterned one that I already had.  

I used leftover fabric from the apron I made for myself a few weeks back and I insulated it with new cotton quilt batting that I bought at the second hand shop recently.

 Next up was pot holders.  Mine are so stained from years of use and thin from much laundering.   These new ones were lined with flannel from an old baby receiving blanket simply cut into squares and stacked until the thickness felt right.

 I quilted in straight lines, along the lines of the fabric, so the whole project was pretty quick.  The hardest part was the bias binding, but I'm slowly getting the hang of that.  Practice, practice, practice ~ I'm not sure how to make mitred corners though...

It feels really good to make instead of buy.  Control over materials used, cost and function... it all adds up to produce a quality end result that brings great satisfaction!