Luffa / Loofah Gourds: The Best Dishscrubbers You Can Grow

I probably won't be loom knitting anymore dishscrubbers, lol, because we have a huge harvest ready of Loofahs.   Many folks don't know Luffas are vegetables.  You can eat them if you harvest them when they are small (I want to try them for making bread), but if you let them grow on the vine, they will mature into fat vegetable sponges, which you can slice and use to scrub dishes (they work wonderfully on pots and everything else), or to give yourself (or a loved one) a vigorous scrubbing.  This could remove all kinds of toxins and impurities that might otherwise stay in your skin!  *You can just throw them in your washing machine to get them clean, too.*

Loofahs are wonderfully easy to grow, although they need a strong trellis or support.  Mr. Green built that lovely 12' foot trellis this year using 4x4s, a shovel, wooden lattice, and nails and screws.  But I have grown loofahs once before on a wooden swing support, or a fence could work fine, too.

Luffahs can be washed right in your washing machine!

The flowers are large and attractive.

When I grew these years ago, I followed instructions I found online that said to leave them on the vine until the sponges and vines turn to brown at the end of the summer.  I did this, and it worked.  But this year, I read further online, and decided to start harvesting these as they just start to lighten and discolor on the vine.  This is much preferable to me because they are much easier to peel when still partially green.  I just harvested them and then sat them on a table outside for only a day or two, turning occasionally.  Then I whacked them a few times against a step.  This loosened the skin, and even cracked it open in places....the sponges are then VERY easy to pull out of the skin, which just peels away.  When I did this with already fully dried brown sponges, it would flake away into lots of tiny pieces that had to be scraped off and peeling them took a lot longer.

But this way they are still wet and sappy, so you have to use a strong jet from the hose to wash them out really well, shaking out seeds.  Then I put mine back on the table outside to dry a few days, again, turning occasionally.  As I said, you can then slice them into about 3" slices (or whatever you prefer) to use in the kitchen, or use a whole sponge for the shower or bath.  You can also stuff one into a clean, empty pringle's can and then fill it with melt and pour soap to harden inside.  Once the soap has cured, you simply peel away the pringle's container and slice the scrubby soap into bars.  I would like to make some of these for Christmas gifts this year again, too.

I snapped a red zinnia, too, in the garden just now.  I planted these Scarlet flame Zinnias from seed and now they are nearly 6 feet tall.  There is a hummingbird or birds who are loving these; I see them often these days.  Zinnias are my favorite flowers, I think, mostly because they grow so well for me.  Besides the red, my favorites have been candy cane striped ones this year.  I think I planted only 3 different zinnia seed packets and that has been enough for as many bouquets as I would want in my house, as well as enough to continually share bouquets with several neighbors, the teacher, my mom, etc.

 
I hope you all have a nice day!

Loom Knitting Socks

One of the reasons I am loving loom knitting is that I can do this on the couch next to Mr. Green while he watches TV, or in the rocking chair in the family room while my children are playing, as I sit in the car line waiting to pick Tall Sprout up from school, and even in bed before going to sleep.  I love my sewing room, but my work in there is much more of a solitary pursuit.

I told you all about how easy it was for me to finally learn to knit using the Knifty Knitter looms.  I knew I wanted to try to make socks, but I wanted a finer gauge (also known as sett) loom than the knifty knitters for this.  I had heard good things about Decor Accents looms, and have had my eye on their Wonder Sock loom, which is adjustable, meaning the same loom can be used for making socks for anyone from a baby to an adult man.

However, I had to go to Hobby Lobby recently, searching for an odd sized sketch book that was on Tall Sprout's school supply list.  I decided to just look and see whether they carried looms, and I found the Authentic Knitting Board Adjustable Sock Loom.  The regular price of this loom was less than half of the one I have had my eye on, AND it happened to be 50% off on the day I was there. So I was able to pick up this sock loom at an incredible, affordable bargain.

I have had Isela Phelps' book, Loom Knitting Socks for a little while now (it was one of several great gifts to me from Mr. Green and our boys for Mother's Day this year), and so I was excited to finally try out one of her patterns.
Of course, a smaller sock will knit quicker, so I started using some stashed wool yarn using the toddler cuff down pattern.  I love the cuff!

I wanted to show it to ya'll on his fat foot, but I chased him around with the camera for a long while and could not get him to sit still.  This baby loves to play chase and is always in motion; I am not psychic but can totally see him with a pigskin under his arm as a running back. ( LOL....I have gotten him a football since I wrote that and he has learned to say "TutsDOWN!" and he does a touchdown dance when he says it, too!  I didn't publish this post sooner because the pix aren't good, but I stopped by here today and thought I should put this up while I am here since it has been so long since I have made any posts).

Anyway,  here is the clearest photo I snapped of the sock on his foot:

But I wanted to tell you about Isela Phelps' Loom Knitting Socks book.

This book is subtitled "a beginner's guide to knitting socks using a loom."  And while it certainly is true that here is everything a beginner needs to know, there is also so much more.  I think it could have more accurately been called the COMPLETE guide to knitting socks using a loom.  There are 50 different sock patterns in this book, and while there are plenty to choose from for your first pair of socks, I don't think you will ever need any other book on the subject!  There are simple socks as well as socks with cables, colorwork, lace, all kinds of designs, including butterflies and hearts and a beautiful trellis design, even complete instructions for making gorgeous beaded socks.  I know this book could keep me and my sock loom busy for many years!   And after working the diversity of patterns found here, and because the author has provided so much detailed information- including the magic formula to know to make socks to fit anyone, I know that I will be able to devise my own sock patterns.  So, as I said, this is surely the only book you will ever need on this subject!

DIY Pressing equipment

I have been reading a lot this last week, and I have learned a lot about pressing while sewing.

When I first started sewing, I didn't even own an iron!  Quilts were one of the first things I started sewing, and I quickly learned the importance of pressing.  I learned to carefully press my seams to one side or the other, BEFORE sewing across them again.

I noticed that in garment construction, it is often advised to press the seams open, and I learned that I want to carefully press each piece before and after sewing.  But this week, I learned that it is often advisable to press directly over the stitching on seams, before ironing them open, to set in the stitching.  I think I understand that this is particularly important with knits. 

I also learned this week, that accessory pressing equipment can be incredibly useful, especially when pressing seams, especially if those seams are curved.  I am trying to make a shaped bodice for a special holiday dress, and I was having some trouble.  I finally realized that what I needed was a pressing ham.  It seemed like something I should be able to make, so I set to googling.

I found this page, which has instructions for making a ham, a seam roll, a pressing mitt, and even wooden press tools.  I made my ham with a felted sweater for the wool side, and a piece of cotton canvas for the cotton side, stuffed with wool and cotton scraps:

Then I made a seam roll, using two Rolling Stone magazines as the base, which I totally covered with electrical tape wrapped around, followed by a felted wool sweater sleeve, and then I wrapped the whole thing with another piece of cotton canvas (from a thrifted curtain), and hand sewed it closed.

That is my ironing board they are sitting on; I finally made a 2 sided cover for my hanging ironing board:

It is a little loose right now, because I am completely out of cotton batting, which I want to use to make this a padded cover.  So I left it a tad bit loose and did not serge or finish the seams....it works fine for now, but I will finish this when I get some more cotton batting.  I made a drawstring casing at the bottom, because it has to open enough for the hinged part when it folds down, but then it narrows when it is folded close, as above. 

I wanted to make one more piece of pressing equipment, though.  I often need a "press cloth," especially when working with interfacing and fusible web.  I also learned in my reading this week that it is handy in pressing certain fabrics (linen is an example) that will develop a "sheen" if pressed directly.  I had seen teflon press cloths in the fabric store, but have just used a fabric scrap when I have needed one in the past.  I googled press cloth, and discovered that cotton works perfectly, and that the customary size is 14" by 24."  I had a super soft organic tshirt in my stash that had a set in stain on the front; I decided this would be perfect.  I used the pinking blade to cut it to this size, and now I have a very nice "official" pressing cloth to complete my DIY pressing supplies.

They sit cozily together at the back of my table underneath the board:

These make me happy to press as I sew!  If you plan to sew clothing, you will need pressing equipment, too.  These things are super easy to make and will make your pressing chores easier.

I will be back soon.  Until then, Happy Sewing!

Quick, Easy Upcycled Vase Idea (with Zinnias)

Here is a SUPER quick and easy gift to make without sewing a stitch:

My mom did me a big favor today, and so I cut her a bouquet of zinnias from my garden.  I picked up several glasses like this at the Goodwill outlet for a dime a piece, and I figured one would work just fine as a vase.  But it sure did look plain, so I grabbed some scrap felt and my glue gun.  I just pinked the edges of a pink felt strip to glue around the glass, and decided that here again was a perfect place to use one of these felt flowers.

I have made probably several dozen of these felt flowers, and attached them to barrettes, hair bands, pins, a bag, and now a vase.  I made them from red felt and made the petals a bit pointier, and made them look like poinsettias, which I glued on lapel pins to make "corsages" for the ladies at Tall Sprout's school, last year for Christmas.  I think this vase would look nice with blue felt around the glass, and poinsettias like this....and that this would make a thoughtful, sweet gift for a teacher or neighbor, or anyone.  These can be used as votive holders, for candles, when you don't have flowers for the vase.

If you don't already grow Zinnias in your garden, I really recommend it.  Zinnias grow easily from seed, come in many colors, and can withstand drought and extreme heat.  Our heat index has been 199 every day for at least a month, and many plants in the garden kinda poop out about this time of year, but the zinnias stand tall and happy and are flowering profusely.  I didn't plant more than a packet worth of seeds (I planted parts of several packets, for color variety), but I have had enough zinnias this summer to keep several vases always full in my house, and have shared bouquets with several neighbors, and now my mom.

You don't have to have a green thumb or much garden space at all to grow zinnias.  They are for certain my favorite annual flower to grow, because they are so prolific and their beautiful flowers make me happy when I see them in the garden or the vase.  And I LOVE having flowers to share, so they can make loved ones happy as well.

I am linking this easy upcycle at The T-shirt Diaries, for Upcycled Awesome this week; head over there for lots more creative upcycle ideas! Here is the button that will take you there:

Easy Summer Seperates To Sew

I just made this top, using Simplicity pattern 3750

 
 And here is the back:

It is not really uneven in the back; I didn't notice it needed to be pulled down before I took the pic!

This is the first top I have made following a pattern, other than the pajama top in One Yard Wonders.

I made this top more complicated than it needed to be by choosing the striped print.

This is an easy pattern to sew, for sure.  It has a lot of sleeve options, too.  I am excited about making one  with the "groovy" long sleeve option.   That will go with a long bias cut skirt I have already cut out and I cannot wait to show that completed outfit, which is for fall.


I have been wanting to show ya'll the bias cut skirts from One-Yard Wonders, but wanted to show a whole outfit made by me, and not just a bunch of skirts.  And so I bought the fabric for this top, along with some special blue linen to make the skirt.  But the linen has flower embroidery (in the same shade) and is gorgeous, but needs a plain blouse.

Dolly IS wearing a bias cut skirt in the photo, but I made that one from a sheet as a little slip to wear under a floral circle cut skirt I made from another sheet....

But I digress.  lol  The big mistake I made in sewing this pattern was not paying enough attention to the instructions and sewing the bias tape to the strap and back pieces before sewing them together.  So there is a seam at the neck, which should have been seamlessly bound.  And the contrast band could have looked neater.

I also choose one size too large, apparently.  If you haven't followed a pattern before, please be aware that you definitely will need to make a different size than you normally buy.  I wear a size 6 dress if I buy it from a store, but a garment made from a size 6 pattern would not go over my thigh.  The back of the pattern has measurements, and I did consult them.  I even measured myself again, to be certain my measurements had not changed.  So I choose and cut my size according to the stated measurements, but it is too loose under the arms and in the chest.  I am going to take it in better, but when I repeat this pattern, I will be cutting a smaller size, for sure!

I am pleased in general with how this top turned out (Mr. Green complimented on it before it was even finished and has commented he likes it several times), and I will definitely be wearing this and make the pattern again, especially with the sleeve variations, which I am eager to try.  And I definitely learned several things during the process.

I also really want to tell ya'll about the bias cut skirts from the book
One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric! 
In case you haven't figured it out; I really recommend adding this book to your sewing library.
This one pattern alone has been worth more to me than the price I paid for that book.  It is a one piece pattern and super simple to sew.  Because I have a serger to roll the hem, I can sew one in literally 10 minutes.

Here is the very first one I made.

I couldn't find my tie dye to show you today, but when my mama brought me this vintage sheet, I immediately thought of my favorite old tie dye I made with rit dye that has the same faded shades of brown and orange.  That tie dye and this skirt have been my favorite outfit for around the house all summer.  I used another soft cotton sheet to make the bias skirt pattern in a smaller size to wear underneath as a slip, and it makes for a breezy, comfy, cool skirt.  You can see another one cut out on the line in the window.  I need to get brown thread for the serger before I hem that one.  You don't need a serger at all to make this easy skirt, however.  You can make one from a yard of 60" wide fabric.

You will be seeing other versions of this skirt by me (including the embroidered linen and a special long version) soon, as I complete tops to go with them.

There is a sewing and needle book in that last photo, on the stack on the sewing desk.  I have only a couple steps left on that and the tutorial for those should be up soon.


I hope you all have a great day today; Happy Sewing!