No-sew fleece blankets a topic on show

Information on working with succulents and grapewood, doing reversible cross stitch embroidery and planning events will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. and on Thursday at noon. (All times are Mountain.)

Casey Schwartz is a floral designer and co-owner of Flower Duet, and she’s going to show how to meld together two of nature’s wonders — succulents and dried grapewood — to create some interesting floral designs. Schwartz is from Redondo Beach, California.

Catherine Jordan represents the Embroiderers’ Guild of America in Lewisville, Kentucky, and she’s going to show several items featuring cross stitch reversible embroidery including coasters and bookmarks. She’ll also demonstrate how to work a straight line which is reversible with the double running stitch and reversible cross stitch.

Patty Waid, owner and operator of Waid & Associates, is an event planner, and she knows how important it is to be able to locate items quickly for an upcoming event. She’ll share some tips and tricks that can alleviate some of the chaos and make life easier. Waid is from Albuquerque.

Information on making placemats, edging fleece blankets and crafting with stencils will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” on Tuesday at noon and on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Vivian Lavinskas is with Singer Sewing Co. and she’s going to show how to make a one-of-a-kind placemat using random rows of stitching to create individual compartments to hold buttons, appliqués, and other floating objects. You can select seasonal themes or any other notion or accessory. Lavinskas is from Lavergne, Tennessee.

Sewing instructor Nancy Lovett will show numerous samples of fleece blankets with a variety of easy no-sew or easy to sew edges. These edges can be used on garment and home decor items as well. She’ll also show how to use the new Edge Perfect Blade that cuts holes that are perfectly spaced for weaving, crocheting and knitting. She lives in Albuquerque.

Stencils are a classic art form. Sara Mower will show how to easily create beautiful art work by simply tracing. You can even use the edges to create coordinating frames and borders. She represents Roylco, Inc. in Anderson, South Carolina.

Pocket placemat

In this project we provide instructions on how to construct your own placemat. You can also use a store bought placemat, and these will work just as well. You can also create themes for your placemats by using seasonal appliqués, such as pumpkins, Holiday ornaments, etc.

Supplies: (to make one placemat)

• 1/2 yard sturdy washable fabric

• 1/2 yard organza or other sheer fabric

• 1/2 yard fusible interfacing

• 12 flat appliqués for the pockets

• 2 1/2 yard 5mm wide trim

All purpose sewing thread to match your fabric, marking pencil, dressmaker pins. Cut 1 piece of fabric 20" X 15", cut 1 piece interfacing 20" X 15", cut 1 piece fabric 18" X 13" and cut 1 piece organza 18" X 13". Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the 20 X 15 piece of fabric. Set your sewing machine for straight stitch, set the stitch length at the longest setting and attach Special Purpose or Satin presser foot. Center the 18 X 13 piece of fabric right side up over the 20 X 15 piece of fabric, on the inter-faced side. Baste these layers together. Center the 18 X 13 organza piece over the 18” X 13” basted fabric piece and baste the 3 layers together. Divide the organza into 12 boxes, 4 across and 3 down using the marking pencil. Stitch down the 3 vertical lines on the placemat. Next stitch the 2 sides and the top 1/4-inch from the edge of the organza. Remove all basting; slip 4 appliqués into the 4 pockets under the organza and drop them all the way down to the bottom. Stitch across the horizontal line nearest to the appliqués. Repeat for the second and third row of appliqués.

Finishing:

Set your machine to a zig zag stitch, 6mm wide, 3.0 mm long. Cut the 5mm wide trim to fit over the horizontal and vertical lines. Position the trim over each vertical line and zig zag into place. Position the trim over each horizontal line and zig zag into place. Turn up the corners 1/2 inch towards the top of the placemat and press. Continue turning up all 4 sides 1/2 inch towards the top and press. Select a blind hem stitch, blanket stitch or pin stitch and stitch along the top side of the turned up edge of the placemat.

“Creative Living" is produced and hosted by Sheryl Borden. The show is carried by more than 118 PBS stations in the United States, Canada, Guam and Puerto Rico and is distributed by Westlink, Albuquerque.