Hello Sewing Friends
As you probably noticed, these gowns are just a few rectangles sewn together. The gowns lend themselves to your skills, what ever they are.
Notice Kathy's gowns, she has used pintucks as her main design feature. The cross is machine embroidery but, you could do hand embroidery.
If you wanted to do something a little fancier you could add lace. Really, it is up to you, there are no set rules.
You might even choose to smock a gown.
If your are interested in learning more about smocking
check out the web page for Smocking arts guild of America
To me, the most important part is to make a few gowns. No parent is prepared with something special for their little Angel.
Contact me if you want more information:
Welcome Sewing Friends
First project, will be Wee Care gowns. These gowns are donated to the hospital for wee little ones that do not survive and become Angels. Some Children's hospitals also use the gowns for preemies, needing extra care. So much better for the parents of these wee ones if they can see them dressed in something sweet.
The gowns still need to function for hospital use, so they are left open down the back and usually tie with a ribbon. The arm sleeves are extra big, to allow for tubes.
Not all gowns need to be smocked. I like to make both smocked and unsmocked. So don't let the idea of needing to smock something hold you back.
Here are some examples of gowns Kathy made.
Unsmocked--and a perfect place to
practice some heirloom stitches.
Next we will discuss fabric and patterns. Plus if you do like to smock we will share some of those.
EXCITED TO GET STARTED
With a lot of the organizing done, I am so ready to get to sewing projects. MarmyCakes, asked about my next project and I really have a lot of ideas running through my head.
1. To get wee care gowns made. I am trying to think of a good number to aim for. I am so much better getting things done if I set a goal.
2. Continue making Christmas presents. I was able to make everyone on my list a little something this year.
All the grands will get reading pillows. these were so fun to make.
3.
I will use this machine a lot more and also will be using the feet, that came with my sewing machine a lot more.
Plus blogging and hoping you have questions that I can answer. Quilting, will be another part of my sewing goals.
So if you have a question, or an idea, please share that with me. 2018--is going to be a great year for sewing.
Finally some organizing
We added a shelving unit to one side of the closet. All that space seemed to be wasted and I needed shelves more then I needed space to hang things. The other side of the closet still has a pole for hanging things.
I also have the troublesome drawer somewhat organized. This drawer is right by the sewing machine, so it is used constantly.
Now I feel a little better about getting in here and getting some sewing done.
SO HARD
It is so hard to say goodbye to Nancy Zieman. She was instructor to so many of us that love sewing. To me, she was the person that was my inspiration, to keep learning, keep trying that nothing was impossible.
I could write for hours on what she meant to me. I will share her goodbye.
http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/quilting-2/a-personal-note-from-nancy/
I bet it is hard for you also. To so many of us, she was the one person we all can relate to. Nancy is the one we always watched. I have everyone of her books, some of them are so used they have marked up pages, and to this day sit right by my sewing machine.
So, I guess I will never say goodbye.
Lost in the sewing room
I really wanted to keep this little blog up, but time has not been my friend. Maybe I just have not used my time wisely but who knows. After missing Christmas last year, I made a vow that this year would be different, and I would make almost all my Christmas presents. I say almost because I do have some pictures I need to frame so no sewing will be involved there.
Then I was stumped , when it came to what do you sew for a boy who just turned 18??? By the time I thought of what to do I had little time to carry out the project. I had decided on making him a new quilt.!!
This is the colors and design I chose. I guess I did not take a full picture of the top before it went off to the longarm lady. Finding her is another story. I always used a gal, named Nancy, so when I gave Nancy a call to see if she could do the quilting, she very politely, informed me she was only doing quilting for steady customers. Luckily I was able to find a lady that will be able to get the quilt done before Christmas. I think she said December 22nd.
So here we are, waiting. I am sure it will all be fine, meanwhile I have gifts to make.
Sorry, I did not mean to go missing.
So much has happened, I will need to catch everyone up but for right now, I am back to writing and sewing.
Yes, this is a pleater, used for making pleats in fabric, that you then embroider over and it is called smocking.
I always loved that I could smock for her, even though she was no longer a baby. I still have a project planned for her and she is a teen now.
I am planning a new quilt, and will keep you posted on how that is going. The good thing is, I am back to sewing and writing.
While I work on organizing
Almost have the drawer done! Just not willing to spend $. So I am trying to come up with ideas that don't cost an arm and a leg. One little organizing tray from Wal-Mart was marked at $14.00.
So, I thought I would ask if any of you know what these are??
Have you used them?
What about this gadget?
Would love to know, what you think they are and what they are used for???
Didn't go as planned
I started this adventure with a drawer right next to my sewing machine. It is the one that is the most used and really needs to be organized.
Ten minutes turned into an hour, then into two hours. Then a panicked Facebook post asking if anyone had a clue as to how to organize this drawer. A few hi fives as I call them, then silence.
Before---
More Before--- Which also might turn into
The after!
So that sums up day one of my organizing challenge. Feel free to borrow my idea.
Organize
Since moving in, all I have done is dump and run. I sew by pulling out everything I can find and then not put it back!!
So the time has come to organize, and make it an enjoyable place to be. I am not going to throw myself into organizing as I have in the past. What I have done is spend a day just diving in and throwing out and not have any sort of plan.
The plan
I am going to spend, no more then ten minutes a day organizing. I will start the clock and when ten minutes is up I will stop for the day.
The goal
To have a wonderful, creative space to spend the winter months. Creating, special things for special people.
It needs to be creative, workable and girly.
Follow along and let me know how your organizing is doing.
My old sewing room, where I had room to spare.
Yes, I still have the dog and he is still hanging around the sewing room. Although, the room I have now is super tiny.
Love sewing doll clothes
Just something I really enjoy doing. It takes very little fabric and time, yet it is just so much fun.
Meet Genine, the designer of the doll clothes. She trusted me to test some of her pattern and oh, how I love that 'job'.
Sam was thrilled when she got to model her romper. She was very excited she got to go outside and play.
Same pattern only the long rompers. Sam also loves working in the garden.
Sam, even likes getting ready for the holidays. Soon she will be wearing her October outfit.
This year Sam has a friend who will model with her. Her name is Elisabeth. They love spending time together.
So Many Ideas
One question I run into often is-- Can you smock for the older girl? Yes, you sure can. You can even smock for adults, smocking does not have to be just about little people or ornaments. It is a form of embroidery and I know there is a whole lot of embroidery out there in sewing land.
This pattern is called "Roses for Rachel" and was in a Sew beautiful magazine.
Zoe, defiantly was not a toddler. she loved her smocked dresses.
She loved this smocked top. Again, perfect for a growing girl.
I have another idea, I will give a gift to the first person that replies to this post, that is also a member of Apple Valley smockers. Well, you missed this one--maybe I will offer a gift in the future.
Just one of many
what are your sewing memories? I bet you have a ton of them you could share. when asked to share a sewing memory, it was hard to think of which one to share.
This being back to school time made the choice easy:
This time of year the memory that stands out for me is that of sewing back to school clothes. I of coarse did that when my kids wee little but was back to sewing school clothes for my daughter when she ended up being a single working mom. I felt the one thing I could do to help her was to keep the kids clothed.
So from kindergarten to Jr. high I made their wardrobes.
One year, I was late (by one day) of getting Zoe's outfit made. Zoe let me know she was not to happy about that!! Not to worry, she had her outfit by the second day.
One of a kind, was what Seth always said about his shirts.
No, I did not always make them matching outfits.
One of her favorite outfits.
You can add smocking and still give a big girl feel.
I have ton's more, hope you share some of yours.
I am so lost without her
I just can't seem to sew. I have even caught myself thinking, the serger is in the shop and so I can't sew!!
Well, that is very, very silly of coarse I can sew. I am not one of those serger owners that can make their machine stand up and dance. Mainly I finish seams or make sweatshirts or those darling knit jammies.
Then there are the ruffles you make with the gathering foot. I love adding ruffles to the bottom of shorts or the bottom of anything that seems like it would stand up to a ruffle. So I have used all sorts of scraps to make ruffles to have on hand.
Now, can you make ruffles on your sewing machine?? of coarse you can! A serger is nice to have, do you need one? probably not. I hope my serger doesn't need repairs anytime soon. For now, all is well in my sewing world.
I miss Betty so much. Betty, was my sewing friend who kept me inspired and sewed almost everyday, well into her 80's.
I feel lost without her. When I had a problem or felt sad I could always go to Betty and she knew just what to say.
Betty, also did a lot of what I call 'how to's' because that's how you make it or do it.
This picture was taken all in fun. On the forum we had held and ugly fabric contest and this is what she made using that fabric. We had such fun with that pose.
Other things Betty did were creative and if you want to follow the complete instructions then you will find them HERE!
Darling bonnet stand
These scuffs made by Betty have been
a very popular project for our group.
To see even more of Betty's creation, with instructions go
HERE!
I fixed the links so they work.
Small in number
Our group is pretty small right now. Some didn't show for the meeting, which makes the group even smaller.
We were meeting in a quilt shop but sadly that store went out of business. So now we meet in a beautiful church in the historic part of town. Great lighting and with the group we are always inspired to create.
Smile for the camera
We have lots and lots of discussions.
What ever we do, we have fun. I so enjoy my time with these gals and love meeting new members.
Time to move on
My new project will be a smocked bonnet designed by my blogging friend Kathy.
Kathy is so talented. she is selling the pattern on Etsy, not sure of the link but I think you can find it here.
She has made the pattern in those two different versions and in all sizes.
also do not forget to check my other blog. you will find that one when you click here. Be sure to sign up!!
Never Before
I have never given up on a sewing project before. Even the projects I thought I would like and ended up not likeing them, I would finish and give it away.
This was the dress to be and that is the fabric. So light that it wants to float away and several times it did!
It would stick to itself, so I tried spay starch, thought I was making some headway using the starch. No!!! that ended up not working.
Seams would pucker, no matter what I tried to do with them.
So, today I said my good byes in total frustration😞
Now, on to something else, something that will make me happy.😆
some Frannies are getting done.
Kathy D, has finished her sew along dress. She even added a doll dress.
I love her sewing. She always adds a designer touch, probably because she is a designer.
Kathy also added a step by step of doing those trickie sleeves. I was having so much trouble trying to figure out how to reach in a small space and turn right sides together, sew a complete circle and still have it all work.
I can not show you mine yet, although with Kathy's instructions I was able to do the chore.
I will get mine all done and then be brave enough to take a picture.
This is karens dress so far. It is going to be so pretty when finished.
I hope you are also doing the sew along, and will get your project done and share with us.
Sew along with us
We will be putting together the Lyn Weeks pattern, Frannie.
the instructions leave a lot to be desired in putting this sweet dress together.
I do not know if this pattern is still available, so you might want to check Ebay and see if there is one available.
This is the fabric I have chosen for mine, not sure if it was a good idea, it is very light fabric.
follow along on Everythingsewing http://everythingsewing.net/
You will see the button for the forum, sign up and find the sew along under the topic " on topic talk".
Hope you will join us.
