Embroidery

[elizabeth_mn]

Yesterday I got a hankering to make some new potholders, since the ones I have now are really old and yucky. I made a set about 4 years ago; I quilted them, and now the batting is all exposed and keeps catching on fire. When I was at a craft fair at the state farigrounds a few weeks ago, I passed a booth with some really lovely potholders and oven mitts made of wool felt, wool being so much more flame retardant than other fibers, especially cotton.

I felted some thrift store sweaters about a year ago and stashed them with the store-boughten felt in my fabric bin. There was a nice piece that was once a cherry-red cashmere cardigan and I managed to get three 8" squares out of it.

Of course, I could have just layered the felt and finished the potholders there, but of course, I can't leave well enough alone, so I pulled out my box of wool embroidery threads and cut a few little paisley templates.

Yesterday I embroidered all of one and half of another. The motifs are pretty big and open and simple. I enjoy working on things like this, but at the same time, I feel kind of dorky and way-too-domestic for embroidering a potholder. I try to remind myself that I enjoy having the functional, everyday things in my life also be beautiful, and that I enjoy the process as much as the result, but on the other hand. . . I'm embroidering a potholder.

Anyway, I'll probably finish the set of 3 today and post photos tomorrow.  And then I really need to do something about my poor husband's suit.