Monthly Fiber Arts Thread - April 1-30, 2021

April 1, 2021 | Diana in Wisconsin

[MayflowerMadam]

I go the safety pin route about half of the time, and large hand basting stitches other times. I’ll have to check out that spray you mention. Thanks for the tip!

I’m considering taking some of the tops, batts, and backings to a long arm quilter just to baste nice and tight.

[Albion Wilde]

Here’s a link:

https://www.joann.com/search?q=quilt+spray+glue&lang=default

[V K Lee]

Southern Living - it’s been years since a yummy recipe was seen in SL. Those seen before the subscription ran dry were
certainly not worth the time and effort to cut/copy/paste for future attempts. Frozen chicken tenders, “blah blah blah”. Perhaps the stay at home cooks were too tired at the end of the work day, commuting to/from were unable to prepare a meal from scratch. Whatever, their recipes seemed to be lacking that special touch (JMHO)

Seldom pick up a needle and thread, needles and yarn. Mother quilted; her sister knitted and crocheted. My sister does needlepoint. None of this holds any interest here. However embroidery hoops have always held a fascination.
:-)

[MayflowerMadam]

A good selection. Thank you.

[Albion Wilde]

I subscribe to Southern Living now and then when they offer the senior discount. At the end of 2019 when there had been race riots all over the country, they did their annual “white cake cover.” Apparently they have been doing a white cake.” on the cover of the Christmas issue for 25 years, but I was not fully aware of it. The issue arrived in the mail with a big white-frosted cake with magnolias on top, and a caption that said, right on the cover, “Our Most Southern White Cake Ever (It’s Chocolate on the inside!)” I almost spit my coffee. My mail deliverer is black. I cringed.

[Qiviut]

Just finished ..... whew! The person getting this piece might even have it for Easter - since it's a prayer shawl, it would be nice for her to have it this weekend.

GREAT pattern, IMO. Works up nicely & actually met my 'expectations', which many patterns do not. I did make some minor changes such as adding a shell to get gauge width (multiples for this given in pattern) and I added a dc on the end of each row for both the shawl & pockets so my first stitch every row wasn't a BPdc (in particular) or FPdc. I hate post stitches, but the post stitches did work into a nice border/pockets. An added bonus (for me) to adding that extra 'dc' - the edges had a bit of a decorative 'scallop' border on the outside edge of the post stitch border - this blends with the shells.

Here's the link to the pattern:

Wave After Wave Pocket Shawl

One more thing - I had 6 skeins of Wool Ease (color: Fishermen) left over from a wedding afghan I made. I'd been saving the yarn for something special when this project came up. The project called for 5 skeins, but I always end up using more yarn .... I used almost all 6 skeins, so this worked out perfectly & makes the project doubly satisfying!

[V K Lee]

The garden photos are still up to par even though their recipes might have lost their appeal. LOL at their white Cake. Speaking of chocolate, do you remember the famous Tunnel of Fudge cake from years ago? For a time it was THE
fav of many. Magnolias - so fragrant but the tree is very temperamental. Have yet to yearn for or acquire. For fragrance, and little upkeep Elaeagnus works for me. The fragrance becomes apparent in fall. Magnificent!

[Persevero]

It seems there is a vacuum to be filled with a good, domestic, family and home centered women’s magazine.

Perhaps we are in too much of a digital age.

[Persevero]

Lovely to see a complete project. This month I'd like to share my baby socks: I like to use yarn ends and small amounts of donated/free yard to make baby socks. I don't expect babies to wear socks and shoes! These socks work as booties, really. I have made several pair. I call them "diaper pin baby socks" because I use a diaper pin as a stitchholder and a measuring tool. Great use of small amounts of yarn, very satisfying.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That is SO Gorgeous! You never disappoint! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Adorable!

I spent the winter stash-busting by crocheting 7” squares for afghans for ‘Warm Up America.’ I send in the squares, someone else pieces them all together. :)

Crocheted baby socks are NOW on my to-do list for next fall and winter. ;)

[Persevero]

Our post apocalyptic skills will keep the babies’ feet warm anyway!

[Albion Wilde]

You have been a long-time reader! The Tunnel of Fudge was from the 60s, according to this article (it’s number 5 — scroll down):

https://www.southernliving.com/desserts/cakes/popular-cakes-by-year?slide=475daf38-fdef-4601-82b0-da754b1b1a2e#475daf38-fdef-4601-82b0-da754b1b1a2e

If you need the recipe, it was a Pillsbury competition winner and still is posted online by Pillsbury:

https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/tunnel-of-fudge-cake/8d3b4927-2f71-41a3-9dab-7750f045f252:

[V K Lee]

Thanks for the link, AW. LOL - Bundt Cakes. When the words are heard can’t help but remember the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and the character played by Lainie Kazan. The astonishment of a cake with a hole in the middle. The specialty of the era coming from this personal kitchen was the Rum Cake. Every Christmas this was requested and made again, again, and again.

Half Price Books had a few outlets in the Dallas area. My sister and I would meet and spend the afternoon in the store going through their cookbook section. We found some outstanding Southern Living annual cook hooks. One Christmas made their version of Sweet Potato Pecan Praline Souffle. SMACK SMACK. A hit with all and not a bite left on the plates.

Now if only a recipe for lemon chiffon pie would suddenly appear. Actually any chiffon pie would do, not having had a slice in years. They were so good, chilled and eaten in the heat of the summer.

[Albion Wilde]

There’s an orange chiffon cake from 1948 in that same SL article —the first one (Tunnel is 5th). Maybe you could adapt it. Or — check Martha Stewart. Sounds like something she would do.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Click on picture to link back to Monthly Fiber Arts Thread March 1-31, 2021!