More on the Granny Cap Covers

Melissa asked me in the last post how I did the elastic on the granny cap covers I made. I also wanted to make sure you knew that on the sourdough starter crock and on the kombucha jars, the lids are just cloth with out the plastic. Both of these need to be able to breath.

I started out with 1/2" wide elastic and like it best, but I ran out and did some of them with 1/4" elastic. I would measure a piece of elastic just a bit shorter than the diameter of the jar or crock or bowl. Fold the elastic in half and take an ink pen and mark the middle of the elastic. Then fold it in half again and mark those two folds. When you open up your elastic you will have 3 separate marks all on the same side. It will show 4 equal spaces. I cut a round piece of material larger than the size of the container I would put it on. I tried to find objects in my house to trace like a dinner plate or a bowl. I then finished the edge with my serger attachment. Fold the circle in half with the wrong side of the material facing out. Make a mark at each end. Then fold it in half again and mark that fold on the outside edge. Then open it up and fold it in half the other way and mark that edge. When you open the circle up and put one of your marks at twelve o'clock, you will also have one at 3, 6 and 9. I put the elastic about 3/4" in from the edge or however you want it (it depends on how much bigger your material is than the container it goes on) on the wrong side of the material. and put the needle of the sewing machine down into the elastic and material. Have the end of the elastic even with one of your marks on the circle. Then take a pin and put the first mark on the elastic even with the next mark on the material. Pin it down. Then stretch the elastic as you sew trying to keep it an even distance from the edge. Once you hit that pin, leave the needle in the down position and pin the next mark even with the next mark on the material and do the same thing. You keep going around in that way making the end of the elastic meet the beginning at the first mark on the material. It sounds hard and confusing, but it is really very easy.

Sewing Granny Cap Covers

Almost every time our fellowship meets we have a pot blessing dinner. I many times take a large salad. We try to watch what we eat and this makes sure there is something we can fill up on. I have a couple of large bowls and every time I go, I use either plastic wrap or foil to cover them. I had an idea to try and make some covers for the bowls. On the large blue gingham cover and the bowl in front in red gingham, I lined them with a clear plastic. It worked well, but the material ended up puckering up at the end of sewing around the outside. I have since talked to a friend and she told me to put the plastic on the top when I sew the next one and this might eliminate my problem. I am using a serger attachment on my machine, so it overlocks the edges with stitches and then cuts off the excess. So, doing the covers upside down won't matter. I also decided to make lids for my kombucha jars and my sourdough starter crocks. I was having a good time while experimenting. I should be able to do it easily now. I also made some napkins. I was experimenting with different edgings on those as well. I want to do some more sewing tomorrow. I love to sew, but rarely do it. Here are a couple of pictures of some of the covers I made today. I am hoping this will be a money savings in the end by not using the plastic wrap and foil.

The Amish are Shocking!!

I knew that title would make you look! =) I had to take a death message to an Amish family this morning. If someone in their family from out of the area dies, they call us and we notify the family. They don't like to see us pull up in their driveways. If we are there on any other type of business, we are quick to let them know. It is an overcast and chilly day. A perfect day for staying indoors by the fire. It is around 50 degrees with a chilly wind. We are going to have homemade chicken noodle soup for supper. That is a comfort food for me.

Anyway, I loved the way the light was in the sky. In places here and there a sunbeam would poke its way through the gloom and illuminate something on the ground. It almost made you think that there must be a treasure buried there. I had to stop several times to take pictures. =) I don't get to do that when I ride with either of my guys. The Amish had put their corn in shocks. Here are some pictures.

The little dots on the hill in the picture below are corn shocks as well.

I also got some sewing done this weekend. I am trying to block the sun from shining in my pantry. I made a single curtain for the door and the window. I may still have to have blinds or something. It is very light in there, even with the curtains.

I made this skirt for the counter top. I want to store potatoes under it. I have the baskets to put them in, but I need to build some sort of frame so that they sit up off the floor. Our milk fridge is going to go on the right hand side of the counter, so that will block that end off.

I had a bag holder out of this same material, only it was a light blue. Josh and Britt did not have one, and she liked that one, so I gave it to her. I had a scrap of fabric left and made this one for me.