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.
