Sense of Accomplishment

It seems like I am always wanting to take on projects, then they rarely are completed.   I have a stash of yarn for various knitting projects.  I have fabric for various sewing projects.  I know I am not alone in this because many of my knitting/quilting/sewing friends have the same problem.  Stashes of yarn and fabric, projects in the mind, but not enough time to work on them.

I do complete some things, though.  A baby quilt for Cooper (which started out as Nick's and was never finished but the colors were great for Cooper's nursery, so there you go!).  A baby quilt for Brandy.  A baby quilt for Jen and Aaron.  A John Deere quilt for Landon.  Curtains for Megan and Matt's house in many rooms.  A Cubs blanket for Landon to take to kindergarten for nap time.  A scarf for Greta and one for her friend Diane. A scarf for Elizabeth.   Various spa cloths or dish cloths (plus I have a stash of completed ones with no recipients yet).

Now that I typed that out...I guess I have completed more than I realized.  Hmmmm...I kinda surprised myself.

The project tonight was memory pillows made from shirts.  Pinterest is super for instructions and ideas, and I found just what I needed. Today at Walmart I picked up all of the 16 x 16 pillow forms they had in stock.  I already had one from JoAnn's that I bought in April, but I hadn't done anything with it.  Tonight was the night.

Everything was set up in the kitchen/dining room.  Iron and ironing board by the counter.   Long table by the closet door.  Sewing machine on the table.  Wastebasket by the long table.  Gary cut a template for me, 17 x 17, so that I could use it to cut the shirts. Ironing the front and back was a necessity to ensure that the wrinkles were gone and both layers would lie flat.  My quilt mat was just the right size to lay out the shirt, place the template, mark the fabric and cut.  Then the two pieces (front and back) were easy to pin.  Move to the table and sew 5/8" seams all around.  Unbutton the shirt, turn, push out the corners, and insert the pillow.  Re-button and VOILA!

The only thing missing is the small label that my friend Karen in Michigan is embroidering for me.  When those arrive, it will be easy to pop out the pillows and place the labels and sew those on.

My goal?  Nine pillows.   Tonight I have nine shirts made into pillow covers.  Seven of those are actually covering pillows.  Over the weekend I will pick up two more to complete the set.

 

A sense of accomplishment for sure.  Usually I am staying up late, trying to finish up projects, making mistakes, or just giving up.  Not tonight.  And it is only November 30!

I think I am liking this thing called retirement!