Some Christmas makes

I call them Christmas makes, but they're more like "just because" makes...

...because I didn't start them until after Christmas.

Not to run on about how much I wasn't able to make last year, but I didn't make anyone a thing for Christmas. I made a hot pad in early December and took absolutely no joy in it. So now we have a new hot pad (well, I still have to sew down the loop), and while I would normally feel a tremendous amount of guilt for NOT making Christmas gifts (for my kids), this past Christmas I decided there would be no guilt. I have finally reached the point in my life when my kids don't necessarily appreciate (or need) the things I make, and that's ok. I remember when I was their age and my mother would get me stuff (nothing she made, she wouldn't dream of doing anything like that) that was totally opposite of what I thought was appropriate. I know--I'm older and, hopefully, wiser, and I do appreciate what Mom did for me. But enough about Christmas makes...

So, I bought this pattern a few months ago during my click “Buy Now” spree:

I purchased this pattern from Four Winds Traders on Etsy (NAYY). Fantastic shop, and fast, reasonable shipping. 

I made 5 of these; the first one I made for myself to test, and then 4 more for friends. This is the last one I made, and this one goes to Katrina.

Each flap has 2 pockets where you can insert smaller items like needles, small snips, etc. But that pincushion--it has some serious heft to it. It takes 1-1/4 cups of walnut shells to fill it. It attaches to the little "mat" with Velcro and can sit on the arm of your chair. You can slide a spool of thread onto the narrow strip on top of the pincushion, but that may be tricky. Now that I've made all of them, I'm thinking I should have reconsidered how I did the thread loop. But they're cute.

I also wish I had purchased the Bernina binding attachment while it was on sale last month. I've never been able to bring myself to spend that much money on a foot that I might not use much. This project would have justified the expense, and I would have made many more.

And my huge thanks to my girlfriend Cindy, who donated the fabrics for the one above! All the others came from my stash and I could not find the right one for Katrina--Cindy to the rescue! 

And speaking of walnut shells, I'll tell you in another post what happened that day when I asked the Hubs to pick some up for me so I could keep sewing. 

Thanks for reading and looking, and go make!