Jenna over at Cold Antler Farm issued a challenge at the end of October for her “Crafty Antlers” to design and make a mason jar cozy to help keep her coffee warm while doing chores around the homestead.

Jenna had two criteria:

(1) Said cozy must have handles or a way to carry it.
(2) Cozy had to be made entirely from materials already on your homestead.

As a quilter, I have a stash (for the uninitated – a closet overflowing with fabric and notions).  I wasn’t worried about not having enough of the right materials on hand to construct the cozy.  I was also fairly confident I could draft the pattern (similar to a bolster pillow with only one end closed).  The challenge was finding a quart size mason jar without having to shell out $10.39 + tax for a set of twelve jars at my local grocery store.

None of my nearby friends had quart size jars – plenty of pint and half-pint jars – but no 32 ounce jars.  I borrowed an antique Ball mason jar full of vintage sewing notions to use as my guide.

I pulled random 2-1/2″ batik strips from my scrap bag and sewed them together.  I found a piece of beige linen blend fabric to use as the backing and sandwiched the two with a scrap of Warm & Natural cotton batting in between.

The quilt sandwich was then free motion quilted on my vintage Elna Carina sewing machine in an all over meander pattern.  I don’t typically free motion quilt, but I was curious to see if I could on this machine since it has a speed controller, DC motor and larger work area than my computerized Pfaff.  I love piecing on my 61 year old Featherweight and making this cozy on my recently acquired vintage Elna Carina (one of the last metal Elna sewing machines made in Switzerland) was a true pleasure.  There’s something to be said for sewing on vintage machines.

I “borrowed” a few finishing touches from my Vera Bradley bag – bound interior seams, cute button the outside and extra stitching on the straps. 

Rough measurements are as follows:
Base – 5″ circle (1 fashion fabric and 1 lining fabric  + 1 batting)
Body – 7-1/2″ x 14-1/2″ rectangle (1 fashion fabric and 1 lining fabric +1 batting)
Straps – 2-1/2 x 18″ (interfaced and turned) (cut 2 of fashion fabric and 2 of interfacing or fusible fleece/batting)
Seam binding (if desired):  1″ x length of seam (cut 3 strips to length – body, base and upper edge of bag)

The economy has been tough for a lot of folks and businesses alike.  However, I do think the down economy has truly led to the resurgence of sewing and crafts as being “cool” again.  Look at Wal-Mart bringing back fabrics to some of its stores.

We are blessed with an abundance of fabric/quilt shops in the metro Atlanta and north Georgia areas.  Just yesterday, a parent from school informed me that her neighbor was now working with the SBA to secure funding for a quilt shop in Kennesaw.   I pass by the proposed location whenever I take the dog to doggie day care.  Funny thing is, I’ve always thought that location would be perfect for a quilt or craft store.  I will definitely contact her to offer my services to help  or teach classes at the shop if things move forward.

This brings me to my reason for this post.  Quilters are a generous lot.  Demographically speaking, we also tend to be better educated and enjoy a higher income than the average person.  Someone probably helped you get started with learning how to sew many years ago.  If you are a seasoned or retired quilter, you are probably sitting on the mother lode of stash, notions and sewing machines.  It’s time to share my friends…and I don’t mean shipping your stuff to a third world country.  Start in your own backyard.

Kids and adults alike want to learn how to sew.  What’s holding many of them back is the lack of access to a decent sewing machine and basic supplies, plus someone to teach them how.

If you know a young person or have a friend who has expressed an interest in sewing…encourage them.  Gift them one of your old machines, fabric and basic supplies.  Offer to teach them yourself (the best way), or pick up the tuition for a series of lessons @ a local shop if you know you don’t have the patience for it.   If they really get smitten by the sewing bug and you have the $$$, set them up right…for less than $300, you can get a decent starter machine, sewing basket, tools and fabric for a project or two.

Who knows, you may have encouraged the next big name fabric or clothing designer!

My middle school friend whom I taught to sew last Christmas has really come a long way.  The two hours spent with me in my studio teaching her the basics, plus a trip to a trendy intown fabric store unleashed her creativity.  And she’s sharing with her friends, getting them excited or at least mildly interested in learning how to sew.  Mom offered to pay for the lesson, but I politely declined.  I told her this was my way to pay it forward.

Other ways you can pay it forward are to donate money anonymously for scholarships through the American Sewing Guild or your local quilt guild.

Nothing to me is more satisfying than sharing my love of sewing with a friend.

You’ve exercised your right to free speech and your right to protest.  You’ve had your 15 minutes of fame.

Do the rest of the 99.9% of us a favor.

Go home.

Stop wasting valuable taxpayer dollars to clean up the mess you make in the parks and for all of the overtime for the police who have to supervise your group.

No one said life was fair.  You are responsible for you.  Not the government.  Not Wall Street.  Not Main Street.  Not me.

If you don’t like your position in life, change it.  Hard work never hurt anybody.

I work hard to earn what bit of money I make.  I also hire temporary help in my studio and around the house when I need it (does this make me a job creator?).  If you truly need assistance with the basic necessities due to extenuating circumstances, I’m happy to help to the extent I’m able.  However, I’d really like to keep as much of what is rightfully mine as possible.  I think that’s only reasonable.

Perhaps one day when you get a job, pay taxes, own a home and put a little away for a rainy day you’ll understand.

Ask yourself:  Are you part of the problem?  Or part of the solution?