A Sweet Chic Gift for a New Baby

One of the most difficult things to locate is an appropriate gift for a new baby.  My sister's sewing background is as long as mine, so when she thought she needed a good present for the new grandchild of a college friend, she agreed I could share her ideas with you!   This was a pattern you have probably missed or overlooked in your reviews of new patterns, so I am sharing a few details in case you are thinking of creating a gift for a 'little one.'  Look for the McCall's pattern 6980, pictured below:

McCall's 6980
'Learn-To Cat'

The pattern provides options for a cat (wearing a dress, as above) or a raccoon who is designed wearing pants and a shirt (appropriate for a young boy).  Of course, the raccoon could be dressed in the blouse and pinafore, or the cat would wear the pants, as well.  I feel this is a great, modern option for the 'quiet books' which have options for each child to learn how to manipulate the functions of the closures on clothing in today's world.   It was created by designer Susan Cousineau of Sew Sweet Chic.  She has been designing since 1993, and I have provided a link so you can look into her creative background and other designs. 





The picture above is the cat made by my sister.  The colors of the dress coordinate with the colors in the baby's room, and the stuffed animal's design includes the snaps, buttons, shoe lace tying, zips and Velcro closures of interest to a young child learning to be independent.  It was fun picking out all the varied fabric patterns and colors for the kitten, and I was her cheerleader to finish the project before the baby's arrival.  I asked her permission to post the project, and she even answered my questions on what changes, warnings and improvements she would recommend for others completing this project.




Front and Rear of Finished Project



Design Improvements/Options:

DS says she could not envision the cat without including a tail.  The one you see in the picture above is one of her own design, including my suggestion of including a couple pipe cleaners to give it shape and some position options.  If you include one, you will need to create your own opening for it.  The seam on the cat's bottom is out of position to hold the tail, so you can create a new seam or a circular opening in the cat's bottom for it.  The cat also includes a few squeakers she included for auditory stimulation (in the paws (hands), feet (shoes) and belly).  I had a few in my stash, ordered from a catalog pet supply to replace those pulled from my Westie's well-loved toys.  (Domino always pulled the stuffing from his squeaky toys as a puppy, so now he only gets the toys without stuffing and multiple squeakers, which I quickly replace when they are punctured.)   The baby was a little girl, so she could not leave our home without a bow sitting right atop the head, as we wore every day as little girls. 

Warnings/Suggestions:

Select all fabrics with strong and tight weaves.  Because of the fabric pattern she wanted, DS selected the cheeta print from a selection of flannels.  It became problematic because of its loose weave.  Avoid this problem in your version.  If you would like the shoes to look like 'real shoes,' plan for including eyelets (my suggestion, my stash) and avoid stitching the laces in the seams on the top of the shoes.  I gave her the eyelets from my stash, but she didn't want to make the shoes look like saddle oxfords by using some pleather I had on hand.  Make sure your notions are in bright colors and are in all colors of the rainbow.  These are all learning options, each button (see the differently-colored flower buttons in the pictures?), oversized snap, and indoor/outdoor zipper can be from each and every color available.  One shoe has ties, one has a Velcro closure.  The cat also has a bracelet with a Velcro closure, so think of colorful and interesting options for each, keeping in mind your desire to keep each child-safe (ensuring they are not too small to be safe for small mouths, ears and noses). 

Thank you for stopping by to read my little blog.  Enjoy the your freedom to celebrate and salute our nation's veterans today.  Thanks to each and every one.

I am sewing, and have many surprises.  If you have any questions on this project, I will certainly find out the answers and post them for you.  I LOVE comments, so don't be shy!  I hope you stop by again, soon.  More interesting projects and pictures are on the horizon!

'Til then, keep sewing....one stitch at a time....!

A Quick Gift for a New Baby....

If you are one of my followers, you already know I now live with my sister in a Washington, DC suburb.  I've been here since closing my mother's home and driving cross-country with my doggy, Domino.  My sister had recently become a widow and needed a little emotional support.  I brought along my sewing machine and serger and have used them for smaller projects for friends and family more often than embarking on the major personal projects I normally tackle.  I've been residing about a year in a home my (only) sister has owned over 40+ years.  Over that period of time, she has witnessed the neighborhood changes and neighbors come and go.

She currently has a next door neighbor who owns a beagle who has become close friends with my Westie due to an unrepaired hole in the fence.  Well...this female neighbor is now pregnant, and the baby is due the first week of December.  This latest project of mine is a small gift to her new baby, which will be a girl!

Do you think she will like it?  Let me tell you where you can get the patterns so you can duplicate the projects for your next expectant mother.

The booties come in multiple sizes (birth to 18 months) and the hat instructions include birth to adult head sizes.  The patterns can be ordered from the Etsy sites here and here.  The pair of items require the purchase of two separate patterns.  I made them from a pink shearling found online on Ebay.  The second pattern is for Bubbo the Frog (he doesn't look like a frog in pink, does he?) lol  This is the second time I have used this seller (DIYFluffies) publishing from the Netherlands, but her English instructions made the sewing experience  just as pleasant.  This sellers pattern instructions are always very clear and the pieces fit together perfectly, just as her dragon pattern did.

The stuffed animal (above) is sitting on a large popcorn can in the picture, and the hat and booties are below him in the front.  These hat and booties require the skill set of an advanced beginner because the drawings and instructions are not so easy to decipher, but nothing that could not be figured out with a little thought.  I used white fleece for the bottom of the frog and his extremities.  The bottom of the booties are made with anti-skid gripper fabric available at most fabric stores.  The position of the frog's legs are left to you the seamstress, and I also warn you to use a stabilizer when sewing on the features of the frog's face.  I also customized the frog by including squeakers; one is in his front leg, the other in the main body.  It should provide some audible interest for the baby as she grows up.

Thank you for stopping by to see my latest project.  I am currently sewing Christmas gifts, so there will be more to share very soon....

Til then, keep going....one stitch at a time!

Hey!  Why didn't I get into the pictures?

Shaken from the Doldrums...

 Yes....it has been that long.  Where have I been?  Close by...closed up and closed in.  Like many of us, dealing with my personal demons...healthwise and otherwise.  Now I am better, as it is always revealed  when you step outside yourself and think of others not as fortunate as you--in spite of whatever your current circumstances are.  Just be reminded, we are fortunate to be alive today...many are not.  We are fortunate to move free of debilitating pain....many are not.  And, Rhonda Buss (author of Rhonda's Creative Life,) an expert sewist and fellow blogger, reminded so many of her readers that many of those not so fortunate are children, much younger than we who have had many more years of life.  I felt I needed to participate in the Mary Bridge Childrens' Hospital Pillowcase Project she sponsored, and it helped snap me out of my malaise.

Thank you, Rhonda.....thank you thank you Thank You.  You are an angel to the children who get to pick a pillowcase for themselves, and to those of us who felt the joy of guiding each stitch in our donated pillowcases. The picture above is the pillowcase grouping I created.  They are not perfect and have unique flaws which set them apart from the factory-created examples.  My overlock blade was often too dull to cleanly sever several bulky seamlines, but, I kept sewing.  At the end I was visualizing even more fabric combinations but forced myself to stop after completing twelve.  I put one of my vintage printed labels in each one, hoping the child that chose one of them would find it and wonder who was the creator.  They honor my three grandsons, all healthy and growing up in sunny northern California.  All are rather boyish looking, although I did throw in one with purple and red flowers just for me.  (smile)

Well, that has taken up only a portion of our yearlong separation.  The other time has been filled with sewing, and I have several posts currently in draft status, just waiting to share the final garment on a dress form or on my body.  I have lost so much weight, they will fit differently better, but, I currently have so few opportunities to dress up and model them with the proper accessories, days months have passed by.  I promise to reveal them soon, even if they lie on the floor!

There are several crafting projects to complete, too.  Below you will see three examples of decoupaged cigar boxes I am completing for my son and his oldest two boys.  They were covered with napkins purchased at The Party Store ($1 per pkg).  Each napkin was roughly torn and slapped down with ModgePodge inside the lid and outer surfaces of each box.  Isn't the lizard eye menacing???!!!  My oldest grandson will love it!  The bottom of each box will sit on four colored flat-bottomed marbles and each top will be hinged and latched with hardware I purchased from an overseas Etsy seller.  The inside of each box will be lined in green felt, and it is my hope they use them to store the secrets and treasures accumulated over their lifetimes.  I hope they keep them forever and never surprise their mother by storing a tarantula or frog inside.  lol....

I actually wanted to share a source for my favorite straight pins, but the cigar boxes added so much more visual interest to the picture I included them in the shot, too.  The large blue can in the foreground holds five thousand extra long superfine Iris straight pins!  All those sewists (like me) who do not gravitate toward using ball head pins (except on dressforms) will love these pins.  They are very thin (superfine) and extra long (1-3/4") which remains ideal for old-school sewists who still pin pattern to fabric a majority of the time.  And, I confess....they work great with the bad habit I have of sewing over pins with my 401 Singer Slant-O-Matic.   I know, I know...my sister has told me I can't do that on any other machine.....including her $2000 Bernina...lol  So far, it has worked fine in certain cases (to ease in set-in sleeves especially), so I will continue this horrible, horrible habit another 50 years until I begin to throw off machine timing or begin breaking straight pins one after the other.  I also have the habit of cutting out several garments at once, so I no longer fear running out of my supply of these special pins before I remove them from other projects.

While my son was still in high school, I worked as a training instructor in a (now defunct) fashion fabric store in Fremont, CA.   I fell in love with the extralong pins they carried, and purchased six or seven packages of them, each containing 300 pins.  Well, this year I opened the last package and found out the company is no longer in business.  WAWAK has their replacement, and I am glad I was able to find them.  (Atlanta Thread Supply went out of business and WAWAK took over their customers, website and inventory.)  Looking for a pin that does not snag your fabric and holds a maximum area flatly and smoothly, check these out.

Don't forget me!  This blogging community is amazingly supportive and I have learned so much from its contributors.  My sewing has improved immensely, even though I have been sewing over 55 years, so thanks to you all.   I love the fact that there is still so much more to learn.  I hope to become a frequent participant and encourage your comments.  If you would like to see more detail on the cigar box project, just let me know.

Til next post, take care of your health and take each stitch....one atta time!

Cynthia


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Two Years Six Months Later.....!

Wow!  Do you believe it!?  It's finally finished!!!!

After selecting all the fabric, making sure it was 100% cotton and pre-shrinking every fat quarter in hot water, I began the project to complete the childs quilt called Funny Babies, designed by Amy Bradley.  The quilt's background fabric would be blue (we knew the baby would be a boy) and I wanted to select at least one of each primary color a child would learn to identify during childhood.   Fabric selection was the most fun....

Red, Blue, Green, Red and Yellow



Beginning binding at bottom center of quilt

Binding attached and ready for final handwork

All Done!

The quilting was done by a Georgian quilt shop in light blue thread.  I allowed them to make the design selections and am very happy with their choices.  I wanted to share the detail they added visually to the back of the quilt where I used white muslin.  Can you see the many toys and baby items sewn into the design in the following four pictures?

See the teddy bear...?

And the keyring rattle....?

Can you make out the pacifier....?

There's the ducky...!

Sigh....So, this project has been completed.  I hope finishing three more quilts for my growing grandsons will not take me as long.  I did learn a lot....One....avoid appliques and stick with piece quilting from now on!  Two...being exact when measuring is critical.  Three....The love you stitch into the project will cover all errors.....(smile)

I just hope I will bring the smiles to my niece and her son you see below when they open the box.  I loved doing it.  The package will go in the mail Monday.....

You will be hearing more from me, soon.  Til then....keep sewing....one stitch at a time!

On Washington DC's METRO over 2012 Labor Day Weekend

My Final Four

For those that wondered what had become of me, I wanted to let you know I am still alive....reading and sewing to my hearts content.  I discovered how much the horrible mattress at my mother's had contributed to my back issues only after moving and sleeping on a really good mattress.  I have also discovered how much the dust (and possibly the mold) had contributed to my persistent allergies following the move, as well.

My mind has rested and I have made a concerted effort to complete all the sewing projects I organized into plastic bags during my days of preparation.  Some are simple toys for my great nephew, others are projects for my (very) soon-to-arrive third grandson.  Others are the patterns to be altered for new dresses, skirts and tops for myself.

First up?....the simple hand puppets for my great nephew.  These were made from Butterick 4209
 using fleece left over from previous pajama and robe projects.  I made four of them: the monkey, the kitty, and two bears.  They all came out so cute...nothing you would see in real life!

Spotted Monkey

Fiery Kitty with a gigantic bow tie

Bear with a self-drafted tie

Camouflage Bear with self-drafted fringed scarf

My favorite is the unusual-patterned monkey.  I put pipe cleaners inside the tails of both the cat and the monkey, and this small step added so much character to both puppets.  I hope he enjoys them!

Now...don't worry that I have suddenly shifted away from sewing clothing...I haven't.  The past year or so has been difficult because of my move.  These are the final quick projects I organized for completion in-between my 'serious' sewing.  I made this great-nephew the same mouse I made for my second grandson, and it will go in the same box these puppets are shipped in.  These are my final four projects for him, and now I will move forward with more classic clothing sewing projects.

Now, I am off to begin the Hong Kong seams on my next project:   Vogue 1129.  Most sewists know how long this pattern has been available, and since I am a fan of anything that has something draped over the shoulder, it has been cut out for a loooong time waiting to find the right fabric to turn into the bias tape required to complete an interesting feature on the seaming (the coat is unlined).

Stay tuned...and thanks for stopping by!....
Keep sewing....one stitch at a time!....

PS:  My third grandson arrived in the world yesterday (March 19), and I have come to grips with the fact that I won't be sewing any pretty little dainty dresses or christening gowns for a little granddaughter.  {{{sigh....}}} :)


Welcome, Simon!!!!  Grandma loves you madly and am already planning things to create especially for you!

A Dragon and a Giveaway!

I had hoped to blog more during December, but I've come to understand how time gets away from you and before you know it.....you're paying another mortgage payment.  I'd like to thank all those who have hung in with my erratic posting and continue to follow me.  I would love to hear from more of you, and hope to provide the environment where you will feel free to tell me more than how 'wonderful' my talent is or how 'wonderful' I look wearing my clothes.  I want it to be more than that when you drop by here to tell me something or see what I'm doing.

I managed to move through the 2011 holiday season while showing my childhood home to the many realtors and buyers making appointments.  It sold really quickly and I have been busy in the interim packing and selling the multitude of things my mother hoarded and stuffed in any open area available during her 55-year residence here.  I am exhausted and will be glad to pack the few things I brought with me while caring for her.  I am shocked how much I'll be dragging back to re-establish my own household, once more.  There are a lot of books, a lot of fabric, and a dog.  Much more than I thought I'd have at the end of a stay I thought would be a maximum of 6 months.

Anyway, I discovered sewing blogs about 2 years into my stay here, and I thank each and every one of you who labored over words and pictures communicating your love for something I love, as well.  In celebration of your efforts, I am hosting my first GIVEAWAY!  The pattern below is only one of the many finds uncovered while I sorted through dusty trunks and bins of long-forgotten sewing patterns, thread and fabric.  These patterns will be part of an ongoing list of what are now called 'vintage patterns'  will be giving away.

This one is from the 70s (not at all a vintage year to me), nevertheless, not a pattern I will use or wear (been there--did that), so this wardrobe pattern will be offered first.  It is unused and uncut, size 14 (bust 36") Simplicity 7813.  (Looks a little 'Tracey Reese,' no?)  I'm sure the pattern number has been used before, but this was back when patterns cost 75 cents!

Were you alive then?  Leave me a comment telling me what you were sewing in the '70s and you will qualify for one entry in the giveaway (one per person, please).    I would love to meet you and find out how alike/different our sewing experiences are!

Giveaway Pattern:
Simplicity 7813 - size 14

This pattern is a lined, mini-coat with empire waistline, a collar, front button closing, back pleats, long set-in sleeves, optional top-stitching, flaps and pockets.  The pants and A-line skirt have side zipper and waistband.   The random drawing for this giveaway will take place February 10, 2012 at 6pm PST.  I will open the giveaway up to everyone....including international reader/bloggers.   Let's get to know one another!  I love conversation, so my comment section is already set to begin threaded conversations.  As my grandsons say, "Hit me up!"

I will leave now, but not before showing you what I made for my grand-nephew last week.  I have packed most of my big clothing projects away, so I was ready for a quick crafty project to calm my mind and fill a need for a birthday present for a 2-year old.  It was so much fun to make and went together with no problems (for an immediate sewers).  I hope he likes it, too!

Yoki wishing to meet his little boy today...

The dragon is named "Yoki the Fat Dragon" and was purchased from a shop on Etsy.  It was the first time I've used a pattern that was from a downloaded .pdf file.  The download went well and any intermediate sewer should be able to sew it together using the instructions.  I think I spent about 3 hours start-to-finish.  He turned out really cute, didn't he?  I filled him with buckwheat hulls, so he has some heft like a beanbag.  I wish I had stuffed his neck more because his head should stand up straighter.  I sewed everything closed, so putting more in now is out of the question.

"Hi, Everybody!"

I traced the pattern onto the white packing paper I had lying around, then glued it to freezer paper for a bit more stability.  It worked so well, I may try it again when I make another mouse.  The pattern pieces and extra fabric (single pieces cut out automatically on doubled fabric) are what you see in front of Yoki in the zip-lock baggie.  Making him was really fun, and I'm glad I bought enough fleece to make another!  The embroidery thread used to shape his big belly (and underbelly) is what gives him his round shape and the ability to stand flat footed.   My only hint is to pull these threads tight around him to give him real form.

His arms are not hinged, nor are his wings.  I wish the pattern had some marking that shows where the arms and wings should be placed.  I eye-balled their position based on the rear view of the finished dragon on the instruction coversheet.  You will need to do this, as well.  On my second version, I may consider changing how both wings and arms are attached.  I also think I will embroider his eyes.  I've got a new grandson arriving early March, so I need do the second version soon....!

Gotta run...!  Posting takes me sooooo much time, and I've got so much more to complete here before the big move!  Thank you everyone for continuing to check in on me.  Consider trying for the giveaway!  It's FREE!!!!!!!  All you need to do is leave me a comment.


Until then..
Keep it going...one stitch at a time!

I Sew Other Stuff, Too....

From time to time, my sewing projects are things other than garments worn by me or my family.  I am happy to share a sewing project that should take an hour or two of your day and allow you to let off a little steam after a lengthy and complicated project.  With the recent release of the new McCalls Holiday Collection patterns the blogosphere was all abuzz.  I had also received my McCalls e-newsletter, and wanted to stop a moment to share what new things I noticed when I clicked on the link. 

I drooled over the new pattern for 18" doll clothes (aka the American Girl Dolls line)!  Those clothes looked so cute and up-to-date, I wished my niece was young enough to still play with the American Girl doll I bought her when she was 7 or 8 years old.  She is older now, just out of graduate school, yet she remembers getting that doll as a present.  I might have to find some naked 18" doll to sew for!....lol

I liked a few of the new Misses party dresses I saw in the collection, but I grinned when I saw that McCall's added a new pattern by one of my favorite patternmakers.   At the very end of the new pattern group was the cute little photo below....  This hippo and elephant pattern are examples of the animals from Carol's Zoo!  I met Carol as a vendor at a quilt show many years ago.  I am delighted to recommend her fun, unique and superbly-drafted patterns to you.  This lady has found a way to draft these animals with as few pattern pieces as humanly possible.  After taking the patternmaking class at the local college, I was amazed at their construction!  You will be, too!

McCalls 6484
Photo courtesy of McCalls.com

I was so excited to see Carol getting the recognition she deserves!  I have made the hippo from a tapestry fabric and used a coordinating tassel for his tail. He is soo cute, and made from 3 pattern pieces!


Last year, I made her mouse pattern (only 2 pieces!) in 90 minutes and was so pleased with how little time it took and how ingenious her pattern was.  She has designed an entire zoo of different animals, most of which have less than 4 pieces, and I encourage you to visit her shop while she is offering a 25% discount for any of her specially identified "pink" fur in honor of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
 
Carol is a cancer survivor, and is such a nice woman, I would love to have her meet all of you and introduce you to her as a great source of beautiful and unique faux furs, excellently-drafted animal patterns, and lots of safety-designed eyes and noses for your stuffed creations.  She sells the patterns alone, but also has kits with everything you need to make a mother and child of each animal.  Don't forget to give her a look-see!

Look at the mouse pattern below for the mouse I made last Xmas:

Mama Mouse and Baby Mouse
photo courtesy of Carolszoo.com

 And, below is a picture of my grandson, the happy recipient of a new friend.  What did I do differently?  I put pipecleaners in his tail and filled his body and head with buckwheat shells from an old pillow I had.   He has enough heft in his bottom to sit, hold up his head and not fall over.  His whiskers are extra-long lengths of overwaxed black carpet thread.  I believe he has been named Eek, and I am more than delighted to see my grandson still has him (and his camouflage ribbon) when I requested a picture of them!  I loved making it!  Only one hour to create such delight.  Grandmas live for these moments!



Baby Mouse in Dining Room Early in the Morning




Baby Mouse Named Eek and my Grandson

Thanks for stopping by...! 
and keep stitching....one stitch at a time!