Edey's Vintage and Current Needlework

I found these at Joann's.  They are laser-cut thick acrylic templates for making quilt pieces, either for rotary cutting or to draw around with a pencil or marker.  They already have a 1/4 inch seam allowance added and cutout holes for marking the stitching line. There are several different sets for making Half-square triangles, diamonds, squares, hearts, etc. for making many different styles of quilt blocks.  I really like using these, and they are so sturdy that they will last a lifetime.

After buying the one set at Joann's with a 40% off coupon, I thought I'd look them up on-line. There were many different sellers on e-bay that were selling them for about half of the price at Joann's. I'm happy to know that there is another source.  The set that I bought was $19.99 at Joann's and with the coupon got $8.00 off. The e-bay prices ranged from $5.00 to $12.00, plus shipping. It would pay to look for the best price, and not just on e-bay. 

These quilt templates can also be used for other crafting, whenever a shape is needed for something, so they are not just one time only tools.  I think they are a good investment if you are getting into making quilts. 

Edey

When I started quilting in the early 1970's rotary cutters and the rulers and cutting mats used with them didn't exist. The common way to cut out pieces to make a quilt block was to first make a template of the pieces needed out of cardboard, plastic or folded paper, then trace around the template, leaving room between shapes to add a 1/4" seam allowance all around. The shapes would then be cut out with a good sharp pair of scissors. I left quilting behind when I got busy raising a family so it was several years later when I got interested in it again. When I found the rotary cutter I thought that was the best invention of all time for quilting and sewing. Of course I saved my pennies and bought one and all the goodies that went with it. Learning to use them properly was something of a challenge; it seemed like it should be easy enough to get the fabric all squared up and then cut into strips, but somehow for me I never could master making accurate cuts. Sometimes the ruler would slip, or I'd eyeball the wrong mark on the ruler to line up where it would cut, so I'd have one or two oddball strips in a batch of strips. I would suddenly realize that when I would sewed a piece together it would be the wrong size. Having the space to use the long rulers and big mats was also a challenge. I fought with the whole process of getting the fabric laid out just right, lining up the ruler just right and hoping it doesn't slip only to find I've cut them wrong. It was frustrating, but this was the modern way, and if I wanted to produce lots of quilts, this was the way to do it.  

But I've come to realize that my enjoyment of the process of piecing and stitching is more important than rushing thru the cutting simply to mass produce quilts as fast as I could. I wasn't in it for the competition but to enjoy the activity of working with fabric and thread. It is more comforting to sit in my recliner with a board on my lap, a small piece of fabric on the board,  a little sewing basket nearby holding my supplies, and tracing out my pieces using a template. I can mark my fabric and have it waiting for me to cut out a few pieces as I have the time to do it. I'm not hovering over a table, straining to see and trying to accurately cut a large piece of fabric, hoping I've done it right.

Like any tool, the rotary cutter has its uses. The ergonimically shaped handle is easier on the hand then the original designed straight handle, and they are made safer now with automatically covered blades. For quickly cutting a piece of fabric that is several yards long and you want to cut into 1 yard lengths, the rotary is ideal. For precise cutting it takes more skill, something I found difficult to develop. I will always have a rotary cutter for general cutting. But for its intended use of cutting fabric precisely and quickly for quilting purposes,  for me it just didn't work out. Maybe I'm too much of a traditionalist; I like the older, simpler way better. 

Edey

String quilts are real easy to make.  The "strings" are long strips of fabric, not cord type string. Usually it's left over strips of fabric that are too narrow for other purposes; this is a good way to not waste those scraps.

Basics for making a block: Cut a large square of a backing fabric, like plain muslin, but use whatever you want. Make as many blocks as you want for your quilt. I have a large 12 x 12 ruler that I just lay down on the fabric and cut around it. Then cut lots of strips of different fabrics at least 1 1/2 inches wide or wider. Varying the widths make an interesting quilt block 

Next: You will be stitching down a strip with the wrong side up and stitching the right side with a 1/4" seam , then flipping the strip over. Fingerpress or iron it down. Lay the next strip down against the raw edge, stitch it down and flip it over, keep going until you have the whole square covered with strips. Then turn over the block and using the edge of the backing for a guide, trim off the overhanging pieces.

Make several blocks and lay them out in several different designs before sewing together.  Cut a backing the same size, quilt to the top, then attach a binding. For small projects I used store bought bias binding, but you can also make you own.

I've made several of these for arm chair covers and for putting on the back of chairs, to keep those areas clean.  They can be made into pillows, cushions, lap robes. It's a good way to use up fabric you aren't using and it's just taking up space.  Edey

Make up some inexpensive ornaments for your decorating using scrap fabric, and batting or flannel. Use things like cookie cutters to draw around, or trace designs from a magazine, then cut out. Cut 2 shapes of fabric and 2 of batting or flannel and layer them.  Then stitch around about 1/4 inch in from the cut edge. Stitch more rows following about 1/4 inch away from the last stitched row. Use a bright contrasting thread to make it even more interesting.

 Attach a string or gold cord loop for hanging. Hnag them individually or string together using some heavy yarn or twine.

 Remember to cut a mirror image of the fabric if you are doing a shape that is asymetrical (like a Santa Clause face for instance)  so that when turned backwards the two sides will match.

To make the ornaments even fancier, but also more expensive, add some things like metallic threads, gold rick rack, beads, sequins or glitter.  Sulky makes a beautiful supply of brightly colored threads for use in sewing machines.  Use them with an embroidery needle for machines for best results. They don't do as well with hand stitching, though.

Colored permanent markers with a fine tip can be used for decorating also. Gel pens are another idea.

 Enjoy!

Edey

I like to collect old sewing machines, looking in antique stores and thrift stores for ones to work on.  Mostly I like treadles and smaller machines.  I get amazed at the simple mechanics of these machines. 

If you know how to sew, then you know that most domestic sewing machines use the same system of a spool of thread for the top thread and a wound bobbin for the bottom thread. If you have to do alot of sewing you know how quickly the bobbin thread can run out and has to be rewound. 

The National company made a sewing machine, The Two Spool,  in the early years of the sewing machine industry that in my opinion was the best of ideas; instead of having a bobbin, it used a full spool of thread for the bottom thread. The spool of thread rested in a barrel shaped area under the bed of the machine and interacted with the needle to make the stitch the same way that a bobbin did. I think that is a fantastic idea and wonder why that design, that technology died in favor of the bobbin that is common now. 

I saw one of these Nationals in an antique shop, it was a treadle, and wanted so much to buy it, but sadly didn't have the money.  It was in beautiful shape.  Whoever does buy it I'm sure they will enjoy using it. 

Edey 

Here are 3 projects for simple outdoor lighting.

  TIN CAN LANTERN

What you need: a clean tin can (like a soup can, sliced peach can, or juice can.), a couple of large nails, hammer, sturdy wire, spray paint, waterproof glue or glue gun, black permanent marker, candle or tea light.

 Take the lid off a tin can. Make a dot design on the sides of the can where you want to punch the holes, like a star design. Fill with water and set in the freezer.  Freeze solid. When frozen take a big nail and pound holes on the dots. If the ice is melting too fast refreeze and begin again. Make two holes near the top opposite each other for the wire handle. Let the ice melt and dump out. Hammer a nail thru the bottom to hold the candle and glue in place on the outside bottom. (If you will be using tea lights, skip this step.) Cut a length of wire for the handle and twist to fasten to the sides of the can thru the 2 top holes. Insert candle or tea light. Hang outside in an area that is fire safe. Be careful of the sharp edges from the nail holes when inserting the candle.

RECYCLED JAR LANTERN

What you need: recylced jar or pint canning jar, tea light, 16-20 gauge wire, and 24 gauge wire, jewelry pliers or needle nose pliers,  beads are optional. Wire size isn't critical, use what you have on hand, but nice if one is a thinner size than the other, for wrapping.

This is a "use your imagination" project. Basics are: measure the height of the jar, and cut 2 lengths of wire that is 4 times that height. Cut a small length of the smaller wire, criss-cross the 2 long wires in the middle and wire together with the small wire. Set the jar in the middle and fold the wire sections up the sides of the jar. From the smaller wire cut a length enough to wrap around the jar just under the rim of the jar, below where the threads are for the lid, plus enough for twisting to tighten. Push the large wires tight to the jar and wrap the small wire around to secure them below the rim. Twist small wire to tighten and fold down twist. Bring long wires together at top for hanger, make a round loop of the 4 wires together, and with a small wire piece wrap tightly to secure that loop. Put a tea light in the bottom and hang on hook, or branch outdoors, in a fire safe area.

Variations: 1.  String beads on the wires as you make the project.

                    2. Cut 2 of the long wires a little shorter, curl them into a loop on opposite sides of the jar, and use the 2 longer strands for the hanger. Hang beads from the curls.

                     3. Spray paint the inside of the jar for a frosty glow when the candle is lit.

GOBLET OR WINE GLASS CANDLE HOLDER

Use a goblet or large wine glass, one that is big enough to hold a tea light safely, spray paint with gold or white paint, and set the tea light inside. Create a wire hanger like above, only place it directly under the bowl of the glass and around the stem. Enjoy

Edey

This is a simple project, using a toilet paper tube, some scraps of fabric and some fiberfill, and trims to make it pretty. The body of the little singer sits in the toilet paper tube and her dress goes over it.  She wears a peasant style head scarf.

The body: Measure around the toilet paper tube and add 1/2 inch to the measurement. My tube measures 5 1/2 inches so my fabric piece for the body will be 6 inches wide x 8 inches tall. Sew or glue the long edge of the fabric to make a tube. Fold over the end and sew or glue closed so that you have a rounded end. To give it some weight so it will stand better,  you can drop some pebbles, or marbles, or something small and heavy into the bottom of the fabric tube before stuffing. Stuff with fiber fill, checking to see that the fabric tube will fit inside the paper tube. When stuffed tight close off the other end. This will be the head end. Put inside the paper tube. Now pinch off a portion of the top section for the head and tie tightly with string.

Arms: the arms are a long strip of fabric sewn together into a tube, ends stitched closed and all pressed flat. They are attached to the back and brought forward on an angle, as if holding a book. Fold back the very ends and stitch down for the hands.

Clothes: Cut a small triangle for the head scarf, hem the edges or trim with pinking shears. The skirt is a rectangle large enough to cover the tube and seamed to make a skirt. Put it over the paper tube and sew or glue to body just above the paper tube edge. The top is a square large enough to cover the top of the body from waistline in front to waistline in back. Cut off 2 opposite points by 1/4 inch.  Cut a hole in the exact middle of the square for the head to fit thru. Put the top over the head, with the 2 pointed corners for the sleeves and the cut off corners for the waistline. Fold the sides together and sew or glue, then pull the arms thru the sleeves to the front.

Now trim the singer with rickrack, or ribbon, beads, glitter, yarn, etc.

The face can be left blank, or carefully make a face with a fine tipped marker or embroidery thread.  Eyes and nose can be tiny beads

To make a small book for the singer to hold, cut a small rectangle of index card or heavy paper, fold in half and glue to her hands.

Enjoy

Edey

 Tea makes me feel rich. It makes me feel that all is right with the world. When I can make a pot of tea and have it hot and waiting for me, to drink as I want, then I am at peace, and the day can unfold with ease.

 I went to Linen and Things today, bought a large white ceramic teapot at their close-out sell, 30% off,  and now I'm looking forward to having a good hot pot of tea sitting next to my chair in the morning while I read the paper. Even though I have many decorative tea pots (I'm a hobby collector), they aren't always functional to use for making and serving tea. They are pretty but not useful.

I have to decide on making a cozy for it. Should it be knitted, crocheted, quilted? Should I use wool or cotton yarn? It feels luxurious to look thru my stash of yarns,  and fabric, feeling each one, and then looking for a pattern that will be just the right one for keeping my nice new tea pot hot and ready to drink.Should I make it look like a big crocheted strawberry? Or I should make it look like a big cupcake? I could go Victorian with lace and satin. Or rustic and cut up an old pair of blue jeans. The choices are many.

Waking up on a Sunday morning, making a pot of tea, having a banana bran muffin for breakfast, then kicking back and reading the Sunday paper for hours - life feels so good like this.  Slow paced and easy-going, thanks to that simple pot of tea. 

Edey

If you like the simple embroidered designs you see on vintage aprons, dish towels, and pillow cases, chances are they were made from an Aunt Martha's Hot Iron Transfer pattern. These are the cute designs of cartoon characters doing the laundry, or shopping, or gardening, with a day of the week as part of the design, that you see on the dish towels. They are the beautiful flower garden patterns, like you see on pillow cases or aprons. There are designs for the kitchen to decorate pot holders, or curtains. There are antique car designs, Holiday designs, simple cross stitch, alphabets and numerals for monograms.  

The patterns range from elegant, in the cutwork embroidery designs, to whimsical, in the dish towel designs, to the fun and frolic of country folks having fun. Each packet comes with several designs printed on newsprint type paper, and can be used several times before fading. With the purchase of a transfer pencil, which is similar to a red wax pencil, you can then trace over the design and print more.

 The use of these patterns is not limited to embroidery. The designs can be imprinted on something  for use with paints or crayons, be made into appliques, traced for scrapbooking, or the old craft of woodburning; use your imagination to come up with many ideas.

To imprint the patterns on fabric, you need an iron and ironing board or similar padded board, some straight pins,(no plastic head pins, they will melt under the iron) and the washed fabric for your project. You cut out the section of the pattern you want, leaving a bit of space around the design for the pins, lay the pattern face down on the fabric, making sure it is the right direction that you want it to be, pin in place. From there follow the instructions on the package, but generally they are: Set your iron on cotton, use a dry iron (no steam or moisture), then when it is hot, apply iron, moving slowly back and forth on paper. Gently lift one corner of the paper to check for a clear stamping, and if it is you are done. Let cool and remove from fabric. If it isn't quite clear enough, don't move pins or paper, but apply iron again. That's it, you have a stamped piece ready for decorating.

These make a good simple project for doing basic embroidery. Choose some basic colors of embroidery thread, a pack of embroidery needles, a small embroidery hoop, and a cotton dish towel or a white pillow case and you've got a quick project for decorating or for a gift.

The Aunt Martha's patterns have been around for decades. They are in a yellow packet, and over the years have had a pink border, white border, green border or no border. The cost for a packet is about $1.00 to $1.50 new, and I've seen them in Wal-mart's crafts section with the embroidery thread. A Google search will bring up ones available on the internet.

Embroidery is a simple peaceful past time. Turn off the TV and start a project. Now is a great time for that. Enjoy! 

Edey

In light of the economic problems currently happening, now is a good time to learn to sew if you don't know how, or improve the skills that you do have. At one time clothing construction was a common knowledge skill, taught to daughters by their mothers and grandmothers. Ready-made clothing was not always easily available and then only for the well-to-do, so out of necessity it was important that someone in the family knew how to make the clothes that everyone needed.

It is troubling to me to see that so many fabric stores have closed down. Fabric and thread and other sewing supplies are needed, especially in hard times, when the price of everything is so high.

Preparing ahead of time for a disaster: Keeping some yardage on hand of fabric that can be made into simple clothing would be a good idea. It could be thought of as adding to your disaster preparations, the same as you would store food or water, or medicines, or tools. Some suggestions would be a bolt of muslin; several 3 or 4 yard pieces of 100% cotton, like calico; some lightweight canvas or denim, and flannel. This yardage can make shirts, skirts, pants, sheets, dishtowels, pillow cases, diapers, cloth pads,  scarves, napkins, blankets, tarps, shade shelters, curtains.

Another suggestion to have on hand: Extra large white 100% cotton t-shirts. Why? Right now buying knit fabric in a store like Joann's is expensive; the last time I looked it was about $9.00 a yard not on sale. But you can buy t-shirts for less than half that price. There is quite a bit of material in a big t-shirt. The knit  fabric in a t-shirt can be made into comfortable underwear, also diapers, cloth pads, pillowcases, washcloths, headcoverings for cold weather, and rags when it all gets too worn for wear.

Owning a functional sewing machine that can sew any type of fabric is also important. A treadle or hand cranked machine would not require electricity to use.

It would be good to find a basic pattern that can be used to make many different types of clothing and know how to use it that way. If you were knowledgeable you could draft your own patterns as needed.

None of us knows what the future will be. Right now with our global economy failing, we just don't know how that will play out, as it has never been like this before. We have come to rely on clothing made cheaply from Asia and other parts of the world. Will these always be available and affordable? Will you always have the money to pay them?

 Having a skill like sewing and having the tools and supplies on hand to make what you need, could mean the difference of you and your family being healthy, secure and comfortable - or not.

It is something to think about. Edey

Many people I know start making Christmas gifts in July; some even do it year round. But not me. Sewing quilted items, or felts or fleece; knitting or crocheting are just too hot to handle in 90°+ heat. Depression has a way of settling in along with a form of cabin fever - stuck in front of the air condtioner for days at a time, too hot and humid even with A/C to move around.

So why am I writng this?

Because when the first cool days of Fall happen, and I realize that the stifling heat of summer is gone, then my mood changes, takes off in flight and I am happy again. I want to dig out my Christmas craft books, my quilting books, my cookbooks and start planning what to do for the holidays. There is such joy in all of that. I like to look up traditional and Early American recipes made from scratch to have with our holiday meal; last year for the first time I made steamed pudding, and found that it was actually like nutbread, and I learned a new way of baking, steam-baking on a stovetop.

 I search for simple ornaments to make using the fabric, yarn, paints and thread that I have on hand. I think of projects that I might do with my grandson, things that I can, at the same time, teach him of simple traditonal ways. Pomander balls made with cloves and oranges, cookie cutter ornaments made with card stock- then painted, origami designs, bread dough ornaments, pine cone ornaments, wood cutout ornaments, all made simply, slowly, quietly, peacefully. Ornaments can be made with fabric cutouts using pinking shears for a pretty edge, stiffened with glue, decorated with rickrack braid, gold rope, beads, sequins, glitter, etc.

I find that this year I need these activities more than ever. With the problems with the economy right now, and the uncertainty of our security that it has caused, knowing that I still will be able to have these simple activities in my life provides enormous comfort. The financial world may crumble, credit may be only for the wealthy that don't need it, but all of that doesn't matter, for I have my piecin' bag, my treadle and handcrank sewing machines, and my recycled craft supplies, and I am happy. Edey

Pinking shears are a common accessory of sewing, cutting a saw-toothed edge on fabric to prevent it from raveling. It has been used for decorative edges on ribbons, and for bow making.

I have to admit that I was never very good at using pinking shears, either because I didn't know how to use them or what I had was so dull they just wouldn't cut. I ruined projects when I tried to use them, because instead of cutting a clean edge,  the shear just chewed up the edge of the fabric. I've had this experience with new shears, re-conditioned shears and old shears.  I even have a pair that is too heavy to use and it is almost instant hand pain to even try.

Well, I found a vintage tool on e-bay recently called a Florian Pinker that makes the task of cutting a pinked edge on fabric enjoyable. The Florian Pinker resembles a pair of shears in that it has 2 handles and the action is scissor-like, but there the resemblance stops. This Pinker has a fluted wheel that does the cutting, and it has a large smooth chromed wheel that the fluted wheel works against to do the cutting. It cuts like a dream. No hand stress and just zips right thru fabric. This is a well-engineered tool, you can tell that alot of thought went into designing it.

I found this picture of it so that you could see what it looked like http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/florianpinker.php. (I haven't done business with this company so I'm not recommending them, this is strictly for the picture.)

Also a month ago I found, in an antique shop, an American Pinker. This one does the same function of pinking fabric edges, but it clamps to a table edge and turns with a hand crank. It is very heavy, made of cast-iron and steel.  It has the same fluted wheel design, and has a little steel platform to hold up the fabric as it cuts. I think this must be fairly old, I haven't yet found information on it doing an internet search. But it still works as if it were new. I was thrilled to find it in the antique shop, and this makes another addition to my "going green" hand-crank tool collection.

Edey

A favorite pasttime of mine is looking for antique and vintage tools of all kinds. Anything pre-/non-electric can catch my eye, even more so if it has a hand crank gear as it's working mechanism.

These tools were meant to last a lifetime; well made, well designed, of woo, cast iron or steel, and made in such a way as to maximize the hand or foot power needed to get the job done.

What are some of these examples?: treadle or hand-cranked sewing machine, egg beater, brace and bit drills,(don't know proper name for sure), meat grinders, coffee grinders, corn shellers, cherry-pitters, cheese graters; you get the idea. Looking around the internet at auction sites and sales sites it isn't hard to find these for sale. If they are intact it doesn't take much to get them working again.

There is a peacefulness in working with hand tools. Woodworkers often develop a fondness for working with hand tools, for the fine work they can create; easier at the slow speed of a hand tool to judge when the right surface detail is accomplished than it is with a power tool. After a noisy day of working out in the public, it is a good feeling to pick up a piece of wood, make it into something, sand it smooth, paint or stain it and then stand back and see what you have accomplished. That accomplishment can erase away a ton of stress and negativity that the outside world has dumped on you.

Needlework does that too. The rhythm of a treadle sewing machine is peaceful to me. There is little noise, no buzzing motor to listen to. It is a slow peaceful, calming pasttime.

In the kitchen I find it just as easy or even easier to grab my hand crank egg beater for mixing up eggs, or cakes or pancake batter than to dig out the small electric mixer, or to set up my big Kitchenaid mixer. I'll save that for heavy bread doughs or cookie dough. The meat grinder clamps to a breadboard and easily grinds up bread crumbs, fruits, pickles, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs and meats. You can make some delicious spreads for lunches with the leftovers from a big roast.

Before you think of buying another appliance think about hand tools; they don't need to be plugged in, they require little maintenance, don't have motors that burn out or batteries that need replacing, and will probably last for many more years.

Edey

"....One time Mama came to see me ...later, after she went back home, she sent me out a great big flour sack stuffed full of (fabric)scraps. It was a gift that always meant a lot to me."

"Different ones of my family are always appearing from one of these bags. Just when you thought you'd forgotten someone, will, like right here ..... I remember that patch. That was a dress my grandmother wore to church. I sat beside her singing hymns, and that dress was so pretty to me then, I can just remember her in that dress now."

From "The Quilters, Women and Domestic Art", by Patricia Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen, 1977, 1989, page 75.

The piecin' bag was a life saver for people during the beginning years of our country. Homesteaders that had little money and were far from the city made it a habit to save every scrap of fabric they had, and then sewed those scraps into quilt tops for warmth and beauty. Every scrap was precious, as good as gold. When a young girl was getting ready to be married, she would need quilts to start her new home. Out would come the piecin' bags to find enough fabric to make the quilts. There would be school dresses, and blouses and shirts stuffed in those bags, clothing worn by herself and others during her young lifetime. The quilts that she made from that piecin' bag was like a memory album that she could take with her. Many times the new bride went far away from family and could take little with her but her hope chest, so her quilts became a hug from home that she could wrap up in when times were bad. Those quilts would keep her and the new husband warm on winter nights, and when the babies came they would be wrapped up in them too.

We should all return to the ideal of saving, and using scraps, like in the piecin' bag. The wealth and health of this country was built on the frugality and wisdom of those who saved and re-used everything that they could; it was considered a shameful act to waste anything. There isn't as much of a need for cash when you use and re-use what you already have.

Will you have fond memories of a Starbucks coffee cup 10 years from now? 

Edey

A Lucet - have you ever heard that term? It's an old fashioned tool, very simple in design, that was used for making cording, similar to shoe laces, that could be used in clothing, at a time before zippers were invented. It would be laced up thru eyelets, like for shoes, in a crisscrossed fashion. It  made for a secure but comfortable closure.

It is a U-shaped or lyre-shaped piece that fits in the hand, usually made of good wood that is polished smooth. The ends of the U flare out like horns so that when looping the stitches they don't easily slip off until needed. There are different ways to start the cord, I use a slip knot, some use a figure-eight around the horns, leaving a long tail for both ways. There is a small hole in the body of the lucet that you thread the tail thru, and that later the completed cord travels thru to make tension on the cord as you work it. The action of using the lucet is flipping it from right to left as you make each new loop. To make the cord you start with the slip knot loop on the left horn (make sure tail goes thru little hole), wrap the thread behind the right horn then around to the front and return to the left horn, flip left horn to the right side and wrap thread above the first slip knot loop. Pick up the slip knot loop, using a crochet hook, knitting needle or stylus, pass it over the thread and off of the horn to the center. Pull gently on the tail to tighten the center strand. Flip it again, carrying the thread to the other side as for the first wrap. Continue doing this manuever until you get the length of cord you want. Finish by threading the cut end thru the remaining loops and tighten.

Here is a website with pictures and instructions: http://www.finniwig.com/lucetinst.htm

 A lucet would be easy to make if you have basic woodworking skills and tools. It can be cut from good plywood or thin board, the sides rounded off and the whole polished smoothed.

This would be a simple thing to teach a small child, to improve their hand-eye coordination, and they could be proud of their accomplishments.

Edey