Sugarless Treats: Crayon Cookies and Kool Aid Playdough

We are off to see the new baby but not without some fun treats for big brother.  The crayons were made in the Wilton cookie mold pan (mini-muffin pan works well, too) and a silicone candy tray.  

Just peel the crayons, break them into pieces, and group them by color families in the molds (no need to use a cooking spray if you have a freezer).  Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and place pan in oven for 15 minutes.  The silicone candy mold will need a baking sheet under it to keep it flat.  Check at about 10 minutes to make sure you have enough broken crayons in the mold, if not, add more.  The silicone molds take longer to heat the crayons to melting point.  When, melted, turn off oven and open door.  Let the crayons cool until set around the edges, then cool on the counter until set (I put mine outside).  When set, put tray in freezer until cold.  The crayons will slide right out of the pan or pop out of the silicone molds.  Look for inexpensive silicone molds at a dollar store and use only quality, non-toxic crayons.  The silicone may absorb some of the dye from the crayons so don't use a borrowed tray.  And you will need a fair amount of crayons.  The box in the right picture was filled.

For the playdough, plain inexpensive bleached flour, salt, and a light colored cooking oil will make the most vibrant colors but you may want to have some extra liquid food coloring on hand.

   Kool-Aid® Playdough

1 cup flour
1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid®

1/4 cup salt

2 tablespoons cream of tartar                                

1 cup hot water

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 

Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, and Kool-Aid® together well with a fork in a medium pan. Add hot water and oil. Stir over medium-low heat 3 to 5 minutes.  When mixture forms a ball in the pan, remove. Knead until smooth. Put in a plastic bag and refrigerate.  Dough is smooth, non-sticky, and smells nice.

Another Two Done, One to Go!

My mom has put in requests for three aprons.  One was easy.  She had me copy a chef's style apron that fit her well.  I made the first one last year and completed another last month.  The next request was a challenge.  

When I saw her for her birthday in October, she had an ad for a smock type apron.  With the renewed popularity of aprons, you think it would be easy to find a pattern for a smock but googling didn't bring much success and none were in the pattern books for the major companies, either.

With the help of some internet friends, I located a vintage Kwik Sew pattern for a zip front smock.  It didn't have a yoke, gathers, or buttons; but with a picture of a pattern insert from another vintage pattern, I made adaptions to the Kwik Sew pattern and now my mom will have her smock.  

Next, but with no immediate pressure, will be an apron she can wear next fall and on Halloween when she answers the door to trick or treaters.  Mom used to dress up as a witch until she scared her one and only a few years ago in her old neighborhood.   Since she moved, her new location is very popular and she lamented she wished she at least had a special apron for the occasion.

The toddler apron is for the cutie who smiles at you up in the corner.  My daughter is giving him some small but real cooking utensils for Christmas.  I promised a chef's apron.  I need to complete a matching hand towel, next.  

If you like the embroidery design, you can find it at Embroidery Library.  This is from a set for the "fruits of the spirit."  They offer the design for both small and large hoops.  I reduced the design from the large pack to fit the pocket with no problems.

Stay Calm!

Make your own poster:  Keep Calm-o-matic

Spiral Rib

I needed a spiral rib for socks with 30 stitches on each of 2 circular needles so I charted it in Excel.  Click to enlarge.

National Tie One On Day!

Get in the spirit of giving aprons!  Join in the fun, creating memories of special people, aromas, and occasions spent in the kitchen :  

Cranking Out Aprons, Litterally

In recent months, my husband and I have been blessed with some great hospitality provided by some very special hostesses.  To show our appreciation, I have been busy making aprons.  

With two fabrics and rick-rack, I was frequently changing thread to match.  I finally decided, with so many machines in the house, why not use two.  The one I chose was a hand crank model that was already in the sewing room and fit easily on the end of my small sewing table.  Also, it doesn't add to the tangle of cords running under or across the table.  I love sewing on a hand crank machine.  It is so relaxing.

Today, I finished another apron for our 4-H silent auction.  Both apron patterns appear in Retro Aprons by Cindy Taylor Oates.  I can't wait to get her latest apron book, Mother and Daughter Aprons.  Maybe I am dreaming there is a little girl in my future?  ;)

 

http://apronmemories.blogspot.com/2010/10/national-tie-one-one-day-2010-is-here.html

 

Binding Magic

I often get asked how I get my binding on potholders and placemats so even.  DH thinks when I make them, I am practicing voodoo.  ;)  The secret to my success is lots of pins!!  

I make my own 1/2 inch wide double fold binding from 2 inch wide bias strips and a Clover Bias Tape Maker.  I don't recommend any other brand of bias makers.  The Clover brand makes a better fold than any of the others I have tried.

Before applying the binding I zigzag the raw edges of the potholder or placemat together.  This gives a nice firm and secure edge with nothing that will get caught in the seam when attaching the binding.

After zigzagging the edges of the potholder or placemat, I open up one fold of the binding, pin to the back side, stretching slightly as I round the corner, and then sew in the crease of the fold.  Rounded corners are easier than square because you don't have to miter.  If you plan the overlap where the binding meets, for a spot where the fabric in the face block blends or matches with the binding, it won't be as noticeable.  Once the binding is attached to the back side, I fold it over the raw edges to the front for the final pass of stitching. 

View from the back side with one fold open:  Pins perpendicular to the edge are easier to pull out and can be spaced close to prevent puckers and pleats.

My binding is attached just like shown for the Retro Fun Quilted Mitts.  But, I pin like crazy and I generally choose to use either my Pfaff 7570 or Davis VF.  Both machines have an upper feed system that insures the multiple layers move between the presser foot and throat plate without puckers and folds.  You could choose to use a walking foot attachment, too, but some machines have multiple feed dogs to ensure even feeding.  You may not need to use a walking foot to avoid puckers.

It doesn't matter if you pin from the inside or the outside, just catch the binding and the top layer to prevent distortion.

Unless you really have the Midas Touch with a sewing machine, I recommend you zigzag topstitch the binding down on the last pass.  Thirty years ago in a quilted jacket class, a master seamstress told us that unless you hand stitch the binding down, it will never be perfect by machine.  Instead, if you must use a machine, zigzag; it will look "straighter" than if you tried to straight stitch it in place.  I have faithfully followed that advice because the binding is never exactly the same on the front and the back and straight stitching just accentuates all of the inconsistencies on the back side.  Additionally, if your machine likes invisible thread, you can use it to mask the faults.

Note:  If you like to hand stitch, just reverse the side you sew the binding on in the first pass.  Sew to the front and flip to the back, then use a hand blind-stitch to sew down the binding in place of zigzag.