hot pads - everyday sewing

Hot pads have become part of my every day sewing.  Whenever I am working on another project, like pajama pants, Small Mister pants, or dresses for me, there is a hot pad I am working on when I do a straight seam.  

I was looking at the hot pads I have had for awhile and they were filthy!  It has something to do with how often I use my oven (almost every day), how often I use cast iron (almost every day), and how often I just plain cook (almost every day).  Even though it was on my list of things I needed to make, I had not gotten around to making anymore hot pads.  

Now I have.  I kept it simple.  The same piece of fabric on each side.  A felted wool blanket in the middle.  It is very hot to combat pans that are 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  The hottest oven in the house goes up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit so I just need thick wool and nothing else special.  I quilted them and added a binding.  I put a loop on them because I have S hooks on the metro racks in my kitchen where I can hang them from.  

I can wash the other ones now.  They do not looks as bad as they did but they do look used.  My Beloved likes these a bit better because they fit his hands better.  They are little bit large for my hands but they work.  They are a happy median.  I am working on another six.  I decided I needed some extras and a few need to go in the trailer and the camping box.  Just more everyday sewing.

beet, onion, and fennel dish

We tried a beet, onion, and fennel tart tonight.  I would say I would make the middle again but I did not like the the crust.  I know it was gluten free but I was expecting more.  Especially with the flours used and the time put in.  I do find with this author I have to modify anything of hers to make it work with me.  I need to go with the ideas.

So, we are going to go with ideas here.  The filling was good.  You could bake it in a ramekin and serve it as a side, if you like cheese like we do.  

beet, onion, and fennel tart filling (or a side or spread on crackers or ....)

3 beets, large, peeled, roasted until soft and sliced

2 thinly sliced onions

1 thinly sliced fennel bulb

1/4 to 1/2 pound of racellete and/or gruyere cheese, sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Put the olive oil in a cast iron skillet or oven proof pan.  Add the onion and fennel.  Slow fry until golden and caramelized.  Put into a oven proof pan.  Cover with cheese.  Put in the oven for 5 minutes.  Pull out of the oven and cover with the beets.  Back into the oven and bake for 2 more minutes.

This would be good by itself or as a side or on toast.  As a tart, it needs a bit of help.

the last of the current sewing for Small Mister

This coat is the last of the current sewing for Small Mister.  The main body is wool.  It is lined in orange flannel and the hood is lined in owl flannel.  It is not going to fit him past this winter but it is a good coat for chasing after Grandpoppa in.  My Beloved is one of his favorite people and these two like to get in mischief together.  

I am going to have to look at different coats for next year.  This one was from Handmade Beginnings.  I made the two.  It was the largest size and it almost is not big enough.  I button the deer buttons and that seems to help.  But after February, it will be given away so some other small person can use it next year.

requested for Small Mister

The Tall Short Person went through all the clothes that she had been given for Small Mister and realized that there were very few 18 to 24 months pants.  It is what he is wearing right now but he will be out of them too soon for all of us.  He is growing taller quickly.

I went to one of my favorite fabric stores in the area and put these four pairs of pants together to match the three I made him at Christmas.   We are having to roll the lets up a bit but they are going to last for a bit.  He is eating so much right now I can see him growing again soon.  

When I worked on these, I worked on two quilts.  I am getting all the pieces put together.

Miss Ellie's quilt

Miss Ellie's quilt top and back are put together.  It was strange but I did not like how this quilt went together on the floor when I laid it out but I like it now that it is sewn together.  I have found that I really do not know what I will think about a quilt until it is done.

The back turned out well too.  I made it simpler then normal because I need to make a back that carries a theme that I can transfer to her brother's too.

I did a lot of this sewing while I was making Christmas presents.  I would sew a seam and put together a bit of the quilt.  I am doing the same with her brother's.  It will be interesting to see how it comes together and how many other things get marked off my list while I am doing it.