So I had promised my 9 year old, at the beginning of summer, a trip to the waterslides before summer was over. I waited till the last minute didn't I!?!? Well, when I learned that they charge according to height and not age, which makes him (at 5 feet tall) a full priced ticket I decided that I would let him and dh play while I stayed inside and...well... Sit. I am sooooooo bored!!! Ive got the iPad and a book, but alll I can think about is that I wish I had something to sew!!!
Remember, I am a beginner and thus far the only hand work I've done is binding. What is something easy to learn by myself so I never have to do this again?!?! Lol

I have circles cut for yoyos that I take along when we visit my father-in-law. I don't know what I am going to do with them, but some day I will have enough for a LARGE project!

Cathedral window tutorials are on you tube. You can pre-cut squares and put a few in a zip lock bag. I prethread about six needles and put in a pin cushion or on a magnet and put into another zip lock bag. Take scissors or something to cut the thread. I can even do a few in the car wash!!

I keep a little bag of Sugar'nCream cotton yarn and a crochet hook on hand that I can grab & take along. I make simple potholders. They're quick, easy and everyone loves them as gifts. The pattern is inside the label and it's pretty forgiving if you skip a stitch or make a mistake.

A GFG (grandmother's flower garden). You can use scraps to make the hexagons, then flowers and eventually sew them together. I've got one that I started in 2006 strictly for something to do. :)

I tale GFG and some randum shapes with in and out points,and a 12 by 12 sq, I am trying to teach myself finger turn applique not doing so good yet but give me time LOL

YoYo's only takes a little say 4x4 inch fabric scrap to work with you can look in the tutorials for 'how to's' or on-line! 8-)
OR at the fabric store they have a New way to make it easyer a little plastic 'thing-a-magig' you could get!

I'll have to look those up. I guess I really need to build a stash. I fairly much buy what I need and don't endnup with huge scraps.

With the GFG's don't I need to cut and iron them? I saw Fons and Porter the other day and they were showing us how to do it, BT it really looked like an "at home" thing...?

I have a basket of squares and circles with needle, thread and scissors that I leave in my car so I don't have to worry about packing anything!!! I will have enough yo-yo's someday to make a coverlet!!!

I take precut pieces with me and just do the stitching by hand.

Good suggestions. I've taken along yo-yos, cathedral window, and spinning color wheel to hand sew during my wait times. You could also do applique, embroidery, or make a crazy quilt. When I first learned about quilting, the lady was quilting a postage stamp quilt for a pastor's wife. The pastor's wife had taken all those little squares where ever they went and would work on them while he had his meetings.

Embroidery seems to be the rage of late , redwork etc. See them more and more incorporated into quilts !!

Ahhhh so many ideas, but I can't imagine how to do them. Time to look at You Tube. Lol

I like to do rework when I am on a road trip or waiting for something. The pattern is already there for you and you only have one color thread.

Whats rework?

I think she means redwork---embroidery that only uses red floss....lots of fun, I might add

Oh! I'm going to look that up and see what it is! Sounds interesting.

I take along a plastic zip lock with needle, thread, and TONS of 1 1/2" squares of fabric. Sew them together...you'll be amazed how fast you'll have either blocks to add to a quilt or enough for a full quilt!

I cut a lot of scrap fabric into 5 inch strips and used the Dresden Plate template to cut them out. I started handsewing them at camp last summer and had a quilt in a short time!!!!

I have a similar project - GFG - making it with scraps. I have a bag full of scraps cut & bring a handful with me whenever I need a hand project. It started as a 5 year project - has become now at least a 10 year project. I don't care though; it gives me something to do during idle time (doctor's office waiting room, car trips, waiting for anyone, etc). Ask a quilt store employee or an experienced quilter how to make the hexagons - once you see one made, they become very easy. Try looking for a tutorial on this site or U-tube.
Good luck.

I'm sorry I did mean redwork. Crabapplehillstudio.com has really cute ideas, I have dore a couple and made them into wallhangings and pillows.

Okay, I bought an octagon template today that has markings on it so I can cut and sew it. Only thing is what kind of stitch do I do? I have never hand sewn before.